Honoka

Japan
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Travel information
I am currently
Travelling
Activities i am interested in:
Living and eating like a local
Art projects (I make stop motion videos!)
Nomad life/freelancing
Sustainable living
Hiking and camping
SUP/canoeing
Living with animals (it's a dream!)
Travel
My next destination:
Morocco - from Mar 2024 until Apr 2024
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Description
Hello! I'm Japanese, but with a background of being raised abroad in the US, Canada, Singapore, and Sweden. I'm fully bilingual (EN/JP) and currently work as a freelance translator. I love to draw and would love to travel, get inspired, and learn to live freely while immersing myself in new cultures and environments.

I've been wanting to use Workaway ever since 2020 when I quit my full-time job at a fashion/art company in Tokyo - but I guess now's the chance. The reason that I'm finally here, is because I have a pressing situation that I need to escape from - which are the deadly pollens (*gasp* not the aliens. the pollens.). I've developed severe allergies towards pine pollens over the years of living in Tokyo, and I've come to learn that the city air/life just makes it worse. I've suffered from terrible skin problems for a long time which worsens during this season. And it never really healed because of an unhealthy mentality that had been implanted in me while working for years at a "black company" (companies that deplete or overwork their employees) and then quitting that job, breaking up with my partner, and figuring out what to do with life amidst covid. I had so many uncertainties about life, and I was nowhere near happy. But I knew that I wanted to be happy and that I wanted to create, travel, love, laugh and live life again. I made the transition to becoming a freelancer - a freelance translator, dreaming of a life to travel, and work from anywhere in the world with a skill that I can call my own. Especially in Japan, where it's so easy to become a "salary-man" or an "office-lady" who are expected to become experts in their specific firms.

When I sorted out who and what sort of life I wanted to live, I naturally started opening my eyes to more opportunities, taking action, wanting to try new things, and make more meaningful connections to the world. I decided that I want to make healthy decisions for my mind and body, and treat myself better. So here I am, ready to venture, go where it’s greener (literally), be inspired, and live life.

As I've briefly mentioned, the city-life has been giving me health issues (pollen allergies, skin problems, depression etc), which I wish to someday solve by living in a more rural area, and or living with a good balance between city and nature. I've always been interested in living a more sustainable life, but I am still very far behind. I hope to learn from the real experts out there and discover what it really means to live with nature, and discover the best balance for myself. I also want to discover what I can do, while farm staying and living out of my comfort zone.

I feel very motivated when I have a purpose, and when I know that I can help someone and make them happy. Whether it be for the earth or for a good cause. I have a passion to draw, create and make stop motion videos, but it all comes from the love to express myself. I used to be a dancer, perform in a music band and juggle, but now, I translate for children's books, sustainable brands, and for movies and more. I still make art, and I would love to try things that would feed my inspiration. As long as I have the right mindset, with the right people, I know that anything would be fun! :)
Interests
Cooking & food
Beach
Mountain
Cycling
Videography
Camping
Writing
Photography
Movies & TV
Hiking
Drawing & painting
Charity work
Outdoor activities
Sustainability
Dancing
Art & design
Self development
Performing arts
Languages
DIY & crafts

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Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Korean: Beginner
Swedish: Beginner
Vietnamese: Beginner
Chinese (Mandarin): Beginner
More details about my language interests
This workawayer has indicated that they would be interested in sharing their language(s) or learning a new language. You can contact them directly to discuss this.
Find a language buddy
Skills and knowledge I'd like to share or learn
I'm interested in:
Eco Projects
Charity Work
DIY and building projects
Some knowledge of:
Art Projects
Languages
Animal Care
Life at a Farmstay
Helping around the house
Able to teach about:
Helping with Computers/ Internet
More details about your skills
Bilingual Translator (EN/JP)
Freelancing
Public Relations
Art/Illustrating/Paper cut art
Making short animation clips
Playing instruments (brass, piano)
Dancing (ballet, modern dance etc)
Juggling
Yoga
Good appetite
Basic knowledge of aroma therapy
Accepting and open-minded
Hard working and curious
Age
30
What else ...
I used to have a beautiful black rabbit. She joined the family in Canada, then we brought her to Japan, and she passed away in Singapore, now resting in our grandma's garden in Japan. What a life! But a good life!
Some more information
- Smoker
- Driver's licence
- Allergies
  Pollens (pines)
- Special dietary requirements
  I try to stay away from highly processed foods, but no allergies! I love to eat.

Feedback

28 Feb 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Honoka)

It was an unusual moment to have Honoka and Chester helping around. The big cleanup before lunar new year. Normally I don't have much time and energy to deal with it. But with these two Angels tidy up and assistance, they really made our space crystal clean and shiny divinely again.(Hallelujah~)

In addition, I learned a lot from them about to… read more

(Excellent )

3 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Enjoy the tranquility and ...)

Such a cute and fun time in the lush mountains with Steven and his dogs. I was traveling from Japan with a friend, and we stayed for 12 days during new years. Steven was a nice host, taking care and feeding us well with his tasty cooking lol, ensuring that we were making the most of our time. It was peaceful/relaxing to work with him, and he has a… read more

(Excellent )

5 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Join us in a multi-cultural ...)

It was miraculous timing that I found luckydaisy in June 2022 just when they were reopening after covid. My first time in Vietnam, and was there for 30 days helping with the art aspect like signboards, but also cleaning, repainting the walls, reception for international guests, and a bit of website building towards the end. I was lucky to meet the… read more host Hien even for a short time (she is usually in the Netherlands), and the people who gathered at the right time. It really felt like something lead us here to cross paths.

The place is located in Tavan, a small cozy mountain village away from busy Sapa, and Hien is literally the pioneer of the bar/guesthouse culture around the area. You'll see that she's created a trend, but the intention, art, passion and vision of luckydaisy is just so beautiful and empowering. I felt like I really wanted to be part of it and help, so as did the other helpers. The people there were so giving, spontaneous to help, and really welcomed us like family. Towards the end, they saw me as a member of the team, more than just a volunteer, and even offered to extend my visa, even if it wasn't that easy to do. Unfortunately, I had to return back to Japan for health issues, but I wanted to stay longer if I could.

When I left Vietnam, I felt like I was literally leaving a piece of my soul there because of the heart-to-heart connections that I could make. Hien, Coco, Tu... The Hmong girls and villagers... The bar staff, Sang and Chi are amazing too. They cook really good food (especially Sang's apple pie is to die for) and they are funny girls. I really hope they can visit me in Japan one day. The location of the bar was chosen for a reason, and I think it also attracts amazing and adventurous people. People who come to Tavan and luckydaisy are all people who are looking for something different in the world, they didn’t just end up there for no reason. They are independent and inspiring. I could bond with them easily and instantly become family, creating bonds with one another like siblings. We made trips (trekking, swimming, stayover at local house, live-music night etc!) and made some fun memories together. I've already been back to Vietnam to meet my friends there and seems like I can't have enough of the experience lol. I'll be sure to come back, and can't wait to make another family trip with them in another part of the world. Cám ơn luckydaisy, and sayonara until then!

(Excellent )

3 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Come and learn about natural ...)

No one is talking about his dirty old van lol! Trust me, you will have an adventure on it. Haha.. :) I was traveling from Japan with my friend, and we were there for 12 days during Christmas. We were alittle intimidated by Steve's energy at first (he has *alot* of energy), but at the end, we were very happy to have come to his place. Steve is a… read more

(Excellent )

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28 Feb 2023

Left by host for Workawayer (Honoka)

(Excellent )

3 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Enjoy the tranquility and ...)

(Excellent )

5 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Join us in a multi-cultural ...)

(Excellent )

3 Feb 2023

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Come and learn about natural ...)

(Excellent )

6 Aug 2022

Left by Workawayer (Honoka) for host (Learn about the tropical and ...)

My initial reason to come here was to escape the pollen season in Tokyo due to my severe allergies. The plan was 4 weeks, but I ended up staying for 4 months.

At one point after a month, I did leave Okinawa to try working on a different smaller island, but it just wasn’t for me, and I realized that this place was just too good. The new hosts… read more didn’t want to connect with me at all, and all they cared about was paying back their debt. It was understandable, but I was being mentally and physically violated and ended up in tears after a week. I was stuck - I didn’t want to go back to Tokyo because pollens were still flying, and I remember calling Okaasan about what to do with trembling hands. After she heard what was happening, she told me to come back straight away and told me she’ll have a room ready for me. There was no happier feeling than having a “home” to come back to in Okinawa. That’s what the farm was to me - home.

I was so grateful for this chance, and I wanted to really repay them. I worked hard, helping them with work on the computer (applying for an online grant, translating and responding to messages received, making a digital pamphlet and brainstorming for their website etc), as well as using my love for art to paint the walls and create the main signboard for the farm, besides the usual day-to-day routine in taking care of the animals. But we could really do all these things, only because they sought to bring out the best in us and to grow and challenge ourselves in the direction that we felt happy with. They treasure so much about each individual’s happiness here, and you can really see it primarily from how they treat their animals.

The farm is not only a farm - it’s a place where you can discover a new definition of happiness, and realize that it’s as simple as eating breakfast under the morning sun with the people you love, lying underneath the stars and sun with cats, dyeing your clothes with turmeric and berries, drinking homegrown coffee in a hand-built house, building your own fire to take a hot shower, baking pizza in an oven that you’ve made from scratch, long talks with the most hip people in the community…etc.

When you come here, you will feel like a kid again, pushed to be courageous, and will be taken care of in the loving arms of Okaasan, Otousan, and Kotomisan. You’ll also meet some of the wildest people who have a positive take on life, are independent, and inspire you with their life stories.

I ended up exploring more of the village by workingaway on another organic farm in the same area, but the longer you stay in this village, the more you’ll fall in love with Ogimi. I am still connected with my “Okinawan family” I made from being in the community, and I intend to stay connected with them for a long time.
For me, the farm is where I saw my “ideals” and “what sort of person I want to be” and learned that there’s nothing that I can’t do. Anything is possible, with some wit, courage and love.

With respect and sincere gratitude,
Honoka :)

(Excellent )

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