JCC E-Magazine October 2020

Featured Article of the Month

In September, JCC visited Amal, a young Singaporean and an avid traveller to Japan who displays his enthusiasm towards Japan and Japanese culture by sprucing up his home using the Land of the Rising Sun as his inspiration. Describing himself as “a normal, fellow Singaporean who loves Japan a lot,” Amal shares with JCC how he came to love the country, his experiences with the culture, and his hopes for the friendship between Singapore and Japan.

Japan Creative Centre (JCC): How did your love for Japan and Japanese culture started, and what was the reason for your interest?

Amal (A): It all began with my first trip to Japan in 2010. The first place that I visited was Lake Kawaguchi, one of the five famous lakes of Mount Fuji. It set a very peaceful and Zen feeling in me, and got me very interested to explore the outskirts and see beyond the city sights.

I feel that every prefecture offers a different glimpse into Japan. Spring in Hokkaido is amazing with the colourful flowers; in Okunoshima, Hiroshima Prefecture（大久野島） — the rabbit island — you can see the rabbits roaming freely. I think there are a lot of hidden gems in Japan, so every year, I make it a point to visit and explore Japan.

I've been to Japan more than 15 times now in the past 10 years!

JCC: You mentioned your first trip to Japan was to Lake Kawaguchi, why did you actually visit that place?

A: When my friend brought me on my first trip to Japan, I wanted to see the other side of Japan [besides the bustling cities]. So he brought me to Lake Kawaguchi where we could see the lake with a very beautiful backdrop of Mount Fuji. I still remember the joke that we had: the view of Mount Fuji looks like a huge Fuji Xerox poster — it looks so clear and so beautiful, and it’s an amazing sight! Not only that, we also explored the beautiful forests around Mount Fuji that are very peaceful and quiet. Both of us love to go for nature walks, so we normally explore places which allow us to do that.

Mount Fuji was a recurring theme in Amal’s home, featured on the walls and hanging screens around his home.

JCC: Can you share with us about your experience with Japanese culture and if there’s anything you would like to learn more about?

A: Staying in traditional Japanese homes during my trips got me very interested in how the Japanese set up their homes; it gives me a very calm, homely feeling. I think the beauty of the culture lies not only in the tangible aspects of what we can see from an outsider’s point of view, but also the intangible aspects like their way of life, starting from how their homes are designed. The Japanese have a very long tradition of building their culture, and I brought back bits and pieces of it with me to Singapore. Though it’s kind of a mish-mash of everything, the mementos hold the memories from my trips.

What I would like to know more about Japanese tradition is the way they incorporate different elements of nature together into one, for example: how they design Zen gardens. There’s a lot of history and meaning behind it, which I'm still trying to understand, and also hoping to learn more about.

Stepping into Amal’s home.

JCC: What is your favourite Japanese food?

A: Bento! I think the Japanese bento that you get in train stations are really nice. I find that it kind of warms my heart whenever I have bento on my Shinkansen rides. The items you can find in most bento sets, like the tamagoyaki, are good and healthy as well. This is the kind of food that I really enjoy.

JCC: You renovated your home to incorporate various Japanese culture and landmarks. How did your family and friends react when they saw it?

A: When I was designing the home, I tried to visualise how I wanted the place to be, i.e., if I love Mount Fuji so much, what is it that I would like to showcase about the place.

When I posted about it on social media, I had friends who asked if they could come over to see it. Their first reaction was, “Wow, this looks like a showcase,” and said that if they’ve never been to Japan, this would be the closest they could get to experiencing Japan. What I have here is more of a mash-up of what I’ve pictured about and experienced in different parts of Japan, so they should definitely visit Japan for the most authentic experience! I think they like the home because it doesn’t make them feel like it’s a normal HDB flat. It felt like they had been taken into a different world entirely.

JCC: Any future plans to broaden the cultural elements into your home?

A: For now, I’ll try not to add in any more items or elements, because I think I have put in too many things! What I’ll also try to do is to cut back on physical items, and maintain the Zen concept. Sounds and music can create and add on to the ambience of a place, so this may be the element I would add into this place.

JCC: In what ways do you hope your home will inspire others?

A: I hope that it will inspire my family and friends to explore Japan. Japan has a lot of wonders that you cannot express in words, so you would have to experience it for yourself, and that is what would draw you back year after year. For those people who have been to Japan, you know how it feels, you would just want to go back to Japan over and over again.

JCC: Where is your next destination in Japan?

A: I’ve yet to really explore Hokkaido and I feel that Hokkaido has a lot to offer. Once I get my driving license I would definitely like to do a road trip around the prefecture, and explore its outskirts and places that are hard to reach, and I’m sure it’s going to offer me different wonders entirely.

An avid fan of Daruma dolls, Amal has several of them displayed in his home. This particular Daruma doll has his wish written on the back: To bring his family to explore Japan.

JCC: What do you hope to see towards the friendship between Singapore and Japan?

A: I hope that there could be more potential collaboration or exchanges between the two countries. I believe currently there are opportunities through schools and workplaces, but for ordinary folks like me, there could be other avenues through which we can participate in to form friendships. Through these exchanges, we can learn from one another about the different cultures, traditions, and history. I think with that, we will have a better appreciation of the [different cultures].

I also look forward to visit Japan again when the borders open for travel. Likewise, people in Japan are welcomed to visit Singapore, where you can experience what we have to offer in terms of our culture, lifestyle, and diversity.

Watch the interview here.

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