“ I am interested in everything like a child and I think that learning kept me much younger.”
Name : Ami Imaoka
Gender : Female
DoB : 15.04.1985
City of Birth : Takatsuki, Japan
Status : Divorced
Family : 1 Son, 2yo
Hometown : Hiroshima, Japan
Education : Master in Global communication
Job : Banker
Religion : Shintoist
Politics : Liberal Democracy Party
As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?
JOB – How did you decide to do this job?
I dreamt about becoming a pianist… I played and studied piano from 2,5 until 18 years old. And actually I stopped playing because my teacher told me that I would never be able to make it as a professional pianist Since then I do not really enjoy to play it anymore.
My son’s birth was such a happy moment… And it really changed my life.
HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?
I thought I would live abroad because I have always loved to communicate with foreign people. There was a lot in my town (Osaka) and I would often try to ask them why did they visit japan. I have always liked the idea but never thought about a particular country.
Ami with her 2 year old son.
Ami trying to get a taxi in the streets of Hiroshima.
Striking and memorable events…
IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?
I am thinking about two opposite things… One happy and the other rather sad: the birth of my son and my divorce.
My son’s birth was such a happy moment… And it really changed my life. After his birth I was much more sensitive, very stressed and had much more responsibilities. It was the time when my husband and I started to have problems. My son is 6 month old and we decided to divorce only a few months ago. It was very hard and he decided not to see his son anymore. He does not really have time because he works hard and lives far from Hiroshima.
Divorce was a very important event in my life because it made me that there is no light decision…
After divorcing, many friends supported me everyday. It was very important for me because they helped me to think more positive.
IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?
Japan : The Earthquake and the Fukushima disaster of course. It was so.. I felt powerless, I could not do anything, just watch TV… Waves were breaking the town… I was scared but more concerned about people living there… they lost their family, their home…. Even if the press never mentioned anything, I was also scared about the nuclear radiations of course. I think that Japan is currently facing a dilemma because we cannot produce enough electricity with another way and at the same time there are many earthquakes. Which mean that our plants need to be safer.
World : It’s not really an event but I would say the evolution of the relationship between Japan, Korea and China. It has always been very complicated because of our history.
BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory? I am thinking about the year I spent in Guanzhong (China). It was such a great experience because I could meet and exchange with people coming of all over the world. I could know more about other cultures and their way of thinking. I was sharing flat with 3 other people (Thai, Japanese) which was also a great experience!
GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am proud of my job because after divorcing I decided to learn about financial planning. It enables me to help people to solve money issues, I give them advices and it makes me feel really helpful and proud.
Looking back / Reviewing expectations
10 YEARS AGO, I tough I would become a housewife. I did not want to work hard. I imagined myself married of course with 3 children ☺ because I had 1 brother and I wish I had more siblings. At the time, I was not sure about where I would live but I wanted to live in one of the Japanese big cities.
TODAY, I am working for my company for 5 years already and I changed my mind about career and really enjoy working. My personal did not turn out as I want since I got divorced from my husband just a few month after the birth of my son and we actually just spent 2 years together. But today I am fulfilled in my life and thank my friends for it.
Ami having coffee and pastries with a friend.
Ami and a friend having dinner in Hiroshima.
30 years old, a turning point?
WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?
Nothing… really… Today is my 30’s BD. I have people wishing me a HB. But that’s it…Nothing really but I feel the need of being more active because in my 20’s I did not do much so I may want to catch up a bit. I want to make more friends. I want to enjoy… , go out, go to watch baseball. I want to do more things in my 30’s. Be more open… go to meet
Nothing really but I feel the need of being more active because in my 20’s I did not do much so I may want to catch up a bit.
different people. I would say I know myself better today. Maybe because I already experienced many things. Getting married, divorcing, giving birth.
In my body also of course… many!!! Skin care costs me much more ☺
In my body also of course… many!!! Skin care costs me much more ☺
OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? Of course I want to say young because I still have positive thinking. I am interested in everything like a child and I think that learning kept me much younger. But I want to learn more, I think it is an endless positive dynamic.
CHANGES OR REGRETS? What are the things you would like to change? I do not think I have any regret. Because I think that if one event did not happen in my past, my thinking of now means nothing. All experiences made the person I am today so I cannot change them. But maybe I would like to tell my husband that I am sorry….
My Values
My Typical day
And tomorrow?
YOUR STORY IN 10 YEARS – What is the story you want to tell within 10 years? I want to get married again. Maybe do it better… I really want to love one person, to take care of him, spend time together. I do want more children also, 2 more…. Even if my job is interesting I think I would love to change and teach the importance of money to college students because at that time I had no knowledge and I was a bit lost. I would teach… I do not know where I will live… Osaka maybe, back to my hometown.
THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?
Japan : I think Japan will become more nationalist. I feel that there is nationalist trend growing and that we should be proud of our traditional culture. We should communicate on it and I want foreigners to come and discover it. I think that the economical situation will get better, mainly because the new generation is studying very hard and it will pay off. But the low birth rate worries me a bit because our population is growing older.
World : I think that economical situation will get better. I also see much more machines and electronic in our daily life.
Fears and Dreams…
FEARS – What are you afraid of? I think that I am afraid to loose my friends. Because loneliness is the worst that can happen to me.
ACHIEVEMENTS – What are the things you want to achieve? I want to evolve in my professional life and help people through my work… Just be a good person…
DREAMS – What is your craziest dreams? I want to become famous! For my job! Not in my job but in my sphere. I think it is really crazy because they are many people who are really good so it is hard to achieve.
