Tokyo Alumni Podcast

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. A s 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.

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)

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?

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

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

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/  
- Timestamps 0:29
- Introduction 1:53
- MyMizu 4:50
- Japan, consumption, and plastic use 6:14
- Reduction of plastic elevator pitch 8:59
- Business, economics and the reduction of plastic use, a fundamental shift in perspective towards social responsibilities 10:33
- Robins relationship with Japan and the effects the Tohoku earthquake had on him 15:58 Tohoku Coastal (Michinoku Trail walk 2016) 18:33
- of the various crisis responses, which one was the most challenging? (experience in Kathmandu, Nepal in 2015) 20:09
- How do you make a living as an environmentalist/conservationist? 24:40
- Experience at ASIJ and how that affected who he has become today 29:40
- Robin asks Nick what his takeaway was from ASIJ 32:31
- 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

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

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
- Cultural variance within a bi-cultural family
- St. Marys as a parent vs student
- The finance market in Japan in the 1990s
- Expatriate culture and how it is changing in the 21st century
- Taiwan/Singapore in the 1990s
- Raymonds and "identity"
- How mixed children vary in identity, even within the same family
- Being at Bear Stearns in 2008
- COVID-19 v the 2008 Financial Crisis
- Raymond's belief in regard to how we engage COVID-19 will define our character
- The SMIS Alumni Council (SMAA)
- 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)
- Colorado to California
- Pivot from finance to tech
- "Boot Camp" (for tech)
- Work in Japan v the USA in your 20s, vertical ladders, entry-level pay, and opportunity gaps
- Advice to people considering making major career changes in their 20s
- 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