Anton Wormann - Interview
Crafting spaces and Stories in Japan: Anton Wormann’s Journey
From Model to Content Creator and Renovation Maverick in Tokyo
Interview: Félicie Zufferey
Anton Wormann's odyssey is one of transformation and discovery, from the chic fashion runways to the vibrant streets of Tokyo, where he now breathes new life into old homes. In this interview, we uncover the layers of Anton's unique story: how a model from suburban Stockholm found his calling amidst the sawdust and blueprints of Japanese Akiyas (abandoned houses).
Anton gives us an intimate look at his multifaceted career, sharing how he juggles the worlds of modeling, content creation, and authorship with the finesse of a skilled carpenter. Throughout the interview, he discusses the challenges of his unique career path, his approach to a balanced life in Japan, and the motivation behind his content creation.
Join us as we navigate the twists and turns of Anton's remarkable life journey, culminating in the release of his book, "Free Houses in Japan." It's a tale of grit, renovation, and the pursuit of a life less ordinary.
You've had a unique journey, starting from modeling and now finding yourself in Japan, where you're renovating houses, thriving as a content creator and an author with the release of your book. Could you provide our readers with an overview of your path and how you reached where you are today?
Anton Wormann:
I grew up in a 120-year-old house in suburban Stockholm. My parents bought it when I was two years old. We didn’t have a lot of money, so my mum and dad did most of the renovations themselves while my sisters and I were running around playing in the garden and around the building mess. My sisters and I built a three-story house out of leftover wood in our garden.
I started modeling right after high school in 2011, and did the fashion weeks in Milano, Paris, London, and New York for many years, and renovated my first own apartment in 2014 while I had a modeling contract with Acne Studios in Stockholm. The designers there taught me a lot about design.
I came to Japan for the first time in late 2015, for work, and fell in love with the culture, the food, the cleanliness, and the safety. I returned every year for a few months, and every time I was about to leave, I felt reluctant to return to Europe. I wanted to stay longer and never felt completely done with Japan.
After a discussion with my manager, I moved to Japan in 2019, to continue working as a model. I became obsessed with learning Japanese and bought my first apartment close to Shibuya the same year. It’s kind of crazy when I think of it, and I am surprised the transaction went so well, despite not having a translator and speaking really basic Japanese.
After living and working in other metropolitan cities I was baffled that I could buy an apartment for less than 100K dollars in the biggest city in the world, walking distance from Shibuya crossing. After a few months of renovating this place (while doing modeling shoots a few days a week) it was finally done. Big Japanese magazines came to shoot in my house. It was thrilling, so I decided to take on a bigger project: I bought my first free-standing house not much later, in 2020, after a Japanese bank gave me a loan. I spent the first months of Tokyo's first state of emergency during COVID-19 as a carpenter. I kept immersing myself in the Japanese world of DIY, Akiyas, Renovation, and Real Estate.
I started learning how to make videos in 2021, first in Japanese. But when my Latest Renovation Project “Sangenjaya House” finished earlier this year, I started making content in English, and Anton in Japan was born. I never expected people to be this interested in Japan, houses, and renovation, but my channels have grown so much. I am still learning a lot about content creation. I started 7 months ago and my channels now have a total count of 1.5 million followers.
There is a more detailed timeline and story in my book “Free Houses in Japan”.
"Free Houses in Japan: The True Story of How I Make Money DIY Renovating Abandoned Homes" was released on November 7th, 2023. Could you share some challenges you've faced in your career and how you managed to overcome them?
Anton Wormann:
When it comes to modeling, the hardest part is the loneliness and the traveling. There is a fine balance between having the most amazing life, traveling 3-4 days a week to the most amazing places, eating world-class food, and then going home to recharge for a few days. When this happens for weeks and sometimes months in a row with no rest, you can get lost. It took me a few years to find this balance with routines, working out, and living a healthy life despite being on the go. And actually daring to say no to some work, despite having managers (mostly in Italy) trying to get you to work 24/7.
When it comes to renovation in Japan, trash disposal and sourcing materials can be a pain. Finding good and reliable contractors is also a jungle. There is a culture of tearing down and building new, and a lot of snakes and con artists are trying to charge you tens of thousands of dollars to throw away trash. Or they want to redo your entire bathroom, while you know they actually just have to replace one thing.
I quickly realized I needed to make friends outside of the fashion world. I owe my local lumber, electricians, and tatami guys the world. They always have my back, and I am incredibly grateful.
What about today? As you're juggling your various projects and life in Japan, are there any challenges you'd like to talk about?
Anton Wormann:
At the same time, I started my Anton in Japan channel, I started a workout program called 75 Hard, meaning I quit alcohol and started working out a lot. I have now been sober for about 6 months and I’m really enjoying life. I have time for friends and family, working out, eating healthy food, and meeting new people while staying busy with my modeling, DIY projects, and social media. I like being busy, but I never expected my online presence to have this big impact on my life, and it is hard to feel that you are enough sometimes. I like to educate people and teach meaningful and useful things about Japan and what I do, but if I am busy with other productions, I don't have time to create content or answer messages from my friends and family.
I also have a new renovation project coming up soon. I can’t tell you too much about it right now, but I am very excited and you will know about it in a couple of months!
"Free Houses in Japan: The True Story of How I Make Money DIY Renovating Abandoned Homes" was released on November 7th. How was the writing journey?
Anton Wormann:
The idea for this book came earlier this year, after receiving thousands of comments regarding Renovation and Real Estate in Japan. Over and over, I had to debunk myths regarding Japanese Houses, and I got tired of repeating myself (laughs). I realized there is no good study material on this in English especially when it comes to cheap houses, and I started writing from my own experiences. For about two months, I just took notes on what I wanted to cover with this book to make the reader understand how things work here in Japan. The comments from my followers made the process pretty easy. Showing the “real me” was harder, and my editor has been grilling me over and over to tell more detailed personal stories. After filling pages over pages with notes, I started writing one early summer day. Many long nights of writing later, and here we are. Being caught up in the moment and writing with the flow is a fantastic feeling. Writing this book has been a fantastic experience.
Can you provide our readers with a glimpse of what they can expect from your book?
Anton Wormann:
You will learn a lot about the housing market in Tokyo and its surroundings, not only about buying houses but also complicated things about the rental market Those are things foreigners but also Japanese people usually find weird and interesting.
Some topics of the book are: Why Japan has so many abandoned houses, Why Akiya banks don't work, Why Real Estate agents don't want to help you find cheap houses, How to find and make good deals on old houses where you can save money. The hardships of renovating in Japan and how to monetize it. Interviews with Japanese investors. Akiyas and investments within abandoned houses are a growing market since the number of Houses is constantly growing and sustainability is getting more and more widespread.
In 2033, Japan will have more than 20 Million abandoned houses, and Akiyas are becoming a hot investment topic even within the Japanese community. You will also learn a lot about Japanese history and culture, and more about my background, and my Japandi (Japanese Scandinavian) style Renovation projects of course! Did you know that Setagaya-ku, Tokyo's - by population- biggest ward, has more than 50,000 abandoned houses?
The outline of "Free Houses in Japan: The True Story of How I Make Money DIY Renovating Abandoned Homes"
Part I: Getting Started
Chapter 1: Overview of the market
Chapter 2: Japanese Culture & Construction
Chapter 3: Planning Needed Before You Go
Chapter 4: Finding somewhere to live while you’re there
Part II: Buying your first property
Chapter 5: Different real-estate strategies in Japan
Chapter 6: Abandoned Houses (Akiya)
Chapter 7: How to find a house
Chapter 8: Buying the property
Part III: Renovating your property
Chapter 9: Introduction to Renovation in Japan
Chapter 10: Japanese design & architecture
Chapter 11: Getting building supplies
Chapter 12: Getting it done
Chapter 13: Dealing with trash
Part IV: Monetizing your property
Chapter 14: Turning it into an Airbnb
Chapter 15: Turning it into a rental property
Chapter 16: Homeownership in Japan / ongoing costs & maintenance
Conclusion
Could you share your daily routine that keeps you focused and inspired?
Anton Wormann:
Something modeling has taught me is that staying active is everything. If you don't feel good you won’t look good. When I do DIY work, I never have the time and energy to go to the gym.
I sleep at least 8 hours per night, and staying active is crucial for my well-being. I never overdo it, and when I do not have a house to redo, a 30-minute gym session or run 5 days a week is perfect for me. I drink 500 ml of water the moment I wake up, and then a cup of coffee 30 minutes later. I never eat a few hours before going to bed. Waking up a little hungry is motivational.
What role does music play in your life? Can you name a few tracks or artists that inspire you, or share what’s on your playlist these days?
Anton Wormann:
Music plays a big role in my life and has always done so. My mum forced me to play the piano for many years when I was younger, but I quit when I was 13. At the time, it was cooler to chase girls (laughs). I regret that decision today. My younger sister Klara is in a Swedish pop band called Klara&Jag, and my life growing up was filled with music, DIY, and sports.
When writing my book I listened to a lot of Flora Cash “You’re Somebody Else” and
The French artist Jain ( that people know from “Makeba”). I need more high-intensity music when working out. Today, for example, I listened to Spotify's “Best Rap of 2017” while doing my chin-ups. Drake’s newest song and The Weeknd are usually on my workout lists as well.
Could you share with our readers in a few words what Japan signifies to you?
Anton Wormann:
Safety, culture, respect, beauty, and opportunities.
With such a diverse set of experiences, is there a message or advice you'd like to leave with our readers?
Anton Wormann:
Stay curious, positive, and healthy! Don't be afraid to ask questions and to have fun. You can do it!