Hometown and upbringing
I was born in Germany and moved back to Japan when I was 7 years old. After returning, I lived in Ibaraki for 3 years and then moved to Yokohama when I was 10. I attended a girls’ school in Tokyo for middle school, high school, and university, and then went to graduate school in Hawaii. I also briefly attended graduate school in Kyoto (laughs).
Is there anything that has influenced the formation of your personality?
I think the culture shock I experienced when I returned to Japan from Germany has played a significant role in my life choices. In Germany, I was categorized as Japanese, but upon returning to Japan and being surrounded by Japanese culture and people, I felt strongly that I wasn’t 100% Japanese. When things were tough due to the cultural differences, I comforted myself by thinking, “I have Germany (a place to return to), so it’s okay.” However, during a family trip to Germany, I realized that I couldn’t speak German anymore and that I had no real connection to the place I always thought I could return to. This experience made me rethink “cultural differences,” “what it means to be Japanese,” and “Japanese culture.” That’s why I decided to study intercultural communication and communication in university and graduate school.
Is there a phrase that describes you?
I always strive to “maintain my core while being able to adapt to various colors.”
By “maintaining my core,” I mean discerning and appreciating genuine value based on the values I’ve cultivated. By “adapting to various colors,” I mean respecting and understanding the culture and heritage of people I meet through my work, such as local craftsmen and sake brewers, and collaborating with them to promote good things.
Working with Kou and other team members with diverse backgrounds has given me many opportunities to see Japan from different perspectives. Being part of Kiraku and involved in various projects aimed at preserving “assets to be passed on to the next generation of Japan” has been enjoyable and stimulating.
Do you have any ideas to deepen connections within SOIL Nihonbashi?
I think it would be great to have events where people within SOIL can gather. Creating casual networking opportunities using the sake we handle could facilitate new connections.
株式会社Kiraku : https://kiraku.io/
Soil work Official Site:https://soilis.co/work/
