Abi Buller
I was a JET in Tokyo from 2022-2023. Before getting my placement, I heard that it’s a lot more common to be based in a more rural area of Japan, so I was both surprised and pleased to hear that I’d be living in the big city! I was even more surprised that the area of West Tokyo I chose to live in (just two stops on the train from my school) was quiet, relaxed, and had a sense of community that I thought might be hard to find in a sprawling metropolis. In fact, some of my favourite memories are from the volunteer-led Japanese lessons I attended on Saturday mornings, in a community centre just five minutes from my apartment. Joining these classes even led to me giving a speech on stage in (elementary!) Japanese, which is something I never could have imagined doing before moving to Japan and doing the JET programme!
At the school where I worked, I loved learning from the students and teachers about both modern and traditional aspects of Japanese culture. My school even had a tatami room, where I learned about Japanese traditions like sadou (tea ceremony), ikebana (flower arranging), and kimono. Outside of Tokyo, I made the most incredible travel memories – from visiting the famous snow festival in Sapporo to relaxing in onsen (hot springs) in Kumamoto.
Coming back from such an amazing experience in Japan was definitely a challenge, but I’ve been able to stay connected to Japan and the JET programme in different ways. Just a month after returning to the UK I started an MA Programme in Japanese Studies at SOAS in London. I had wanted to return to higher education for a few years before doing the JET programme, but having been in Japan and started learning Japanese, I then felt sure that this was the course I wanted to study. Studying MA Japanese Studies was a bit of a whirlwind (as I’m sure most full-time MA courses are), but it was both a stimulating and challenging experience – and one that allowed me to deepen my passion for Japan, even without being in the country anymore.
More recently, I started a new role as a Senior Trends Analyst at a global consumer research company, which builds on the work experience I had before moving to Japan – and the diverse cultural perspective I now have as a result of living in Japan and continuing to study the culture. Also, towards the end of last year, I joined the JETAA committee as their Newsletter Editor! A couple of newsletters in, and I still love hearing about ex-JETs' memories of their time in Japan, and the new memories they're making as part of JETAA. Reflecting on the past couple of years since being back in the UK, my JET experience has had a huge impact on my life. I still learn Japanese most days, seek out Japanese activities whenever I can, and continue to make connections as a result of my love for Japan. My advice for newer alumni is to find ways to stay connected to their JET experience, whether it’s through learning Japanese, taking part in Japanese activities in their home country, or simply staying in touch with the friends and connections they made in Japan.
Are you a JET alum with a story to share? Get in touch to be featured in an upcoming Senpai Spotlight.
