021 Interview with Eriko

In this episode, we have an interview with Eriko, a freelance hair stylist in Tokyo. Eriko's Instagram is @ericolor_19870328. All video, sound, and editing for this episode was done by Oikawa san, his Instagram is @basperfilms

Chapter bookmarks:

00:00 Start
02:26 The what button
04:01 Why did you become a hair stylist?
10:15 How was New York?
13:17 My old bird watching boss
14:53 Why did you come back to Japan?
15:51 What's the worst part about New York?
16:49 Chris got scared in New York
19:32 Are you gonna live in Japan forever?
20:32 Eriko, do you have any tips?
23:33 As a hair stylist, what is your specialty?
26:15 Interview result: pass

Transcript

Hello everyone and welcome back to Kuli English Podcast. It's me, your host, Chris. So usually I do all these episodes and podcasts by myself, but today we're going to be interviewing a special guest.

So I'm going to let this guest introduce themselves. Can you introduce yourself?

Okay. Hi, I'm Eriko. I was born and raised in Japan and I'm working as a hairstylist in Tokyo.

So, yeah.

Okay.

That's enough.

And then, so sometimes for like the self-introduction, especially with my students, I usually ask for one fun fact.

Fun fact?

Fun fact. Yeah, anything. Maybe something that you like, something that you dislike, something that you feel strongly about.

Ah, fun fact.

I love my dog.

You love your dog?

I love so much.

Can you introduce your dog?

Ah, hi, I'm Kotatsu. I'm two years old. Yeah, I'm so friendly.

I really love to play with people.

People.

People. I'm people.

Yeah, Kotatsu is actually really friendly.

Super friendly. He's crazy friendly. He loves everything.

Yeah, but he hates the duck.

He hates ducks?

Yeah.

Like quack-quack ducks?

Yeah. Oh, that's a really good fun fact. 

He doesn't like like a super high-energy dogs.

Oh, other dogs? Like a peep. Like high-energy dogs.

Ducks. Ducks? Dogs?

Ducks is quack-quack. Dog. Dogs.

Dog.

Oh, yeah, that makes sense. You probably meet much more dogs. All right, so let's continue with the interview.

Okay.

So I'm going to ask you some questions, and then, you know, if you don't really have a good answer, it's okay. There's no correct answer.

It's okay.

But so I have some questions ready here.

Oh, I'm not ready.

You're not ready? Too bad. We're going to continue with the interview.

Okay.

So why did you decide to become a hairstylist?

Yeah. Why? Why?

Why? Why? Why?

Yeah.

That's a kind of long story, but...

Oh, yeah, long story's good.

Okay. I like long stories. Yeah.

Oh, no, I forgot to introduce the what button.

What button?

Okay.

This is the what button.

Yeah. Yeah, so we have a special button. I'll look at the camera again.

We have a button. This is the what button. So it's like a pre-recorded button.

So it just says what. I don't know who says that. It was me.

It was my recording. But then, so sometimes in the podcast, I'll probably speak a little bit, like, faster. Or, like, if things get more exciting, then sometimes it gets a little complicated.

So this is going to be Eriko's job.

My job. Yeah, your job.

This is an interview, right?

Yeah.

And you already have a job.

Oh, yeah.

If I say something that seems kind of hard, or maybe you didn't understand it, or maybe you think someone who's, like, still studying English would have trouble understanding it, then you should push this button. What? So you can practice.

Let's practice. What? No, not yet.

I didn't say anything. All right. I'm going to say some stuff, and then when you don't understand them, or, like, when you think it's appropriate, I want you to press OK.

OK.

In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most of my days. Chilling out and relaxing. What?

I did that on purpose. It's, like, some kind of rap song. I'm not going to rap, so.

Rap?

Yeah, rap. Rap. Like, the genre of music.

Yeah, I don't know if it's music. I don't really like rap music. OK.

OK. So we got the what button.

What button?

I can't push it. Only you can push it. Yeah.

So then, OK, let's continue with that question. So I'll ask it again. Why did you decide to become a hair stylist?

Why did you decide? OK. I try to talk.

OK.

Yeah. Kotatsu is here to support you.

Wow. When I was a high school student, I cut my hair by myself. I used to have, like, long hair.

Long hair.

All the way down your chest?

Yeah. Yeah. And then I got a haircut by myself.

And then I changed the hairstyle long to bob. Like, bob style.

Back to your chin?

Yeah. Kind of like that.

Yeah.

And then I cut by myself. So it was crazy.

How did you cut the back?

I don't know. I just did like that. So it was terrible.

Like, you know, I need a surgery. You know? So that's why I was looking for the hair salon.

And I never been to the hair salon because my mom always cut my hair.

Oh, you always have your mom cut your hair. So, yeah.

I need to go to the hair salon. Oh, my gosh. So I found a new open hair salon, and I went in there.

And, yeah, he cut my hair like a very pixie haircut. Like this.

Exactly like this. Oh, okay, okay.

Yeah. And I was like, oh, my gosh. It's too short?

Or, like, I don't have any confidence.

Yeah, you were probably worried.

I was so shy, and I hate my looking. So I was a little bit shocked because I expected to, like, just a trim or, like, a little bit more like a cream bob or something.

Yeah.

But what? You know? I never had, like, a very short hair like this.

Because all your life, your hair was long, right?

Yeah, long or bob or, like.

And then suddenly it got short.

And then you look in the mirror. It's like, eh? Eh?

Really?

No. What?

Yeah. Yeah, but, you know, I can't. I couldn't back to long hair, right?

Because I can't.

So, okay. Yeah, it takes time to do.

Yeah, okay. And then the next day, I went to the school. But my friends, you know, yeah, I got so many compliments from my friends.

Oh, so everybody liked it.

100%. Like, oh, my gosh, it's good on you. It looks so good.

You know, everybody said to me.

That's amazing.

And I don't have a lot of friends, you know, but.

So when you say all of my friends, how many friends?

I'm really shy. I'm not good at, you know, making eye contact. I can't see the people, like, you know.

Oh, yeah. 

So it's so, like, quiet. And then quite a quiet person.

Even people that you haven't spoken with. They say, like, wow, super good. Yeah.

After that day, I feel like very, very happy. And then I feel like the hairstyle can change, you know, the personality or life or something.

Yeah. Yeah.

Right. So that's why I decided to be a hairstylist. But my high school is, like, super strict.

Yeah. Most of my friends, you know, want to go to the university. And, you know, that's a normal style.

But I decided, oh, I don't want to go to uni, you know.

So you became a hairstylist.

I just go to a beauty school or something.

Oh, OK.

My mom was so surprised. What? My teacher was so, like, eh?

Yeah. So I've heard that story before, but not like this. This is, like, the full version.

Full version?

Do you think so? Yeah. I'm happy to share the full version.

Yeah. I don't know. Turning point.

Turning point?

Yeah. The turning point.

In Japanese, it's like a koukou debut.

Koukou debut.

Do you know? Koukou debut. Like a debut?

Yeah.

Yeah. In English, I think it's just debut, high school debut.

Yeah.

High school debut. Like, yeah, I can make a lot of friends, too. And my personality was more open.

Yeah. Because you got a bunch of compliments. Yeah.

And I guess it made you feel good.

Yeah.

And then you started to like yourself more.

Yeah.

Especially that look.

Yeah, exactly.

And did you keep that hairstyle for a long time?

Yeah.

How long did you keep that hairstyle?

Maybe six years.

Six years?

Yeah.

Okay.

I got a short hair like when I was 16. And then continued until like when I was 23 or something.

Oh, okay. And then eventually you grew it out longer. Because when I first met you like two years ago.

Yeah.

At the English-only cafe.

Mm-hmm.

I think you had long hair.

Longer bob or something like that.

Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. When I was 23, I changed the hair salon. Yeah.

And then my boss say to me like you should change the hairstyle. Short cut is not good on you, so.

Oh, so it's the opposite.

That's not what they said in high school.

In high school, they're like

Yeah

Yeah

Yeah

But now you're boss.

You should change the hairstyle to bob or something. Oh. So, okay.

And then I tried to growing out my hair.

So, bob is like.

Yeah, just a straight like.

Okay.

Like a ningyo.

Okay, okay. Like a doll.

Yeah, like a doll.

Yeah, that's actually really easy to imagine. I think like everybody knows what a doll kind of looks like. Oh, okay.

All right, let me move on to the next question. This is, we're going to continue the interview for the job.

Okay. For the job, okay.

Yeah, I don't know what the job is, but we're interviewing. Okay. Okay.

Right. All right. So, I read on your resume.

Well, you didn't give me a resume.

Resume?

But I see that you went to New York.

Yeah.

And I want to ask you about that. Can you tell me about your New York experience?

New York experience. That was Crazy Time.

So, when did you go or like how long did you go to New York for?

Well, I went to New York like.

For a couple of years?

Couple of years. From 2019 to 2023. Oh, okay.

Yeah, most of my life in New York was during the COVID.

Oh, yeah.

During COVID. Yeah, during the COVID. But it was good.

It was a good experience.

Okay.

Yeah.

What was the best part about New York?

Best part is like, I don't know. Best part? Best part?

Well, it doesn't have to be. 

The people?

Okay

Maybe. Yeah, I can see a lot of, you know, different style person.

Different hairstyles?

Hairstyle, of course. Like outfit and personality and culture and food. You know, super multicultural.

Yeah, it was super inspired me. Yeah, it's just so fun. Just sitting on the bench in the park and watching the people.

Oh, that's fun?

That's fun.

Just sitting on the bench and you just watch people. Oh, new style, new style.

Yeah, yeah. That was so fun. Because in Japan, there is, you know, the people is all the same, right?

They look like the same.

Yeah, the style kind of.

Almost same hairstyle, same fashion, same language, you know.

That's true. Same language. Yeah.

Yeah. But in New York, it's crazy. Some people singing, like some people like a dress like.

Some people were singing? I think, you know.

Performing, right? Oh, yeah. They were singing in the park.

Actually, yeah. There are like street. That's true.

Street performers, street singers.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Like that. Oh. Also fashion.

Do you want to be a street singer?

No, no, no. I just. I don't know.

I don't want. I don't want.

OK.

More like. Just watching is fun. Just watch.

Just fun.

Just fun. Just watching is fun.

Yeah, yeah.

Oh, God.

Yeah.

Do you like watching people? People watching?

People watching is kind of bird watching.

Well, no. I think people watching and bird watching is so different.

Really?

Like if you.

People watching is so fun.

Yeah, people watching is fun because people are interesting. You know, it's like, oh, why are those two together? Or like maybe you go to like a restaurant and then you see like two people eating together and you're like, I wonder why they're eating.

Are they dating or are they not dating yet or something? Or maybe they're already married.

Maybe they're like siblings.

But then bird watching. I had a boss at my old job and he's such a nice guy. He's a really, really nice guy.

But then, like, I think he always says his hobby is bird watching. And then I asked him, like, what is bird watching? And he says, well, you watch birds and then you like look it up to identify them.

And there's like books that tell you like what the birds are. This bird is like a black bird, but it has like an orange beak. So it's this one.

And then I remember thinking, that doesn't sound fun. That sounds not fun at all. But he does it with his wife and he's like a really nice, happy guy.

So I believe him when he says he enjoys it. And he always asks people. He's like, hey, everyone.

So we have like a meeting at work. And he's like, hey, everyone. So did everyone have a good weekend?

Oh, I heard that you went to San Francisco. Did you have a good time? And then people ask him, hey, Bill, what did you do this weekend?

Oh, I went bird watching. And then like the first time you hear it, it's like, oh, wow, bird watching. What's that?

And he tells you, oh, yeah, I watch birds. And then I think about what kind of birds they are. And then sometimes I have to look up what they are.

And sometimes I know what they are without looking it up. And I'm thinking, like, does your wife also like bird watching? But he's a really nice guy.

Bill is like one of the nicest people I've ever met. Oh, no, I forgot. We've got to do the interview.

I told you about my old manager. Ah, OK. So you went to New York.

And then you were there for three to four years. You had a good time. But now you live in Japan, right?

So why did you not stay in New York? Why did you come back to Japan?

Why? Why? Because I couldn't imagine to live there forever.

But you did it for three years, four years.

Three, four years, yeah.

But then you wanted to live in Japan. You think living in Japan is better for you?

Yeah, my priority is, like, life, you know. It's not work. Work, work, work.

Yeah, I got a lot of experience as a hairstylist in New York. So, yeah, I feel like, you know, it's enough.

It's enough?

Yeah.

So then this one, you don't have to answer this one if it's, like, too hard to answer. But, like, what's the worst part about New York? Worst?

Yeah, I asked you what the best part is, and you said, like, the people.

People. What's the worst part? Worst part?

I'm always feeling a little bit danger.

Oh, yeah, it is. It's not safe.

Compared to Japan. Yeah, of course, I'm living in New York by myself. I'm always, you know, be alone.

Yeah, you're always alone. So, a little bit, you know, kowai.

And you didn't have kotatsu in New York, right?

Yeah, yeah.

It is kind of scary, right?

Yeah. But, yeah, there is a lot more, there are more, like, good points. Yeah.

But...

Did I ever tell you that I got scared in New York? I also got scared in New York. I used to, sometimes, for my old work, I would go to New York for work.

And then, I'm like a single guy, right? So, it's probably, like, easier for me than for you, like, with a single girl. But then, I was walking, and I used to have yellow hair.

Because I dyed my hair yellow. And then, like, homeless people would, like, they'd, like, call to me. And they'd say, like, hey, hey.

And then, I don't really look. Because, you know, like, in college, I've seen homeless people. And, like, usually, you don't really talk with them.

You just kind of keep walking. But then, these guys, like, hey, hey. And they get mad.

Ay, yo super saiyan. Ay, yo super saiyan. I'm talking to you.

And super saiyan, super saiyan is because, like, in Dragon Ball Z, like Dragon Ball, there's, like, a saiyajin. And then, they have yellow hair, right? And I'm Asian.

So, these homeless people are calling me. And then, like, I think it happened once. And I was like, okay, that's fine.

That's just, like, a little bit of, a little bit, I don't know. I don't know if it's racist or something. But it's, like, a mean name calling and whatever.

But then, the second time it happened, like, they started, they, like, stood up. And they started following me. Following you?

Following me, yeah. Like, they were following me. And so, I was, like, walking.

And then, they got, hey, you're a super saiyan. I'm talking to you. Hey.

And then, I didn't look at them. And I'm like, I don't know. So, then, they started following me.

And this is, like, late at night, like, midnight in New York. And then, so, then, I started, like, running a little bit. I think he started running, too.

And I'm like, I don't know what to do. So, then, I went into a pizza shop. And, like, the pizza shop guy was like, what do you want?

And I said, I'm running away from a hobo. He said, okay. And it's, like, I think the crazy part is, like, I was running away.

And then, someone sees this, like, what do you want? Do you want pizza? Do you want to order?

And I said, no, I'm running away from a hobo. And they're like, okay. It's, like, a really normal everyday thing.

So, yeah. When you say you felt kind of like you were in danger in New York, like, I know what you mean. Because I felt like I was in danger.

But New York has a lot of stuff. It has, like, you know, Broadway. And as you say, there's a lot of, like, different fashions, different styles.

That's the image. And I think it's also kind of cold in the winter, which I don't like that much.

But if I focus on the business, you know, I can make money more in New York.

That's true. Yeah, you'll make more money in the U.S., probably.

But danger.

But it's dangerous. Yeah.

So, it was hard to decide. But, yeah, I'm so happy. Now I'm living in Tokyo.

Do you think you're going to ever move to New York or, like, somewhere outside of Japan? Or do you think you'll live in Japan forever?

I want to live here forever. Sometimes I want to go to, like, California travel.

So, when you travel to New York, like, do you want to travel to New York or do you want to travel to a new place?

New place.

New place? New York is fine. But you lived there for three or four years.

Maybe you have some friends there or, like, clients there.

Yeah, I want to visit my friends. Yeah, but it's not...

So, you would visit for the friends, but not for the dangerous... Not for the danger.

Yeah. I prefer Europe. I love Europe.

Oh, okay.

I want to go, like, more... I want to go to Europe.

You want to go to Europe?

I want to go to Europe.

Okay. Alright, so then there's a few more questions I have for you for this interview. So, thank you so much for this interview.

I have some more questions. Okay. So, for you, we've been doing this whole thing in English and I guess there might be people listening to the podcast and, you know, they might be wondering, like, how did you study English?

Like, do you have any advice for me? So, imagine if there's someone listening and probably someone who also grew up in Japan. Do you have any advice for them?

Advice?

Yeah. Any advice, any tips?

Tips? Just speak.

Just speak?

Speak, speak, speak.

And how did you get speaking practice in Japan?

I'm always talking at home by myself. Self-talk? How do you say that?

Yeah, you're talking to yourself? Yeah, talking to myself.

You say, like, one thing. Yeah, I do that, too, for Japanese, actually.

Yeah, I also went to a lot of, like, meetings, like, English language exchange meetings.

Oh, yeah, yeah, like meetups?

Meetups. So, yeah, I went to there a couple of times, many times.

Many times?

Yeah, I made friends. 

You make friends there, you made friends there. 

And just speak, speak, speak.

Yeah, that's how we met, right?

Yeah.

We met at a language exchange, yeah. But then sometimes at those events, is it, like, some of them are good, but some of them are bad, right? Like, they kind of aren't fun, or it's hard to talk.

Yeah.

And then what do you do if the event sucks?

What?

If the event, like, it's not good.

I don't know.

Sometimes you go and then you meet weird people.

Sometimes it's so boring.

Sometimes it's boring, sometimes you meet weird people.

Yeah.

Maybe sometimes you're tired or something.

But just go. Just go. Just go and speak.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's it, yeah.

Yeah, it's important for you.

Because before going to, like, the meetup, I was so scared. And then, oh, I want to stay home, but okay, I'm going to go, you know?

Okay, so you put yourself to go. Yeah. Yeah.

So just make opportunity to speak English is so important.

Oh. Did you have, like, a memory of, like, a favorite meetup?

Favorite meetup?

Yeah. Like, did you ever go to some event and then you're like, oh, this was great. Wow, it was so fun.

I feel like I spoke a lot or I made some friends or something.

There's not that many.

All right. Okay. Okay.

All right, then this is probably the last question for the interview. Very last question.

Okay.

So you, as a hairstylist, do you have any specialties?

I specialize in hair color.

Hair color? Okay.

My favorite is hair color.

Okay.

I love hair color. Yeah.

Yeah, because your Instagram name is, like, Ericolor, right?

Ericolor, yeah.

Yeah.

I don't know why I really love the hair color, but the hair color can change, like, you know.

Everything.

Everything, you know. Yeah. And also, the reason that I went to New York was I want to learn about hair color technique.

So that's why.

Hair color. Okay.

Hair color. Hair color. Yeah.

So you basically went to New York for, like, special hair color training.

Yes.

And you trained for three, four years? Yeah. And then you come back to Japan, and you're like, I have all this power now.

Now it's time to serve customers. I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm doing this, but, like, serve.

I don't know what it's like, the color.

The hair color is the same technique, I think. But the hair color is kind of completely different.

Oh. Different.

There is a lot of difference.

Yeah. There's a lot of differences.

Yeah.

All right. So. And then you serve mostly, like, international clients, or?

Do you use English in your work? At work, do you use English? And then a lot of the customers are international customers?

They're not Japanese, or?

I have a few international clients, but I want to try to, you know, find new international clients.

Oh, you want to find new international clients?

So. All right.

Then you've got to advertise.

So, please check my Instagram.

And what is your Instagram?

Huh?

What is your Instagram? How do you spell it? Is it long?

My Instagram account is ericolor... underbar... I can't say, no, no more.

Okay, well, it's probably too long for someone to read it and understand it.

Please.

Yeah, we'll post it. We'll post it on the thing.

But you can find great hair color on my Instagram, so please check my Instagram.

All right. Okay.

All right.

Then I think the interview is pretty good. You passed. You know what you get?

Nothing. I have nothing for you.

Oh, my God. It's so hard. It's a hard interview.

The most hardest interview in my life.

Really?

Yeah. Only English.

Yeah, it's all English.

All English. Only English. Yeah, I think it was okay.

Are you happy with your interview performance? Do you think you're happy with it?

Yeah.

Yeah, I think it was good.

Yeah, this is my new challenge. So, yeah.

Yeah, you did it. You even brought a... otsuresama.

Yeah. You brought a plus one.

Yeah. Thank you so much for being with me. Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, he likes it when you touch that thing.

Hi. Do you understand my English? No?

No? No?

He doesn't want to take away the attention from you. He wants to make sure that you have a chance to shine.

He looks so tired.

Okay. So, that's probably a good point then. We can go ahead and wrap up.

So, I always look at the camera and I say the same stuff. So, while I do it, you can look at me. You can laugh.

I don't care. 

So, thank you so much for listening to Kuli English Podcast. 

Yeah, you can push that if you want.

Thank you so much for listening to Kuli English Podcast. And this has been an interview with Eriko. So, we'll be posting Eriko's Instagram on whatever medium it is, so, YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, whatever. And then if you're looking for hair color stuff in Tokyo, I think Eriko is going to be a good resource for you.

I am the best. I am the best.

Yeah, she said it. She's the best.

Yeah.

And she did this whole thing in English. So, if you're looking for someone who can speak English, then that. Plus, of course, you are a native speaker in Japanese.

Okay. And then, so, thanks for listening. And subscribe if you want.

You can unsubscribe if you want. It doesn't matter. But thank you.

Thank you.

All right.

All right.

That's good.

Yeah. That's good.

That's good.