Who am I ?
My name is Fabian, and I’m from Belgium, the “flat country.” Born in the late ’90s, I grew up as part of a generation deeply influenced by Japan. Video games, manga, Japanese music… Japan has always played an important role in my life.
My dream of exploring this country came true in 2016, during my first family trip there. That trip made such a lasting impression on us that we returned in 2017 and again in 2018, exploring new regions each time and discovering a little more of everything Japan had to offer.
In 2019, as part of my studies in tourism, I had the opportunity to complete a three-month internship at Tokyo Trip, a company specializing in guided tours. Following this experience, I was offered a work visa so I could start a new life in Japan in 2020.
Unfortunately, the pandemic had other plans. After spending a few more months in Japan, I had to return to Belgium and wait nearly three years before I could finally make my dream come true. I finally returned to Japan in early 2023, this time on a work visa, and since then I’ve been fortunate enough to work as a tour guide for several years.
All these years spent traveling around the country have given me a deep understanding of Japan and inspired me to share my knowledge through my own endeavors.
During my first few years in Japan, I also discovered a new passion: photography. Today, photography has become another way for me to tell stories and share my perspective on Japan.
Finally, thanks to the languages I speak "French, Dutch, and English", I also discovered just how difficult it can be for some people in Japan to find someone with whom they can practice a foreign language in a simple, pressure-free way. That’s how the idea for conversation tables came about.
Today, I'm married to a wonderful Japanese woman, I live in the city of my dreams, and I finally have the chance to do what I love: share my experiences, my passions, and my love for Japan.
Anyway, enough about me!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my website. I hope you find what you're looking for here.
Portfolio
The first passion I’ve developed over the years is photography. And what better place than Japan to explore this boundless art form?
As I traveled across the country, I quickly realized the immense potential it offers to photographers. From major cities to rural landscapes, from mountains to coastlines, not to mention the animals, temples, and shrines... the possibilities are almost endless.
Given this wealth of subjects, I’ve chosen to focus for now on five styles that are particularly close to my heart: Cityscape, Landscape, Wildlife, Bird’s Eye View, and Portrait. My galleries are regularly updated as I travel, make new discoveries, and improve my skills.
I started out in photography with a simple Canon EOS 1300D, before switching a few years later to the Fujifilm X-H2, which allowed me to further explore my creativity and continue to improve my skills.
For my “Bird’s Eye View” photographs, I also use a small DJI Mini drone, which allows me to discover and showcase certain landscapes from a completely different angle.
Beyond my personal projects, I also want to put my experience and passion for photography to work for those who wish to capture a special moment, place, or experience. Whether it’s for portraits, travel memories, personal projects, or more specific needs, I offer services tailored to each request, with an approach that’s as personalized as possible.
Feel free to explore my various galleries and photography services by clicking the buttons below!
Conversation tables
My second passion is perhaps more of a skill that I've developed since childhood.
Having grown up in a multicultural environment, I was exposed to different languages and cultures from a very early age. Although I am a French speaker, I completed all of my schooling and higher education in Dutch, began learning English at the age of 10, and picked up some basic Spanish thanks to my heritage.
Over the years I’ve spent in Japan and through my experiences as a tour guide, I’ve come to realize just how much of an asset it can be to speak several languages. In fact, I’ve often met Japanese people who were happy to exchange a few words in a foreign language they had once studied or spoken.
These encounters got me thinking about all the people who would like to practice a foreign language but don't always have the opportunity to do so in their daily lives.
That’s how the idea for conversation tables came about: to create a simple, friendly space where people could practice English, French & Dutch right here in Japan.
Whether it’s for work, planning a trip, improving your speaking skills, or simply for fun, the goal isn’t to replace a language class, but to be able to speak, interact, and build confidence without the pressure of a classroom setting.
If you'd like to learn one of these languages, check out my different course options, and let's work together to figure out how to structure the sessions that fits you the best!
