Where Are They Now: Andrew Brasher (Ashiya, Kobe)

Interviews with Hyogo JET alumni to find out what they are up to post ALT life.

 

Andrew Brasher, originally of the USA, spent 4 years as an ALT in chic Kobe suburb Ashiya, and now lives and works just around the corner in Osaka.

What are you doing now?

Andrew: Right now I work at a video game company as an international coordinator. That title just means that I do translation but also have to help out in other ways whenever interaction outside of Japan is involved. This can mean interpreting meetings, managing the English website, organizing business trips abroad, and so on.

How has the experience of living in Japan helped you?

Well, this question is probably a bit easy to figure out in my case; I live in Japan and what knowledge I have of both languages and cultures is my most valuable asset to the office.

What did you hope to gain from doing JET before you came out here? Did you?

I was just a nerd who really liked Japan since I had been in elementary school, so just coming out to work here probably accomplished what I was looking for.

What is your favourite memory of Hyogo?

I wish I could land upon an answer that fits better with Japan but for some reason I keep coming back to Awaji Burger in Nishinomiya. I used to get it from time to time during lunch with Ryan (another JET, same year as me) and we’d just hang out in the park and chat, I enjoyed that time a lot. I also like Takarazuka a lot though; the theater, the Tezuka museum, and just how spacious and clean and good-looking the city is.

How do you find the Japanese working environment?

I think my job is for the most part a typical IT desk job kind of gig. I guess I’ll say the one thing that’s different about my working environment versus some other place is that almost everyone on the staff has different action figures all over their desk. Lots of nerd merchandise everywhere. Honestly given what we do, I feel more reassured that way, everyone is very passionate about what they do.

Do you have any advice for ALTs looking to continue working in Japan post JET?

I was lucky because I got to be close to Kobe and Osaka while on JET and just met a lot of people from different walks of life. I’ve always had some curiosity about more rural Japan, but especially for people who want to continue working in Japan, what’s most to your benefit is just to meet other foreigners in the city and get an understanding of what kind of jobs even exist out there. Good luck.

Is there anything you miss from the US?

Honestly what I miss about the US is all of its cereal. That is why I am bringing an empty suitcase on my business trip next week and am going to fill it up with hopefully 8 or more boxes.