My name is Yuichi (pronounced You-ee-chee). I was born in Tokyo, but have spent most of my life in Los Angeles, California.
As the oldest of three children, I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood, where I was exposed to both American and Japanese culture. Perhaps it was my upbringing to be a well-behaved Asian boy, but I was rather quiet and reserved.
Two things which were a constant in my adolescent life were listening to Japanese music and watching and playing basketball. These activities helped shape my identity in a way. Started to give me “that edge”.
However, when it came time to enter the real world, I had my first bouts of anxiety and depression which lasted well into my adult life. Looking around, my peers were well on their way to great careers with top firms. I decided that I would need some type of license to become financially stable. So, I decided to take the U.S. Certified Public Accountant test. After several grueling years of heading to the local library to study, I passed the exam. I would spend several years after that with an accounting firm and eventually would move to Tokyo, Japan (where I am now).
As fate would have it, around the time I began work as an accountant in Los Angeles, I came across information on the internet about a local stream in the San Gabriel Mountains. It was summertime and water levels were low. I had the brilliant idea(!) of putting on some snorkels and swim trunks and catch Rainbow Trout with an aquarium net. Evolving from this rudimentary approach to catch fish, I picked up fly fishing, which became an addiction. This little stream quickly became my hideaway, where I would take my family and friends. They loved it.
At the time of this writing, I’m 42 years old. Still single and no kids. Still wishing I had a special someone to spend the rest of my life with.
I love everything analog, especially books, records (early 70s jazz/funk/soul), and fishing. I’ve called Tokyo my home since 2016, and just as much as I like the conveniences of a big city, I love connecting with the world in a slower, more intentional way. Perhaps, in this frenetic and crazy world, these tangibles things and places are what I need to slow it down. A place to call my own.
I now freelance for an accounting firm and a fishing company (yup, I love fishing), so that I have the flexibility to take guests to undiscovered parts of Japan.
I believe our common language is compassion for others, and a sense of discovery to look beyond our closed world. I certainly need these things, and I hope I can share special moments with you and your loved ones on this trip.
Hope to see you soon.
From your friend and guide,
I GUESS SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE. NATURE HELPS US RECHARGE OUR BATTERIES AND GIVES US INSPIRATION
ABOUT IWATE PREFECTURE
Iwate Prefecture is a large prefecture located on the coast of the Tohoku region. Hiraizumi Town in the southern part of the prefecture flourished as the political center of the Tohoku region in the 11th and 12th centuries, and many architectural heritage sites remain today, such as Chusonji Temple and the nearby Motsuji Temple. Tono City in the northeast is the birthplace of many old tales. At Tono no Monogatari no Yakata (formerly Tono Folktale Village) in the city, you can experience old tales told by storytellers in a traditional atmosphere.
