異文化共生住宅 co-lifestyle

The Secret of Popularity
Chapter 2: The Guest House

The “Foreigner House” began as an accommodation facility for foreigners. However, its uniqueness has spread amongst the Japanese, and now many Japanese people also live there. This led to the transformation of the facility into a unique rental house known as the “Guest House”, bringing a sense of excitement and fun not found in typical rental properties.

So, who are the residents of this guest house? Our company operates a guest house (J&F House No. 1), which houses about 20 residents, with foreigners and Japanese making up roughly equal numbers.

Among the Japanese residents, there are young people who are aiming to become scuba diving instructors, dreaming of obtaining qualifications in the United States while working. English proficiency is essential for them, but it’s difficult to spend time and money on learning. For them, this guest house serves as an ideal place where they can learn English while living, a kind of rehearsal for life abroad. On the other hand, there are Japanese women who are enjoying a slow life, having just returned from abroad. Their goal is to soften the culture shock of sudden re-entry into Japanese society.

Among the foreign residents, there are a diverse range of individuals, including an American street performer, a Ukrainian web designer, a Chinese cook, and a Korean student. Moreover, with residents like an English teacher and a Filipino businessman who speaks five languages, there is no shortage of language learning partners.

In the evening, the residents who were out during the day return one after another, gathering in the living room to cook meals from their respective countries, enjoy conversations until late at night, and exchange information. It seems like a lot of fun.

Inquiries from people who have heard such stories and wish to move in are endless. One day, a woman who seemed to be over 70 years old asked, “Do you have any vacancies?” When the manager hastily asked, “Is it your grandchild who wants to move in?” she replied, “I want to live here. It looks like a lot of fun.”

The people who live in this guest house are looking for interaction and contact. There are no barriers of age or race here.

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