Browsing “New Balance”

"What I like about Singapore is the hustle and bustle, I think a lot of people don't like the rigidity of studying or working here, but I do like the 9 to 5.”

“My favourite place in Singapore is the toilet at Bras Basah MRT. They have steel panels that are grey and black, which really speaks to the brutalist in me.”

“I like listening to music and just walking around, exploring new spaces. Sometimes, I walk around HDB estates to find a nice spot to sit and chill. I do enjoy those slower, quieter moments a lot.”

“Family is very important to me. I was very close to my mum before she passed away three years ago—she raised my sister and I as a single parent. Now, my sister has three young sons, and even though I don’t normally like kids, I love being an aunt to my nephews!”

“I’ve been working in Singapore for two years, and life here is so different from back home in Japan. I like that there’s so much greenery in the city, and I also enjoy eating laksa and bak kut teh, but rental is so expensive and I miss the cold weather! So now that my contract's ended, I'm headed home!”

“Since getting married and moving out of my parents’ place, I’ve been missing my childhood bedroom more and more. It was a source of comfort for the homebody in me growing up, and even got me through the whole lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic!”

“One of my favourite bands is Son Lux. If you didn’t know, they composed the soundtrack album for the film Everything Everywhere All at Once. Their music is very cinematic and almost cerebral, blending a lot of sounds while still being rooted in melody.”

When asked what local dishes she liked best, Miyako whipped out her phone excitedly and, in true mum fashion, showed us pictures of all of the good food she’s eaten, from dim sum to masala dosa, which she described as being “spicy, but very delicious”.

"I’d say my style is comfortable and timeless, with a touch of Japanese accents. I like to visit Japan every year during spring or summer and that’s where I collect my outfits for the year, so I don’t shop for clothes much in Singapore.”

“In my free time, I enjoy building mechanical keyboards and customising everything from the switches to the layout. I’ve also just picked up skateboarding after wanting to do so for a long time. There’s a constant fear of falling since I’m not as young as I used to be, but it’s a hobby I wish to continue.”

“I’ve been a Design & Technology (D&T) instructor for 25 years and I’ve seen the education system change a lot over the years. Like it or not, we have to learn and adapt with the times or we won’t be able to survive. As such, I now also teach 3D printing, laser cutting, and computer programming as part of the D&T curriculum.”

“Working in the media industry has taught me to be kind. In my role, I meet and liaise with many different people, and I’ve found that people can be quite unkind. I always remind myself that I don’t want to be them; I want to be nice despite being stressed and having deadlines to meet.”