About
Beyond Retail
My Paper Treats journey started with a simple focus—to make joyful connections in this community with each of our passions. I wanted to share the many layers of Japanese stationery and create an authentic space to honor Japanese illustrators; many of whom started as illustrators of children's books.
My passion for storytelling and writing is also a big part of my shop and cultural identity. This is a glimpse into my family background.
My father is the youngest of nine children and raised in a 250 year old farmhouse in Gifu prefecture. Instead of academics, he chose an apprenticeship path to restore many of the famous temples in Kyoto. To become a true shokunin (craftsman) requires years of commitment and goes deeply beyond just mastering technique. In the 1970s he immigrated to the United States to introduce traditional Japanese joinery (fitting wood pieces together without the use of nails or machinery).
My mom is forever my inspiration. Both of her parents passed away early in her childhood and it was a harsh stigma post WWII Japan, as orphans were considered throw away children by society. My mom has shared many life stories that I will always remember and pass on to my own family.
This is a photo of my mom when she started a kissaten in Osaka with her older sister, Chiaki. They made an arrangement with the landlord that they would operate the kissaten in exchange for housing upstairs.
Since having my own family, watching my daughter connect with her grandfather has been such a gift. The family values passed down from generation is one that I hope will carry on.
Since my childhood, I've always loved writing and following sports. Heavily influenced by my two younger brothers, we were always watching games on TV and collecting trading cards. By middle school, I became fixated about becoming a sports journalist. Determined, I was the first in my family generation to go to college. I graduated from Syracuse University ('01) with a degree in journalism.
Even though my career path didn't lead to sports journalism, the passion and ambition is still with me! In addition to my Japanese stationery business, I have been busy writing and publishing my own quarterly newspaper focused on the stationery community!
Now in my 40s, I'm grateful for having a deeper appreciation for my cultural background and making the connections through writing and Japanese stationery. This creative community has been a true inspiration, and my next dream is to open a physical shop in Los Angeles!
