Meerim was born in Bishkek in 1999 and spent her early years in that city. She is currently settled in Aizuwakamatsu, located in Fukushima Prefecture. At the moment, she is a mother and does not work.
“I graduated from the Institute of Japanese Studies at the Kyrgyz State University named after I. Arabaev, specializing in 'Organization and Technology of Hotel Services,'” she shares.
Meerim made her first visit to Japan after her first year at university, going for an internship in Naha, on the island of Okinawa. For six months, she worked at the airport. After returning to Kyrgyzstan, she continued her studies, but the next opportunity to travel came only later. Meerim successfully passed the tests and interview, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she was unable to leave. She completed her studies in an online format.
A year later, she had another chance to go to Japan through a three-year program. She made every effort to realize her dream, as she wanted to meet a friend who was already living in Japan. The friend was in Okinawa, while Meerim was supposed to work in Hokkaido. “It would be much easier than flying from Kyrgyzstan,” she thought.
After a successful interview, she was accepted into the program, and all participants first arrived in Osaka for training at a language school associated with the organization that sent them. Regardless of their language proficiency, everyone underwent training. After a month, they were sent to Niseko in Hokkaido, where they began working for a cleaning company, cleaning hotels and doing office work in the evenings.
“The work was hard. During the season, we had to work without days off, sometimes even without lunch. I remember working from 8 AM to 2 AM,” Meerim shared.
In one of the hotels, she met her future husband, a Japanese man. “We met there and later registered our marriage at the embassy in Tokyo. Due to the dishonesty of the company that employed me, I resigned at my husband's suggestion and returned to Kyrgyzstan. Two weeks later, he flew to me with his parents, and we held a Muslim 'nikah' ceremony, as well as a small wedding according to Kyrgyz traditions,” she recounts.
Meerim added that she has always sought to ease her mother's life, who raised her alone, and studying in Japan was an important goal for her, allowing her not only to pay for her education but also to practice the language. “I have always studied well and participated in competitions,” she noted.
Before enrolling in the Institute of Japanese Studies, she dreamed of becoming an employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Academy, like her parents, but she didn’t manage to submit her application in time.
“I also studied Korean and spoke it quite fluently. When I saw the field of 'Japanese Studies,' I thought, 'Why not?' That's how Japan entered my life,” Meerim added.
At the moment, she has been living in Japan for four years (not counting her first internship).
According to her, the Japanese are characterized by politeness, calmness, and respect for personal space. “They try to help those who do not know the language, guiding them and explaining what to do,” she said. However, there was also an unpleasant experience: one of her colleagues tried to humiliate her, which caused her stress and worsened her skin condition. “This led to my resignation, but fortunately, such cases are rare,” Meerim noted.
The neighbors living near her are friendly and readily greet her on the street, sharing produce from their own gardens.
Her husband, a Japanese man, and his parents accept her as their own daughter, which is very valuable to Meerim. “I have grown to love them, and now I have a Japanese mom and a Japanese dad,” she shared.
Comparing Kyrgyzstan and Japan, she noted:
“The climate here is radically different from ours. In summer, high humidity makes the heat unbearable, while in winter, the cold feels different. Economically, things are not smooth in Japan right now—the yen has significantly fallen against the som, and food prices, especially rice, are rising, which worries the Japanese themselves.”
What surprised her the most was the attention given to pedestrians. “In Kyrgyzstan, even at a pedestrian crossing, drivers may honk and rush you. When I first arrived in Japan, I would habitually run across the road, but I was told that it was dangerous. Here, cars stop when they see a pedestrian,” she says.
The difference between the two countries is felt in many aspects: in culture, the character of people, and attitudes toward work. “In Kyrgyzstan, people are open and sociable, while in Japan, they are reserved. Everyone is busy with their own affairs, which is perceived as respect, but sometimes there is a lack of warmth and soulfulness,” she added.
“Work in Japan is priority number one. Many people stay late at work and do not complain, while in Kyrgyzstan, after work, people spend time with family and friends,” Meerim continued.
The attitude toward women and family also varies. “In Japan, it can sometimes be stricter, while in Kyrgyzstan, there is more warmth,” she added.
Meerim shared that once in Tokyo, her bag and wallet were stolen. This happened in a breastfeeding room: she stepped out for 10 minutes, and when she returned, nothing was there. The only person who entered after her was the cleaner. “I was just filming a video, and in the recording, I noticed something sticking out of the cleaner's pocket that looked like my fanny pack. It looked suspicious,” she said.
Unfortunately, neither the bag nor the wallet was found. “It was unpleasant, but it showed that even in Japan, thefts happen. I recommend everyone to be cautious,” she added.
There are few Kyrgyz people in Japan, but they meet at special events. For example, on June 6, Meerim and her family attended the Expo in Osaka, where Kyrgyzstan Day was celebrated. She met friends and compatriots there and also keeps in touch via the internet, helping others.
In the future, Meerim wants to achieve success in her profession and benefit both Kyrgyzstan and Japan. She runs a blog on social media and plans to develop this direction.
“I want to maintain a connection with Kyrgyzstan. I don’t have clear plans yet, but perhaps someday I will return to be close to my family. Unfortunately, it is currently difficult for my husband to find work in Kyrgyzstan, so we cannot move,” she noted.
The couple has a daughter, and her husband converted to Islam before their wedding. They entered into both a civil and religious marriage. “Not all Japanese are samurais, but my husband comes from a samurai lineage,” she added.
Meerim's daughter is named Aiya. She chose this name because it is found in both Muslim tradition and the Japanese language. The girl is currently 11.5 months old.
“My husband respects Kyrgyz culture and loves meat dishes. His parents were thrilled with Lake Issyk-Kul, saying, 'It’s like a real sea!' I adore my international family and believe in a long and happy life,” she concluded.
