Nationality: India
Time Living in Japan: 6 years
Employer: Futaba Area Tourism Research Association
Current Job Title: Manager
Areas of Expertise: Inbound Tourism, Japanese
Education: Master’s in International Cultural Studies (Linguistics) from Tohoku University, graduated in March 2022. Currently enrolled in the PhD program in the same department.
Language Ability: Hindi-Native, English-Native, Japanese-Advanced
Publications: Click here to view
Bio:
Swastika is a committed professional at F-ATRAs, where she excels in inbound tourism and translation. With a passion for poetry and a love for chai with ginger, she has a strong connection to the Japanese language. When she’s not engaged in work or language studies, she finds peace and clarity through running. She is also currently pursuing a PhD in Linguistics at Tohoku University.
Favorite Thing About Living in Japan:
・The food! I love Japanese food, everything from sashimi to natto.
・I’m involved in the coastal region of Fukushima and Sendai and have noticed how the power of community in these areas has completely transformed me. Coastal Fukushima still has several stereotypes attached to it because of what happened in 2011, but I genuinely believe that the stories here deserve to be shared and amplified.
Favorite Place to Visit in Japan:
・The Yonomori Sakura Tunnel in Tomioka, Coastal Fukushima: Going for a run and eating the special gluten-free baumkuchen or “tree cake” that can be bought at Baumhaus Yonomori.
・Sendai: Eating the traditional zunda mochi at Murakami-ya Mochi which has been around since 1877.
What has kept you in Japan?
Community, the Japanese language and tuna mayonnaise onigiri.
Favorite Place to Visit Outside Japan:
New Delhi.
What you have noticed has changed throughout your time living in Japan ?
Personally, I have seen a positive change in my perception of what identity and what it means to be true to oneself even as we navigate different cultures.