Linus
From : Sweden

Meet Linus, a Swedish IT consultant and digital nomad who divides his time between Japan and Sweden. With a passion for Japanese food and game development, Linus enjoys working remotely from .andwork in Shibuya while making his own original game. His background in economics, IT and love for Japan have shaped a lifestyle where he effortlessly blends work and play across borders.

ABOUT JAPAN

Hello Linus, can you tell me what brought you to Japan initially ?  

Sure, let’s start from the beginning. About ten years ago, I visited Japan for the first time to partcipated in and exchange program at a university in Sapporo for three months, which deepened my interest in the country.

Later, I spent a full exchange year at Waseda University in Tokyo, and since then, I’ve kept returning to Japan. 

What keeps drawing you back?

Honestly, one of the biggest reasons I keep coming back is the food, especially Katsu Curry. Every time I return, I eat way too much of it—it’s my guilty pleasure.

ABOUT WORK

Can you tell us about your profession ? 

Sure, I work as an IT consultant and run my own company based in Sweden. As a full-stack developer, I manage everything from programming to servers, infrastructure, and cloud solutions.

I currently work with Swedish companies that specialize in real estate management systems.

What is it about programming that sparked your interest? 

I’ve always wanted to create a game I’d love to play, but I didn’t fully understand programming until I studied at University. Then it clicked –  I learned how to make games and realized how rewarding it is to see instant feedback—changing code and immediately seeing the results in the game.

This experience motivated me to enroll in a second degree in system development, which ultimately led me to my current job. My dream is to fully shift into game development in the future. 

You seem to be very busy in your professional life. What keeps you focused and motivated?

I’ve realized that being in Japan drastically enhances my productivity. I believe it’s simply because I’m happier here, especially considering that the weather in Sweden is much darker, making this place feel brighter and more inviting.

I think balance is crucial; in addition to my main job, I dedicate a lot of time to game development and creating something of my own. This is incredibly rewarding and keeps me motivated because it brings me joy.

ABOUT .andwork

Have you tried other co-working spaces around as well? What made you choose .andwork as your place to work from? 

I contacted several places, but many didn’t even respond. I got the impression that a lot of them cater primarily to Japanese people and didn’t even have an English page.

Here, there are plenty of staff who speak English, which makes it feel welcoming. Plus, there’s a social aspect, especially with the daily free beer!

As a nomad yourself, would you recommend .andwork to others considering remote work from here?

Yes, I definitely would. Besides the great location, the pricing is very reasonable—you have a variety of plans to choose from. Since it’s a hotel facility, you also have the option to work during night hours, which is fantastic for people dealing with time differences.

I use a monthly plan, but they also offer weekly plans, which I think is convenient for short-term stays. Plus, all the staff here are very friendly and welcoming!