Dennis Chia

Name: Dennis ChiaNationality: SingaporeanFaculty/Year: SILS/2012

Dennis is a truly inspiring Waseda alumnus who has published a book and regularly appeared on Japanese variety shows. His compassion for the devastated Tohoku region has also prompted him to initiate meaningful projects in Japan.  This week, Her Campus Waseda talks to him about his amazing achievements so far! 

Hi Dennis! We heard from the SILS office that you published a book about travelling to all 47 prefectures of Japan. That’s an amazing feat! Could you tell us more about it?Well, I travelled pretty extensively when I was in my freshman and sophomore year, but it wasn’t until my junior year that I realised I had covered almost ¾ of Japan, and that I could attempt on visiting all the prefectures in Japan and write a book about it before I graduate from SILS. To be honest though, I only stayed for a few hours at some of the prefectures (laugh).

When I first started travelling, I was travelling like an average tourist, primarily visiting famous tourist spots. In my third year, I had the opportunity to work part-time at a new start-up company called aeru, which has become rather famous today. The founder is keen on revitalising the Japanese traditional craft industry, such as lacquer ware and Japanese paper (washi) industries. I visited a Japanese candle craftsman in Kyoto with her once, and it was an impactful trip that prompted me to look deeper into Japanese traditions and customs in my subsequent trips. Instead of simply mixing with the other tourists, taking pictures and going home, I started to interact more with the locals, and those moments were the most fun parts of my travels!

What was the publishing process like?After I finished writing the book, I sent it to some Japanese publishers but they rejected me. I was also caught up with my graduation thesis then, so I decided to give up on the book. It was only last year when I looked back and regretted not publishing it that I decided to edit the content of the book and publish it for real. I ended up rewriting 80% of the book! In my first attempt few years back, I was too concerned with covering my visits to all 47 prefectures. Some of them were pretty shallow experiences so what I could write were limited. I filtered out those boring parts and focused more on the places where I had very interesting experiences. I wrote an English version as well, which is kind of similar to the Japanese one, but from a different perspective. My father liked them so he encouraged me to self-publish. It’s really about the experience and not about making money through the book. It’s hard to make money through selling books unless you’re famous!

Dennis’ inspiring book can be bought from Amazon. 

You were really active when you were schooling in Waseda. What was one memorable thing that you did?Have you heard of Project Yume? It is a small project that I started after the March 11 disaster. Together with a Singaporean artist who was in Japan at that time, I went around elementary schools in Tokyo and collected well-wishing messages and drawings from students. The collected drawings were then brought to the children in Iwate and Fukushima by us personally. 

Is this project still going on?This project is no longer going on because the Singaporean artist I was working with has since returned to Singapore. I had to concentrate on my graduation thesis too. However, I am still doing things related to that area. Right now, I am doing crowdfunding for a trip that I am organising. I gathered 10 people from 10 different countries, and we are going to a small town in Miyagi to learn about what is going on there. It will be a more optimistic study tour in which we aim to learn specifically about how their local economy has picked up after the disaster that struck three years ago.

Editor’s note: Support Dennis’ crowdfunding here!

We’ve also heard that you regularly appeared on Japanese variety shows! How was the experience?I rarely appear nowadays, but I did in my fourth year and the year after I graduated. Those times were the “peak” (laugh). I participated in filming four to five times a year and I really enjoyed it a lot! The most memorable part of the experience was the year-end-party (bounenkai) for the program two years ago. It was attended by more than a hundred people including regular international guest members such as myself, production staff and Japanese celebrities. The hosts of the show were three famous comedians, and other attendees consisted of actors, singers and models. The event provided me with great networking opportunities.

So what have you been doing after graduation?I was employed in two different Japanese firms in the first year after my graduation, but I decided that the Japanese office work culture is not suitable for me. I once tried to start a business with my dad, but many people told me that I am not suited to do it because I’m too “kind”. And they were right (laugh). For now, I’m going to graduate school in October. My aim is to enter a NGO or a NPO in the future. I started interning at the Peace Boat office just last week actually. They have a department that is involved in the Tohoku region revitalisation, which I’m quite interested in. I’m working part-time at a Singaporean restaurant too! 

All photos courtesy of Dennis Chia. 

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