Satoshi, Kyoto, Japan

“ I used to move on the surface of my life but I feel I am going deeper now…”

Name : Satoshi Gotsubo

Gender : Male

DoB : 21.08.1985

City of Birth : Hiroshima, Japan

Status : Single

Family : Only child

Hometown : Kyoto, Japan

Education : Art University, 4y

Job : Sei-Tai Therapist, Logistics for Copy Machine

Religion : Shintoist

Politics : –

As a child… How would you picture yourself at 30?

JOB – How did you decide to do this job?

As a child I wanted to be a comic artist! Drawing for mangas like Dragon Ball. I have always loved mangas, I still do! I have a quite big collection ☺
I also remember that at some point I wanted to be a fisherman because I like the ocean but this thought did not last.

I studied art but I do not think it was a decision… It was just natural because art is in my blood. My dad crafts knives and my mother used to be a musician and a dancer.

I am proud that I can trust my body sense. I do not have a great sense to choose things and stuff but I do have a great sense to choose people and have always been lucky in my encounters.

I was raised in a very artistic environment and I did not consider any other option for myself.

HOME / PLACE OF LIVING – Where you thought we would be living by now?

I was born in Hiroshima, south of the Honshu island (main Japanese island) and I have to say that I did not really think about it when I was a child. Like I said I wanted to be a comic artist, which probably meant moving to Tokyo. When I started to study arts I move to Kyoto, the cultural capital of Japan.

Satoshi having his favorite dish, Ramen! A typical japanese dish!

Satoshi is found of art and dancing. Here he is performing at a small venue in Osaka.

Striking and memorable events…

IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE – What are the most memorable event of your personal life?

The most memorable event in my life was my moving from Hiroshima to Kyoto for my studies.
This event really made my life different because it made me meet many new and interesting people. I started be independent and lived with roommates which was quite a good experience.
This is also the moment when I started to learn Sentai, a Japanese acupuncture technique (literally, Seitai means “to bring the body into order), which I practice as a job.

IN THE WORLD – What are the main events that stroke the world you are living in?

Japan : The 2011 earthquake and nuclear accident in Fukushima is with any doubt the event that affected me the most because it was such a big event that everyone’s life was affected. I have a few friends who live in Tokyo who considered (and still are considering) moving because of radioactivity.

Another event that affected me particularly is this stupid law that prevents clubs and bars to play music after 12pm which is a great problem for me because I love dancing and I am hindered! This law passed may years ago but it got a bit stricter lately.

World: 9/11 is the event that stroke me this most. I remember that I was home when it happened, it was around midnight and I was home watching TV. There was some breaking news and I could not understand what was happening. We are quite free from terrorist attacks in Japan so it was really hard for me to understand. Actually, another event was the death of a Japanese hostage in the Islamic States a few month ago.

BEST MEMORY – What is your best memory?

My best memory happened in 2006 during my student times when I was chosen to run the association that organizes the yearly music festival of the university.
It is a very important event that lasts 3 days and during which many artist perform.
It is my best memory because I had no experience in this area but people trusted me, I could pick my staff. It was a very challenging experience and the event was a great success. I also got to perform on stage, which was the icing on the cake.

GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT – I am proud that I can trust my body sense. I do not have a great sense to choose things and stuff but I do have a great sense to choose people and have always been lucky in my encounters.
These encounters taught me a lot and I think that they made the person I am today.

Looking back / Reviewing expectations

10 YEARS AGO, I tought I would be a successful artist, probably a painter, travelling all over the world for my work. I would still be based in Kyoto because I like japan and Kyoto is the cultural capital of the country. But I saw myself being flexible and able to move around. Depending on job and opportunities.
I thought I would be married by 30 but I never really thought about having children by then.

TODAY, I realized that being an artist is not as easy as I thought… And over the last years I have tried to find a proxy… A way for me to work in art and still make both ends meet. This is why today, on top of my Seitai job I work for a copy machine company.
Today I feel really rich in my body and feel really which is the most important for me.

Satoshi attending a concert in Osaka.

Satoshi mainly uses his scooter to get around in Kyoto.

30 years old, a turning point?

WHAT’S NEW? – Did you notice some changes since you are 30 YO?

Many people say that after 30, one have less stamina but I do not agree at all and do not believe about these body changes.
It is more an evolution and I think that body and life are linked. If my body changes, my life changes.

I am going to be 30 in a few months and I think it is a period of my life during which I get to understand myself and make decisions.

I am going to be 30 in a few months and I think it is a period of my life during which I get to understand myself and make decisions. I used to move on the surface of my life but I feel I am going deeper now… I see myself and a collection of many parts that I need to built up.

OLD OR YOUNG? – Do you feel « old » or « still young »? Definitely young! I do not have any explantion why… It is just my feeling.

CHANGES OR REGRETS? I never really regret because when some bad things happen, I try to think that it is ok and make my life change. But when I park my s

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 be married and I want my life to be clearer… It’s very hard for me to project myself because today my life is not clear. My relation to art is still unclear for instance and I am trying to find a proxy that I would love. Over the next year, I will work on making my life clearer. I want a more simple deep and clear life.
Nevertheless, I think I will stay in Kyoto because I love to live here.

THE WORLD IN 10 YEARS – How do you imagine the world you will be living in within 10 years?

Japan : I do not have any idea of how my country will evolve but I see many trouble happening. I think that living in society will be even more complex because of the development of technology and we will have to train our senses if we want to live in harmony. I think that Japanese culture has many tools to be able to face such a problem. I found it very interesting to live in a country that may seem full of contractions with a very traditional side and a very modern/technological side. Over next years, I believe that the traditional side will be more important.

World ; I do not really think about how the world will evolve but I think it will be same trend as in Japan… I hope new values and a new way of living in society will arise.