Julie Taeko

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I wrote and presented this for one of my Japanese courses this past semester, and it's all about my hometown — I place I truly adore. Since it's in Japanese, it's simple, but hopefully, informative.

Here's another blog post in Japanese about female empowerment . Enjoy!

In a brand new co-working space called Galvanize in SOMA, San Francisco, the founder of Women 2.0 — Shaherose Charania — and I met for a brief exchange.

For those who don’t know, Women 2.0 is one of the most impressive organizations that can safely say its made a difference in the lives of 55,000 women who attended its 500 events in 25 different cities around the world — eight of which I have personally volunteered for and attended. In addition, a whopping 5,000 articles were posted by female entrepreneurs on the Women 2.0 website . Beyond events and articles, the organization has empowered over 100 women to start pre-seed companies with people they met at one of the events.

A down-to-earth female entrepreneur with quite an accomplished background, Kanoko Oishi received her BA at Osaka University before earning her MBA at Harvard. Through Harvard’s network, she also met and inspired Kay Deguchi , the founder of Ochanomizu Orthopaedic Clinic .

Upon graduating Harvard, Kanoko Oishi joined McKinsey consulting company and worked there for 12 years. Her role focused on how companies can make themselves more customer-oriented. Incredibly dedicated to her work, and highly intelligent, she quickly rose to the role of partner.

What’s It Like to Ride on a Night Bus? The Essential Guide for Traveling Overnight in Japan.

Towards the end of June, I rode my first overnight yakkou bus in Japan. Although many Kyoto University students ride this inexpensive type of bus for long-distance travel, very few will recommend it. As such, I asked around, read an online blog, and figured out how I could make it the best experience possible. After all, I relish new experiences and this was most definitely, a unique experience.

Without a doubt, I am thrilled to be working in Tokyo for a Japanese startup called PhoneAppli , a company that specializes in cloud collaboration technology. I mean…how cool is that? All of my core passions are combined into this experience, as I love to learn and experience new things, and I absolutely adore the technology environment.

A young, captivating, and highly intelligent woman, Yuka Fujii is the founder of a uniquely positioned startup. Famarry blends the words “family” and “marriage” to capture the heart of the business idea. An online platform that matches couples with their ideal wedding and family photographer, Famarry’s mission is to help couples realize their vision for their ideal wedding and family photography.

As this is Part II of a wonderful interview with Kay Deguchi, please refer to Part I before reading Part II.

A second life lesson she shared with me was the fact that our time is running shorter by every second.

Steve Jobs once said, “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.”

Our days pass by, so it’s up to us to actively participate in life. So why not live life to the fullest, instead of complaining all the time? It’s our call.

This interview was so juicy with phenomenal content that I ended up splitting it into two parts. In this first blog post, I will introduce her and her chosen field, as well as share a life lesson that she imparted on me. Enjoy Part I!

Kay Deguchi , owner of Ochanomizu Orthopoedic Clinic — an innovative rehab center, is an exceptional entrepreneur. With over a decade of experience in pharmaceuticals, medicine, medical devices, and even media companies such as Disney, Kay is extremely knowledgeable and brings a diverse set of skills to her chosen field of interest

On a routine day at Kyoto University, I met with one of the most fascinating and driven entrepreneurs I have ever met. Not only is she an incredibly warm individual, but Mariko Fukui has accomplished a tremendous amount in her mere 28 years of life – the highlight being Aalto International , the company she launched at the age of 25. Before we get to her current endeavors, let’s take a look at her journey.

One of my dreams was to live and work abroad. Thus, I applied for the MEXT Monbukagakusho Scholarship. I am writing this with the hope that it will be valuable for future MEXT scholars, and anyone who is seeking to pursue a graduate degree in another country.

If you are planning to visit the Hall of the Great Vow (HoGV) , please secure a Letter of Introduction from your home country’s SGI office. Otherwise, you won’t be able to visit.

Thanks to my mother’s advice, I went straight to the Josei Toda Center from Shinanomachi Station to receive my ticket for the HoGV around 10:30 am — quite early. You never how crowded the HoGV may be that day, so it’s best to go earlier than later to secure your ticket!

This is my first blog post entirely in Japanese. It was a presentation about the current status of female empowerment and leadership in Japan. I made in front of about 20 people, including professors, for my final MEXT Intensive Language Program. As such, it includes furigana for difficult words. Enjoy!

皆様、こんにちは。本日は私の発表を聞いてくださり、ありがとうございます。私は京大の経済研究科(けんきゅうか)で三年間女性の活用(かつよう)について、研究する予定です。それで、このテーマについて、発表したいと思います。研究の最終(さいしゅう)目的は、どうしたら会社でもっと女性のリーダーを増やすことが出来るかということです。

Looking for a way to de-stress, or just want to discover more places around Kyoto? Then, hike this awesome Daimoji trail. Although it’s not as clearly marked as trails in America, these pictures should help you find your way.

Unbeknownst to us, the Kansai Soka Schools' leaders had planned an exceptional experience, one befit for royalty. Although we arrived 30 minutes early, we were immediately welcomed by the Kansai Soka School’s Principal, President, and English-Japanese translator / teacher. After taking the customary photos with the magnificent building and burly lion statue, we received an extensive tour of the school’s museum.

Ever since coming to Japan, I’ve been cooking breakfast and dinner on most days. That way, I can eat healthy foods that I love and save a bit of money. Thankfully, I adore the food here. It’s healthy, mostly gluten free (except the ubiquitous soy sauce condiment and most noodles), and contained in well-designed packages.

Living abroad in any country is needless to say, difficult. Besides the obvious cultural, language, and social differences, there are a multitude of unspoken rules in Japan, four of which I’ve listed below.

What's it like to live in Japan? Well, for starters, I've experienced excellent customer service parallel to that of the high-end brands in the U.S. such as Nordstrom or even Zappos

First off, the care and attention given to new members is outstanding. Of course, I can't speak for everyone, but my experience thus far, has been superb. Last week, my mom visited a local Soka Gakkai International (SGI) center, and informed them about how I wanted to attend meetings, and that I would be living in Kyoto for two years. That same night, a woman called me at my dorm and invited me to a local Buddhist block meeting the following week. I gladly accepted the invite!

Overall, my goal is to develop a premier resource for Japanese female entrepreneurs to embark on their journeys, while simultaneously, championing their successes!

At its core, this is a framework of what I will be doing over the course of this 2-year Mombusho Research Scholarship.

An analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the current socioeconomic and political realm of female entrepreneurs in Japanese society.

As a graduate of political economy at UC Berkeley and a proud marketer at three startups since college, I would like to conduct a cross-cultural analysis of female entrepreneurship in Tokyo and Silicon Valley. The hub of technology innovation, Silicon Valley is making the world a more connected place. Simultaneously, Japan is moving towards becoming a more global society, increasing the number of women in the workforce, and developing a healthier entrepreneurial environment.

I plan on conducting a comparative study of female entrepreneurship in Tokyo and Silicon Valley with a focus on socioeconomic and political trends.

A good place to begin contacting female entrepreneurs in Japan is the Women Entrepreneurs Center run by the Development Bank of Japan. Both the finalists and judges have a wealth of experiences and knowledge about developing businesses in the Japanese context. Prior to arriving in Japan, I will begin connecting with people associated to the program.