The Empowerment Network (TEN Magazine) Beyond The Issue with Alexander Hunter
We sit down with actor and urban farming enthusiast Alexander Hunter, whose “Plant Dad Series” has quickly become a reader favorite in The Empowerment Network (TEN Magazine). Based between Japan and Australia, Alexander brings the same passion and curiosity to both his craft on stage and screen as he does to his garden. We talked beginnings, big moves, career milestones, and, of course, his ever-growing collection of leafy companions.
I moved around a lot as a kid. I spent most of my youth in western Washington State. I was born in Redmond and lived in Kent, Federal Way, and Milton between preschool and elementary school. We moved to Sparks, NV, during 6th and 7th grade, then to Olympia from 8th grade through my junior year of high school. At the start of my senior year, we moved again to Shelton. After that, I was off to college. I never had much chance to lay down deep roots in any one place during my adolescence.
Where did you go to school?
I attended Olympia High School for three years before transferring to Shelton High School for my senior year. My first year of college was at Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, but the school didn’t really suit me. I decided to transfer to Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA, which ended up being a great fit.
How did you wind up moving to Japan? How did your family feel about the decision?
There were a couple of paths that led me there. First, my older brother, Adam, and I have loved video games and anime since we were barely out of diapers, and many of the games we played were made by Japanese creators. My brother also introduced me to Dragon Ball Z, and along with Pokémon, it captured my attention for years.
Second, I grew up around many bilingual people and always wanted to be bilingual myself. Since so much of what I enjoyed came from Japan, I studied Japanese in high school and university, which led me to pursue the opportunity to study abroad in 2010. I spent six months in Japan — my first time outside the U.S. — and it was such an impactful and eye-opening experience. After graduating from university in 2011, I worked two jobs and saved money for a year, then interviewed for and got a job as an English teacher in Japan, moving there in 2012.
My parents had mixed reactions. My mom was totally gung-ho about it, and my stepmom was also supportive, but my dad was against it. He was born in 1955 in North Carolina and is Black. He lived through segregation, racism, and was part of the first generation to integrate Black and white schools. Needless to say, he’s seen a lot and is very protective of his family. I understood his apprehension at the thought of his youngest son going so far away to a place he knew little about, where he couldn’t help if something went wrong. My stepmom convinced him to give me his blessing. Over the years, his worries eased, and he became proud of the life I built overseas.
How did you start working in entertainment in Japan?
I had a couple of friends who had done some acting in Japan, and it seemed like a lot of fun. Another friend was a manager at a Japanese talent agency and told me that if I gave it a try, I’d certainly get gigs. After three years teaching English in the mountain paradise of Nishimera-son in Miyazaki Prefecture, I moved to Tokyo to break into the entertainment industry. A little over a year later, I was able to transition from a humanities visa to an entertainer visa — and I was off and running.
What made you decide to move to Australia?
After years of building my career in Tokyo, I realized that to take the next step, I needed to move to a bigger, English-speaking industry. The Japanese entertainment industry isn’t as large as its Western counterparts, and I wanted to aim for major roles in larger projects. I’d come to this realization years earlier — it was just a matter of finding the right timing to make the move.
I originally planned to return to the U.S., but Australia became an unexpected option. For a few years, I had been working with an Australian puppetry company, Erth, where I met my partner, Mayu. We were long-distance for a couple of years, during which I visited and even worked in Australia. I thought, Hey, I could see myself living here. My partner and I explored the possibility, and here we are today.
How did you get started in acting?
Early on, I had no interest in acting. I was shy and didn’t like being the center of attention. I was also an athlete — American football, track and field, and basketball. My dad, Alfonse, played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks, and my dream was to follow in his footsteps. But seeing the wear and tear football put on his body — the aches, pains, and surgeries — made me reconsider. I was athletically gifted but not mentally mature enough to seriously pursue the professional level at that time, so I stepped away from football during university.
The following year, I lived with three friends who were theater majors. I joined some of their class projects and we created a few of our own. That period was a turning point for me — performing was actually fun, especially when creating with friends. That was the first seed of interest in pursuing more performance work.
What’s the biggest difference between working in Japan and Australia?
The two industries are very different. In Japan, there is no actors’ union, so it’s a bit like the Wild West. If you don’t look out for yourself, you can end up in disadvantageous situations. Thankfully, industry veterans taught me early on which agencies to avoid and how to protect myself. Without union rules, you might be on set all day and into the night, earning just $150 — not enough to live on or renew your visa.
Language is another major difference. Australia’s English-speaking industry has greater accessibility to global audiences and larger markets. Some American casting also happens in Australia, which is rare in Japan.
It’s easier to get gigs in Japan as foreign talent, so it was a great way for me — someone who started acting later in life without performing arts school training — to gain extensive on-set experience. The Australian industry is more competitive, with bigger budgets, but my Japan experience made the transition smoother. Now I’m focused on training and improving my capabilities with greater opportunities at hand.
Tell us about your passion for gardening. How did it come about?
I can thank Japan for that. You see countless farms and small home gardens there, where people grow fruits and vegetables — I found it charming and inspiring. My first attempt at growing came with a package of bean sprouts in a little tray; if you watered them after harvesting, they’d regrow a couple of times. That eventually led me to try rosemary, which I failed at miserably.
I wasn’t deterred. I found educational YouTube channels and podcasts on home gardening, then bought pots, soil, and seeds in 2017 and started learning. I was fascinated by the idea of growing my own food, so I mostly focused on fruits and vegetables. My favorite plants are my fig trees — they’re incredibly rewarding to grow.
What’s the most challenging plant you’ve grown so far?
In Japan, definitely melons and pumpkins. Both are vining plants that need a trellis, and I had to hand-pollinate them. They’re highly susceptible to powdery mildew, which thrives in Japan’s humid spring and summer. More than once, I returned from work trips to find a promising plant completely destroyed.
In Sydney, my toughest plant has been Okinawa spinach (kinjisō). In Japan, it grew easily; in Australia, local insects and fungi love it, making it a constant battle to keep it healthy. But it makes delicious smoothies, so it’s worth the effort.
What’s next for you—both on and off screen?
My main priority is continuing to get my face out there and make connections within the industry. I have two independent action films releasing in 2026 — Echo 8 Beyond and Five By Five — both connected in story. I’ll also be performing in my first English-language play in September/October 2025.
It’s not always easy to visit family in the U.S., so planning a trip home is a big priority. I’m also looking forward to exploring more of Australia and eventually New Zealand with my partner. Australia may be English-speaking, but its history and culture differ greatly from America, so I still have much to learn — and my Aussie accent needs work!
Learn more about Alexander here
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