Where I Started

 

Everyone’s got a story. Here’s mine.

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Before all of this, I spent ten years working as a sparky in Australia. I was deep in the grind - early mornings, hot days, long swings, literally hundreds of flights.​

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To get through those long, hot days in the desert, it’s alleged that a few beers had been drank (for hydration purposes) and a bit of light banter exchanged. This potentially happened both onsite and back home in Perth..

Work felt rewarding and it was exciting to be part of big projects across Australia and sometimes overseas, but what I found I enjoyed the most was working with people. I loved building relationships, having a laugh, learning and working together towards a shared goal.

 

How a Little Food Stall Changed Everything

 

Somewhere in between all that, I started and sold a couple of small businesses. One of them was a Japanese street food stall. We cooked and served fresh restaurant-quality okonomiyaki at local Farmers’ Markets on the weekends. The business started small but quickly turned into a real success! People would come from all over Perth to wherever we had set up. It was ana azming feeling!

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Those weekends were honestly some of the best times of my life. I loved working alongside the girls and meeting new people. We’d talk about travelling/ travelling to Japan, Japanese food, street food, and swap all sorts of holiday stories and experiences. I loved it when customers came back raving about the okonomiyaki - the girls always did such an excellent job cooking and serving :) That connection with people though - meeting, laughing, sharing a moment, is what made it so fulfilling and meaningful to me.

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After a few great years, I sold the okonomiyaki business because things were really ramping up in my “career”. I was flying back and forth to London, then ended up working back onsite.

 

Finding What Really Matters

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All of a sudden though, I was made redundant. Lol what a plot twist. At first, I was shook. But, I adapted quickly and took that redundancy as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I took it as a chance to completely change my life. And to pursue my own goals and passions that used to fill up my cup, and make me feel alive.

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On paper, everything looked perfect. I had a great job, good money, and a solid future. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t doing what I was really meant to do. So, I made a decision. I sold all my belongings, packed my bags, and left. I wanted to strip everything back, figure out what really mattered to me, and find a way to get the most out of myself while living in alignment with my values and passions.

 

My journey eventually led me to Tokyo, Japan.

 

From My Journey to Yours​

 

Now, Welcome to Japan is my way of doing all the things I love.

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Meeting people, sharing stories, and showing Japan as it really is. It’s about putting myself out there, being and giving my best, and creating experiences that feel genuine, human, and memorable.

 

At the end of the day, I want you to really see and experience all sides of Japan. The old and the new, the hidden corners and the iconic spots. I want to help you get the most out of your time here.

 

​This is just a quick intro to who I am and why I started Welcome to Japan. If you want to know more about the business - the purpose behind it, the long-term vision, and how I hope to support the real Japan, you can read more on our Mission Statement page.

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Whether you’re here for the food, the history, the culture, or just a good laugh, I’d love for you to join me and experience Japan the way I see it. Hopefully, see you soon :)