Latvian staffer Japan admiration has captured global attention, thanks to Artur Galata’s heartfelt posts about Japanese culture. Working at the World Expo in Osaka, Galata has gained over 500,000 followers across X and Instagram.
Originally from Latvia, the 31-year-old expresses his deep connection to Japan through multilingual interactions and engaging content. His viral popularity reflects not only his passion but also the power of cultural appreciation.
From Childhood Anime to Cultural Immersion
Galata’s journey began when he was a young boy watching Japanese anime dubbed in Latvian. Eventually, this casual interest grew into a lifelong admiration. He read books about Japan and explored customs and language in depth, inspired by his family’s encouragement.
Since his first visit in 2017, he has returned to Japan 11 times. Notably, he has traveled to over 40 of Japan’s 47 prefectures—an achievement that highlights his commitment to understanding the country beyond the surface.
“I’m very happy to work in my favorite country,” Galata shared with a smile.
Humor, Language, and Food: Social Media Magic
On social media, Galata shares humorous insights into Japanese life. For example, he often explains how identical kanji characters can be read differently in various contexts. Furthermore, his fascination with soybeans transforming into tofu, miso, and soy sauce often amuses his followers.
In addition, he praises small yet meaningful aspects of everyday life in Japan—from perfectly engineered onigiri packaging to polite service in restaurants. These details resonate with many who love Japanese culture.
Life at the Expo and Plans Ahead
At the Osaka Expo, Galata works at the Baltic Pavilion, which represents both Latvia and Lithuania. There, he uses four languages to welcome international visitors. Beyond work, he enjoys karaoke with other staff and maintains close interaction with his growing online community.
During his current eight-month stay, which began in April, he also plans to visit the remaining prefectures. Thus, his journey through Japan is far from over.
“The kindness of Japanese people is what attracts me the most,” he said.
Clearly, Galata’s viral fame is not just about numbers. It highlights how genuine admiration and cultural storytelling can build meaningful global connections.