Commitment to Social Contribution Strengthened Through My ICU Experience

Having grown up in the United States from the age of three months and returned to Japan at fifteen, my first major hurdle was the Japanese language. Since I did not attend a Japanese supplementary school, I lacked confidence in my reading and writing abilities. Wanting to firmly build my Japanese proficiency before entering society, I decided to enroll at ICU, which was well known for its Japanese language programs. Choosing Media, Communication and Culture (MCC) as my major and Japan Studies as my minor was a natural progression, reflecting both my interest in media and my desire to deepen my understanding of the Japanese language and culture.

Academically, I was able to study a wide range of fields in a bilingual Japanese-English environment. However, more than my studies, the greatest asset I gained from ICU — something I still strongly feel more than ten years after graduation — is the sense of "connection," namely, ICU's powerful network. Having previously lived within a limited community and held values closer to those of the U.S., meeting unique friends who had grown up in diverse countries and regions around the world was deeply stimulating and greatly broadened my perspective. Even today, I continue to maintain close personal and professional relationships with my ICU friends.

In addition to my studies, my university life was extremely fulfilling as I participated in a tennis club and volunteer activities as well as played classical piano, which I had continued since childhood, and worked part-time. In particular, after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, my desire to "do something for Japan" grew stronger, and I became involved in organizing student volunteer activities in Tohoku. Through this work, I experienced a major cultural shock. In the U.S., volunteering was familiar and widely embraced, with people around me actively participating. In contrast, in Japan, volunteer activities were sometimes perceived negatively, described as "hypocritical" or "self-serving."

Why are volunteer activities viewed negatively in Japan? What differs depending on cultural and social contexts? These questions prompted deep reflection, and I wrote my senior thesis on "the significance of service learning (learning through social contribution activities)." Through my experiences with student volunteer organizations and my graduation research, the long-held desire within me to contribute to society and engage in activities that benefit others became even more firmly rooted.

Left: Summer Commencement Ceremony Right: Tennis Club "Footloose" Autumn Training Camp

Founding "for her.": A Brand That Supports Women Through Their Life Stages, Inspired by Pregnancy and Childbirth

After graduating from university, I joined my family's auto parts manufacturing business. I spent about ten years working on new mobility-related ventures and other projects. When the business was temporarily halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, I experienced pregnancy and childbirth. When I gave birth in the U.S. in 2021, I received support from a professional known as a postpartum doula — an encounter that profoundly changed my life.

Before giving birth, my focus had been almost entirely on labor pains and the delivery itself. However, I came to realize that the postpartum period is when extensive knowledge and support are truly needed, and that such support is overwhelmingly lacking in Japan. Warm meals that improve circulation, nutritional intake to reduce inflammation, and care for the mother's body are some examples. The postpartum period was unimaginably difficult both mentally and physically, but fortunately, the postpartum doula shared a wealth of knowledge with me, enabling me to return to work quickly. When I talked about this experience in Tokyo, many friends, including fellow ICU mothers, were astonished by the concept of postpartum doulas and the depth of postpartum knowledge, responding with strong empathy. At that moment, my long-held desire to "do something for others and for society" merged with a clear vision of "supporting women after childbirth," and I became convinced that this was what I truly wanted to do. This realization led to the launch of the women's wellness brand "for her."

Today, for her. focuses primarily on producing and selling retort soups based on the principles of medicinal cuisine and Eastern medicine, aimed at supporting the health of busy women. These products are particularly popular as gifts to celebrate childbirth, and we sometimes receive feedback from customers who receive our message cards and products such as, "It brought tears to my eyes." Knowing that our message of celebrating women who have become mothers is reaching people gives us the greatest sense of fulfillment. The reason the brand is called "for her." rather than "for mom." is because we want to support women at all stages of their lives. I myself have experienced unexpected challenges at various points, such as menstrual pain in my teens, miscarriage in my twenties, and infertility treatment in my thirties. My hope is to grow this brand into one that not only cares for the postpartum period but also stands alongside all women in their health and ways of living. I also want to make it commonplace in Japan to value oneself, rather than simply "enduring" postpartum troubles and hardships.

Left: Prototype testing for for her. soup. Right: We launched for her. in Los Angeles in Fall 2025.

In July 2025, for her. also launched operations in the United States. In Japan, we are expanding into services that enhance experiential value, such as community building and event planning, with a focus on "women's self-care." In the United States, meanwhile, we are increasing brand recognition primarily in the postpartum care field through more practical products and services.

Moving forward, we plan to leverage our uniqueness as a brand originating in Japan, steadily grow our businesses in both countries, and continue challenging ourselves to create new value that supports women throughout their entire life journey.

Transform Diverse Experiences Into Strength Without Fear of Detours or Failure

At the core of my work lies a belief deeply influenced by words left by my maternal grandfather, who passed away when I was six. Among his teachings, the one I cherish most is the conviction that "profits are the fee paid for customer satisfaction." In business, strategy and pricing are certainly important, but ultimately, if you provide something that truly satisfies customers, the business will grow naturally. Holding fast to this belief, I now take on new challenges every day as part of a startup.

To ICU students and those considering studying at ICU, I encourage you to first adopt a voracious mindset and take full advantage of every system available in such a privileged environment. Study abroad programs, in particular, are invaluable opportunities. While I devoted myself to volunteer activities during my student years, developing my Japanese language skills and social awareness, friends who chose to study abroad significantly expanded their future opportunities through the experiences and connections they gained.

Above all, I want students to prioritize having as many diverse experiences as possible. During my student days, I sometimes felt pressured and distressed when I saw friends with clear career plans enthusiastically pursuing internships, while I felt I lacked a vision and was doing nothing to prepare for life after graduation. However, now that we live in an era of AI and digital transformation, I firmly believe in the importance of diverse experiences. Being able to articulate what you felt through those experiences and how they connect to who you are today, and having a personal axis, are all crucial. Environments and ways of thinking change at each stage of life. I myself have taken many detours, but I now feel that each one has shaped who I am today. I hope you, too, will not fear detours or failures, but instead transform each experience into strength and move forward on a path guided by your own core values and passion.