Tokyo Alumni Podcast: Recent Episodes
Nickolas Harris
Interviewing international school alumni from the Tokyo region, the podcasts hope to shed light on the various paths internationals school graduates took to get to where they are today.
The podcast is intended for current international high school students and parents to gain a deeper insight in regards to life after high school.
The host, Nickolas Harris, attended the American School in Japan (ASIJ) from 1989 to 2005, and is currently an educator teaching at an international school, the Korea International School Jeju (KISJ).
In episode 83 of the Tokyo Alumni Podcast, I had the pleasure of welcoming Joshua Thomson, a model, actor, and content creator who has hundreds of thousands of followers across various social media platforms. Joshua's videos, which have garnered tens of millions of views, resonate deeply with culturally and linguistically diverse individuals, especially those with international schooling backgrounds.Joshua has a unique educational journey, having started in a Japanese elementary public school, transitioning to the Christian Academy Japan (CAJ) during his middle school years, and then returning to the Japanese public school system for high school. Although Joshua isn't an international school graduate, his unique experiences make him an integral part of the international school community.
Welcome to Episode 82 of the Tokyo Alumni Podcast. Today, I'm excited to have Justin Novak join me. A standout alumnus from the ASIJ Class of 2014, Justin has made significant strides in the world of professional baseball. He's currently the bullpen catcher for the Seattle Mariners, a role that keeps him with the team for all 162 regular-season games, plus playoffs. Despite his demanding schedule, Justin took the time to join me for the 82nd episode.During his time at ASIJ, Justin was nothing short of a baseball legend, leading his team to two Far East titles and an undefeated season of 27 wins to 0 losses during his senior year. He also excelled in college, helping his Division I team (University of Virginia) clinch a national championship in his freshman year. As a fellow baseball enthusiast, I was truly inspired by Justin’s positive energy and deep insights into the sport. In today's episode, we delve into his journey through international school and college baseball, and discuss how one can seek out a career in the MLB.
There is no way Steve Harris could have predicted he would spend 43 years in Japan.
Born in San Francisco, California, on Halloween in 1958, his family would soon cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin County, where they settled in the city of San Rafael. His first encounter with foreign language learning consisted of two terrible years of middle school German, a language he chose because his mother’s side of the family immigrated to the San Francisco Bay Area after fleeing Nazi Germany.
His talent for foreign languages would emerge during his years of study of Spanish at San Rafael High School, where at the age of 16 he would also meet his future wife, a Japanese girl from Tokyo who happened to be studying there for one year. The relationship prompted him to begin studying Japanese upon entering the University of California at Berkeley in 1976.
He enjoyed his Japanese studies so much that he declared Japanese as his major and took advantage of Berkeley’ study-abroad program to spend a year at ICU in Tokyo during his junior year. Though he spent his last year back at Berkeley, the appeal of Tokyo was so strong for him that he decided to try to find work there right after graduation in the summer of 1980. This led to a 17-year stint as a freelance translator and interpreter and then a 17-year stint as a Japanese language teacher at The American School in Japan.
He left ASIJ in June of 2014 and has since been freelancing from his home, which is walking distance from the ASIJ campus.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - 2:18 - Introduction
3:47 - 4:33 - "17 years"
4:34 - 7:38 - Being an ASIJ parent vs ASIJ faculty / why ASIJ?
7:39 - 13:22 - Is sending a child to an international school worth the cost?
13:23 - 17:00 - Working at ASIJ from 1997-2014 / Leaving ASIJ
17:01 - 22:09 - Living in Japan for 40+ years - moving to Japan in the 1970s
22:09 - 22:36 - How to become bilingual
22:36 - 27:34 - Memories of ASIJ
27:35 - 36:49 - Soccer - ASIJ Soccer & working as a Japan Futsal Director
36:50 - 39:53 - Creating the ASIJ "Tama Cup"
39:54 - 44:12 - ASIJ Squad of 23 players (mid-2000s-mid-2010s team) 44:13 -46:47 - What is coming up next
Taeuk Kang (KISJ 2022)
Stanford University student
Taeuk Kang was born in Gyeongnam but moved to Jeju, where he attended Korea International School, Jeju Campus for 11 years. He plans to spend the next four years at Stanford University, CA studying Computer Science. He was awarded the Talent Award of Korea in 2020 among 100 Korean citizens for their exemplary talents.
His early interest in computers led him to software development. Since then, he has developed multiple projects and apps for both open source and businesses. One of his most recent projects is the LiveCorona Map, an open source COVID visualization tool and information source. As one of the project leads, he automated the statistic collections and created a public pharmacy mask map. The project had been adopted by the Jeju government as the COVID status website early on during the pandemic. He also enjoys creating hobby projects such as a multi-source language dictionary and a failed cloud hosting reseller startup.
Now, Taeuk is preparing to study Computer Science at Stanford University, specializing in the Artificial Intelligence area. He wishes to pursue a professional career in a related field.
TIMESTAMP
1:35 - Introduction
3:18 - Why choose Stanford University over Harvard University?
7:45 - How to get into Stanford, Harvard and Columbia University? Are hagwons and consultants worth it?
9:40 - What gave you an edge over other applicants? Are sports and extracurriculars needed to get into a prestigious University?
17:04 - How do you find something you are genuinely passionate in?
25:50 - Attending Korea International School Jeju / life in the GEC
34:10 - The advantage of attending international school over public school
36:55 - What do you envision doing ten years from now (2032)
**Amelia Juhl (Seisen 1998)
Design Research Director**
Amelia is a Design Research Director at IDEO Tokyo. She brings more than 20 years of experience leading creative projects of all sizes. At IDEO, she has worked on projects such as redesigning medical products for the elderly, new beauty experiences for millennials, and systemic redesigns for agriculture. Previously, she worked as a Strategic Planner at a marketing agency, working on CRM or campaigns for global companies such as Nissan, Microsoft and P&G. Her current passion is in adding life-centered principles to her human-centered approach. She is excited to lend her expertise in innovation to help businesses be more regenerative by design for the next decade.
TIMESTAMP
1:18 - Introduction
3:30 - How to become a Design Researcher
7:35 - How experiences at Seisen helped Amelia with group work
11:05 - Cross-cultural fluency at IDEO & Bilingual education
19:57 - Why should parents send their children to Seisen / International schools?
22:30 - Identity for international school ”インター” kids
26:40 - Working as a woman in Japan
33:23 - Most memorable teacher at Seisen
37:58 - What is to come
**Alexander Minami Redhead
St. Mary's International School (2003)**
Today our guest is a Portfolio Manager at Montrachet Capital. Today our guest attended St. Mary's International School for 13 years (Class of 2003), he later went to study at Tufts University where he earned a dual degree in Mathematics and Psychology. Prior to his current role, he worked at several investment banks in Tokyo and New York including Lehman Brothers, Credit Suisse, and Nomura Securities.
In 2019, he joined Montrachet Capital, a multi-family office in Singapore, and runs the portfolio management group, helping wealthy individuals invest for the future. During his time in Singapore, he became a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, interviewed and translated several books in Japanese for the legendary investor Jim Rogers, and helped numerous clients immigrate from Japan.
He is currently active within the St. Mary's Alumni Association (SMAA), heading the Finance Group as well as the Singapore chapter, and enjoys sharing his no bullsh*t opinion to those seeking career advice. He looks forward to resuming 11-aside football when COVID measures are eased, but enjoys Crossfit and Tennis in the meantime.
TIMESTAMP
1:30-2:40 - Introduction
3:13-4:50 Intro from Alex
5:05-12:44 - The International School "bubble" and being bi-cultural
12:45-17:26 - Joining the industry of "Finance" / SMAA and internships
17:27-22:57 - What kept Alex in finance/in what ways can high school students equip themselves to work in the industry of finance?
22:58-25:35 - Moving from investment banking to portfolio management
25:36-35:06 - Is popular cultures illustration of WallStreet bankers accurate?/working hours in finance
36:07-41:05 - Jim Rogers
41:06-46:35 - St. Marys shout outs
46:36-49:35 - The importance of HS athletics at international schools
49:36-52:40 - What is to come
Lina Yamashita (ASIJ 1997-2003) ***Graduate of ISM (Philippines 2004)
Program Director at VIA (Nonprofit)**
Lina Yamashita is Program Director at VIA, an international education nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she develops programs that promote cross-cultural understanding between Asia and the U.S. Her experiences living in Japan*, Singapore, and the Philippines have shaped her commitment as an educator to highlight diverse perspectives, especially those that are less visible. Lina earned a doctorate in Education from UC Davis, a master’s degree from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology & Environmental Studies from Oberlin College. Outside of work, Lina enjoys making latte art, reading contemporary and historical fiction, and spending time with her husband and son.
TIMESTAMP
1:06-3:20 - Introductions
3:20-7:58 - Being a TCK - switching from a Japanese school to an international school
7:59- 10:01 - Cross cultural understanding in medicine
10:02-13:28 - What is home for a TCK/international citizens/mixed race?
13:29-17:34 - Raising a tri-cultural child
17:35-23:10 - Attending ASIJ (Japan) ISM (Philippines) and SAS Singapore
23:11-27:40 - Lasting impact of ASIJ
27:41-30:53 - What is to come
Christopher Harris (EIS 2015) Associate at The Early Stage Banking Team
He is an American National born and raised in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. During his time in Honduras, he attended SERAN Bilingual School, Escuela Internacional La Lima for and graduated from Escuela Internacional Sampedrana in 2015. He earned a bachelors in Business Administration from Northeastern University. During his time at Northeastern, Chris was involved with the IDEA Venture Studio on campus and did co-ops in accounting and asset management. During his senior year at Northeastern, Chris was part of the founding of Disrupt, the Fintech Initiative at Northeastern, aimed at building a community on campus at the intersection of finance and technology.
He now works as an Associate at The Early Stage Banking team at Silicon Valley Bank in San Francisco learning and building relationships with young startups, founders, and investors from the Bay Area.
TIMESTAMPS
0:43 - Introduction
3:28 - Do you identify more with American or Honduran culture?
7:14 - The role of language and how it affects personality and socialization
10:27 - Where do international school grads from Central America go after high school?
13:54 - What is the most common misconception about Honduras?
16:21 - Why Honduras? + How did Chris's experience compare at Seran v La Lima v San Pedro?
21:40 - Extracurricular activities at international schools
24:29 - Would you send your own children to an international school?
32:10 - What is to come?
John Mikton (Former ASIJ Tech Coach 2000-2005)
Deputy Principal at the International School of Luxembourg
I am a bi national Swiss-American born and raised in Switzerland, in the Nyon area, and grew up in a bilingual home with an American father and Swiss Mother, and was educated in Switzerland and England, I studied in the United States for my Bachelor's, Teaching Certification and Masters. Currently I am the Head of Education and Media Technology/ Deputy Principal at the International School of Luxembourg. I am a trainer and course designer at the Principal Training Center and Teacher Training Center. , a Learning2 Community Coach and trainer at the Institut de formation de l’Éducation nationale du Luxembourg.
I have 25 years experience working in Education and Media Technology and 17 years as a Leadership Team member in International Schools.( International School of Tanganyika, Western Academy of Beijing, American School in Japan, International School of Prague, Inter Community School Zurich and currently in Luxembourg)
I share my learning and passion for digital fluency at : https://beyonddigital.org https://digitallife.live/
I also co-host a podcast focused on international education, innovation, creativity, and learning https://www.theinternationalschoolspodcast.coma
TIMESTAMP
1:27 - Introduction
3:36 - An introduction to Japanese/Asian culture, moving to San Francisco
6:08 - Being part of the JET program at Saitama, Japan
9:20 - Going back to Japan to work at ASIJ
11:22 - International school faculty/schools lack of or success in integrating with local cultures
17:53 - is the "lifer" teacher who stays in one country for 20-30 years something of the past?
22:16 - IB v AP
27:13 - The International Schools Podcast
29:25 - Tech at school - how has COVID affected remote learning?
35:57 - What is to come for John
Andrew Melton (ASIJ 1994)
Educator
I am from Arkansas. I grew up overseas in Riyadh and Tokyo.
My parents became international school teachers in the 1980’s which gave me the bug to do it. I attended ASIJ from 1991 to 1994. At Berklee College of Music I studied film scoring, and my instrument was the vibraphone. After college I went to Los Angeles. I had a wonderful time there juggling film scoring, band composing and arranging, and playing piano in improv comedy theaters.
I then focused on international teaching, at the American School of Marrakech, Morocco, the American School of Lima, Peru, and then Shanghai American School. Now Canadian Ac. in Kobe. At all of these I taught some combination of band, choir, strings, and general music. It’s so great to be back in Japan, still trying to learn the darn language! Towards the end of my time in Lima, I married Jen Van Ness whom I met at an ASIJ 20 year reunion in Washington DC. She attended ASIJ just for one year as a 9th grader in 1991.
TIMESTAMP
1:20 - Introduction
3:08 - Growing up as an international school student in Saudi Arabia and Japan
5:59 - Becoming a teacher 7:32 - How to become an international school teacher
10:35 - Morocco
12:48 - the transient nature of international school teaching
14:08 - coming back to Japan 14:58 - Canadian Academy v ASIJ
17:12 - How international education led towards Andrews current career
18:55 - ASIJ shout outs
20:48 - What is to come in the next few years
Minako Abe, M.D. (ASIJ 1988)Director of the Tokyo Cancer Clinic
Minako Abe is the director of the Tokyo Cancer Clinic in Japan. She attended ASIJ from 1976-1988 and after graduating, attended UC Berkeley for her B.A. and earned her M.D. at SUNY Stony Brook. She has dual U.S. board certifications in Emergency Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Practicing Emergency Medicine in NYC and NJ for over 15 years, she loved treating all kinds of illnesses and people from all walks of life, but found that nearly 80% of what she saw was related to unhealthy lifestyle choices. Chronic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and even 30-50% of cancers are preventable. As such, she developed a strong interest in Lifestyle Medicine, particularly in relation to the field of immunology and oncology.
In 2014, she and her family moved to Tokyo to help with her father’s cancer immunotherapy clinic. Having lived outside of Japan for 26 years, she experienced a bit of culture shock, having to relearn Japanese and understanding a completely different medical system. However, with both of her children currently attending ASIJ, this has given her family a sense of belonging within this very special international community.A year into moving here, her husband was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumor, and when searching for the best treatment options in the U.S., she was surprised to find that the most advanced treatment options were actually right here in Japan. Even the patented cancer vaccines and immune cell treatments at the Tokyo Cancer Clinic is not widely known or available elsewhere in the world!
This experience got her thinking – how isolating it is for expats in Japan to go through a cancer diagnosis while also navigating a foreign medical system. How are people to know that perhaps the best treatments and opportunities lie right here? Her passion project is to help cancer patients navigate the Japanese medical system, while coaching them to thrive and not just survive with Lifestyle Medicine and Mindset.
You can find her at
https://tokyocancerclinic.jp/
https://www.drminako.com/
Timeline
1:44 - Introduction
4:32 - Choosing the career path to become a doctor (from an international school student's perspective) / to work in Japan/USA?
10:50 - Can certain products "give you cancer"?
15:23 - Family history - nature v nurture when it comes to cancer?
17:37 - Sleep!
19:30 - Living in both Japan and the USA for 20+ years, a comparison of the two locations
25:04 - Comparing the perspective of ASIJ as a student vs as a parent
31:31 - What is to come
**Harald Gjerde, MD, FRCSC (St. Mary’s 2006)
Physician – Pediatric Ophthalmologist **
Harald is a Canadian national who is ethnically Norwegian and Chinese, who was born and raised in Tokyo. He attended the now-closed Santa Maria International School, later transferring and graduating from St. Mary’s International School as Valedictorian for the class of 2006. He earned an Honors degree in Microbiology and Immunology from McGill University and completed medical school at the University of Manitoba. He completed a residency in Ophthalmology at Dalhousie University, and finished a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School.
He was the Clinical Director of the Special Olympics Canada Opening Eyes eye-screening program for Atlantic Canada. He has worked as a professional narrator and voice actor, to authoring scientific papers, as well as being a published poet and writer. He will be moving to Vancouver this winter to work for the BC Children’s Hospital as a Pediatric Ophthalmologist, and work as a Clinical Instructor at the University of British Columbia.
TIMESTAMPS
1:05 - Introduction
4:45 - When did you want to become a doctor?
7:58 - How has growing up overseas affected your practice as a doctor?
14:04 - Choosing Canada or the US for school for someone who wants to go to med school
21:04 - Santa Maria and St. Marys
25:00 - What is to come
Kazuna Yamamoto (CAJ 2015)Entrepreneur
Kazuna was born in Hong Kong, raised in Singapore and Japan, and currently resides in Chile.
She is the Founder and President of Voice Up Japan, an organization with a vision of a society where anyone can raise their voice, in hopes of creating an equitable society where one is not judged by gender, sexuality, nationality, and religion.
She is the Co-Founder and CEO of WAYVX, a Chilean-based firm dedicated to the digitalization and democratization of the financial industry through the implementation of blockchain and other decentralized ledgers.
Currently, she is working in Corporate Venture Capital Investments at Kauffman Ventures.
TIMESTAMP
0:45 - Introduction
3:05 - Going into entrepreneurship at a young age
4:28 - Voice Up Japan
5:28 - How did being an international school student affect your perspective when it came to social issues?
6:28 - How attending Christian Academy Japan (CAJ) affected her perspectives
11:42 - Learning a 3rd language - Spanish
13:59 - Blockchain technology and crypto-currency
16:59 - The Kauffman Ventures
17:44 - the day-to-day tasks/schedule as a young entrepreneur
18:53 - Long-term goals - VC funds and politics
22:40 - What is to come
Voice Up Japan https://voiceupjapan.org/
**Ellen Richards
University Student (George Washington University)**
Ellen Richards graduated from the International School of the Sacred Heart in 2018, where she spent the last two years of high school. Prior to that, Ellen lived in the UK and the US for a combined 15 years. Ellen will graduate from the George Washington University with a BA in Political Science in 2022. Influenced by her parents, who hail from the US and Japan, Ellen has always had a deep interest in international relations and politics, particularly in the individual success of and the relationship between the two countries.
Experiencing the societal differences of both the US and Japan, Ellen discovered another passion of hers: promoting the status of and advocating for professional women, especially in Japan. Although only at the beginning of what she hopes is a fruitful journey, Ellen has been working with fellow alumnae to develop the first professional alumnae network for her all-girls alma mater. In developing this, she hopes to make pre-professional development part of her former high school’s education as well as bring professional alumnae together to exchange opportunities and advice for navigating the business world as a woman.
TIMESTAMPS
0:57 - Introduction
2:37 - Who is Ellen Richards / What has life as a college student during COVID been?
4:25 - The job market for college graduates for 2021, 2022
6:01 - Life as an ISSH student, advantages of attending an all-girls private school in Tokyo
14:36 - The transition from an all-girls international high school to a co-ed university in the USA,
16:20 - ISSH alumni network 24:32 - How to create a strong alumni network
29:43 - Does being mixed race provides a unique perspective in regard to cultural differences?
36:05 - Podcasts!
42:24 - What is to come
**Jason Chung (Zama 2005)
Educator**
Jason was born in 1986 and is originally from Honolulu, HI. Due to being an Army family, his family moved around stateside and to Korea before landing a long-term residency in Japan. Camp Zama to be exact. Jason attended John O’ Arnn Elementary School located in Sagamihara Family Housing Area (housing for military families) and eventually transitioned over to Zama American High School to complete his secondary years, graduating in 2005. During his time with the Zama Trojans, he participated in varsity football and the JROTC program. Upon graduating, he relocated to California to pursue his post-secondary education and eventually enlisting in the United States Army Reserves. Following his graduation from Solano College in 2008 with an associate in Liberal Arts, he transferred to the neighboring college, California State University – Sacramento to work on his bachelor’s in Psychology. Through the Army Reserves, he was selected to participate in the Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) where he would eventually contract as a ROTC cadet to work towards in becoming an Army officer. As many have experienced the hardships at the time, Jason decided to withdraw from both the college and the ROTC program to take what became a long-term “break” in 2011. Upon completion of his contract with the Reserves, he relocated to Texas to start a new chapter. The Lonestar State opened up new friendships, career experiences, and eventually meeting the love of his life who is now his wife, and the mother to their toddler son. In late 2016, his wife gave him the motivation to go back to school to complete his degree; and so, he did Spring of 2017. Jason is now pursuing a career as a secondary English Language Arts Reading teacher. If timing and life allow it, he’d love to head back to Japan to contribute as a DoDDS educator to his alma mater Zama High School or even a neighboring DoDEA school.
TIMESTAMP
0:55 - Introduction
4:30 - Being an "army brat" how Jason ended up at "Zama"
5:58 - for base kids, did it feel like they were going to school in "the USA" or "in Japan"?
8:57 - What interaction was like among the base schools (Zama, Yokota, Yokosuka, Misawa, Kadena, Kubasaki)
10:00 - Were there any preconceived stereotypes of students at each of the military bases? The rivalries amongst base schools.
12:25 - Perception of ASIJ and other international schools from a former "base kid"
14:20 - The JROTC program
21:19 - What happens when people drop out of the program?
24:40 - a prolonged break in 2011, a switch from "military" to "education"
26:44 - transition from California to Texas 27:30 - going back to college, finishing the bachelor's degree in 2016
32:25 - best memory about Zama high school
36:47 - what is to come
**John Hong (KISJ 2016)
Bio to come soon, for now, check out the introduction at 1:03.**
TIMESTAMPS
1:03 - Introduction
3:09 - Being an Air Force Interpreting Officer
4:06 - Did having an international school background help you get to where you are today?
6:21 - What is the difference between serving as a military officer vs "the enlisted" when it comes to mandatory military service as a South Korean? - day-to-day life for "the enlisted" vs "officers"
14:00 - Johns contribution towards changing. the leave of absence rule for Korean males (to work for the military) attending Universities in Singapore.
18:35 - Being a graduate of a "new" international school (Korea International School Jeju)
28:38 - How MUN, specifically KISJMUN helped prepare John for life in the "real world"
34:30 - What was the most memorable experience at KISJ?
36:04 - What is to come in the future
**Elliot Waldman (ASIJ 2005)
Senior Editor**
Elliot Waldman is the senior editor of World Politics Review. Prior to joining WPR, he spent five years as a news producer at the Washington, DC bureau of Tokyo Broadcasting System, Japan’s oldest and largest commercial television and radio network. In that capacity, he was responsible for facilitating TBS’s coverage of U.S. politics and foreign policy, and he reported from over 15 different countries and 25 U.S. states. He has a master’s degree in international relations and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a bachelor's degree in international affairs from the George Washington University. He speaks fluent Japanese and is conversant in Vietnamese.
Podcast host for World Podcast Review
https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/authors/2375/elliot-waldman
Articles written by Elliot Waldman
https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/podcast
TIMESTAMPS
2:02 - Introduction
3:20 - Being a senior editor at the World Politics Review
5:34 - Working for TBS (JNN) and getting started in the world of journalism / the use of Japanese skills at TBS in Washington
8:59 - WPR and reporting news through a more localized lens
12:06- Were there any thoughts of delving into industries outside of journalism / acquiring English v Japanese as a TCK
19:43 - Vietnam adventures - why volunteer?
24:49 - Balancing pragmatism and idealism
30:08 - ASIJ - being taught the importance of critical thinking
32:40 - A lack of socioeconomic diversity, a criticism of the international school system
35:14 - Most memorable educational experiences in the area of humanities at ASIJ - Mr. Hoovers textbook comparison and Mrs. Krauths Japan Seminar
44:54 - Elliot the Drummer - The Grape - DDO
48:50 - Whats is to come
Sam Shobeiri (St. Mary’s 2007)
Born and raised in Japan, Sam is a graduate of St. Mary’s Class of 2007. Unlike many of his peers who attended international school for most of their K-12 education, Sam attended Japanese elementary school until middle of 6th grade. After graduating high school, Sam attended the University of Washington in Seattle, where he majored in marketing. Missing the amazing food scene of Japan, Sam quickly returned to Tokyo to start his career at Expedia Group, one of the largest online travel agencies in the world. He spent 7+years at the company’s hotel sales division, where he became one of the youngest area managers in the organization, overseeing both new business development and account management. In 2018, Sam took an offer from Skyscanner, one of the leading metasearch sites in the world. As the commercial lead in charge of the Japan market, Sam manages relationships with local airlines and travel agencies. Additional to his full time Job, Sam recently founded a small side company, focusing mainly on consulting and investing. On the weekends, you can find him at Tokyo Verdy matches, taking photos around the city, or enjoying IPAs at the local breweries.
TIMESTAMP
1:30 - Introduction
3:38 - Upbringing of Sam, Japanese school, international school, and American school
6:18 -Comparing Japanese to American to International schools
9:38 - Should I send my child to an international school or a Japanese school?
17:20 - the "International school bubble" 20:34 - Working in the hotel industry in Japan
25:40 - "gaishi" v "nikkei"
26:37 - Working with airlines during times of COVID-19
33:39 - The company Sam has started
36:16 - Bitcoin
41:40 - Tokyo Verdy
45:00 - What is to come
**Mayumi Daigo（Former ASIJ Staff)
Administrative Assistant of Educational Institution / Blogger**
Mayumi was born in Tokyo and raised in Chiba, Japan. She was interested in English language and its culture since she was a child despite none of her family members understands English. In 1990, she joined in Intensive English Study Program at the University of California, Davis, California in the US. She studied comparative cultures and translation while attending Japan College of Foreign Language.. In April 2001, she joined The American School In Japan as Athletics/Activities Office Secretary. She assisted athletic programs of middle and high school, also a co-curricular program of high school until 2007.
In 2008, she learned that her mother had ovarian cancer a few weeks after her son’s birth. In October 2015, her mother passed away peacefully. As recovering from her mother’s passing and her previous marriage, she started thinking of ‘Quality of Life’. In 2020, she recognized she needs to take good care of herself mentally and physically while Japan’s first State of Emergency of Covid-19.
Through her working experience at ASIJ and studying in California, she writes about differences of international schools/Japanese schools, her perception of cultural differences of Japanese/English-speaking countries, parenting in Japanese by the pseudonym, Mami Ichihara(イチハラマミ) on a Japanese platform, ‘note’ besides working as Administrative Assistant of a Japanese educational institute.
TIMESTAMPS
1:22 - Introduction
3:15 - Position at ASIJ - Assistant AD
5:02 - Security clearances based on DODDS schools (Yokosuka v Zama v Yokota)
5:52 - Being "staff" at an international school 7:43 - Best memories working at ASIJ
8:51.- Did you know of "ASIJ" prior to working there? 10:22 - Leaving ASIJ
12:45 - Perspective of ASIJ students from a staff member
16:30 - ASIJ's Gay-Straight Student Alliance movement
19:13 - Blogging 26:30 - Language acquisition for Japanese nationals, traveling/studying abroad at UC Davis
29:25 - A message to ASIJ Grads from 2001-2010
31:46 - What is to come
**Raymond Strack (ASIJ 2005)
CEO - Shasta Grown*(March 2021)*
Ray was born in Queens, New York City, he attended elementary school there, middle school in Florida, and attended high school at the American School in Japan where he graduated in 2005.
Upon graduating from the University of Florida, he worked at Digital Domain as a studio operations coordinator. He spent several years as a medicinal cannabis farmer. He then started up Jigsaw Earth Consulting in 2015.
Today he is the CEO for Shasta Grown; a vertically integrated Cannabis supply chain company located on the slopes of Mount Shasta in the city of Weed, California.
TIMESTAMPS2:04 - Introduction
3:50 - Splitting the formative years, half in the USA vs half in Japan. How did the two experiences compare?
6:39 - Embassy kids vs expat kids at international schools
12:15 - Why Ray chose to major in linguistics and anthropology. The original path.
13:02 - Arrest for a controlled substance in Florida. A new path.
16:12 - Digital Domain (and it going under) 18:06 - Moving to northern California - "the apprenticeship"
20:55 - The history of medical/recreational marijuana in the USA, and the current status at state and federal level.
27:29 - The public pressure to not engage in public discourse
28:34 - Shasta Growth and Shasta Grown and being the CEO of the company The safety of shifting from illicit cannabis to regulatory use of cannabis
39:35 - "Big Ray" (Rays dad) joining Law Enforcement Action Partnership
40:46 - the rapid evolution of the cannabis industry / the future of Shasta Grown and the industry in general in the next 2 to 10 years.
Bonus Clips
43:40 - Starting Jigsaw consulting and creating written SOPs.
46:55 - The comparison of the cannabis industry to the firearm industry and wine industry
51:50 - Getting elders off opioids and making sure young people are knowledgeable the FBI, and interstate commerce laws
58:08 - The importance of a regulated market and access to banks
1:01:50 - The "Las Vegas" stint, why Ray didnt leave California for Vegas
1:10:50 - The "Weed 9", Ray was the only member of the "Weed 9" who with the help of groups like the ACLU fought against a slap suit which was made to pressure them from speaking at a public forum.
Shasta Grown https://shastagrown.com/
Music Credit https://www.bensound.com/
**Tokio Takai (St. Marys International School 2017)
Bowdoin College Student**
Tokio Takai graduated from St. Mary’s in 2017 as a 12-year veteran and currently studies Government & Legal Studies at Bowdoin College, where he is expected to graduate in May of 2021.
Upon graduation, Tokio will return to Goldman Sachs as an Analyst in their Merchant Banking Division in Tokyo, where he interned over the past summer. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Tokio had worked both on the sell & buy-side. Tokio most recently worked at Jefferies (2020-2021) as a part-time Equity Research Associate covering TMT. He also sat on Jefferies’ Equity Sales desk as a Summer Analyst in 2019. At SOSV, Tokio was involved in Venture Capital, investing in and growing tech startups throughout Asia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. CLSA introduced Tokio to the world of finance, where he worked in the Equity Research department covering Financials. Prior to working in finance, Tokio founded a food-tech startup and had held various internship positions at Safdie Architects (most recently known for their development of the Marina Bay Sands and Jewel Changi Airport), Trip.com, and Keidanren (US-Japan Business Council).
Up until college, Tokio alpine ski raced competitively, eventually representing Japan at the international level. During the summers, Tokio would ski race in New Zealand where he trained with the local Kiwi team. Tokio has been skiing since the age of 2 and continues to ski to this day.
At St. Mary’s, Tokio was part of the Cross Country, Soccer, and Buccaneer Swim teams. He also sang for the Varsity Ensemble directed by Randy and Rachel Stenson. Tokio was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and is native in both English and Japanese.
TIMESTAMP
0:53 - Introduction
2:44 - Introduction continued
3:35 - How COVID19 has affected current college students
5:58 - St. Marys Alumni Network
9:45 - The tech startup attempt
12:33 - "Why finance?", and what type of interview questions to expect in the world of finance
19:37 - Utilizing Japanese at a foreign firm in Japan
24:08 - Should international school students attend brand name large schools (UCLA, NYU, Harvard, Yale) or small liberal art schools (Harvey Mudd, Bowdoin, Amherst, Swathmore)?
32:58 - Was Malcolm Gladwell correct when he asserted that food at Bowdoin College is terrible?
34:45 - Alpine skiing
38:20 - Best memory of St. Marys
40:13 - What is to come in the next few decades
**Natuski Uemura (Former Aoba International School)
Vegan Youtuber **
Before I entered Aoba Japan International School as an ESL student, I spoke no English and my only experience abroad was a vacation trip to Guam (my parents didn't and don't speak English and have never lived abroad). After immersing myself in American style education for 3 years, I graduated as Valedictorian of the class in 1999.
After AJIS, I attended a Quaker high school in Pennsylvania then went to Washington University in St. Louis. After graduation, I went into a PhD. program in Political Science at Stanford University but left the program after 1 year with a Master's degree as I wanted to "explore" the world more before committing myself to a life in academia. There was a slight possibility that I would go back to the program after working for few years but I never went back.
After Stanford, I worked for an Asian VC in Silicon Valley then moved back to Japan where I started a career in M&A advisory. I worked for various firms including Credit Suisse and Deloitte before going freelance, doing translation and analyst work for financial institutions, consulting firms, and funds. My now-husband (boyfriend at the time) got seconded to his firm's Mumbai office, so I went along. While continuing to work as a freelancer, I also started a jewelry business, designing jewelry, manufacturing it in Jaipur then selling it in Japan. That's when I started to explore my creative side in business.
I started a Youtube channel in June 2018, initially to share vegan cooking recipes then expanded the topic to include yoga, mindfulness, sustainable living, etc.
Find Natsuki at Tokyo Veg Life! 88K Subscribers!
Check out her new book. おうちでヴィーガン 14日間で旅する世界一周の味
TimeStamps
0:43 - Introduction
2:45 - おうちでヴィーガン 14日間で旅する世界一周の味 the release of a new vegan book
4:30 - Attending Aoba International School as an ESL student
9:15 - Did Aoba prepare you for an American high school experience?
12:22 - Getting a Masters at Stanford University / Leaving a Ph.D. program early
15:41 - Meeting Yoga / how to approach yoga
24:52 - Becoming vegan (from a meat lover) / being a tolerant vegan
25:10 - Skincare
42:46 - Fasting (24-hour fasting and intermitting fasting)
52:38 - Youtube Channel (Tokyo Veg Life)
1:04:52 - What is to come
Shinji Yamasaki (ASIJ 2003) CEO for RE:ERTH
Born and raised in Tokyo, he attended ASIJ from Nursery Kindergarten, and graduated in 2003. He completed his Undergraduate Degree in Boston, then received his Masters in London. After working in top capital cities like New York, London, and Tokyo in finance (Lehman Brothers) and medical devices (Boston Scientific), he joined his family business, which owns several distributorships for international health and beauty brands.
In 2017, he started RE:ERTH, a nature-derived, efficacious, and minimalistic skincare brand for healthy, mochi-skin. Using ingredients backed by studies from reputable universities like Kindai University and Oxford University, RE:ERTH combines the Japanese way of life with cutting-edge technology, and features proprietary ingredients including Japanese White Turmeric, which grows only on the brand’s farms in the Kyushu region of Japan.
Outside of work, his interests lie in fitness, horticulture (particularly succulents and cacti), and won't miss an opportunity to have a coffee and cigar!
Timestamp
0:56 - Introduction
3:29 - Why ASIJ/International School
5:15 - Cultural Identity
8:33 - Tokyo v New York v London (the "big 3")
16:15 - Choosing a career path - comparing business culture in Japan to overseas
22:35 - The birth of RE:ERTH, life as a CEO for the company
25:53 - Scotch, Whiskey and Cigars
28:30 - Weight lifting, 3-times not 6-times
32:40 - ASIJ and Shinji
35:12 - What is to come
**Yu Hayami 早見優 (ASIJ 1984)
Singer and TV Actress**
Hayami is a J-pop singer and TV actress in Japan. In 2011, the Japanese music television program Music Station listed her as the 50th all-time best-selling idol in Japan, with 2,850,000 records sold. Yu Hayami was born in Atami, Shizuoka, and was raised in Guam and Hawaii from the age of 3 to 14 years old. She was scouted by an agent at the age of 14 and soon moved back to Japan to start her career as a singer. She attended ASIJ from 1981 to 1982. She entered Sophia University and graduated, receiving a Bachelor's Degree in Comparative Culture.
In 1982, Hayami gained her J-pop singer's debut with the single "Isoide Hatsukoi" (ASAP, my first love!) after being scouted by a talent agent in a shopping mall’s elevator in Hawaii in 1980 when she was only 14 years old. Named “Bilingual girl back from Hawaii” due to her ability to speak very fluent English because of her background, Hayami was instantly recognized and touted as one of the best newcomers to watch out for.
She proceeded to win most of the major newcomers’ awards by end of 1982. In 1983, her fifth single, "Natsu Iro no Nancy" (Summer Coloured Nancy), was selected as a campaign song for a Coca-Cola commercial, and she became a cover girl of that. The single became Hayami’s first Big Hit, making it to the top 10 of the Oricon Chart, winning countless awards. As a result of the success of the song, Hayami made her 1st appearance at the 34th edition of the year end NHK Kouhaku Red and White Song Festival. Hayami participated consecutively 3 years in the prestigious show. (1983 - 1985)
Hayami shifted her focus to become an actress and TV & Radio presenter in the 1990s. Being able to speak fluent English, Hayami’s host programmes were all catered to English speaking education materials and were all very popular. Hayami continued her successful presenter’s work till current, and can still be regularly seen on entertainment varieties programme singing her signature songs from the early stage of her idol career.
TIMESTAMP
1:02 - Introduction
2:57 - Getting scouted - entering the Japanese "geinoukai" show business as a teenager
5:26 - Entering ASIJ and identity
7:46 - The challenges of being a "kikokushijo" (a Japanese returnee)
9:22 - Finding other "geinoujin"/celebrities that can relate (Ann Lewis and Teresa Teng)
11:04 - 2016 theme song for the UN SDGs
14:00 - Attending the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the "Earth Summit" in 1992
20:32 - Being part of the NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen in 1983, 1984, 1985 Letter from Suizenji Kiyoko
25:17 - Expanding from "pop idol" to radio, theater, and TV
29:09 - Balancing television with theater
31:00 - Career after marriage and two children
32:50 - Being an ASIJ parent - returning to ASIJ
38:35 - What is to come in future
**Dr. Gwen Thornton (ASIJ 2009)
Emergency Veterinarian**
Gwen is an Emergency veterinarian working in Melbourne, Australia.
Gwen grew up in Kobe and Tokyo and after graduating from ASIJ in 2009, completed her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Zoology from University College London in 2013.
She spent one of these years studying abroad in Perth, Western Australia. After finishing her Masters, Gwen moved to Melbourne and undertook a Doctors of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne which she completed in 2017.
Since then she has done a rotating internship at a surgical referral center, worked in general practice and has settled in emergency for the moment.
Gwen continued her running and volleyball career from high school and has competed at both the collegiate, State and National levels in both Track and Field and Volleyball in the UK and Australia.
TIMESTAMP
1:21 - Introduction
3:43 - When did you know you wanted to become a vet?
5:15 - Being a vet in Australia
8:30 - Why people choose the veterinary profession
11:33 - Dealing with pet owners as a vet
13:05 - Being a pet owner as a vet
13:55 - Tips from Dr. Thornton to cat/dog owners
16:33 - Where is "home"?
21:05 - Running Track (HS, Collegiate, and nationals)
27:10 - 2016 VIC 400 Meters Womans Final
29:15 - Running at Australia Nationals Track and Field
30:33 - Having family in locations around the world, the TCK mindset
33:40 - What is coming up
EPISODE 56**Wookie Kim (Former ASIJ)
Lawyer**
Wookie attended ASIJ from the fifth to the eighth grade (1997-2001) before completing high school at St. Paul's School, a boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire.
Wookie then attended Yale University, receiving a B.A. in Ethics, Politics and Economics in 2009. After two years teaching high school English and journalism in DC Public Schools through Teach For America, Wookie matriculated at Harvard Law School, from which he earned his J.D. in 2014.
Wookie is currently the Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, where he works to defend people’s civil rights and civil liberties through litigation, lobbying, public education, and other forms of advocacy. Among the issues Wookie works on are the criminalization of poverty, bail reform, policing, reproductive freedom, gender equity, and freedom of expression.
Before joining the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, Wookie was an associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP in Washington, D.C., where he litigated high-stakes business disputes involving things like advanced high strength steel, table saw safety technology, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. While there, Wookie also maintained an active pro bono practice, including representing undocumented Latino immigrants in challenging a landlord’s discriminatory rental practices under the Fair Housing Act. Wookie also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Catherine C. Blake of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
Wookie and his wife currently live in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. In his free time, Wookie trains for and competes in 100-mile trail races, surfs in Waikiki, and otherwise takes advantage of the many opportunities for outdoor exploration in Hawaiʻi.
Timestamp
1:03 - Introductions
3:07 - American Boarding school vs International schools, deciding to leave the international school scene for America
7:22 - Challenges of settling into American boarding school as an international student
13:34 - Deciding to work for Teach for America after graduating from Yale
18:28 - Interest in equity and civil rights rooted from Yale years when studying Ethics-Politics-Economics (essentially, political philosophy)
22:28 - Harvard v Yale
26:20 - Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP - the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill case
29:12 - Digitization of documents in court cases
32:03 - Deciding to move out "West" a shift to Hawaii and the ACLU - and the effects of a near-death coma experience in Colorado
42:10 - Going from a coma in July to a 100K race in December - a miraculous recovery
45:45 - the logistics of running a 29-hour race
51:28 - the ACLU - the most recent case he is working on in Hawaii
55:41 - the ACLU - prison reform and justice reform
59:43 - What is to come
**Natasha Kostek (ASIJ 2004) @ New York,
NY Doctoral School Psychology Candidate**
Natasha joined the ASIJ community in 2000 and spent all four of her formative high school years there. Growing up as a first-generation Brazilian-American in a homogeneous Connecticut suburb, Natasha had often felt stymied. When she moved to Japan, she found home; she learned how to become a scholar and a world citizen. Reflecting back on her education at ASIJ, she feels privileged to have learned from such passionate teachers. Teachers who impacted her greatly are Javier Fernandez and Chaiken of Bio, with whom she is still in contact.
Natasha’s experience as a third culture kid has guided many of her personal, professional, and academic decisions. It guided her to move to New York, one of the most heterogeneous metropolises in the United States; to jump at the opportunity live in Brazil as a finance headhunter covering the Latin American region, and to apply to her current doctoral program’s bilingual track to receive training in nondiscriminatory assessment and therapeutic practices.
Natasha is presently a fourth-year doctoral School Psychology student at St. John’s University in Queens, NY, USA. Within this doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) program, her responsibilities have been multifaceted: coursework, teaching, clinical work, research, and leadership. The marriage of her doctoral training and multicultural background has reinforced her commitment to advocacy work and cultural sensitivity in the therapeutic context. Natasha is passionate about mentoring high school and college-aged students and welcomes contact about pursuing training in the field of mental health. For targeted resources, see the Doctoral Application Resources folder located on her website: www.natashakostek.com/documents
Episode Summary
0:45 - Introduction
2:59 - Growing up in the suburbs of Connecticut as a first-generation Brazilian American
5:07 - Why was Tokyo "Home"?
8:35 - The "adaptability" of TCKers and international school students
10:23 - Why Psychology?
16:30 - Psychology research related to studying minors
18:50 - Shifting social norms in society, what is the next shift in dynamics we may be seeing in education? (Normalization of mental health)
21:24 - Discussing the show "13 Reasons Why", and the effects it had on the perception of mental health and suicide
23:27 - How being a trilingual and a TCK has effected professional work
26:38 - LDs in schools
27:32 - What type of jobs and professional opportunities exist in the field of psychology, other than clinical psychology
36:14 - What is coming up
Ben Carr (ASIJ 2007)
Owner - Innovative Fitness North Vancouver
Ben Carr graduated ASIJ in 2007. Originally from the US, was raised on the international school circuit. Born in Northampton MA, lived in Tanzania, North Carolina, Brazil, and Costa Rica before moving to Tokyo in 2003 when his dad, Tim Carr became the Headmaster, a position he held until moving to Jakarta in 2010 to take over the headship at Jakarta Intercultural School.
Ben went on to study Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. While at university he worked for Red Bull, led the UBC Surf Club and worked as a student athletic trainer for the UBC Rugby Team and met his to-be wife Laura.
After graduation he moved to Atlanta and worked at the Atlanta International School before moving back to Vancouver and starting work with Innovative Fitness as a professional training coach. In the 6 years at IF he moved up the ranks from coach to events manager, to sales manager to corporate sales to studio manager before opening his own franchise in Jan 2018. He now has 12 staff and about 120 clients. Ben is passionate about leadership, empowerment, equality and positively impacting the lives of his community.
Episode Summary
Timestamps
1:05 - Introduction
2:38 - Being a TCK (raised in Tanzania, Costa Rica, Brazil, Japan, and North Carolina), where is home?
8:54 - Early interests in athletics and fitness (ASIJ, UBC)
11:38 - Why a fitness gym and not other athletics-related occupations (such a PE teacher, physical therapist, Crossfit coach, etc)
14:43 - The challenges of teaching adults vs children, and what is more challenging for a client who is a novice to the world of fitness or is a veteran?
17:41 - Countering the image of the "before and after picture"
19:59 - The 5 AM club, getting up early for workouts *(4 AM for some) 23:33 - Daily habits one could change to be fit
26:00 - How to balance "rigor" - I am overworking or not working hard enough?
28:33 - "Abs are made in the kitchen" - an urban myth or some truth or something else?
32:00 - Leaders that influence Ben (Founders of Innovative Fitness, Tim Carr) - Empowerment through adversity and experiment and gaining buy-in from clients.
35:16 - Running a fitness gym during times of COVID-19 42:33 - Where is home?
45:54 - What is to come
**Karuna Shinsho (ASIJ 1986)
Jazz Vocalist **
Karuna Shinsho was born and raised in Hawaii until she moved to Tokyo in her early teens with her Japanese parents. After graduating from ASIJ in 1986, she attended Sophia University in Tokyo, where she majored in Political Science. While a junior at the university, she was chosen to anchor NHK Television's first English language news program, "Today's Japan", for broadcast in Japan and overseas.
After four years at NHK, Karuna decided to deepen her knowledge of Japan and the world and attended Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs in New York. During that time, she also worked as a business anchor at NHK's New York Bureau. Upon attaining her Masters in International Affairs with a focus on East Asia, Karuna became an anchor/ correspondent for Asia Business News in Singapore. Then, after a brief stint in Tokyo working for NHK again, she moved to Hong Kong to work for CNN International as an anchor/correspondent where she earned several honors at the Asian Television Awards, including Best News Presenter.
During her time in Hong Kong, Karuna got married and had her first son. She decided to quit journalism to be a stay-at-home mom. But television soon came calling again and she started anchoring a show on Asian affairs for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. After moving back to the United States, Karuna had her second son and joined her then diplomatic husband on his subsequent tours, which included the Philippines and Zimbabwe. During her time in Hong Kong, she had discovered yoga. She enjoyed the health and mental benefits of the practice and decided to become a yoga teacher.
Back in Washington D.C. and going through a divorce, Karuna felt the urgent need to re-discover herself. She found that singing jazz helped her to heal and find joy again. Starting from jazz vocal workshops a few years ago to recently gigging locally and overseas, Karuna released her debut single "Smile" in November 2020. Her album, "To Love Again", will be out in 2021.
Karuna understands that during challenging times, it can be difficult to be hopeful. But she believes that those moments are when one must be open to opportunities. One such opportunity presented itself when she was asked to join the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director of Hong Kong-based investment holding company, Melco International Development Limited. She is also grateful to be able to pursue her passion for singing and to share it with willing listeners.
Hugh McGuire (ASIJ 2020)
Marketing Intern
Hugh is a recent graduate of the ASIJ class of 2020. Before graduating, he attended ASIJ for 13 years, joining the community back in Kindergarten. He was born in London, England, but moved to Japan soon thereafter at the age of 4. He is the son of a Japanese mother and an American father and is one of four brothers in the family, all of whom attended ASIJ (Kai ‘14, Ian ‘17, Lee ‘22). His two older brothers Kai and Ian both graduated from ASIJ in 2014 and 2017, respectively, and his younger brother Lee is still at ASIJ and is currently a junior in high school. Hugh is also bilingual, speaking both Japanese and English.
At ASIJ, Hugh played varsity basketball for three years and was very involved in volunteer clubs in high school. As a junior, he started a club with the goal of breaking the barrier between international schools and local Japanese schools. The club, appropriately named Tokyo Sports Outreach, hosts Japanese elementary schools and pre-schools for youth sports clinics and has successfully hosted schools such as Musashino Gakuin Elementary School and Aoyama Gakuin Elementary School.
Hugh was planning on attending Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, this past fall but decided to take a gap year due to the worsening state of COVID-19 in the United States. During his gap year, he has been interning for a professional basketball team in Tokyo, Japan, called the Earthfriends Tokyo Z in the B.League, primarily aiding in marketing and operations.
Episode Summary
1:00 - Introduction
2:50 - Being an ASIJ senior during COVID-19
6:28 - Online learning during times of COVID-19
7:46 - Being an International school student during times of COVID-19
10:07 - Being an "ASIJ Lifer"
11:48 - Japan Seminar at ASIJ
12:39 - Tokyo Sports Outreach
16:30 - Being half-Japanese and half-American
19:08 - Marketing intern at Earthfriends Tokyo Z
22:00 - Being half-Japanese and half-American pt2
24:22 - Marketing intern at Earthfriends Tokyo Z continued
27:33 - What is to come
**Nancy Kroonenberg (ASIJ High School Assistant Principal 1996-2013)
Educator**
Before wending my way to ASIJ, I lived in the United States, France, The Netherlands, and Hong Kong. ASIJ was my third international school.
Pre-Covid we were inveterate travelers with trips to Machu Picchu, Uzbekistan, Cambodia, South Africa among a few of our favorites.
I retired (sort of) from ASIJ in 2013. Within a half year I was working at the American International School of Rotterdam (AISR), first as Interim Secondary Principal, then as Admissions Director. AISR is an IB school rather than the AP Program which I knew at ASIJ so it was a steep learning curb. I retired again (sort of) in 2016.
I have since committed myself to volunteer work. I was keen to stay connected with internationals so joined a help desk where we offer info about schools, jobs, healthcare, housing and everything else to international newcomers in Amsterdam.
After four decades in schools, it was difficult not being among students. Well, that has been short-lived as well. WASC, the organization which accredits ASIJ, needs volunteers to serve on visiting teams. I have been doing that since 1989. Since being back in Europe I have been on WASC teams in Sweden, Italy, Spain, Israel, South Africa and Qatar. On two teams, my teammate was a friend from ISSH in Tokyo.
I love staying connected with people.
Episode Summary
1:02 - Introduction
3:33 - Why did you join the world of education?
5:15 - International schools in the 1980s
7:38 - Changes in ASIJ from 1996 to 2013
9:39 - Role as a disciplinarian at ASIJ 18:07 - Size of schools and the role it plays
21:57 - WASC Accreditation process
27:37 - AP vs IB (Advance Placement v International Baccalaureate)
31:11 - Traveling around the world
35:23 - What is the difference between a "great' vs "good" school
36:54 - What is to come
Interlude episode
After 50 guests from 11 countries, and over 100 hours of podcasting.
Nick reflects upon the podcast of far, and where he hopes the podcast will be going.
Episode Summary
0:05 - Introduction
2:15 - Why did I start the podcast?
7:37 - Where is this podcast heading?
Miguel Gen Ortiz-Cañavate Ozeki (St. Mary's 2009)Miguel graduated from St. Mary’s in 2009 and holds a Bachelor's in Economics from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Hotel & Restaurant Management from Eastern Michigan University. In 2016, Miguel completed his professional swimming career after winning the NCAA championship title in college and competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro along with his brother, Bruno Ortiz, who also graduated from St. Mary’s. Currently, he works at Galaxy Entertainment Group, the second-largest casino hospitality company in the world, supporting the pursuit of winning a casino license in Japan.
Bruno Kenji Ortiz-Cañavate Ozeki (St. Marys 2011)Bruno graduated from St. Mary’s in 2011. He holds a Bachelor's in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from the University of Michigan and a Master’s in Inland Water Quality Assessment from the Autonomous University of Madrid. In 2016, Bruno, along with his older brother, Miguel, competed at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. He is currently training to qualify for Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.
Episode Summary 1:10 - Introductions
3:05 - Identity, being Spanish, American, Japanese with a touch of Portuguese / Brazilian and being a TCK
10:03 - The challenges of language acquisition
14:35 - University of Michigan - the story behind the two brothers joining one of the top swimming programs in the USA (Brunos "assist")
19:56 - A message from former Olympians, Bruno, and Miguel to current high school athletes who are interested in competing at the collegiate level 28:35 - The brothers and St. Marys International School
31:30 - Brunos preparation for the 2021 Olympics
33:52 - Miguels post-retirement life as a member of Galaxy Entertainment Group and an explanation of the background of the "IR" in Japan.
37:20 - (to Miguel) Now that you are retired do you miss swimming?
39:24 - Competing in the Rio 2016 Olympics as siblings
42:13 - What is to come in the next few years
**Michael Thornton (ASIJ 2006)
Historian (Post Doctoral Research Associate)**
Michael Thornton is a historian of early-modern and modern Japan, with a particular interest in urban history. In his dissertation, “Settling Sapporo: City and State in the Global Nineteenth Century,” he analyzed the planning and construction of Sapporo across the nineteenth century. He argued that the city was built as a settler-colonial capital, playing an instrumental role in the Japanese colonization of Hokkaido. The city was in turn heavily shaped by its colonial position and functions. More broadly, Thornton is interested in the transformation of Japanese cities between the Tokugawa and Meiji periods, including the development of new forms of social and political organization and municipal administration, with an eye to lessons that the rest of the world might learn from one of the planet’s most urbanized societies. Thornton grew up in Kobe and Tokyo before attending Yale, where he received a BA in History in 2010.
After brief stints in Germany and back in Japan he entered the Ph.D. program in History at Harvard, from which he graduated in May 2018.
Episode Summary
1:17 - Introduction
3:08 - Release of a new book about the city of Mito, Japan
8:52 - Common misconceptions people have about samurai
15:25 - Being a TCK / "Where is home?"
31:09 - "Dr. Thornton" - Settling Sapporo: City and State in the Global Nineteenth Century
43:13 - Running - (Running culture, Charles River, and Haruki Murakami, memories of ASIJ Cross Country)
58:50 - Homosexual relationships - the transition from ASIJ to the states and being a gay man in the 21st century and activism.
1:08:30 - What is coming up in Michaels life
**Frank Streigl (St. Marys 2002)
President and Owner of Finom K.K.**
Frank is the owner at Finom Inc., operating the brands Tokyo Ramen Tours and 5 AM Ramen. Essentially, he has one of the best jobs in the world. He eats ramen for a living. After St. Mary's, he majored in Sociology and minored in Law at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. His first job was in Tokyo, where he worked as a Nikkei stockbroker. After finance, he found himself working in tech, chiefly in sales and business development roles. From this point onward he would continue to work in sales, including at the online booking website Agoda. In January of 2018, he started offering ramen tours to inbound tourists, immersing himself in the world of ramen full-time.
Tokyo Ramen Tours https://www.tokyoramentours.com/
5AM Ramen http://5amramen.com/
Episode summary
1:55 - Introduction
3:45 - Of the 1000+ ramen places you have been to, where are the one or two that you recommend? (Harukiya and Taishoken)
5:44 - Soy sauce based v pork-based ramen for tourists
7:11 - The "Tsukemen" boom
9:14 - Ramen noodles / Childhood ramen favorites
12:53 - At what point did Frank decide to pivot from the tech/corporate world to the world of ramen
15:50 - How to eat ramen every day, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle
18:02 - The "1000 yen wall" 千円の壁
21:22 - The economics of being a ramen restaurant owner
24:41 - How to make ramen at home
27:22 - "Secret" ramen recipes, urban legend, or some truth?
29:39 - Franchised ramen locations - places Frank recommends
30:55 - Bad ramen experience? (*Coffee Ramen)
34:08 - Two more recommendation (on top of Harukiya and Taishoken), pork and miso ramen (pork - Tanaka Shouten, miso - Santora)
38:12 - Being a brother to a professional MMA fighter (Mark Mugen Striegl)
42:03 - The World Instant Ramen
46:22 - What is coming up in the next few years
Harukiya - Ogibukubo Station
1 Chome-4-6 Kamiogi, Suginami City
Soysauce Ramen
http://5amramen.com/ramen/harukiya-ramen
Taishoken - Eifukucho Station
3-5-3 Izumi, Suginami-ku Tokyo
Soysauce Ramen
http://5amramen.com/ramen/eifukucho-taishoken
Tanaka Shouten - Rokucho Station
Adachi City, Hitotsuya, 2 Chome−14−6 アンスリューム 1F
Pork Ramen
http://5amramen.com/ramen/tonkotsu-ramen-in-tokyo-tanaka-shoten
Santora - Edogawaa Station
362 Yamabukicho, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 162-0801,
Miso Ramen
https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1309/A130905/13240660/
Robin Lewis (ASIJ 2006) Co-founder/CEO of MyMizu
Robin is the Co-founder of mymizu - an award-winning initiative to reduce consumption of single-use plastics. He is also the Co-founder & Director of Social Innovation Japan - a platform for social good focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals - and is a Consultant at the World Bank (Climate Change Group). He has 10 years’ experience working with inter-governmental organisations, social enterprises and NGOs, and has managed humanitarian operations in countries such as Haiti, Nepal, Vanuatu and Mozambique. In 2017, he took on a sponsored expedition, walking 600+km along Japan’s disaster-affected coastline to document the recovery from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear crisis. Robin is a Board Member of the Shibuya QWS Innovation Council and graduated with an M.A. in International Business from the University of Edinburgh, UK.
Timestamps
Websites MyMizu - https://www.mymizu.co/home-en
Sandals made out of tires, sandals recommended by Robin - https://indosole.com/
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Timestamps 0:29
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Introduction 1:53
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MyMizu 4:50
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Japan, consumption, and plastic use 6:14
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Reduction of plastic elevator pitch 8:59
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Business, economics and the reduction of plastic use, a fundamental shift in perspective towards social responsibilities 10:33
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Robins relationship with Japan and the effects the Tohoku earthquake had on him 15:58 Tohoku Coastal (Michinoku Trail walk 2016) 18:33
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of the various crisis responses, which one was the most challenging? (experience in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2015) 20:09
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How do you make a living as an environmentalist/conservationist? 24:40
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Experience at ASIJ and how that affected who he has become today 29:40
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Robin asks Nick what his takeaway was from ASIJ 32:31
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What is coming up in Robins life
Episode 46 (Episode 45 delayed to next week)
Anna Novic (St. Maur 2008)
International Educator / Writer / Runner
Anna was born in Seoul, Korea, in 1989 to a US Navy family. After spending the first 18-months of her life between Seoul and Vermont, her family moved (back) to Japan (her family had lived there before she was born) in 1992.
Following in her two older brothers’ footsteps, Anna attended local Japanese public school from Kindergarten through ninth grade. After finishing junior high, Anna’s mother, a professor at Keisen Women’s University in Machida, took a sabbatical to North Wales, where Anna experienced her first school with English instruction. By the time she got over the culture shock a year later, it was time to return to Japan. She attended Saint Maur International school from 2005-2008. She attended Harvard (C’2013), where she studied Sociology and Psychology. She completed the Undergraduate Teacher Education Program and has a Massachusetts teaching license in Biology.
In high school, Anna was best known for her academic and running career. She broke the Tama Hills Girls’ cross country record 2007 (it has since been broken, and rebroken…). At Harvard, Anna competed for the Greater Boston Track Club, setting personal bests in the 5k (17:53), 10k (37:30), half marathon (1:23:05) and the marathon (2:56:23).
Anna returned to Japan in 2013 and has been teaching IB Biology and General Science at Saint Maur ever since. She is also a member of the college guidance team and coaches cross country. She has been a bilingual IB examiner since 2016.
Outside of education, Anna works as a translator, researcher, and writer. She is working on a novel, which she hopes to finish before she is 80.
She lives in Hayama with her two cats, dog, and partner. She continues to train and race competitively with the hope of running an Olympic Trials Qualifier (2:45:00).
Episode Summary
0:43 - Introduction
2:50 - Annas Book
5:27 - Maintaining a high level of writing in both English and Japanese
13:35 - Attending a Japanese public school and being the only "Yankee" at a school in Wales
24:50 - How Anna as an educator sees her experience as a student affect her management of a heterogeneous classroom
34:35 - Tama Hills, Olympic Trials Time and Kanto Plains Cross Country with the St. Maur Cross Country Team
51:44 - The IB program
1:04:40 - Anna and St. Maur
1:10:30 - What is to come in Annas life in the next few years
**DJ Taku Takahashi (member of M-Flo) (St. Marys 1993)
Musician and Producer**
Taku Takahashi is a Japanese hip hop recording artist, DJ, and record producer who debuted in 1997 as a record producer of the hip hop group M-Flo. The group rose to prominence in the early 2000s, with hit singles such as "How You Like Me Now?" and "Come Again." Takahashi was also a member of Avex's 20th-anniversary dance music project Ravex, and has produced songs for musicians such as Crystal Kay, Ami Suzuki and Rie Fu, and remixes for Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki. He formed the record labels Tachytelic Records and TCY Recording. M-Flo M-Flo is a Japanese hip hop group consisting of record producer DJ Taku Takahashi, MC Verbal, and Lisa. Their mainstream success and critical acclaim established them as the most iconic and influential hip-hop production team in Japan with success throughout Asia. Taku Takahashi and Verbal also started successful side-projects outside M-Flo, such as the Teriyaki Boyz and Global Astro Alliance collaborating with international producers and artists such as Kanye West and the Beastie Boys.
Time Stamps
0:32 - Introduction
1:52 - Meeting Verbal (Young-Kee Yu) and starting N.M.D.
4:06 - Winning Battle of the Bands @ ASIJ / First Record Label deal offers
6:34 - Occidental College / Musical influences from the 1990s
10:08 - "Inter" kouhai and M-Flo - Nicks experience being introduced to M-Flo
11:50 - International school graduates and the music industry
16:13 - Advice to international school kouhai who want to be part of the music industry
20:13 - Survival of the fittest in the music industry and the importance of being able to adapt, monetization in music today, and Japans failure to adapt
25:42 - "Innovation" in the world of music today - the hunt for "originality"
27:52 - Utilizing online platforms in the music industry - block.fm
30:48 - What will the music scene in 2021-2022 look like
33:53 - What is coming up in the next few years and decades
**Steven Lobianco (Former ASIJ Faculty 1998-2013)
International Teacher**Lived the first 18 years of my life in Dubuque, Iowa. Then attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where I played tennis for four years and graduated with a Bachelors in Mathematics with an emphasis in secondary education. A bit later in my career (over the course of a number of summers), I completed a Masters in Educational Technology at a small liberal arts school named Clarke College in Dubuque, Iowa. Dubuque is still my summer home. Teaching Career: I worked for three years in Dubuque teaching in a (mostly) self-contained 7th/8th grade classroom in Dubuque, IA. Then we moved overseas first spending 3 years teaching mathematics to 8th/9th graders in Khamis Mushayt, Saudi Arabia, followed by 15 years teaching mathematics at ASIJ (3 years in the MS and 12 in the HS), and have just started year 8 in Doha, Qatar, at the American School of Doha teaching Mathematics and IB Economics in high school. During my teaching career, I have coached numerous sports including tennis, volleyball, and American football. However, my passion and the one I've done for the most years is Girls basketball - current the Varsity Girls coach in Doha. I also coached the girl's varsity team at ASIJ for a number of years. Family: I’ve been married for 27 years to Lora who is an elementary teacher – currently grade 4. We have two children. Our oldest, Daniela, who graduated from the American School of Doha (2019), is currently studying forensic science at the University of New Haven. Our youngest, Pacifico, just began his senior year at the American School of Doha. He is in the process of deciding where to attend university and is strongly considering applying to some schools in Japan. Personal: I have been blessed with the opportunity to live overseas for the majority of my adult life and travel quite extensively which is a passion. I am also an avid – but not that skilled – golfer.
Time Stamps
0:14 - Introduction
2:47 - Balancing being a "teacher" and a "parent" at an international school
9:11 - What prompted you to leave Iowa in the 1990s?
11:54 - Retirement and leaving the field of teaching in 2021
13:49 - Why leave Japan/ASIJ after 18-years?
16:28 - Why the American School of Doha / Bangkok Job Fair
19:49 - Classic "Lobianco catchphrase" / Student nicknames
22:28 - Drafting an anti-discrimination policy in the 2000s at ASIJ
29:40 - Playing NCAA-Division I Tennis - Getting drawn into Girls Basketball
33:30 - Top 5 players ever + 2-sixth-man (ASIJ Girls Basketball 2000s)
38:38 - Coaching girls vs boys in sports
41:55 - What is to come in the next few years
Kari Kohl (ASIJ 1986)
Kari Kohl was raised by an IBM family in and around Westchester County, NY and Paris, France. She came to Tokyo in 1984. She then stayed in Tokyo for a year and enrolled in Sophia University’s Intensive Japanese Language program. Kari then returned to the US where she graduated from Princeton University in 1992 with a BA in Modern East Asian History with minors in Women’s Studies and Teacher Preparation. She taught third grade in public New Jersey schools for 4 years, and then enrolled in Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) and married David Kohl. While earning her Masters Degree, she started her family, and quickly realized that she would not be able to devote herself 100% to both her family and a new career, and she decided to stay home with her children. During the next 13 years, she tutored, wrote curriculum for the New York Times, and became a volunteer breastfeeding counselor with La Leche League International. It was during this time that she found her calling, wanting to empower women to know and feel comfortable with their bodies, and she started her journey to becoming a midwife. She graduated from Westchester Community College with her RN license in 2012, worked in Labor and Delivery for several years, and then earned her Masters in Midwifery and her CNM license from Frontier Nursing University in 2017. Since 2018, she has been working for Planned Parenthood in New Rochelle, NY, caring for women at all stages of life. Her daughter, Alexandra, graduated from Brown University via Zoom this past May, and her son Ben begins college at Northeastern University this Fall.
Summary Timestamps
0:05 - Introduction
2:32 - ASIJ in the 1980s
6:57 - Staying in Japan for an extra year after HS
10:28 - Princeton / Cultural Shock upon return to the USA
13:34 - Japan Seminar
17:07 - Education
20:50 - Meeting Wendy Kopp while at Princeton / Teach for America
22:34 - Midwifery
25:55 - Making late-career changes
29:10 - Pressures on the modern high school student
32:40 - Woman in the workplace / The importance of "choice"
38:52 - The pros and cons of being a parent of a "Global Citizen"
45:25 - What is coming up in Kari's life
Ahmad Shiina (St. Marys 2005) CTO and Head of Products at Timers inc
Ahmad Shiina is the co-founder, CTO, and Head of Products at Timers inc, a startup based in Tokyo. He was born and raised in Tokyo and graduated from St.Mary's International School in 2005. He then entered Waseda University's International Liberal Arts Department. While studying there he has taught himself Computer Science and programming in his spare time, also working part-time as a software engineer for a mobile website firm. Upon graduating Waseda, Ahmad joined DeNA as a software engineer. In 2012 he has left the company to co-found Timers inc. Timers inc is a tech startup running Famm, a suite of businesses primarily targeted towards families such as photo printing mobile apps, family photo studios, and career development schools for mothers. They have over 1.3 million customers and have received 1.4 billion JPY in investments (13 million USD), and currently have over 50 employees passionately providing solutions for families all around Japan. As the CTO and Head of Product, Ahmad oversees all technological investment strategies, including hiring and management of engineers, and also oversees the app business segment. Ahmad's area of expertise includes all things computer technology related, as well as business strategy and organizational management.
Summary
-Majoring in Liberal Arts while self-learning programming
- Job recruitments out of Japanese colleges
-Leaving DENA to being Timers Inc
-Timers Inc business strategy for the near and distant future
-What can businesses learn from "startup-culture"?
-What are the common pitfall of a "young industry"?
-30 Under 30 (2017 from Forbes Asia)
Taka Kaneko - MC
Born and raised in Yokohama, went to St.Joseph International School, transferred to YIS from 8th grade. Graduated in 2004, went to Chapman University in California, graduated in 2008. Upon graduating, he returned to Japan to work for a trading company. 2013年より世界最大のバンドコンテスト、 「エマージェンザ」にてMCとしてのキャリアを始める。 TV番組のレギュラー出演や専用コーナーを持つなど、 メディアでの出演も含め現在までに500本以上の現場実績を持つ。 業界屈指のバイリンガルスキルを活かし、 アーバンスポーツ「パルクール第1回日本選手権」や LINE主催「LIVER AWARD 2019」等の大規模イベントでの MCを始め、ライブイベントや企業パーティ、ブライダル、 様々なイベントでMCとして活躍。
Takas Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEDTAZ12tk4rfYHFPVVR2KA
Takas Tik Tok Link
https://www.tiktok.com/@kinpatsu_megane?lang=en Timestamp
0:00 - Taka on TikTok
0:44 - Introduction
2:56 - Chapman University / California
5:15 - Being a Japanese "salaryman"
7:41 - Taka's "datsu-sara" leaving the corporate world
10:31 - A turning point, MCing at "Emergenza"
13:26 - Most memorable MCing event
16:25 - MCing at weddings / how to deal with public speaking pressure
21:02 - Cleopatra Harris
21:51 - Why MCing is worthwhile
27:20 - Being a vocalist in a band / writing lyrics in English vs Japanese
31:35 -The linguistic perspectives of Japanese v English
32:52 - TikTok
36:19 - What is to come
Rafai Eddy (ASIJ 2007) Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality Design
Rafai was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and graduated from ASIJ in 2007. He majored in International Business at the University of San Francisco (USF) and was a division 1 intercollegiate athlete on the men’s soccer team. Rafai currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Mika (also ASIJ class of ’07), and works as an AR/VR Product Designer specializing in mixed reality experiences and solutions. He also plays for LA 10 FC, a semi-pro soccer club owned by Alessandro Del Piero. Outside of work and soccer, Rafai enjoys snowboarding, attending music festivals and exploring creative side projects. As he and Mika are expecting their first child in September, they have most recently been working on Adalu Baby, a brand of educational products and services for mixed kids. Mika Eddy (Wang) (ASIJ 2007) Digital Health & Product Innovation
Mika was born in LA, raised in Tokyo, and graduated from ASIJ in 2007. At Stanford University, she majored in Human Biology and minored in Modern Languages where she also conducted autism research and taught a course on the neurobiology of relaxation (very California :). Mika, Rafai and their two pups, Taro and Kuro, live in sunny LA where they enjoy hiking, skiing, and beach-going. Mika has worked in healthcare and the lifesciences for nearly 10 years and is passionate about leveraging technology to improve access and delivery of care. She is currently Director of Clinical Product Innovation at UnitedHealthcare and was previously a Fulbright research fellow based in Xi’an, China.
Episode Summary
Episode Summary
AS A COUPLE
0:05 - Introduction
1:49 - What are the challenges/advantages of being an "international-school couple"?
4:14 - Which cities are best for "international-school couples"?
7:01 - ADALU BABY, for mixed babies/children
10:27 - Navigating three different cultures/languages (Mika)
12:06 - Rafai and Trinidad RAFAI ONLY
14:58 - Growing up being half black in Japan
19:48 - Rafai being in Johnnys Jr ジャニーズJr.
26:52 - Playing NCAA Division I Soccer
33:10 - Playing for LA FC 10 (a team owned by Alessandro Del Piero) MIKA ONLY
36:40 - Fulbright in China
40:55 - How to leverage technology to improve the distribution of care
44:28 - The future of American healthcare AS A COUPLE
47:25 - What is coming up in their lives
藤岡先生は渋谷区原宿で生まれ、大学卒業後東洋大学京北中学高等学校で教師 生活をスタートした。６年間後、ASIJの中等部日本語科専任教諭として奉職 することに。在職中は７年生と８年生の担任としてアウトドアエデュケーショナル プログラム（鳩ノ巣、三宅島、北海道・長野・苗場スキー旅行、広島旅行、伊豆旅行） の企画立案及び引率に従事する。また、冬季シーズンのバスケットボール部、春季シーズン のベースボール部のコーチを１７年間務め、数多くのASIJアスリートを育て上げた。 大病を患った母親を看病するためにASIJ を退職後、２年間家業の不動産業を継ぎながら 介護生活をおくる。その後、東洋大学〜東京都教育委員会などに奉職し、現在は 都立一貫校で教鞭を執る。 Riki Fujioka (ASIJ 2018) の父である。
ポッドキャストの概観
ーイントロ 0:05
ー日本の学校からインターへ転職した際の思い出 1:54
ー8年生の北海道のアイヌ交流とスキー旅行 6:35
ーアメリカンスクールの日本文化と現地の人間との交流の減少傾向。8:44
ーふじせんのASIJ中学の歴代スターティング５ 13:11
ー藤岡先生のコーチとしての理念、哲学と人事 20:35
ー2001年アメリカンスクール対センメの思い出 26:12
ーインターでのコーチィングと教育の哲学・理念 28:38
ー20年間のコーチングの中、最も印象深い試合 32:01
ー「負けたことがあるということがいつか大きな財産になる」 36:35
ーふじせんから卒業生へのメッセージ 38:15
Raymond Wong (SMIS 1985)
Representative Director and President of Wells Fargo Japan
After graduating SMIS in 1985, Raymond Wong studied in University of Pennsylvania with BA in Math and BSE in Finance. Born and raised in Japan, he carried Taiwanese passport until age four, before naturalizing to become Japanese. He also attended Tokyo Chinese School during his primary years.
Raymond had been in Financial companies for 30+ years, and currently is serving as a Representative Director for Wells Fargo Securities in Japan. He is also currently Chair for St. Mary's Alumni Association for 2020-2023.
He is also an avid athlete, having completed 60 full marathons and 9 IronMan events. Raymond and his wife Miwa have three children who studied in SMIS and SIS (Class of 2008, 10, 12).
Episode Summary
-The international school experience: going as a student v having a child attend and why send children to international schools
-Deciding what type of educational path (Japanese, American, etc) children should pursue
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Cultural variance within a bi-cultural family
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St. Marys as a parent vs student
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The finance market in Japan in the 1990s
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Expatriate culture and how it is changing in the 21st century
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Taiwan/Singapore in the 1990s
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Raymonds and "identity"
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How mixed children vary in identity, even within the same family
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Being at Bear Stearns in 2008
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COVID-19 v the 2008 Financial Crisis
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Raymond's belief in regard to how we engage COVID-19 will define our character
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The SMIS Alumni Council (SMAA)
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Iron Man and marathons
Akshaj Alex Mody (SMIS 2012)Software Engineer
Akshaj graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors in Economics, an emphasis in International Finance and a Business Minor in Financial Analytics. During his time at University, Akshaj interned at Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace, working as a Market Research Analyst and Financial Planning and Analysis intern respectively.
Upon graduating, Akshaj moved to the Silicon Valley/Bay Area to work in portfolio management at Fisher Investments as a Portfolio Implementation Associate. There he handled the construction of portfolios for high net worth clients primarily located within the EU.
In late 2019, Akshaj shifted his focus from finance to tech after months of self-studying. From there, he prepared for and was accepted to one of the top coding bootcamps for full-stack software engineering. With 3 months of pre-bootcamp work and 3 months of rigorous full-time bootcamp studies, he graduated from Hack Reactor as a full-stack software engineer,
Currently, Akshaj lives between San Francisco and Tokyo where he continues to work on software engineering products primarily for e-commerce and fintech applications.
Episode Summary- Career Choices (Army Officer, Finance, and Engineering)
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Colorado to California
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Pivot from finance to tech
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"Boot Camp" (for tech)
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Work in Japan v the USA in your 20s, vertical ladders, entry-level pay, and opportunity gaps
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Advice to people considering making major career changes in their 20s
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What. is to come in the next few years and decades
Episode 35 Harshit Sedani (ASIJ 2010)Consultant Born in India, moved to Tokyo when I was 2 and attended Santa Maria. I moved back to India for middle school but returned to finish high school at ASIJ. I moved the US for college, attending Claremont McKenna, where I got a degree in Mathematics and Economics. I took a gap semester in sophomore year and attended Waseda for a semester. After graduating in 2014, I did 3 years of consulting at BCG, did a short stint at AirAsia, then got my MBA at Harvard before returning to consulting in summer 2019. I try to focus my work on aviation, transportation, infrastructure, and the entertainment industry. Outside of my day job, I lead a volunteer coordination program that is aiming to contribute $1M+ in contribution of consulting time and I do small business consulting for women or minority owned business, including in Japan. I also genuinely enjoy mentoring younger people. To relax, I enjoy traveling, with my favourite destinations being eastern and southern Africa, South East Asia, and home (India, Japan, Cali) and passionately following AC Milan, Indian cricket and F-1 (in that order). I keep in very close touch with my ASIJ friends and often travel with them. If anyone is considering doing anything I have, they can reach out to me at hsedani14@cmc.edu.
Episode Summary
-Being a TCK for BOTH Japan and India
-the Indian education system in comparison to international school education in Tokyo
-Identity / Experience in the USA college system
-Small liberal arts College v large Universities
-MBAs
-Alumni networks for private v public schools
-The aviation industry
Brenden Lynce (Kinnick 2003) - Engineer
Brenden was born in Killeen, Texas. As the son of a Naval officer, he earned his title of 'Military Brat' moving across various states in the US during his youth before finally moving to Japan and graduating from Nile C Kinnick in 2004. After high school, Brenden spent a couple of years traveling in Asia and performing Music before joining the Military in 2007. He served on the Ballistic Missle Submarine USS Nevada (SSBN 733) as a Nuclear Reactor Operator. During his tour, he completed a historic Refueling and Overhaul of an SSBN Reactor and received several awards for tackling rare reactor casualties during Sea Patrols. After the Navy Brenden went to work as an Engineering Technician for Intel in Phoenix, Arizona repairing Plasma Etching equipment for the Semiconductor Manufacturing Process. While in Arizona, Brenden fell prey to one of the dreaded American Plagues of gun violence, receiving a bullet to the chest. After recovery, Brenden took a couple of years away from his career and traveled the Major Metropolitan areas exploring the Political, Economical, Mental, and Cultural issues surrounding America. Brenden then turned his focus back to his career, moving to Austin, Texas, becoming an Equipment Engineer for Cypress Semiconductor (now Infineon Technologies). In Austin, Brenden is researching the importance of the Electrical quality and coherency of food and water, and its effects on Mental and Physical Health. He also mentors Men and Youth on self-awareness and how to avoid the cultural pitfalls of America that will prohibit their version of success in the future. Via these, Brenden intends to start a Non-Profit that tackles some of what he observes as the base issues plaguing America. An Industrialized food system that exacerbates Physical and Mental Health Issues. The improper socialization of youth, including the use of electronic technologies, leading to a host of increasing effects that are left up to political and economic infighting to resolve.
Episode Summary
-Introduction
-Experience at Kinnick HS
-Playing music and touring in Asia
-Entering the Navy
-Identity and Race in Japan vs USA
-Military experience as a Nuclear Reactor Operator
-Getting shot in the chest in Arizona
-Effects of the shooting, and the next steps taken
-Mentoring youth
-Research on Electricity X Food -What is to come
Episode 33
Tom graduated from ASIJ in 2007 and attended the University at Buffalo to study biochemistry. Upon earning his bachelors he would go on to attend the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he earned his M.D. and D.O. He has been dabbling with magic tricks since he was a little kid, but it wasn’t until high school when he received one-on-one training with a magician in the Philippines that he fell in love with the craft. He continued to showcase his magic tricks throughout medical school, especially to entertain patients. Tom believes that by sharing magic with patients has provided him with a purpose and more fulfilling medical school experience. It has been a way for him to combine his two passions in life, which he said is his advice to students just beginning medical school. He currently works at the University of Pittsburgh's internal medicine department.
Episode Summary
-D.O. vs. M.D.,
-When Tom decided to pursue a career path in medicine,
-Tom falls in love with magic,
-Magic for patients,
-The effects of COVID-19,
-Waking up at 4AM every day (building good habits),
-Mixology, Sushi, and entrepreneurship.
Episode 32: Yumi Araki (ASIJ 2006)
Journalist (Senior Producer and Editorial Lead of a media lab)
Yumi (Youme) Araki was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and raised in Tokyo where she was a “lifer” at the American School in Japan, attending from kindergarten through high school.
Upon graduating in 2006, she attended Boston University’s College of Communication to pursue a bachelor’s degree in journalism, and spent her formative years after graduation producing documentaries at a production company. She then earned her master’s degree at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and began working for the Washington D.C. bureau of Japan’s largest newspaper, The Yomiuri Shimbun.
After covering the 2016 presidential election, Yumi moved on to work as a producer at “On Point,” a daily news show on Boston’s NPR station, and currently produces short documentaries and podcasts for a Washington-based defense think tank.
Most recently, she hosted a four-part TV docuseries called Deciphering Japan, which explores hot-button issues that have both galvanized and polarized the nation. She interviews the people at the forefront of change in Japan.
Docu-series on Japan,
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/video-on-demand/deciphering-japan
Podcast Summary
-What ignited interest in journalism,
-The importance of being versatile in multimedia in modern-day journalism,
-Will print media (in Japan) die out completely?
-Writing for sound v writing for print,
-Is media content changing to adjust to the demographics or the other way around?,
-Japans increase in foreign population,
-Japans aging population/population in decline,
-"karoushi", and Japanese work culture,
-The culture of work at the Japanese workplace,
-Yumis identity and how Japanese perspective in regards to "identity" is shifting (*shout out to Naomi Sundberg class of 2008 who makes an appearance on episode 4 of "Deciphering Japan"
-How did the series, "Deciphering Japan" come-about?
Youtube Link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L56x7ID3fdA&feature=youtu.be
Anchor Link
Caleb Eby (CAJ 2003) Missionary
Caleb was born and raised in Tokyo and attended Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ) from K-12. After receiving a degree in Intercultural Studies and a Minor in TESOL from Emmaus Bible College, he returned to Japan and worked several months in the headquarters of CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, Help) during the initials months of the Tohoku disaster relief work. Later that same year he moved to Gifu where he worked 5 years in the Japanese public schools as an English teacher while doing missionary work on the side. Since 2016 he has been working as a full-time missionary in the Tokai region while still based in Gifu. He is part of a network called No Place Left that seeks to empower Japanese Christians to take the message of Jesus to their own circles of influence until all have had a chance to hear. He is currently still living in Gifu city with his wife, Amy, and two sons.
EPISODE Summary
-Rescue work with CRASH (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support, Help) after the Tohoku earthquake, -The demographic of Christianity in Japan and in Gifu, -Changes needed with the way Japanese churches recruit, -How No Place Left networks and operates, -What the day to day operations like being a missionary, -Bible College, and why "Gifu prefecture". -CAJ in comparison to schools in Gifu, -Strengths and weaknesses of Christian Academy Japan (CAJ) from an alums perspective.
Tokyo Alumni Podcast: Episode 30 Mobi Fehr (former Santa Maria and CAJ)Soccer Player
Mobi was born in New York, USA. He attended Santa Maria elementary school, and the Christian Academy Japan (CAJ) from 7th to 9th grade. He has been playing soccer competitively from a young age, and played for Tokyo Verdy Youth and represented the USA national team at the U-17 World Cup in 2011 as a teenager. At the U-17 World Cup, he was one of the main players to lead the USA to the final 16 of the tournament. He has played for numerous professional teams, including H.A. Gia Lai FC, SC Sagamihara, Portland Timbers, and currently for the Las Vegas Lights. He primarily plays a defensive midfield role, but is also capable of playing central and right midfield positions. He is a global citizen with three passports, Japan, USA, and Swiss passports, while being bilingual in Japanese and English.
Mobi talks to Nick about having multiple passports, and how he ended up being scouted to play for the US U-17 team when he was a youth player for Tokyo Verdy. Mobi explains to Nick about how the footballing culture at the youth level differed in the three countries he played during his teen years, Switzerland, the USA, and Japan. Mobi also talks about how his multi-cultural background has helped him with communication skills on the pitch, and has helped him become an overall player. Mobi and Nick talk about development for young soccer players, and Mobi explains his positions in regards to "3-sports a year" vs "1-sport a year" for youth level players. Mobi explains to Nick struggles he has faced as a professional footballer and what the most difficult aspect of being a professional athlete is. The two discuss the philosophical element of sports, whether or not nature or nurture is the driving factor of success as Mobi reflects on his professional career in regards to different players he has encountered in the past. Mobi speaks to Nick about how his international experience at Santa Maria and CAJ helped him now as a professional soccer player, because it exposed him from a young age to various ethnicities, nationalities, and languages. Timestamp 0:05 Introduction 0:59 Experience playing at the U-17 World Cup 2:12 Getting scouted at Tokyo Verdy Youth
Megan Gates (ASIJ 1987) (Former ISSH & YIS) Lawyer
Megan is a partner at a law firm based in Boston, Massachusetts called Mintz (short for Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.) She has been a practicing corporate and securities lawyer for 26 years, 20 of which have been at Mintz. She primarily represents publicly traded companies on equity financings, strategic mergers and acquisitions, and compliance and corporate governance obligations. Most of her clients are in the biotechnology or life sciences industry. When she’s not practicing law, she’s passionate about travel and serving on non-profit boards. She’s currently on the boards of directors of the Japan Society of Boston, Greater Boston Legal Services, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and the Pine Street Inn, which is Boston’s largest homeless services organization. Megan graduated from ASIJ in 1987, where she spent the last three years of high school. She also attended Yokohama International School from 1974-1977 and ISSH in Tokyo from 1977 – 1980. In between her years in Japan she lived in Houston, Texas. She received her undergraduate degree in Japanese Studies from Wellesley College and her law degree from Boston College Law School. Megan lives in the South End of Boston with her husband, Bill Whelan, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Angus. Whenever she’s able to do so, she also spends time at their condo in Azabudai, Tokyo.
Episode 29 Megan Gates (ASIJ 1987) (Former ISSH & YIS)
Lawyer
Megan explains to Nick about how ASIJ has changed in comparison to when she attended in the 1980s. Megan speaks to Nick about SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act 2002) and Mergers & Acquisitions, and how oversight in regards to company accounting governance has evolved since the early 2000s to the current day, including the events which transpired following the 2008 financial crisis (Such as the passing of the Dodd-Frank Act). The two discuss how much industry-based knowledge is needed by lawyers when consulting specific companies, and Nick gets jealous when hearing about the time Megan worked with a company that dealt with European soccer. Megan explains to Nick about how woman in law has changed and evolved the past two decades, and how companies like Mintz do an especially excellent job when it comes to the advancement of woman. Megan explains to Nick how the issue remains as "retention of woman", where law school graduates remain relatively close to 50/50, but this balance begins to drop as female lawyers become more senior. The podcast concludes with the two discussing being a TCK, and their comparative experiences of living in Japan vs the USA.
**Anna Lorentz (ASIJ 2009) and Alissa Lorentz (ASIJ 2005)
Marketing & Communications (Alissa) Account Management & Sales (Anna)**
ALISSA BIO Upon graduating from Princeton Alissa moved to Munich to work at a German advertising agency as a creative despite speaking 0 German. With the exception of a work project in Abu Dhabi, she’s lived in Europe ever since. After working at the agency she moved to Stockholm to study digital design at Hyper Island in Stockholm. During this time she created interactive music videos and telemedicine apps on the side during her free time. Once she graduated from Hyper Island, she joined Augify, a data visualization start-up, as VP of Creative, Marketing, and Design where she developed the branding and marketing strategy from scratch. Several winters in Sweden prompted Alissa to leave. She then moved to Basel, Switzerland to work for Clariant, a specialty chemicals company, as their Global Social Media Lead. She remained at Clariant for several years and held positions as Global Marketing Communications Business Partner and Global Customer Experience Lead for their personal care and cosmetics unit. She also led the marketing and branding work for one of Clariant’s startups, Chemberry, a personal care ingredient search engine.
ANNA BIO At Princeton, Anna was interested in language and cultures, and focused her studies around Mandarin and Brazilian Portuguese. She wrote her thesis on China-Brazil trade relations and immigration. After graduating in 2013, she started her career in advertising as an Account Manager at Ogilvy & Mather in New York, working on brands like SAP and Comcast. After 2.5 fun-filled years, and lots of socializing with fellow ASIJ-ers in the city, she made the bittersweet decision to move to Bangkok, her hometown, out of a desire to work on global brands outside of the U.S. market. In Thailand, she worked at TBWA\Thailand as Account Supervisor, leading their Myanmar accounts. In late 2017, this opportunity led her to work in Singapore, as Associate Account Director at a different agency called BBH, on the Nike account. Anna flew around the region with her team and activated digital and experiential campaigns in Bangkok and Manila. In 2019, in a bit of a plot twist, she decided to pivot to the tech industry and move to Europe. She now works in Sales at Unbabel, an AI translation startup, based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Episode 28
Alissa Lorentz (ASIJ 2005) & Anna Lorentz (2009)
Marketing & Communications & Account Management & Sale
The two explain to Nick their upbringing and how they learned to grow up with Japanese, Thai, and English at the same time. Nick asks the two what type of advice they would have for mixed families who hope to teach their children 2, 3, even 4 languages. Alisa emphasizes that its' important that parents stay consistent with the languages they teach to their children, and fight the urges to "cave in" if a child begins to focus only on one language, and may reject the "minority language".
The three discuss how language acquisition is often highly nuanced, and even within the same family, there will be somewhat of a deviation of language levels amongst siblings.
In the second half of the podcast, the three discuss how culture affects the workplace. Alissa has experience working in the US and Europe, Anna in Singapore, Thailand, and Portugal, and Nick in Bahrain, Honduras, South Korea, and Japan.
Episode 27: Ayaka "Faith" Suzuki (ASIJ 2006)
Faith explains to Nick what triathlons and Iron Man races are, and the two go on to discuss how the demographics of triathlons compare to the demographics of marathon runners. Faith explains to Nick why triathlons have gained a reputation of being a sport for the wealthy, and what type of data has been used to substantiate these claims. Faith explains to Nick that however, it is still possible for someone to participate with a lesser income, but that the main barrier of entry is purchasing a high function bicycle, which many people spend a few thousand dollars on. Faith explains to Nick her personal experience as a triathlete, and how her participation in triathlons are often not a cheap activity. The events often cost at least $400 per event and flights/hotels on top of that. Faith explains to Nick why the cost of triathlons is more expensive than marathons, and how security, safety, and staffing often increase the cost in comparison to your local home town 5K. Faith mentions how weight can work for or against you when it comes to biking in triathlon, especially depending on the course's wind and uphill/downhill. Faith explains to Nick how categorization is done in triathlon, and how she hopes to see more women get involved in the sport, especially in Asia. She is part of a non-profit with a mission to advocate for a higher percentage involvement with triathlons, and why it's so important to not only get a woman involved with triathlons but various minority groups more involved in a sport which has been historically heavily white and male.
Ayaka "Faith" Suzuki (ASIJ 2006)Age Group Triathlete Born in Singapore and raised in Malaysia, Faith graduated from ASIJ in 2006. She obtained her BA from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX) in 2010 and M.Ed from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN) in 2014. After ten international moves in 30 years, Faith has spent the past 3 years working in sports event marketing and management. Actively involved in the world of triathlon and the local swim/bike/run communities, Faith is an age-group (amateur) triathlete based in Tokyo. She is part of the IRONMAN Foundation’s Women for Tri Ambassador team, supporting female participation initiatives and engaging female athletes across all race distances and athletic abilities. Despite being an indoor training enthusiast, you can usually find Faith working or competing at a race on the weekends - or on Instagram @mylittlesuzuki. Timestamp 0:05 Introduction
Episode 26 Ian Shimizu (St. Marys 2011) Environmentalist
WeMori Kickstarter Link https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1065560538/wemori-an-app-to-regenerate-the-earth-0
Ian explains to Nick what WeMori does, and how their Kickstarter works. He explains to Nick about the two types of the awards backers of WeMori can receive, washi and an "up-cycled" t-shirt. He explains how "washi" is in a sense the world's most "sustainable paper", since its paper you can wash. He also explains to Nick what "up-cycling" is and how the t-shirts created specifically for his Kickstarter backers are made out of this unique system of "up-cycling". Ian explains to Nick the importance of mindset in regards to understanding why we have the products we do, and to understand what happens to these products once they are used. That we must consider the "story" of products in front of us in regard to where they come from and where they are going. By understanding what is around us, we can then understand how we can change our daily routines in order to live a lifestyle that is more aware of the holistic picture of what makes our everyday life. Ian's advice in regards to what the average person could do in regards to making immediate changes would include, but not exclusive to; eat less/no meat, use renewable energy, use less disposable bottles, ride fewer planes, and help protect and restore forests. The two discuss nuclear energy, and how its a very divisive issue without a concrete answer, especially in Japan that has historic trauma in regards to nuclear power, and is in a geopolitically precarious location. Ian and Nick then discuss renewable energy. The advantages/disadvantages as well as the general question of whether "alternative energy" alone is a resolution to our environmental issues. Ian explains to Nick the root of where his passion for environmentalism came from, and how it a series of events, from his childhood all the way to the present day, which had molded him to become the environmentalist he is today. The two discuss "Earthman" (Article with "Earthman" from France). Ian explains to Nick how "Earthman" started around 6-7 years ago by him, and is now part of any climate March in Japan today walking in the front row. Ian explains to Nick the importance of education and awareness in regards to environmental issues, and how he has utilized platforms such as 350 and Spiral Club to help this happen.
Guest: Ian Shimizu Ian (St. Marys 2011)
H is a bilingual environmentalist, educator, and consultant based in Tokyo. Founder of weMORI, an ongoing nonprofit project to build an app that makes protection and restoration of forests around the world fun, easy and accessible for all. He is a professional speaker with experience giving over +200 speeches and lectures about SDGs, climate change and other topics on sustainability across Japan. He is a consultant and project manager for various environmental and education projects for clients including The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. Currently consulting for an app-based education service launching in March of 2019 for CINRA.Inc. He helped launch the Japan branch of 350.org, a global grassroots nonprofit while a student at International Christian University, Japan's top liberal arts University. Founder of Spiral Club, a community media platform with the aim of 'making environmental awareness mainstream' in Japan. Music Credit: Bensounds
Episode 25 Philip Seiji Vincent (ASIJ 2007)
Managing Partner (Japan) - Plug and Play Japan
Seiji explains to Nick the role of Plug and Play in Japan, and how they help create bridges between the large corporates in Japan, with new innovative startups.
The two discuss the difficulties of bridging the two very different cultures of innovative start-ups and conservative Japanese corporate culture.
Seiji, having spent roughly half of his life in Japan, and half in the United States, a bilingual and bicultural individual feels like his role of connecting startups to large corporations is a perfect fit for him, and for international school graduates who often possess this similar background.
The two discuss how Japan's technology was cutting edge in the 80s and 90s, but how the environment in regards to tech has been rapidly changing the past few decades. And in certain ways, Japan is falling behind, and how slowly but surely this has been leading towards a push by the Japanese government as well as major Japanese companies to begin to invest more in startups and become part of the venture capital culture.
The two discuss the evolution of what is considered "professional dress", and how Silicon Valley is revolutionizing what it means to "dress as a professional" around the world, as Seiji helps explain to Nick why he keeps seeing Patagonia clothing being worn by tech executives.
Philip Seiji Vincent (ASIJ 2007)
Managing Partner (Japan) - Plug and Play Japan
Phillip is the Managing Partner & CEO of Plug and Play Japan, a subsidiary of Plug and Play Tech Center located in Silicon Valley. He started working for Plug and Play in Silicon Valley in 2014 and headed both the IoT division and Mobility division before moving to Tokyo to start Plug and Play Japan in 2017. Plug and Play Japan is focused on creating the largest innovation platform in Japan connecting startups and larger corporations worldwide with hubs in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Prior to working for Plug and Play, Phillip was an Account Executive for Uniglobe Kisco, the U.S. subsidiary of KISCO, a large Japanese trading company focused on chemicals and materials.
Phillip graduated from San Diego State University. Phillip has spent half of his life in Japan and the other half in the U.S.
Episode 24 Angie Marsh
Aviation Officer
Angie explains to Nick the unique inner-workings of West Point, and how it operates. For example, certain grade levels are not allowed to befriend others, and how upperclassmen are allowed to wear civilian clothing and drive, while this is not allowed for the underclassmen, especially the freshman, who are known as "plebes". Angie clarifies for Nick his query in regards to the "basketball throwing test", West Point has as part of its physical fitness test, and why it exists. Angie explains to Nick the various type of activities that are offered at West Point, and how the clubs and activities offered are a bit unique, in comparison to the standard four years University. They also discuss how the size of West Point has affected her classroom sizes and learning experience. Amongst the 17 possible branches of the military, Angie speaks to Nick why she decided to go the route of aviation. She also explains how "posting" and "branching" works in regard to how military personnel is stationed. At the very end of the podcast, Angie explains and encourages current high school students to explore the ROTC system, and why she strongly recommends it.
**Angie Marsh (ASIJ 2016)
Aviation Officer Second Lieutenant in the US Army (Aviation Officer)**
Angie was born and raised in Tokyo, and attended the American School in Japan from Kindergarten to the end of high school, where she developed a profound appreciation for global perspectives, community service, and leadership. Upon graduating ASIJ, she would attend the United States Military Academy at West Point. Throughout her time at the Academy, she has been a proud company mate and company commander of the C-2 Flying Circus; and an active member of the West Point Flying Team, Ski Patrol, CrossFit Black and Gold, Olympic Weightlifting team, and MCLC team. She branched into Aviation in her final year as a cadet, commissioned as an officer in May, and will be starting flight school in August to become an Army Aviator.
Episode 23: Erika Brinley (ASIJ 2005)
Erika explains to Nick what a Bachelors in Science in "Family Development" is, and why she decided to pursue that major. The two discuss the difficulty of growing up bilingual, and how the pathway of being a "true bilingual" in two languages is not an easy task. Erika explains to Nick some of the most common questions she receives in regards to parenting tips, and explains to him what type of advice she provides to other parents. She explains terms like positive parenting and natural consequences, and how those terminologies are utilized in parenting. The two also discuss screen time, and how there has been a rampant uptake in the amount of screen time by children the past decade, and the potentials and dangers of increased screen time for children. Nick and Erika both grew up in bilingual households,(Nick in Japan and Erika in both the USA and Japan), and the two discuss the difficulties growing up with two languages.
Erika Brinley (ASIJ 2005)
Stay at home Mom
Erika Brinley graduated ASIJ in 2005, and attended BYU, and during her time here, she spent two years on a mission trip between her sophomore and junior year at Hokkaido Japan. She would go on to graduate from BYU with a Bachelors of Science in Family Studies with a focus in Human Development. She has always been passionate about the cognitive, physical, mental, and emotional development of human beings, and how relationships such as parent to child or husband to wife can affect these components. Upon graduating from BYU, she worked for the BYU University extension, where she was in charge of training teachers and developing curriculum for the many missionaries who were traveling to fifty-plus countries. She currently resides in New York with her husband Darin (ASIJ 2008) and her three children (with a fourth on the way). She is a full-time Mom, and also a music teacher from home, and coaching mothers around the world.
Episode 22 Serena Tamura (ASIJ 2008) Scientist
Serena explains to Nick how the COVID QPCR tests operate, and what her role entails in regards to the PCR testing in California as a volunteer scientist. Serena explains to Nick how many of the graduate students received an email in the spring asking volunteers to analyze the samples of COVID tests, and many have come through and are currently volunteering to help with the process of COVID-19 detection. The two discuss the frustrations of seeing people in the United States who do not wear masks, and yes. "WEAR MASKS PEOPLE!". Serena explains to Nick the topic of her doctoral research where she is developing genetic therapy for autism, and how she uses a tool called CRISPR, which allows scientists to look at genes, and research their mutation. The two discuss how Serena began to develop a true interest in biology in University, and how the study of psychiatric disorders and learning how to analyze the biology itself of those diseases gave her passion to seek treatment for what could be perceived often as "untreatable diseases" *the audio for this episode lags at times.
Serena Tamura (ASIJ 2008)
Serena Tamura graduated from ASIJ in 2008, after which she attended Stanford University where she majored in Human Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California San Francisco in the Dept. of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and is developing CRISPR based gene therapies for rare genetic disorders. She lives in San Francisco with her husband Andrew and two dogs. Timestamps 0:05 Introduction
Episode 21
Shu explains to Nick how understanding the art of coaching wrestling has helped him become a better educator. Shu explains to Nick how wrestling is the most egalitarian sport in the world. The weight classes enable the skinniest lightest student and the heaviest students in the school still have an opportunity to win within their weight class. And the techniques can often be acquired within a high school, unlike sports like basketball and soccer where playing the sport in elementary and middle school is often imperative for a student to excel at the high school level. Shu also explains to Nick how the nature of the sport being a contact/combat sport brings together the team, and makes it the ultimate "team sport", despite the events being 1 v 1. The former Far East champion wrestler speaks to Nick about his psychologically and physically most challenging moments as a St. Mary's wrestler. Wrestling was kicked out of the Olympics in 2013, and since then, many changes have taken place in the sport. The two discuss how the rules of wrestling have changed in recent years, and how those changes have affected wrestling today. Shu explains how the coaching standards were changed in 2013, and how he was part of the first cohort for international coaching in 2014. The two discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a 3-season sport system vs a year-long sports system, and how it is contingent upon the athlete in regards to which methodology works best for him or her.
Shuichiro Yabui
After graduating St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo, Mr. Yabui earned his B.B.A. from Temple University; serving as the president of the student government and graduating top of his class. During his high school wrestling career, he accomplished to be a 3-time DoDDs (Department of Defense Dependent schools) Far East wrestling champion. After graduating university, he developed a unique English learning curriculum and founded Yabui School of English, providing English teaching and translation services. Later on, he assumed position as the head wrestling coach at his alma mater and led the team to win 4 consecutive DoDDs Far East tournament titles for the first time in school history. In 2014, he was certified as Asia’s first United World Wrestling (UWW) Educator. As an Educator, he supports in the development of national coaches mainly in the Asia and Oceania regions. Currently, he teaches the International Baccalaureate Economics course and Business Ethics as the high school social studies department head at St. Mary’s. Using his bilingual ability, he also serves as the Chair of the International Relations Committee of the Japan Masters Wrestling Federation as well as assists in UWW’s coach education development projects and media translations.
Disclaimer: “The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the individuals and do not reflect the views or policies of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.” Episode 20 Janet Wold Kanzawa - Lawyer
Janet explains to Nick why she became a lawyer. She describes how her passion and interests such as international relations and philosophy were intertwined with international law, and she found the occupation to be both intellectually stimulating and a challenge she was willing to take on.
As a philosophy major, Janet explains to Nick how many of the great philosophical questions we have as a society, often connect to how we view the justice system overall, and understanding philosophy helped her better comprehend how and why these legal systems existed in different nations.
The two discuss the LSATs and preparation for Law School. Janet explains to Nick how the 3-years at law school work, and how the system of the "P14 schools" can affect the job hunt process for those who are attending law school. She also explains to Nick how the job hunt process essentially begins from year one, since the two summers law school students have are an essential time for them to get work experience between their studies.
The two discuss the bar exam, and Janet explains how law school students prepare for the exam, and how the bar is different depending on the state.
Janet clarifies for Nick what many companies mean when they say pro bono, and how some companies utilize a billing system that encourages their employees to work on cases which are pro bono. Janet explains to Nick how choosing a firm that had a very flexible pro bono system was one of the factors in regards to why she chose to work for her current law firm.
Janet explains to Nick how right now is an excellent opportunity for any Japanese speaker to attend law school, and that there is consistently and constantly a demand for Japanese speakers who also have passed the bar. She explains how there is a system present where you could work in Tokyo as a US lawyer through going through the 外国法事務弁護士 system.
Janet Wold Kanzawa (ASIJ 2010)
Janet graduated from Vassar College in 2014, where she majored in Philosophy and International Studies and minored in Economics and Arabic. She returned to Tokyo for one year to work at ASIJ and coach volleyball and field hockey.
Janet then moved to New York City to attend Columbia Law School. Upon graduation, Janet began her legal career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s New York office, where she completed rotations in the Banking & Credit and Capital Markets groups. Janet recently transferred to Simpson Thacher’s Los Angeles office, where she represents private equity funds, corporations, and banks in financing matters. She has enjoyed doing pro bono legal work for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Episode 20 Janet Wold Kanzawa - Lawyer
Janet explains to Nick why she became a lawyer. She describes how her passion and interests such as international relations and philosophy were intertwined with international law, and she found the occupation to be both intellectually stimulating and a challenge she was willing to take on.
As a philosophy major, Janet explains to Nick how many of the great philosophical questions we have as a society, often connect to how we view the justice system overall, and understanding philosophy helped her better comprehend how and why these legal systems existed in different nations.
The two discuss the LSATs and preparation for Law School. Janet explains to Nick how the 3-years at law school work, and how the system of the "P14 schools" can affect the job hunt process for those who are attending law school. She also explains to Nick how the job hunt process essentially begins from year one, since the two summers law school students have are an essential time for them to get work experience between their studies.
The two discuss the bar exam, and Janet explains how law school students prepare for the exam, and how the bar is different depending on the state.
Janet clarifies for Nick what many companies mean when they say pro bono, and how some companies utilize a billing system that encourages their employees to work on cases which are pro bono. Janet explains to Nick how choosing a firm that had a very flexible pro bono system was one of the factors in regards to why she chose to work for her current law firm.
Janet explains to Nick how right now is an excellent opportunity for any Japanese speaker to attend law school, and that there is consistently and constantly a demand for Japanese speakers who also have passed the bar. She explains how there is a system present where you could work in Tokyo as a US lawyer through going through the 外国法事務弁護士 system.
Janet Wold Kanzawa (ASIJ 2010)
Janet graduated from Vassar College in 2014, where she majored in Philosophy and International Studies and minored in Economics and Arabic. She returned to Tokyo for one year to work at ASIJ and coach volleyball and field hockey.
Janet then moved to New York City to attend Columbia Law School. Upon graduation, Janet began her legal career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett’s New York office, where she completed rotations in the Banking & Credit and Capital Markets groups. Janet recently transferred to Simpson Thacher’s Los Angeles office, where she represents private equity funds, corporations, and banks in financing matters. She has enjoyed doing pro bono legal work for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
**Tokyo Alumni Podcast Episode 19
Kai Hirota (Former St. Marys / Aoba)
Data Scientist**
Kai explains to Nick how he went from having a 1.60 GPA in high school to earning a Bachelors in Science at Santa Clara, and currently pursuing a Masters's degree at the University of Melbourne. He explains to Nick what events in his life prompted him to go back to school, and why he chose to study information, data, and computer science.
Kai explains to Nick what the greatest challenges were for him throughout his academic journey at public school, private school, American schools, International Schools, and Australian schools, and how confidence has been a continual theme in regards to how he hoped to improve as an academic and professional.
The two discuss the importance of one creating a new environment, and how change can sometimes only happen through a change of scenery as opposed to a change in ones self. Kai explains to Nick the curriculum and education he has found most effective, and those he had found least effective based on the various schools and school systems he had attended.
Kai finishes the podcast with the advice he would have towards any students who are struggling in high school.
Kai Hirota
After dropping out of St.Mary’s with a 1.6 GPA, Kai took the route of obtaining GED and attending community college to get a second chance at getting educated.
He eventually attended and graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. in Information Systems.
Kai has worked as a data engineer at a machine learning startup in the San Francisco Bay Area, and as a data analyst at Airbnb Tokyo.
He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Computer Science at the University of Sydney.
**Episode 16: Dr. Yannik Pitcan (ASIJ 2007)
Data Scientist**
Yannik explains to Nick the common misconceptions people have about Harvard, and compare and contrasts his experience at a small private school (Harvard) in comparison to a large public school (UC Berkeley). He explains how Harvard has a "house system", which can largely dictate ones experience at the Ivy League University, and how he felt that the system at the UC's were much more "sink or swim" in comparison to Harvard that had a more thorough support system. Yannik explains to Nick why he decided to pursue a Ph.D., explains the differences between a "statistician" and.a "mathematician". Yannik goes on to talk about how rigorous high school was in comparison to college and earning a Ph.D., and how international schools in Tokyo prepped him well for schools like Harvard and Berkeley. That "If you can survive ASIJ, you can survive Harvard". The two discuss the role of "race" at Harvard vs Berkeley, and living in Florida v Boston v the Bay Area, and discuss the difference between implicit bias v overt racism. Yannik explains to Nick how there is almost a duality in thinking when it comes to race in areas like San Francisco, where there are signs indicating "Black Lives Matters", but very few Black individuals residing in city itself. Yannik explains to Nick how his industry of data science needs industry leaders of color in order to see true change.
Dr. Yannick Pitcan (ASIJ 2007)
Data Scientist
Yannik holds a Ph.D. in statistics from UC Berkeley. He is beginning a career as a senior data scientist at a pharmaceutical company in Chicago this fall. He studied mathematics and economics at Harvard, but as he got older, he transitioned more toward statistics and computer science because that's where the money was. When he isn't coming up with statistical models, you can find him playing futevolei on the beach, playing poker at a Vegas casino, or going on long drives blasting Tame Impala. Timestamps 0:00 Introduction
Episode 17: Benjamin Simon (ASIJ 2006)
Precious Metals Trader
Benjamin explains to Nick his journey as a TCK, navigating through both French and American schools, and ultimately choosing to graduate through the American system after attending ASIJ and Shanghai American School.
The two discuss and reminisce how global the experience was attending an international school, as Nick pointed out Benjamins group of friends alone was a mini-EU with a student from Bulgaria, another from Sweden, an Italian, and Benjamin (French).
Benjamin shares with Nick stories of how his background of being a "TCK" (Third Culture Kid), had helped him throughout his career course, and has helped him work in the various multi-cultural teams he has served in for the various transnational corporations he has worked for. Benjamin also explains how the way he entered the banking industry and trading industry was not the standard way one would go from college to work, and instead, he was able to specifically leverage his background a multicultural TCK to help him get positions in banks, which eventually helped him land the work he pursues today.
Benjamin explains to Nick the life of a precious metals trader, and how the market has been affected by the recent outbreak of COVID-19. He provides Nick with pointers for beginner investors, and what to be careful about when it comes to investment for products such as gold, silver, and platinum. The two also touch upon the topic of bitcoin in the market, and the often drawn parallel of bitcoin and gold.
Nick asks Benjamin about whether the new platforms for trading has increased the level of day trading, and Benjamin agrees that it has, and shares an anecdote from his experience on a taxi in Shanghai that illustrates this point.
Benjamin Simon
Precious Metals Trader
Benjamin graduated HEC Montreal in 2010 with a Bachelor in Business Administration. He started his career at ANZ Bank, working as a front office assistant for the markets division. After a year, he managed to move to a front office role as a junior trader on the Precious Metals desk. He subsequently moved to their London office where he became responsible for their forwards business. He has now moved to the buy-side and is working for KOCH Supply and Trading as a prop precious metals trader.
To kick start his professional career Benjamin was able to leverage on the opportunities of growing up as a TCK, not only did it open his doors at the start of his career but it also enabled him to be flexible and be a natural fit within multicultural teams.
Benjamin has been living in London since 2012 and now enjoys discovering the UK as well as new European cities for holidays.
**Episode 15: Matt Jay (ASIJ 1999-2004)
Curator, Arts Organizer**
Matt begins the podcast explaining his shirt, designed by "That Year" his label, and how his label came to be, and what the label means to him and how it is a symbol that goes beyond its title as a clothing label.
The two discuss how Asian representation in popular culture has changed the past few decades, and how that has affected their personal perspectives in regards to Asians in the entertainment/art industries.
Matt explains to Nick the ins and outs of Art school, and the type of career paths one could take upon graduating from art-specific colleges.
Matt explains to Nick how his project "End of Summer" came to fruition, and how the program connects contemporary artists from Tokyo and Portland.
Matt originally majored in film, but currently pursues an area of art more on the management side. He explains to Nick how although he no longer pursues directing itself, how there is a single thread, of art and culture, which connect from his time as a young film director as a teen to the curator and art organizer he is today. Matt also explains how his formative years in Tokyo, and at ASIJ molded much of the person he would become today.
Matt Jay (ASIJ 1999-2004) Curator, Arts Organizer
Matt Jay is the Founder and Director of End of Summer, a cross-cultural art program dedicated to exploring and supporting contemporary art from Japan. End of Summer exists to build a dialogue between the U.S., specifically the region of the Pacific Northwest, and Japan through contemporary art. Through this entry point, the program aims to engage in a larger exploration of Japanese art in the era of global artistic practice, as well as the continual reconsideration of notions of East and West, center and periphery.
He also co-runs THAT YEAR, an independent clothing label and creative studio inspired by the vernacular aesthetics of Tokyo and Seoul, and the echoes of personal memory. THAT YEAR develops products, events, physical and digital media, as well as cultural insight, strategy, and creative direction.
Matt attended School of Visual Arts in New York, receiving his BFA in 2011. He was born in New York, and raised between Portland, Oregon and Tokyo, Japan.
Episode 14 Monica Murray (ASIJ 2011) Touring Photographer
Monica describes to Nick what it was like being in Japan, and at ASIJ during the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Monica explains to Nick how she had a "culture shock" when moving back to the USA (Michigan), and how life now in "the South", Nashville, was a major adjustment in comparison to life in Japan. Monica speaks to Nick what type of person she thinks would thrive in the music industry, and addresses the issue of misogyny and sexism in the entertainment industry. Through having a support role for the channel, GemsOnVHS, she learned how a support role can contribute just as much as the main role, and Monica explains how if one is passionate about art, they can contribute to art not necessarily as an artist, but as an individual who supports the art creating process. Nick asks Monica how the revenue system works for Youtube, and Monica explains to him how COVID-19 has affected ad revenue in the industry. Nick also inquires about how COVID-19 has affected the music industry in general, and Monica explains to him what she has seen first hand in regard to the music scene in Nashville, Tennessee.
***Monica Murray (ASIJ 2011)
Touring Photographer ***
Monica graduated from Kalamazoo College in 2015 with a B.A. in Economics. As her senior year at ASIJ included the Tohoku earthquake, she decided to do her college thesis on the Economic viability of denuclearizing the Japanese energy industry. Monica then worked in various non-profits, including a year of AmeriCorps in Michigan and with an animal rescue doing fundraising. Two years ago she switched gears to work at YouTube channel GemsOnVHS. She then found her passion working in the music industry, and has been touring with bands and doing promotional photography for artists full-time. She currently tours with Soccer Mommy. Timestamp
Episode 13
Max Taffel (ASIJ 2004)
Consultant and Product Director
Max explains to Nick why he chose the unique route to major in Political Science and Mandarin before entering the corporate world, and how learning Mandarin helped pave a way a path to study abroad and help with his summer internships throughout his four years of college.
The two discuss how "internships" have evolved the past several decades, and the importance of being engaged in new areas of interest during internships, and to not get pigeonholed into one industry prior to college graduation.
Max explains how he had to make a tough decision between going into consulting verse teaching, and he ultimately decided to take the route of consulting (although he still remains passionate about the idea of teaching and education).
Max and Nick discuss about the culture of running in the corporate world, and how there are cultural differences when it comes to "working out" based on country-to-country, and how it seeps into (or does not) work culture. The two former runners discuss about how running increases productivity.
Max speaks to Nick about coming out his sophomore year in College, and talking about how his perspective in marriage was throughout the periods of growing up during a time when same-sex marriage was illegal, up until the modern day, where he was able to be legally married to his partner Allan in the state of New York in 2019.
Max Taffel (ASIJ 2004)Consultant and Product Director
Max graduated from Columbia University in 2008 after studying Political Science and Mandarin. He started his career in management consulting at PwC in Hong Kong. Max then joined Prudential plc in their executive management training program with roles in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
During his time at Prudential Max founded an English consulting start up which he ran until 2014. Since 2013 he has worked as a management consultant and now product director for EY, based both in Hong Kong and currently New York.
Max got married in 2019 in sunny Napa Valley, continues his high school interest in running, and currently resides with his husband and dog in New York.
Episode 12
Alex Nomura (St. Marys 2004)
C.O.O. (Former consultant)
Alex explains how he became a consultant out of University, and how the job provided him with the opportunity to work with people from various people from numerous business sectors.
He then goes on to explain what led him in 2014, to take the leap from the corporate world and begin as a co-founder for the start-up, Onedrop Inc. The company started as a small team consisting of three people, the CEO, the COO (Alex) and an engineer back in 2014. Today the company is now at 20 employees (including part-timers). Alex explains to Nick how they provide a unique service, which goes beyond the simple eikaiwa and helps clients learn communication skills.
Alex and Nick discuss about M.B.A.'s, and whether pursuing one is worth it in todays business landscape, and how an M.B.A. may not necessarily be the correct route for all people.
Alex shares with Nick a story of how another St. Marys alumni currently serve as one of the directors on his team, and how it is to work closely with someone as a business partner and a friend.
Episode 12
Alex Nomura (St. Marys 2004)
C.O.O. (Former consultant)
Alex attended the University of Southern California where he graduated with a bachelor's in business administration and majored in Marketing and Management Consulting.
Upon graduation,
Alex returned to Tokyo to start his career at Deloitte Tomatsu Consulting as a business consultant. After several years of experience working in the consulting industry, Alex worked at GREE Inc. a mobile gaming company where he focused mainly on corporate strategy and new business development.
In 2014, Alex cofounded Onedrops Inc., a company that specializes in global talent development & communication training service targeted towards aspiring global individuals, professionals, companies, and organizations in the Japanese market.
As COO Alex mainly looks over business acquisition, business operations, and human resources matters.
On his days off, you can find him either at the gym, on the golf course, on snowy mountains, or in the kitchen.
Episode 11: Yoshi Suzuki (Nishimachi 2001, ASIJ 2005) Strategist, Consultant, and Voice Actor
Yoshi explains to Nick the fundamental differences between the pursuit of a Ph.D. in the natural sciences in comparison to the social sciences, and how these differences led towards his perspective that a Ph.D. in social sciences is one not worth pursuing. The two discuss the complexities of social science itself as an endeavor, and how by nature its designs are often not founded on enough theory. Yoshi finds the ecosystem of social sciences being sustainable through tuition alone limiting, and much of the research was "research for the sake of research", unlike other fields that were making immediate differences based on their research results.
The two discuss what it means to be a "consultant" and how the term itself is very vague, and often depends on the type of consultation and whether not the individual is staffed by the client or by the consulting company. Yoshi explains to Nick about the company he works for, and what type of person they are looking to hire as they recruit talent for their newly opening Tokyo office. The two towards the end briefly discuss how the tech sector and the United States have been trailblazers in regards to changing "professional clothing", and has shifted the focus from what you wear to what you accomplish, productivity At the end of the conversation, Yoshi shares with Nick his experience of doing kabuki in Nishimachi igniting his passion for theater, and how that led towards professional gigs in high school and college, and the today (part-time).
From Yoshi: By the way, WE ARE HIRING in Tokyo! If you are a technical architect, Scrum Master, Product Manager, business/operations consultant, or change management consultant who is interested in a new challenge, reach out to me on LinkedIn!
Yoshi Suzuki (EP #11)
Consultant, Strategist and Voiceover Artist
Nishimachi International School (2001) American School in Japan (2004)
Upon graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, Yoshi started his career in digital advertising at a small agency in Tokyo. He then returned to Minnesota to start a Masters degree in Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and was later admitted to its Ph.D. program. Upon successfully completing the preliminary written and oral examinations, he left the program to return to the industry. After various strategy roles in advertising agencies, digital agencies, and client-side settings, he joined Slalom, a modern consulting firm focused on strategy, technology, and business transformation. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Seattle, Slalom has grown to over 8,000 employees and one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. After spending three years leading teams and helping clients in customer engagement, agile transformation, and product innovation projects, he took a new role in June 2019 to help launch and establish Slalom’s newest global market in Tokyo. In his free time, he advises startups and freelances as a translator and voiceover talent. From Yoshi:
Slalom Home page: https://www.slalom.com/home Yoshi's
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bunguman/
Episode 10 Aya Porte (ASIJ 2008) Occupational Therapy
Aya explains to Nick what occupational therapy is, and how one conversation she had back in 2007 with a high school counselor at ASIJ set her journey to pursue this path.
Aya explains to Nick what the day-to-day duties are for occupational therapy, and the common issues parents bring to her that rely on a solution through occupational therapy.
The two discuss the challenges American and Japanese mixed students face when living in the United States in comparison to living in the United States.
The podcast concludes with some advice to novices (such as Nick) in regards to breathing techniques and yoga by Aya. Aya explains to nick the importance of "connecting to your breath".
Aya Porte
American School in Japan (2006)
Aya attended Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, where she graduated with a Bachelors in Health Science in 2012, and continued on to complete her Master’s in Occupational Therapy in 2014.
From 2014-2016, Aya worked at a non-profit as an occupational therapist (OT) in Boston, Massachusetts working with at-risk adolescent youths. From 2016-2018, she took a traveling OT job where she worked at hospitals, nursing homes, and schools throughout the New England region, until settling on a full-time OT position at a special education school in Connecticut.
In 2018, Aya returned to Tokyo, unbeknown to her at the time, to start her own practice. What was initially intended to be a 6-month break to travel, study yoga, meditate, and learn how to bake French bread (reminiscent of Eat, Pray, Love), turned into a permanent move to build a rewarding practice in her home country to help (mostly) children of all ages be as independent as possible in navigating their own lives.
Homepage to Ayas private practice
https://yoga.koiwellness.org
Episode 9 Tom Eldridge
Tom explains why he chose to go the route of HR as a career path, and why his interest in people and business perfectly meshed in the world of recruitment and HR. Tom explains the differences in how COVID-19 has affected the markets in the US vs Japan vs the UK. He also elaborates in regards to the differences one should consider when applying to jobs in each of these three nations and how their cultural differences can affect the recruitment process, and how the recent surge in start-ups in Tokyo have altered the landscape of hiring in Japan. Tom provides Nick with some pointers in regards to matters such as how to write a CV, how to interview online, and how to adapt to the new circumstances in regards to recruitment for jobs in the post-COVID-19 era. Tom explains common myths in regards to the recruitment process for any given job, especially in regard to CV writing. Nick has always been puzzled about whether or not his interest in football should be included in his CV. Tom explains why this is a tricky part of the CV writing and evaluation process.
Tom Eldridge
St. Mary's International School (2005)
Upon graduating from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada, Tom spent a 5-month stint in Zambia Africa, volunteering building houses with Habitat for Humanity and building learning curriculums for local schools. Following this experience, Tom moved back to Japan to learn Japanese in a language school for a year, and sought out an internship at PricewaterhouseCoopers Japan in Human Resources. It is during this experience that his love for all things HR developed, he cycled through different HR teams, namely, Learning & Development, Global Mobility, Compensation to name a few. Fast forwarding a bit more, Tom found himself in the world of Recruiting, due to his interest in people problem-solving. He works as a Senior Talent Acquisition professional at Cisco Systems. He has spent 3 years with Cisco in London, UK, and has been back with the company in Tokyo for just over a year now. Tom enjoys working through talent-related challenges. Timestamps
Episode 4 Sarah Whitten
Sarah shares with Nick the obstacles of being a young female professional in the male-dominated world of finance. The two discuss how maternity leave varies from country to country, and how the Nordic model and European models and differ, and how these models may or may not serve as model examples of equitable treatment of woman in the USA where there are 0 days of mandated maternity leave. Sarah explains why she left New York City for South Africa, and why "emerging markets" played a major role when she was deciding her destination after New York. Sarah explains to Nick the craziness she had to endure having to give birth at a hospital during peak COVID-19 season in South Africa, and how the nation has dealt relatively successfully with the disease thus far.
Sarah Whitten (ASIJ 05)
Upon graduating from Northwestern University, Sarah moved to New York City for a role in the International Graduate program at Standard Chartered Bank, a 2-year program rotating in various divisions and periodic global off-sites recruits from across the world, allowing analysts to create a network spanning Hong Kong to Dubai to Nigeria. Following the program she remained in New York as an Associate in the Debt Capital Markets team (responsible for bond issuances for large corporates). Sarah then moved to South Africa with Standard Chartered and is currently a Global Account Manager, managing a portfolio of multinational corporates and serving as the main point of contact for CEOs, CFOs, and Treasurers for banking requirements. Sarah is also passionate about embedding Diversity and Inclusion initiatives into the DNA of corporate life and serves the Chairwoman for the Diversity and Inclusion Council for the bank in South Africa. Timestamps
Disclaimer Although Nathan paints a negative picture of China there are others who think the opposite, and Nathans views do not necessarily reflect the views of the podcast or host.*
Episode 8 Nathan Baker (ASIJ 2004)
Nathan speaks to Nick about his close to two decades in China, and how living there as an expatriate has transformed greatly in the past two decades. Nathan explains how his intrigue with China started with a high school trip in 2001 to China, and how learning Chinese in University helped him adapt to living in China in the late 2000s. Nathan explains how life in China under the rule of Hu Jintao was very different in comparison to life in China under Xi Jinping, and why many expatriates are now moving out of China due to recent anti-foreigner sentiment.
Nathan Baker
He graduated ASIJ in 2004, now working in advertising in China. He’s currently a Group Account Director for We Are Social in the North Asia region — taking Asia Pacific-based brands global on social media & digital while also helping multinational corporations navigate social & digital in China. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, he has not been able to return to China now for over five months and will be on the podcast ZOOMing in from Maryland, USA.
Episode 7 Jack Fischl (ASIJ 2006)
Jack shares the current situation living in Chile during COVID-19.
Jack speaks to Nick about joining the Peace Corps (after rejecting a final interview with the San Antonio Spurs). Jack explains about the process is in regards to location designation and what the lifestyle is like for someone who is part of the Peace Corps, and how that experience created a path towards his current business venture.
He speaks about the inspiration in regards to how Keteka came to fruition as an idea and then a business, and tips for anyone who is going to go into business with a friend (with a brief mention of fellow alum, Shawn Seavers, ASIJ 2006).
Throughout the interview, he mentions how his background as an ASIJ student, and an international school student had influenced various decisions he had made throughout his career.
Jack Fischl
American School in Japan (2006)
Entrepreneur (former Peace Corps volunteer)
Jack attended Boston University, where he majored in Business Administration, with a concentration in International Business.
After graduating, he joined the Peace Corps as a Community Economic Development volunteer from 2010 to 2012.
During the Peace Corps, he and two other volunteers began working on ways to connect travelers with community tour operations in developing countries. That idea became Keteka, a website where travelers can find and book the most authentic tours and activities in Latin America, with validated local guides. The two have founded and have been operating Keteka since 2014.
He currently resides in Santiago, Chile, with his wife, Tamy.
Episode 6 Phil Williams (ASIJ 2000)
Phil explains to Nick his experience working in the entertainment industry and why he decided to leave the entertainment sector to join the education sector. The two discuss the complex issue of the pros and cons of charter schools in the United States, and how important it is in the time of fake news to develop independent and critical thinkers in the classroom.
Phil Williams
American School in Japan (2000)
Educator (formerly in the entertainment business)
Upon graduation from ASIJ, Phil attended Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he later transferred to Stevenson University where he graduated with a Bachelors in Film, Video, & Theatre, Film Focus, in 2007.
Phil would go on to freelance in Television Production from 2008-2011, primarily working for shows on Discovery Channel, TLC, Bravo & HGTV including shows such as The Real Housewives of D.C.
He transitioned into teaching when he began the Inspired Teaching Teacher Certification Program in Washington, D.C. Following his teaching certification program, he was hired in June 2015 as a Lead Teacher at Creative Minds International Public Charter School in Washington, D.C. where he works today.
He currently resides in the Northwest of Washington D.C.
Episode 5 Andrew Brown (ASIJ 2004)
Andrew Brown and Nick discuss Andrews contribution to bringing the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to Japan, his backpacking adventures in Myanmar, life as an international school teacher in Venezuela, and living in China during the outbreak of Covid-19.
Andrew Brown
American School in Japan (2004)
Educator (former PR agent and analyst at Morgan Stanley)
He attended Pace University and graduated in 2008 with a communications degree.
After University, he worked for Morgan Stanley, followed by a time at
Weber Shandwick where he was part of the marketing team which helped Tokyo win the bid to host the 2020 Olympics. After leaving Weber Shandwick, he would move on to work for Expedia, and left the company in 2018 to pursue a Masters's degree in International Education.
Upon earning his Masters and teaching certificate. Andrew began his teaching career in Quito, Ecuador where he taught economics. He currently teaches middle school humanities and high school economics for a school in China.
Episode 3: Vasil Stefanov (ASIJ 2006)
Vasil and Nick discuss the current situation of Peru, where Vasil lives, and how COVID-19 has affected life for Peruvians. Vasil speaks about how his experience growing up as a "TCK", a third-culture child, helped mold him to become an internationally-minded individual, and also praises the educational system ASIJ provided him with that helped him learn how to collaborate with people from international backgrounds. Vasil speaks Bulgarian, Japanese, Spanish and English fluently and shares with us the secrets to how he learned to speak so many languages fluently. Vasil also explains to Nick what life is like being on the front lines as a social project manager in countries around the world, and what he learned working for the UNHRC. At the end of the conversation, Vasil briefly discusses how his experience at St. Marys, an IB school, compared to ASIJ, an AP school.
Episode 3: Vasil Stefanov
American School in Japan (2005)
Social Project Manager
Vasil attended St. Mary’s International School in elementary and middle school. He later moved to ASIJ in high school, where he graduated in the class of 2006.
Following his graduation from ASIJ, he moved back to his home country, where he studied Political Science at The American University in Bulgaria.
He earned his Masters’ Degree in International Relations in the Netherlands.
In his professional career, Vasil has worked for a number of NGOs in the field of development and education. Over the past decade, he has lived in Poland, Singapore, Cambodia, Ecuador, and since 2019 has been living in Cusco, Peru, working as a Project Coordinator and managing teams of international volunteers.
In this episode, Nate Reasoner and Nick discuss life as an international school teacher. Nate explains how the job fairs for international school teaching positions operate and how his upbringing as a TCK and "halfu" molded his beliefs as an international educator. Nate speaks about his time in Venezuela one year after the controversial elections of Chavez in 2013, and how it is difficult to measure what a "good school" is since it is quite nuanced depending on where in a career an educator may be. Nate feels passionate about international school education and strongly believes international education is how to truly prepare model citizens for the 21st century.
Nate Reasoner
Christian Academy in Japan (2004)
Graduated from Northwestern College with a degree in Physical Education. Went on to complete a Master's degree in International Education from Framingham State University and have worked as a Physical Education teacher for the past nine years. His teaching career has taken him all over the world with stops in Venezuela, China, the Czech Republic, and the United Arab Emirates. He currently teaches at an international school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Tokyo Alumni Podcast
Episode 1: Jeff O'Harrow
Graduate of St. Mary's International School (2004)
He attended Lewis and Clark College and graduated from Tulane University in 2008. Upon graduation, he worked for JP Morgan as a broker.
From 2015 to 2019 he worked for East-West Consulting company, as the companies Senior Consultant & Strategist.
In 2019, he left the company to start his own business, Tokyo Juice, a health-conscious organic Juice bar located in Jingumae, Omotesando in Tokyo.
He currently resides in Tokyo, Japan with his wife Yesenia and his son Kai.
Tokyo Alumni Podcast
Episode 0
In this brief episode, host, Nickolas Harris, explains why he started the Tokyo Alumni Podcast.