Featured Leader Series: Axel Lieber

Darina Bockman Mar 30, 2015 Featured Leaders

Where are you originally from, and how did you end up living and working in Japan?

Axel: I am from Germany where I studied political science, economics and Japanese studies at the University of Bonn. I wanted to be exposed to a culture that is fundamentally different from western culture. A scholarship allowed to me to spend a year in Japan in 1993-4 at Keio University. I fell in love with the country and its people. What an intelligent, cultured, quirky, funny and generally impressive society – sophisticated and spirited women, awesome cities and beautiful outdoors! After finishing my studies in Germany, I jumped on an offer to work as a recruiter in a boutique executive search firm in Tokyo. I moved to Japan in 1998, and started my own executive search firm in 2001.

When and how did you originally become vegan?

“Volunteering with animal rescue during the 2011 Fukushima disaster helped me make the connection with the suffering of farm animals, and my own responsibility.”

Axel: In the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima triple disaster, I became aware of the suffering of companion and farm animals that were abandoned in the “zone” in great numbers. I joined an animal rescue organization and helped rescue a couple of dozen dogs and a few cats. The suffering I encountered there hit me hard. I couldn’t understand how people just left their animals behind. Being judgmental of such disloyalty and irresponsibility forced me to look at my own behavior – my delegating cruelty to the farmers and butchers. It took about a year but finally I couldn’t avoid the conclusion: if what they had done was wrong, then what I had been doing was just as wrong. So in June 2012 I went vegan.

What is it like to live vegan in Japan? How are the vegan values viewed in the Japanese culture?

Axel: Veganism is nearly unheard of here. The very word means nothing to most people. Even vegetarianism is a curiosity. Life as a vegan in Japan in general is not easy because fish is such a ubiquitous ingredient, even in broths, sauces and condiments. Tokyo is better than the rest of the country but compared to, say, Berlin, this is vegan frontier territory.

Are you seeing any new trends regarding the acceptance and availability of vegan options in Japan (in line with the major positive changes happening for instance in North America)?

Axel: No, the explosion of vegan food, clothing and cosmetics options in western countries has yet to spill over into Japan. Eventually it will happen but that’s still at least a few years out.

What does your typical daily meal plan look like?

Axel: I cook most meals myself, mostly whole foods, across a variety of different cuisines, mostly south-east Asian, middle eastern and Mediterranean. I do enjoy the occasional junk food that I get shipped here in cooler boxes from the US and Europe during the cold months and keep in my freezer.

Does your lifestyle ever come up in interactions with your clients or colleague? What’s the typical reaction?

Axel: Mostly this comes up when I need to do lunch with someone. I always arrange to eat where I can be accommodated. I never had any problems with it.

Are you involved with any vegan groups or initiatives?

Axel: I am a moderator of the biggest and most active English language vegan/vegetarian Facebook group for Japan, and also plan on setting up a vegan advocacy website in part modeled on vegankit.com but with some important localizations.

What main advice would you give to vegans traveling to Japan for work or pleasure?

“Check out our VegTokyo Club on Facebook”

Axel: Join our VegTokyo Facebook Group and prepare yourself by reviewing the essential resources in the Files section! They include the Tokyo vegan 101 tutorial, several guides to buying vegan items in Japan, as well as the printable “is it vegan or not?” Japanese translation card.