Who am I?

My name is Kathy. People call me Kat or Hikari. Or a few other colourful words when angry.

Scorpio. Year of the Dog.

Cultural enthusiast—from traditional to popular culture.

California-born with a Master’s in International Affairs, with a concentration in Homeland Security and U.S.-Japan Relations. I completed my B.A. in International Relations, with a concentration in Governance and Peace, Japan Studies, and Mass Media, from Ritsumeikan University in Japan.

Polish, Italian, and Japanese heritage. Lived in Southern California and Pennsylvania in the U.S., various countries in Europe, and Japan. I’ve been affected by a severe case of wanderlust and have trouble staying in one place for too long. I’ve got an ardent desire to capture the stories of others and make my own.

What do I do?

I’m a Public Relations and Affairs, Social Media, and Marketing specialist with a passion for public service, entrepreneurship, travel, and trends.

U.S.-Japan specialist, with expertise in politics, media, and culture.

I was a part-time teacher in Japan, in English, Media, and Government/Civics, for 4 years before getting my Master’s. I worked for a Fortune 500 company for 3 years in the U.S.

Now? Now, I have once again gone down the path of education and am working as an Assistant Langauge Teacher with the JET Programme in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

On top of full-time work, I am a freelance writer, translator, and photographer.

Outside of the office, I enjoy learning more languages than is considered “normal”, learning app development, working on art pieces, reading books from the latest new release to that one book your relative cannot stop going on about at reunions, watching dramas and movies, and jamming out to music. I’ve traveled to more countries than I can name off the top of my head, slept in some odd places, and had life-changing conversations with people from all over the world—from the Emperor of Japan to Venetian artisans to refugees.

What is my Code?

The ethos I live by is capture the world—everyone has a story if you just listen and give them a chance to tell it. I want to be there to capture it all and help get that story told.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

-Maya Angelou

We all have a story and chance to cause a ripple effect. One ant cannot move a mountain, but together it can be done. But all it takes is one ant to start it, to start the movement.

One person can have a profound effect on another. And two people…well, two people can work miracles. They can change a whole town. They can change the world.

Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, Cicely

Unlike your favorite video game, you only get one chance at this life—you have to make it count and I am not going to miss my shot.