Name: French Antonio
Hometown: Los Angeles
Work: Singer, songwriter, interpreter and translator
Q: What brought you to Japan?
A: I came at first to teach English but also to pursue music and to get better at Japanese.
Q: How has living in a different country changed your life?
A: Living in the country has allowed me to experience a different culture and see a different representation of blackness.
Q: What advice do you have for Black youth and creatives?
A: There needs to be more information given and presented. You need to allow your experience up until this point to inform you but as much as possible allow yourself as well to let preconceived ideas that you have of yourself and others to expand and transform. It is important to search for ways to travel and discover new adventures and opportunities that you wouldn’t be given in the states. You need to find people who will encourage you and let you know when you’re doing something good. Information is very important as a creative, you need to learn and research to revamp your own exploration.