My mother, born in Osaka, experienced a very difficult childhood growing up in poverty and losing both of her parents when she was still in elementary school. After facing many hardships through her life and societal judgment, she went to visit a friend living in Berkeley in the 1970s. It was at a coffee shop in the Bay Area that she met my dad.
Through my parents' perseverance, hard work and values, I have carried those experiences throughout my own life. I've always been passionate about writing and sports (particularly baseball) since childhood. I graduated with a journalism degree from of Syracuse University ('01). Now, with a family of my own, I'm humbled to be able to share my culture through Japanese stationery and always creating a sense of meaning and purpose.
