Born and grew up in Japan and studied sociology in the US, I worked both in private and government organizations for over ten years in Japan, offering support for trade/investment promotion between the two countries before I decided to follow the calling to move to the Big Island of Hawaiʻi where I was blessed to be immersed in the traditional native culture and practice of Hawaiʻi.

As I practice the traditional way of being, being Aloha (Aloha often being translated as “love”), I came across a lot of questions and challenges. “How do I know I am living Aloha now?” “Is it more Aloha to say Yes to others when I actually like to say NO?” "Is it more Aloha to say NO to others so that I Aloha myself first?" All these questions and challenges were melted away when I met NVC.

As I deepen the practice of NVC, I keep discovering how deep the social conditioning has soaked into my cells and consciousness. I am constantly reminded of the importance of slowing down to feel what is going on inside, to discern what is authentic for me, and where and how the social conditioning is coloring my orientation and thinking. Practicing NVC allowed me to know myself better and to realign my actions, my ways of communicating and connecting with others, and how I see this world. It has been a journey of re-constructing myself towards a more authentic one and of re-connecting with my inner power.

I have been sharing NVC mainly for women in Japan, hoping to support strengthening the ability to self connect and self-expression and becoming more aware of the social systems both inside and outside of us. I enjoy witnessing the light bulb being turned on, the stars start shining brightly, as we obtain new knowledge to nourish our spirits, as we gain more skills in our hands and as we become more aware of ourselves and the systems. I see all of these as the foundation for social changes.

I would enjoy offering myself towards larger communities around the world to support us awakening to our deeper human capabilities to love and to our huge potentials to create the world where our interdependency being honored, where we live our life with deep joy.