Jon Homewood, 58, is an environmental science teacher-turned-sculptor who transforms discarded soda cans into intricate works of woven metal. Based in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, since 2012, he explores notions of reuse and renewal through his sculptures that can take months to complete.

1. How did you first end up in Japan? After teaching science and biology in Singapore, I was looking for a new adventure. I saw a teaching job in Japan that fit my background perfectly, applied, got the offer the same day and was standing in front of a class in Tokyo a week later. I barely had time to think. I just packed up and came.

2. Were you always interested in Japan? I¡¯ve always loved moving to new countries and seeing where life takes me. After being born in Nigeria, I grew up and lived in South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, the U.K., Spain and Singapore. Japan was next on my list and I thought I¡¯d stay a year or two, but one year turned into 13. That¡¯s what happens when you stay open to possibility.

3. How has Japanese culture influenced your art? When I arrive somewhere new, I try to understand its materials, crafts and traditions. Japan has a deep respect for craftsmanship. We see it in wood, ceramics, calligraphy and a sense of care in every detail. That attention to beauty inspires me. I also love the idea of kintsugi, repairing broken pottery with gold lacquer. My art follows that same spirit: nothing wasted, everything rebuilt.

4. How did you start using soda cans as an artistic medium? It began in Singapore during a sculpture class. The assignment was to make a hand out of junk. I grabbed some wire to build a frame, but it needed a skin. There were soda cans on the table, so I cut them into strips and wove them around the wire. The result looked like a sketch drawn in metal. That first can-hand changed everything for me.

5. When did it click that this could be your main medium? At first, I thought it was a one-off experiment. But the more I worked with cans, the more possibilities I saw. You can curve, fold and weave them endlessly. Each one has a color and a story. It¡¯s addictive. I haven¡¯t stopped since.

6. What makes working with aluminum both challenging and rewarding? It¡¯s soft but stubborn. Turning a flat sheet into a curved surface isn¡¯t easy, especially around elbows or hands. I never use glue, so everything is held by friction. Every strip has to lock into another.

7. How long does one sculpture take? Months, sometimes a year. A 1-meter square wall piece...