Born and raised in Tokyo. Transferred to the US headquarters through an internal move at my company — and Florida became home. Married, became a mom, and haven't stopped being surprised since. Peacocks, bears, deer, turkeys, and alligators casually cross your path on the street or along hiking trails. At places like Rainbow Springs, you can float down a crystal-clear natural river on a tube — a real-life lazy river, no theme park required. School days include candy handouts and Pajama Day. And a bowl of ramen? $16 plus 20% tip — as of May 2026. Proud owner of a "special sense of direction" — GPS is absolutely non-negotiable in Florida's car-dependent world. Driving a Prius, so gas prices don't scare me — and a full tank gets me all the way from Orlando to Miami. Before settling down, traveled solo to 10+ countries as a Couchsurfing member — and hosted surfers around Tokyo too. Got seriously into snowboarding and bodyboarding after joining the workforce — got so tan that customers at my office once whispered "that girl looks charred." Once a flute player and brass band conductor in high school, briefly considered music college — then ended up in IT instead.
Not here on a company assignment — I'm a full resident. I file taxes, navigate the American health insurance maze, and yes, we bought our house based on school district ratings. I've watched Central Florida transform over the past decade-plus. This is the real deal.
Tokyo and Florida — I love them both. Tokyo-born and proud of it — the food, the culture, the endless seasonal events, the supermarkets and convenience stores that rearrange themselves based on the weather and season. There's nowhere quite like it. Sharing the real, unfiltered life of someone living between two worlds — and yes, I've been a Kishidan fan club member for over 10 years from overseas, known to fly back to Japan solo just for a GIG. No regrets. Ever.
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