Shuichi Kotani: Taking soba noodles worldwide
From working at McDonald's in Himeji to making noodles for Japanese restaurants in America, Shuichi Kotani has always looked for and taken opportunities.
Masaya Nakayama: Keeping an eye on the art of subtraction
Finding artistic freedom in New York, Osaka-born artist finds new expressions for Japanese-style painting.
Yasushi Hirano's aria of operatic commitment
From techno fan to bass baritone opera singer, Yasushi Hirano now celebrates 20 years living and singing in Vienna.
Fumi Nagasaka: When Japan is neither in nor out of the picture
For Fumi Nagasaka, photography was born from making friends.
Nick Sakagami: When something fishy makes great business
The only certified fish master outside of Japan, Nick Sakagami has been making a splash in the U.S. for nearly two decades.
Ryoichi Kurokawa: The electronic artist's code
A self-taught multi-disciplinary artist merging art and electronic music, Ryoichi Kurokawa reconstructs the nature he grew up with software code.
Tomoko Houtzager: Moving to the bush just to live off the land
A WWOOF trip to Australia leads to a new way of life for a former city girl.
Yoko Wylegala: The best lesson in life is to never stop learning
Albert Einstein once said that the "important thing is not to stop questioning." A similar aphorism applies to composer and classical musician Yoko Hamabe Wylegala, whose life has been defined since the age of 7 by studying and questioning one subject or another. "My parents ...
Yu Nakamura: A sweet affinity between Japan and Thailand
An entrepreneur and cultural innovator, Yu Nakamura helps Thai farmers with her coconut sugar business.
Aiko Tanaka: A bundle of laughs in America
From dancing in clubs to stand-up comedy, Aiko Tanaka's experience in the U.S. has helped realize her dream of making it in the entertainment industry.
Takehiko Nakamura: Kicking around the U.S. for a career in soccer
A U.S. education, says sports fan Nakamura, helped him score a goal in life.
Akira Satake: From handmade banjos to vases
When the music industry became too stressful to bear in the U.S., Akira Satake found a new vocation in pottery.
