Japanese ‘vlogger’ with a yen for all things Hong Kong
Soko Izumi made the city his home in 2005 hoping to make his name in the fashion business but he took a detour and created travel videos which became an online hit
For decades, Japan has conquered the hearts of many Hongkongers, from food to consumer goods, television shows to its rich heritage.
Although Hong Kong’s long-standing love affair with all things Japanese has seldom been returned, at least one Japanese native has extolled his fascination for Hong Kong for well over a decade.
Nagasaki born and raised Soko Izumi developed a passion for Hong Kong during his college years, which is why when he was studying commerce at the University of Hyogo, he chose to do a foreign exchange programme in Guangzhou in 2001 and visited Hong Kong whenever he could.
“I fell in love with the spirit of the people here, the skyscrapers, staggering billboards, colourful neon lights. It was easy to understand why locals take pride in Hong Kong’s identity and I wanted to become a part of it.”
Hong Kong – a city in love with Japan, but flirting with a new flame as Korean culture explodes
In 2005, the 38-year-old made the city his home, hoping to make his name in the fashion sector, but at the suggestion of a friend, took a detour and created travel videos which soon became an online hit.
