Concerning the life of the expats that have chosen to live in Bucharest, I had a chat with Rin Okuno, a dancer who came on our lands from the far away Land of the Rising Sun. She amazed me as she told me that, unlike in Japan, where it was rather difficult for her to enjoy her private time, in Romania she discovered the joy of living. The young ballerina feels that in Romania she truly lives.
Even though she comes from a country where tradition still exists, Rin Okuno was impressed by the fact that Romania preserved its heritage almost intact. Besides, the lead-soloist of Bucharest National Opera declares wholeheartedly that she loves Europe and that she takes great delight in living in Bucharest. “Here (editor’s note: Bucharest), the air is very different. It is difficult to me to explain very well what exactly I enjoy: the air, the scent. Unlike in Japan, in Romania I feel something different. And I like it,” underscores the ballerina.
“Bucharest is Among the Most Beautiful Cities in the World”
Just as all the foreigners I talked to, Rin also speaks about the parks in Bucharest that she enjoys very much. “In Japan there are many concrete buildings. In Bucharest there are many parks. I enjoy the parks a lot. It’s very nice to be able to stroll through such places. We don’t have that many parks in Japan. Moreover, here it’s as though I’m feeling differently the passage of time. In Japan everything is at a far more rapid pace; here I can enjoy my time off. Now I can feel like I’m living. I can be happy. In Japan I’ve never felt like that. There, we are always busy, and it seems that the time passes so fast, that it was difficult for me to enjoy life. These are the things that I love in Bucharest,” points out the ballerina.
There are also things bothering her in the capital of Romania, but they have nothing to do with the city, but with the people. She is bothered by the chaotic way of driving on the streets. Actually, this “random” driving even amuses her. Moreover, she is upset by the boorishness of a number of unmannered men who end up calling out to her on the street. „But I do know that not all Romanians are like that. My friends, for instance, are well educated, nice, kind people. They always make sure I am happy and not feel marginalized. So, I don’t care about those people that I stumble upon, and are not a part of my life. As I mentioned before, I love living in Bucharest. Here time seems to pass slower than in any other capital in the world. I’ve made connections with people, and my best friend at the Bucharest National Opera is a Romanian. It’s wonderful that I can see people living joyfully,” specifies the young Japanese.
If she is visited by a friend from Japan, first of all she brings him to see „Casa Poporului / The House of People” (editor’s note: Parliament Palace). „We also go to the theatre, to the Old Center, and to SPA. I will recommend every tourist coming to Bucharest to see the Parliament building, walk around in parks, try different cuisines in the numerous restaurants in the city, much cheaper than in other countries. And if it’s winter, they shouldn’t miss the Christmas Fair. Bucharest is a very friendly city to artists; it is a city that encourages those who pick such an occupation. And it does that much more in comparison to what is happening in Japan. I also have a message for the Bucharestians complaining about this city, and I tell them that to me, Bucharest is among the most beautiful cities in the world. I think that they only got used to living in Bucharest and forgot to appreciate what they have,” specifies Rin.
Financially Speaking, it’s Better in Bucharest
Rin arrived in Europe right upon turning 18 years of age, when she was invited to audition for different roles. Under the guidance of a teacher, she sent her resume and a couple of video recordings to a number of Ballet Companies. She passed the auditions at The Ballet Company of Kiev, at The Ballet Theater in Sibiu, and at The Bucharest National Opera. „I picked Bucharest because this company has in its repertoire a lot of classical plays that I enjoy. And also, over here, two shows a week are being played, including different ballet plays. And not least, Bucharest National Opera is the largest Ballet Company in Romania,” underscores the dancer.
Rin confesses that, in her home country, it is very difficult for a ballerina to make a living out of this profession. „The dancers’ salaries are not large enough for them to have a normal life. They need to have a second employment; they are either teachers or workers in coffee-shops… I even have a close friend, a professional dancer at The New National Theatre in Japan, who is forced to work evening by evening in a coffee-shop; and she works as a teacher as well. This is the main reason I chose not to be a ballerina in Japan. And I intend to never dance at home. I will return home, in Japan, at the end of my career as a professional ballerina,” says Rin on a sad note.
An Impressive Resume
Rin Okuno works within Bucharest National Opera ever since 2012. The young woman started her dance studies at Swako Murase Ballet Studio (Japan). Subsequently, she got perfected in workshops at The Danish Royal School, at The Ballet School of Choreographer John Cranko (Germany), at The Hamburg Ballet, at The Dancing European Center in Paris, at The Metropolitan Ballet Academy in New York. Since 2005 up until the present, she has won scores of awards at Ballet Competitions in Japan, USA, China etc.
On the Bucharest stage you can see her in „The Swans’ Lake,” „The Nutcracker,” „The Beauty of the Sleeping Forest.” She also has three recitals within „Carmina Burana” Ballet.
Author: Ștefania Enache
Photo: Corina Gheorghe
