Sharing Japan's charms with travelers worldwide

• LIVE JAPAN Planning Department
• Yohei Kato - General Manager

• From Hokkaido, Yohei Kato joined Gurunavi in 2009. He began his career by promoting accommodations known for their exceptional cuisine, such as hot spring inns and auberges in Japan. He later spearheaded a project focused on local gourmet specialties across Japan and contributed to the development of a Tokyo outing information site in collaboration with Tokyo Metro.
  In 2016, he led the launch of the inbound tourism service LIVE JAPAN and currently oversees its strategy and operations as Gurunavi's director for the platform.
  His hobbies include exploring Japanese castles, enjoying sake and Japanese tea, and immersing himself in history and culture to uncover new possibilities for inbound tourism.
  His life motto is "Give it a try!"—a philosophy that drives him to take on challenges and share the charm of Japan with the world.

• Shingo Teraoka - Deputy General Manager

• From Chiba Prefecture, he works extensively with Japan's Tourism Agency and local governments to promote the country's appeal worldwide, frequently traveling across Japan. His diverse achievements include the comprehensive production of a Japanese cuisine event at the National Treasure Geihinkan Akasaka Palace and delivering seminar lectures for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Preparation Bureau.
  Drawing from past experiences, he developed a multilingual information system to assist foreign tourists during major disasters. Recognized by the Japan Institute of Information Technology as an "exceptional professional in IT-related fields," he brings a wealth of expertise to his work.
  In his free time, he enjoys visiting onsen, exploring cities, and savoring good drinks. Driven by the philosophy of "striving for the 1%," he oversees service operations, aiming to create truly valuable experiences.

• Kenji Yamada - LIVE JAPAN Business Planning Section, Section Manager

• From Gifu Prefecture, he joined Gurunavi in 2017 and currently serves as the head of the LIVE JAPAN Services team. Drawing on his experience in the television, magazine, and web industries, he focuses on content creation and digital marketing to drive the growth of LIVE JAPAN as a media platform.
  He also has extensive experience in producing, directing, and creating content for projects commissioned by government agencies, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Forestry Agency, and the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
  His hobbies include home gardening and cooking meat dishes—he spends most weekends grilling.

• Tomohiko Odaka - LIVE JAPAN Business Promotion Section, Section Manager

• From Yamaguchi Prefecture, he has been part of the LIVE JAPAN project since its conceptual stage in 2015. Leveraging his experience as an alliance manager at Gurunavi, he led the establishment of the LIVE JAPAN Tokyo Consortium in 2016. He later focused on promoting tourism in the Kansai region and launched LIVE JAPAN Kansai in 2019 in collaboration with local railway companies.
  With hands-on experience in web development and iPhone app creation, he is also well-versed in technical external collaborations.
  His hobbies include DIY projects, and he has extensive knowledge of the Seto Inland Sea's coastlines and islands. Guided by his motto, "Get it Done," he strives to deliver swift and reliable results, continuously providing new value to the tourism industry.

• Yukiko Honda - Editor-in-Chief

• From Chiba, Yukiko Honda oversees all editorial content. With a background in international cultural studies and a certification as a Japanese language teacher, she deepened her understanding of cross-cultural communication through work experience in two foreign countries. In her previous role, she successfully led the digital transformation and monetization of web media for major publishers and key television networks. She has an impressive track record of managing popular magazines and TV programs' web editions, from conceptualization to operation.
  A self-proclaimed indoor travel enthusiast, she values comfort and pays special attention to hotel facilities and services. At the same time, she frequently travels across Japan to attend events for her favorite sports teams and music artists. Beyond enjoying the games and performances, she actively explores local cuisines and cultural experiences. These encounters and discoveries during her travels inspire new content ideas, fueling her passion for creating engaging and innovative stories.

• Timothy Sullivan - Deputy Editor-in-Chief

• Timothy Sullivan has worked with LIVE JAPAN since 2017. Originally from New York, USA, he has over two decades of experience in Japan and more than 15 years in the digital media sphere. Timothy has played pivotal roles in assisting Japanese enterprises and regional authorities connect with international audiences in the localization, game, and ecommerce sectors. An award-winning photographer, he has visited all of Japan's 47 prefectures. Passionate about the outdoors and volunteering, he loves discovering delicious foods and hearing local stories by striking up conversations with people at neighborhood izakayas or sake stands. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication (Journalism) from the State University of New York College at Geneseo. Socials:LinkedIn, Instagram.

• Hyungil Kim - Editor

• Originally from South Korea, he began his academic journey in the law faculty at university before earning a degree in English Language and Literature. After relocating to Japan, he achieved the highest level (N1) of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test and has since built over 15 years of experience in the travel industry, including working for a major travel agency. His extensive background in creating tourism content has allowed him to share a wealth of travel insights through his work.
  His travel style is diverse, often exploring regions in Kanto and Kansai with themes like castles, camping, and relaxation. A fan of road trips, he enjoys traveling by car, savoring local cuisine, and seeking out unique experiences. He has visited Okinawa three times, exploring both the main island and Ishigaki Island, and plans to return regularly.
  With a talent for diving deep into topics, he enjoys forming hypotheses, conducting research, and analyzing findings. His wide-ranging interests, from movies and history to economics, enable him to offer readers practical and engaging information from a well-rounded perspective.

• Johanna Wennergrund - Editor

• Originally from Sweden, she experienced a 10-month high school exchange in southern Japan. After graduating, she studied Japanese at a language school and obtained the JLPT N1 certification. At a Japanese university, she specialized in media expression for four years, learning visual production and media expression and worked part time at a local radio station while deepening her understanding of Japan’s youth culture and values. Through her diverse experiences in Japan, she developed a strong interest in local attractions and seasonal food cultures. Currently, she uses this perspective to create content that conveys the diversity and charm of Japan to readers.

• Ching-wan Lee - Editor

• Originally from Taiwan, she graduated with a degree in Chinese Language from a university in Taiwan and worked for a Japanese company in Taipei before relocating to Japan. Since then, she has gained extensive experience in tourism media and the travel industry. As a native Traditional Chinese speaker, she specializes in planning and editing tourism content targeted at Taiwanese audiences, introducing many travelers to new and unique aspects of Japan.
  She is particularly passionate about visiting shrines, exploring forests, and uncovering hidden gems, having visited dozens of locations primarily in the Kanto and Chubu regions. By experiencing the unique nature and culture of each place, she creates tourism content from a fresh and unique perspective.

• Ningxin Hou - Editor

• Originally from China, she graduated with a degree in Digital Media Technology from Communication University. She gained extensive professional experience working at a major corporation in China, handling editing, advertising planning, and exhibition management. After moving to Japan, she earned a master’s degree in Digital Content Management.
  She has since worked as a social media marketing planner for Chinese audiences, leading a variety of projects including organizing markets, planning experiential travel, and managing vacation rentals.
  With a keen sense for trends and a proven track record, she also brings her passion as a devoted food enthusiast. She holds an FBO-certified Umeshu Navigator qualification, showcasing her deep appreciation for culinary culture.

• Kaori Urawaki - Editor

• Originally from Ehime, she majored in Sociology and Cultural Anthropology at a university in the United States, where she served as the representative of the ASIA Club, organizing numerous events to showcase the charm of Japan and other Asian countries. After graduation, she worked as an editor for a magazine aimed at Japanese residents in the U.S. She later returned to Japan and completed a master’s degree in Asia-Pacific Studies.
  Her career includes editing public relations magazines for international cooperation projects, as well as roles in the human resources industry involving public relations, customer acquisition, web content creation, and marketing. She has also contributed to content creation across various fields, including education, parenting, healthcare, and travel, with expertise in planning, interviewing, editing, writing, and SEO.
  As a mother of twins, she stays on top of family-friendly destinations, always looking for new spots to explore and share with others.