I saw “Rashomon” on TV when I was five years old. The experience was overwhelming and imprinted a strong impression on my mind. The uniqueness of the Japanese visual and narrative aesthetic, as well as the philosophical mindset of the Japanese people is reflected in this movie.

My motto is simple and it has bit of sarcasm in it. “Nema odmora dok traje obnova” (There’s no rest while we’re rebuilding) was the motto of the post-World War II Yugoslav youth that was determined through voluntary work to rebuild the country. In my life, this translates to “There is no rest while I am self-perfecting.” I believe in self-kaizen (continuous improvement) through trial and error, and learning through other people's experiences.

I am proud to be a pioneer — I got my Ph.D. at Nihon University when I was 27, the first Ph.D. in cinema studies earned in Macedonia since independence. I am the first ambassador of Macedonia in Japan and the youngest ambassador in Japan among approximately 170 others. I speak six languages and am still learning. However, most of all, I am proud to have many diverse skills and qualifications.

My goal in life is to connect people and help them realize their full potential. As a filmmaker, I am connecting people through movies with different worldviews. As an ambassador, I am a bridge between Macedonia and Japan. As a professor, I connect fields of study so we can observe society in a more holistic way. As an entrepreneur, I offer solutions to people to identify and achieve higher social goals.

Listen, observe, immerse, accept, respect, appreciate, enjoy, learn and surrender to the beauty and wonders Japanese culture and society has to offer. It takes time to truly understand and grasp the diversity of Japanese culture, so make sure you give yourself and others that time. Japan is not only Tokyo, there are many wonderful places from Wakkanai to Okinawa, so make sure you visit at least some of them. My personal favorites are Yakushima island, the Nagasaki area and Izu Peninsula.