Earning the nickname ‘Soaring Arrow’ was just the start of the Japanese adventure for Peter ‘Shouya’ Grigg. Words Lisa Young
Niseko, a popular ski resort in Japan’s North Island of Hokkaido, is home to British-born entrepreneur Peter ‘Shouya’ Grigg. Originally from Leeds, Peter is now more commonly known by his Japanese name, Shouya.
“Because I was active and sporty, I was soon given the nickname ‘Shouya’ – it means Soaring Arrow – and it stuck. ‘Shou’ stands for always being on the move, having a sharp eye, always checking things out (taking photographs) and ‘ya’ means ‘Arrow’ – when I see something I want, I don’t hesitate, just like an arrow I fly in and get it. It was kind of fun creating a new Japanese identity.
Shouya has lived in Japan for the past 16 years. He currently resides in Niseko with Kanene, his Japanese wife of 12 years, and their 3-year-old daughter Sophia. Today, the successful 41-year-old entrepreneur owns and operates a number of businesses under the brandname Sekkastyle. They include a small boutique hotel called J-Sekka, a restaurant called Sekka, and a number of luxury holiday villas and condos dotted around Niseko.
“My early years were spent in Leeds, West Yorkshire, where I attended Kirkstall Middle School. In 1980, my parents decided to relocate the family to Australia in search of a better way of life for their children.
“We left England because my father was tired of the bad weather. We moved to Melbourne, but after our arrival it rained for weeks. This downpour triggered another shift to Perth, where the weather conditions were definitely more promising,” Shouya explains.
On graduating from school, Shouya left Australia and went travelling through Europe, India and Asia for a year. He returned to Australia to study for a Diploma of Art at Perth Central Metropolitan College, and later majored in Film and TV at Curtin University.
“In 1995 I secured a working visa to go to Japan. I was 24 years old when I arrived in Hokkaido. My intention was to study Japanese and then return to Australia to work in the film industry. I went straight to Japan’s north – I guess I have always liked Northern regions, maybe because I’m a Yorkshire boy at heart! Hokkaido is also famous for its snow, and I was heavily into snowboarding at the time.
“I started to cycle around the island as soon as I got off the plane. I was completely free – no mobile, no email – just my bike, a tent and pannier bags. I toured the island for 4 months, meeting locals and learning to speak Japanese,” he says.
Japanese is one of the most difficult languages to learn, and Shouya struggled at first. “It took three to four years just to reach a good basic level, but if you apply yourself and put the language to use, you learn much faster.”
After his cycling adventure, Shouya moved to Saporro and found work as a DJ and photographer. “I started out on a working holiday visa and I’m now on a spouse visa, but I’ll soon have my Japanese residency, which I’m very happy about.
“I met my wife Kanene in Sapooro. I got on very well with her family; she is the youngest of four children. Her parents were definitely a little concerned about their daughter dating a Westerner at first, but they were pleased she was happy and, once they were familiar with me, they welcomed me into their family. My now ‘in-laws’ were pleased that their daughter married someone from another culture. I have never heard of a family saying ‘no’ to a mixed marriage,” he explains.
Shouya soon recognised a need for upmarket hotels, holiday accommodation, restaurants, shops and larger homes in the Niseko area, features that would attract the wealthy people who travel the world in search of the best ski resorts and summer destinations.
“In Japan, things don’t always happen the way they do at home or you expect them to. When I first set up my business it was hard persuading banks to lend me money. They were wary about lending money to foreigners or non-residents. I managed eventually to gain their trust and now we have a good relationship,” he adds.
“However, I know I will always be a ‘Gaijin’, – a foreigner – I will never be considered Japanese. I will always be the ‘outsider’.
“I don’t always agree with the way things are done, but I accept and respect Japanese customs and culture, their way of thinking – even if it is sometimes old-fashioned. Some designers and architects do think more freely, but a lot of businesses are very closed-minded and it slows things down.
“For example, I’ve been landscaping my garden. One evening I went for a bike ride and came across a construction site, where I noticed a big pile of rocks. They were exactly what I needed for my garden, and the next day I went back to speak to the workmen. They were surprised to see me, as a lot of people here don’t have the chance to interact with Westerners.
“I asked if I could have the rocks, but although they were not going to be used, the builders had already planned to drive them to a dumping ground. Because this plan was already in place, they wouldn’t give me the rocks. Instead they drove them right past my house to throw them away.
“If I were dealing with some other culture, the builders may have been more flexible, but here people stick to the rules and do things by the book,” he says.
“However, people are genuinely very polite and friendly to each other in Japan. People in other countries just don’t compare to the Japanese when it comes to manners.
“One thing that really stands out is the respect locals have for each other, for their space and belongings. I had to go into town yesterday and so I rushed off leaving my windows and the garage – which is full of stuff – open. But no one would think to come here to steal something.
Although Shouya occasionally misses the history, architecture and countryside of the UK, and Australia’s landscape and wide-open spaces, he describes his life in Japan as ‘fantastic’ and plans to stay there for the foreseeable future. “Living in Japan offers many highs, sprinkled with the occasional low, just to test me and keep me on my toes.”
Fluent in Japanese, Shouya and his wife often speak in English in the hope that their daughter will become bilingual. “Sometimes I speak to my wife in English and she will reply in Japanese – sometimes it is English both ways and sometimes Japanese both ways – sometimes she speaks to me in English and I reply in Japanese – sometimes she speaks to me in a language I am yet to understand,” he laughs.
Shouya has never really considered himself a businessman. He is more interested in the creative process of developing ideas. His flair for style and design led him to create his current home, the beautifully-designed Hanazono House. His Japanese-influenced contemporary home sits on 12 acres of land, surrounded by rolling hills. There are no other houses in sight. This tranquil paradise boasts a backdrop of Mount Yotei, a 1,898m high mountain and the symbol of the Niseko area.
The spectacular natural environment surrounding Niseko is home to brown bears, Siberian chipmunks, Japanese sable, Eurasian red squirrels, Ezo red foxes, flying squirrels and mountain hares. The range of mountains is dotted with high wetland areas and small lakes. In the winter the area becomes a wonderland of fresh, white powder snow as far as the eye can see.
For an avid snowboarder, having a giant snow park right on your doorstep is pretty handy. When he’s not busy running SEKKA projects, Shouya hits the slopes as often as possible.
“If you’re seriously thinking of moving anywhere in the world, don’t hesitate, do it now – life is too short,” he advises. “The world is really very small and we are all very similar at the end of the day, wherever you may go. Take action now and discover new places, people and yourself.”
www.sekkastyle.com
www.j-sekka.com
www.sekkateca.com
www.sekkalodge.com
