Hello from Japan (VIA the USA)

[ArcticMermaid]

Hi everyone!

I was a member on here years ago, then life hit me really hard. So I thought I'd write a re-introduction!

The first problem was not being able to find a pool nearby where I can use a monofin, the other was becoming a mom (that was a good problem though! ;)) I've really missed this community, and I really hope I can make friends and just enjoy being part of the culture here.

I study music (just a newbie, but doing my best!), and now I'm feeling really inspired to try creating some mermaid music! My son is also (finally!) old enough for swimming lessons, and I want to take swimming lessons too! I guess I'd like to believe if I become a strong swimmer, I'll feel more like a mermaid. And it would be a great way to get healthy! I found some adult classes in a nearby city, I'm thinking about signing up after the virus stuff is over.

I also love fish! I have a few pet fish already. A big chunky Tosakin goldfish, 3 little white daruma medaka (a Japanese rice fish) and lots of little Opae Ula shrimp that just won't stop having babies! lol I hope to adopt seahorses (captive bred from a seahorse farm!) down the road, they're my dream pet since childhood. They need an expensive setup to be cared for properly, so I'm slowly collecting the bits and bobs I'll need.

As for the Japan stuff - I moved here from the USA back in 2011. I'm terrible at Japanese, but I'm working at it! Living here is super cool, but sadly I haven't found and mer-schools yet. I know Singapore has one, but thats TOOO far! lol I also don't know anyone locally doing mermaiding. I'm quite isolated in that regard. But on the bright side, I can visit Mermaid Lagoon at Tokyo Disney Sea almost anytime! King Triton's palace always takes my breath away. Google it! It's amazing.

I've got an Arctic mermaid persona going because I LOVE snow and ice, and the arctic in general. Plus I hate the heat and get sunburn easily, so I'd be a terrible tropical mermaid!

Not sure where I'm going from here, maybe I'll focus on the music stuff for now since that's something I can do without waiting. Hope I can make something worth sharing!

And also hope to make mer friends along the way. :D

[theMerFanc]

Hello and welcome back! I love fishies too, I used to have an aquarium in college but decide that I was moving too much and it was stressing them out, basically all my fish would die off after every move. But once I settle into my dream home some day I'd love to get a huge aquarium!

As far as mermaiding out there, if there isn't anyone who already swims, maybe there is a market for it! Ever thought of going pro?

[ArcticMermaid]

Hello and welcome back! I love fishies too, I used to have an aquarium in college but decide that I was moving too much and it was stressing them out, basically all my fish would die off after every move. But once I settle into my dream home some day I'd love to get a huge aquarium!

As far as mermaiding out there, if there isn't anyone who already swims, maybe there is a market for it! Ever thought of going pro?

Oh yeah, moving can be stressful on fish! I think I'm really settled at this point, so should be good! I also just realized I forgot to mention my hermit crab (waiting to find her a friend the right size, she's so big!) - I think they technically count as a mer-pet! lol

I hope you get your dream aquarium!! Are you thinking fresh or saltwater? I love chatting about aquarium planning! lol

I heard theres a place in Okinawa where you can pay to dress up as a mermaid and have a photoshoot, but I'm way up near Tokyo. and it's really a one-off thing vs a legit school.

There COULD be a market for it! I've been tempted to blow the dust off my harp and get learning again. Would be AMAZING to dress up as a mermaid and play the harp, people would probably LOVE that.

But I'm worried I just don't have what it takes to go pro. :cry: I'm 34 and will be 35 in a few months, so age is slowly working against me. I have short hair, I'm a little overweight (which in Japan means your super overweight, doctors here love to remind me:cry:) and I am often overpowered by my own personal demons like anxiety, low self esteem / confidence, shyness, etc etc. Sometimes I want to break out of my shell and do something amazing like mermaiding, but I have a heck of a mountain to climb...err...swim over to get there.

But on the bright side - I'm great with kids! I mostly teach kids as an English teacher, and the little kinder kids always seem to like me a lot. So I think I could rock it that much at least. BUT I'm also terrible at Japanese - so unless the kids want an English lesson from a live mermaid, I'll need to study pretty hard before I can do anything beyond that.

But with all that out of my system, being a pro mermaid sounds like an absolute dream come true to be honest!

[fabianfrz]

I would suggest you to look if you can learn finswimming as it is the same movement - monofin without the tail above it. You can also learn it by yourself but make sure that someone is watching you for your own safety.

[Mermaid Colette]

Hello and welcome! i like fishies too, i am planning to get one this summer and provide it a happy life. if you can't find a merschool yet, first i reccomend watching some videos on how to swim like a mermaid-so you get the basic idea. i hope you have a nice time here. i actually just joined yesterday! have fun!

[ArcticMermaid]

I would suggest you to look if you can learn finswimming as it is the same movement - monofin without the tail above it. You can also learn it by yourself but make sure that someone is watching you for your own safety.

Thank you, that's a great idea - unfortunately I haven't had any luck yet, but I'll be keeping an eye out.

[ArcticMermaid]

Hello and welcome! i like fishies too, i am planning to get one this summer and provide it a happy life. if you can't find a merschool yet, first i reccomend watching some videos on how to swim like a mermaid-so you get the basic idea. i hope you have a nice time here. i actually just joined yesterday! have fun!

Awww great! What kind of fishies do you like? And what kind do you plan to get this summer? :) If you need any aquarium tips, I can try to help! Yay we're both newbies! That's a lot of fun. I love it here, I hope you do too! I'm finding so many YouTube and Instagram accounts to follow, it's amazing how much is hiding out there in plain view! :D