Nicholas Canalos, 31, from Ohio, and Akiko, 29, who hails from Saitama Prefecture, both studied and aspired at university to become English teachers — in their respective home countries.
The couple first met in Tokyo at a "juku" (supplementary school) for junior high and high school students where Nicholas taught English, and where Akiko made English textbooks and CDs.
Nicholas came to Japan for the first time in 2001 as a university student — double majoring in sociology and education — to visit a friend who was studying at Nanzan University in Nagoya, and fell in love with the country. He took Japanese art and history classes at the university, and came to Japan for the second time to teach English. He taught English at several schools, and finally settled with his current job.