I grew up on Sado Island, where my family operated a long-established hotel founded by my grandfather. My father raised us as a single parent, teaching me resilience, empathy, and the true spirit of hospitality. Growing up in a multicultural family, I learned early the beauty of understanding and connecting across different cultures — a value that continues to shape my life today.

For over 20 years in Niigata, I’ve managed an English conversation school, welcoming teachers from around the world and helping them navigate visas, housing, and the everyday joys and challenges of life in Japan.

From my grandfather’s hotel to my own classroom, hospitality and cultural exchange have always been at the heart of what I do. Through Aya’s Japan Move Guide, I now share those same lessons — helping midlife dreamers start a meaningful new chapter in Japan with confidence and care.