The country of the Rising Sun, the country with the highest literacy rate and the lowest crime rate, home to 19 Nobel laureates and more than 125 million always smiling people, in other words, Japan, four months ago became a new home and delighted Croatian volleyball team member Karla Klarić. This top outside spiker plays for the Gunma Bank Green Wings volleyball club. In just a few months, the small Japanese town of Maebashi, an hour’s drive from Tokyo and its citizens, has won the heart of the Croatian national volleyball team player, which reveals what life is like on the other and completely different side of the world.
“I can’t compare Japan with any country I’ve lived in so far. The Japanese are special. In the beginning, everything was new to me, from culture, communication, way of working, diet, mentality, and even their life values and beliefs. Their way of life and even their thinking are quite different from ours. It took me a while to get used to the completely different way and dynamics, but now I’m really enjoying it. ” – reveals Karla, who is most impressed by the kindness, cordiality and her translator who accompanies her every step of the way.
“I have my translator who is like my shadow, she is literally always with me. At first, it was very strange to me, but I got used to it like everything else. Regardless of the fact that I have it, I started attending a Japanese language course which is very difficult, but I have a really great desire to learn it. My teammates help me a lot, so I will take the opportunity to be here and try to master the language as best I can. ” – emphasizes Karla and adds how much she actually loved the Japanese: “The Japanese are wonderful. I was most impressed by the amount of dedicated commitment and effort for everything they do, their kindness and their daily expression of gratitude. I have never come to training without someone from the team in a bad mood. It doesn’t matter if they are tired or in pain or have private problems. Every workout is done equally. It is natural for them. I am delighted with their approach, commitment and work ethic, it is really a pleasure to work in such an atmosphere.”
Volleyball is a very popular sport in Japan, so Karl is often recognized on the street. It is known that the Japanese as a lower population are impressed by tall people and blondes, so it is not surprising that the attractive Croatian national team attracts attention at every step. “I feel fulfilled and happy here. I am friends with everyone, not just my teammates. We both try to invest in relationships so that we all have a good time. We accept each other with our differences and I think that’s why we work together so well. I grow as a person with them every day and I am immensely grateful to have the opportunity to be here. ” – says Karla, who prefers to spend her free time in Maebashi in nature.
The capital of Gunma Prefecture has a population of 335,500 and is located at the foot of Mount Akagi and is surrounded by the famous Japanese mountains of Haruna and Myōgi. The Tone River, the second-longest in Japan, and the Hirosha River pass through the city, so Karla has a lot to explore. “I like to walk in nature the most, go to my favorite restaurant for coffee and lunch. Of the foods, my favorite so far is sushi. I’m not too picky and I like to try new specialties, but some live fish that are still swimming in the plate, it’s not very tempting to try.“
Karla’s club Gunma Bank Green Wings is currently leading on the championship table, and their main goal is to enter the first Japanese league. “For now, the season is going great, we had only one defeat. The competition is fierce and we are aware that it will be challenging. I believe in our work and I am sure that if we continue to progress at this pace, we will achieve our goals. ” – concludes Karla, who is waiting for the Mediterranean Games, European League and Challenger Cup and potential qualifications for the European Championship this season with the Croatian national team.
