Finding My Voice Between Two Cultures
When you think of Japan, clean streets, amazing food, and kind people may come to mind—and that’s true. But being born and raised in Japan, it didn’t feel like a fantasy every day.
I started to feel different from others in my early teens, but it really became clear during a one-week homestay in the U.S. That experience showed me that it’s okay to be different and to have your own opinions.
Back at school in Japan, though, I was often bullied for those same differences and for speaking my mind.
Lost Far From Home
After I came back from the U.S., I felt like I no longer fit into the Japanese school system or society. That feeling led me to enroll in an agricultural university in England, where I studied equine management (basically, the study of horses!).
I was excited to finally be out of Japan, but just a few months later, I found myself feeling lost and depressed. I desperately wanted to go back to Japan—I was young and naive, and I wasn’t ready to live abroad on my own.
My Second Beginning
I left Japan determined that I would never come back—but not long after, I found myself miserable and returning home.
Still, I hadn’t given up on the idea of living abroad. Luckily, I was able to restart my university life in Tokyo, studying business in an English-speaking environment where I was the only Japanese student in the classroom.
During that time, I met my current husband, Harrison, who is Canadian. After graduating, we decided to move to Vancouver together.
Rediscovering Japan Through Food
During my time in Vancouver, I started to miss Japanese food deeply—I found myself going to Japanese supermarkets and restaurants whenever I could. It was the first time I realized that no matter how much my way of thinking became more westernized, my taste preferences never really changed.
I also began to appreciate the good sides of Japan—affordable healthcare, delicious food at reasonable prices, and the cleanliness of the streets and even public toilets.
Turning Passion Into Purpose
Cooking had always been my hobby, but I never imagined turning it into a career. My friend Cheryl, a health coach, noticed my passion for cooking and kept encouraging me to start hosting classes—she never gave up on me.
About a year after returning to Japan—this time to Okinawa—I began hosting group cooking experiences for military-affiliated Americans living on the island with a local friend. That eventually led me to create and host private half-day retreats.
The Healing Power of Seasonal Cooking
Back in 2019, when I was working as a software engineer in a toxic work environment, cooking became one of the ways I took care of myself.
I would buy seasonal produce from Mercari, the Japanese marketplace app, and turn it into preserved foods at home. Making things like pickles, sauces, and other seasonal preserves gave me something simple and grounding to focus on when work felt overwhelming.
Years later, on April 15, 2026, I made another big leap and moved from Okinawa to Northern Kyushu.
While rebranding my business and figuring out what my next chapter would look like, some days were really hard. I remember lying in bed crying and wondering if I had made a huge mistake leaving the successful business I had built in Okinawa. [Click here to read why I left Okinawa →]
But during that uncertain time, there was one thing that consistently lifted my spirit: making seasonal preserves.
Living in Northern Kyushu, with four distinct seasons and constantly changing local produce, I’ve rediscovered just how much joy seasonal cooking brings me.
Now, I’m sharing that journey and my everyday cooking to show that food doesn’t have to be complicated or perfect. Cooking can be simple, seasonal, nourishing, and joyful.
A New Chapter in Northern Kyushu
My Credentials
Certified Gut Health Coach (Institute for Integrative Nutrition)
Japanese Medicinal Cooking Specialist
Japanese Fermented Foods Specialist
Okinawa Food and Safety Manager
Completed 8-week MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) course