Over the years I have worked variously as an editor, translator, writer, and photographer. I specialize in re-contextualizing Japanese culture in a fun and engaging way for English readers.

Though born and raised in Tokyo, I was educated in places as varied as rural Indiana, Washington DC, and Israel and the West Bank. I have published numerous books about Japanese folklore and spirituality; am certified by the Japanese Association of Shinto Shrines as a Shinto cultural historian; am a former Miko shrine-dancer; and am certified as a kimono fitter and consultant.

In 1999, I co-founded the localization company AltJapan Co., Ltd. to help build bridges between my culture and the world. Over more than two decades I have helped Japanese creators in the video game, manga, anime, toy, and film industries bring their artistic visions to audiences abroad.

Today I work as a journalist, writer, and content creator, contextualizing Japanese spirituality and folklore for English-speaking audiences of all ages and backgrounds, from literary to pop.