Justin Randall - Hokkaido (2019-2024)

Justin working at a farm in Bihoro Town, Hokkaido

Where were you in Japan as a JET and when? 

During my time on JET, I was employed by the Kushiro City Board of Education in Kushiro, Hokkaido, from 2019 until 2024.

What sparked your interest in applying for the JET program? 

At the time, I was unsure about my current path and after consultation with my advisor, who himself was a JET alumni, I decided to take the chance and chase after a new life while challenging myself to live in a foreign country.

Justin at a campground near Konbumori Village, just outside of Kushiro City

What are some of the things your prefecture is known for? e.g. food, hotspots, etc. 

Hokkaido at large is known for its vast, unbroken natural landscapes and deep connection to underexplored cultures. Kushiro is a lonely city sitting at the edge of the world, most iconic for its heavenly sunset that beams bright on the days when fog is faint. Kushiro is a mecca for seafood lovers, filled with green throughout spring and summer, a cool city where a warm jacket might make an appearance when the rest of Japan is sweltering under the rising sun. In Autumn, the colors pop like wildfire across the dense forests and marshes surrounding the cities, leading to ancient mountains where myths are real and the gods call home. Winter is when the city comes alive, and both children and adults speed across the many community ice rinks. While faint in snowfall, Kushiro is an icy place where many warm friends are waiting to be made.

Did you pick up any of the regional dialects? What are some of your favorite words or phrases? 

While Hokkaido dialect falls on the same side of the tree as Tokyo’s urban speak, the moment you wander around many of the small fishing villages or farming towns, alien words of joy and exhaustion appear in twisted accents spoken swiftly by toiling workers. A few of my favorites are なまら (namara) for “very” or しゃっこい (shakkoi) for “things cold to the touch.”

I find the most joy in 道産子 (dosanko), a moniker once used for horses bred in Hokkaido now happily adopted by proud residents to describe that gruff Hokkaido pride.

Justin's rubber boots ice hockey team in Kushiro City

If you were to return to live in Japan, would you choose to live in that same prefecture? 

While I am still in Japan, I am often asked if I will live here forever, an endearing question born from curiosity that often doesn’t sit well with me. Rather than life in Japan, I am entranced by life in Hokkaido, a place which is both familiar and foreign to any conception of what it means to be Japan. Hokkaido and all its abundant nature fill my eyes with pristine sights, my breath with the cleanest of air, and my heart with the warmest of memories to keep me sane throughout the coldest winters.

How has your connection in relation to Japan changed since living in Japan? 

I’ve moved on from Kushiro, at least for the moment. Now I am taking on a new challenge in Kitami City, where I work as a member of the Regional Revitalization Corps to promote the city and its joyful life to the world. As a freelance journalist, I’m always stopping for slow conversations and getting to know the stories of the infinitely interesting people around me. As a guide, I am learning how to collaborate with others to bring fresh faces on adventures in Hokkaido they soon won’t forget. 

Justin filming a festival in Kitami City as a member of the Regional Revitalization Program

Thank you, Justin, for sharing your JET story!