An Interview with Akbok
HubPages' top Japan expert shares more about his fascinating and useful Hubs
1. How did you first find HubPages? What inspired you to join and start writing Hubs?
I first found HubPages by doing a quick survey of various writing sites on the internet, and actually settled on this wonderful site after a lot of firsthand comparing. The inspiration for my Hubs and choosing to stay with HubPages was the simple lack of in-depth Japan related articles and also the meritocracy that HubPages provides. I saw that good writing gets rewarded, and that authors who fill a niche can really succeed. After that I just had to do the obvious and start writing on HubPages.
2. You explain in your bio that you were born in Nagano Japan and moved to the United States when you were two, and that your goal on HubPages is to publish content regarding all aspects of Japan. Have you used your Hubs to explain more about Japanese culture to American friends? Or are you more just interested in sharing more about Japanese culture with the world in general?
Yes to both questions. I want my Hubs to be relatable on a global scale, but 75% of what I write about is actually friend and family inspired. I’ll ask friends who are Japanese language learners what they have trouble with, and then use that as an impetus to start a new Hub that answers their questions. I bank on the fact that questions my friends have about Japan and the Japanese language will be shared by most Japan-curious people around the world.
3. Also in your bio, you invite people to ask you questions about Japan that you say you will publish in the form of a Hub. What a great way to get inspiration for new Hubs! Have you received many questions?
I have indeed received questions, but not to the point where I’m burdened answering them all. This is sad for me, because I would love nothing more than being stressed by a demand for Japan related knowledge. However, the HubPages community always asks great questions in the comments section that helps clarify some of the language points I make, so I’m always appreciative of that.
4. Your Hubs are a really fun mixture of useful guides (e.g. how to make an appointment in Japanese and how to visit someone's house in Japan) and entertaining, informative articles (e.g. Japanese ghosts and monsters and an overview on Shintoism). Is there one style of Hub you enjoy writing more than the other?
Well, thank you! The neat thing about writing on Japan is that there’s a lot of space for diversity while still being able to stay under the overarching theme of “Japanese stuff.” Honestly, I like to write guides more because they are more useful, but the downside is that they are harder to relate to since not that many people actually visit Japan and make haircut appointments. Sure, writing and reading about Japanese ghosts is more fun, but my main goal here on HubPages is to provide information on a really detailed level that you can’t find on Wikipedia.
5. Of all the Hubs you have written so far, do you have a favorite?
Well, it’s kind of ironic, but I might be the most proud of my “Your Dog is Smarter Than You Think” Hub, simply because it took me a decent amount of time to read the sciencey papers and do the research. The picture of my dog combined with the college flashback that came after I cited my first source in years provided me with a neat cocktail of happiness.
If I had to choose one from the Japan themed Hubs, I’d have to go with Japanese Ghosts and Monsters. Many of the stories of the ghosts I talked about in the Hub come to life vividly in my imagination as I walk down the narrow Japanese streets that are lined with old wooden houses. Because my parking space for my job is right next to a creepy graveyard, it’s the only one of my Hubs that hauntingly affects me on a day to day basis.
6. What do you plan to write about in the future? You mention in your profile that you are now back in Japan and are focusing mostly on teaching English. Will you ever start writing Hubs on American culture or learning the English language?
I am indeed back in Japan, which I hope gives me and my Hubs some more credibility. Currently I don’t have any concrete ideas for future Hubs, but I feel like more puckish Hubs on Japan are in order. There are still plenty of cultural differences to be explored with lots of cynicism and satire. Writing on America has never really crossed my mind, but writing about teaching English in Japan has. That being said, I’m probably going to hold off on publishing a Hub about teaching English until my students get back the results of their national English test.
|
