Japanese Women in Canada　Vol.13 Naomi Anju

What do you like about Canada?

I like the fact that I don’t have to worry about what others think of me. Compared to Japan, there are no conventions, unseen expectations from others, or gender-based barriers. Also, I feel that there are equal opportunities regardless of gender. That’s also good.

How long have you been living in Canada?

I first came here as a visitor in 2004. At that time, I stayed for six months. I remember experiencing Vancouver’s beautiful spring and summer, and I was so ready to live here.
I went back to Japan once without knowing “Raincouver”. I saved some money and came back to Vancouver.

In Japan, I was working as a salesperson for an apparel company called TOMORROWLAND. It was a very rewarding job and I loved it, but I was working too hard and breaking down, and I was wondering if I could continue living like this. When I think back, I think I wanted to change my life. Then I started thinking that it might be a good idea to try living abroad.

What have you been doing since you came to live in Canada?

First, I attended a business college and majored in international trade (FITT) there. I obtained a *Co-op Visa and worked as a sales clerk at Banana Republic. After that, I worked at ESL as a counselor and manager for two and a half years to help me get BCPNP. After obtaining the permanent residency, I continued to work at ESL for a while, but I left because I wanted to return to the fashion industry where I could be creative and use my senses.

I decided to try my own business and started working as an agent wholesaling Canadian brand clothes to Japan, but it did not go well and I gave up after 6 months. At that time, I strongly realized that customers need to be close to you and you need to build a relationship with them to make it work.

After that, I worked at Mavi Jeans for 5 years. I was in the Position of Retail Operation Manager. I learned how to run a store as a manager, and how to talk to customers in English. Above all I learned how to buy products as a buyer. Mavi Jeans mainly sold jeans and clothes that matched jeans, and I wanted to get more involved in a variety of fashion and accessories. I started looking for my next job, but I couldn’t find what I wanted to do, so I decided to start my own business.

In 2013, obtained Business License, and Branches & Knots was founded. I started out with a pop-up shop in my living room. It went very well. In 2014 of December, I had a limited time pop-up shop at my current location on Broadway, and I fell in love with the place so much that I signed a contract to open a store there.

What is the hardest thing you faced living in Canada? And what did you learn from it?

That is absolutely the beginning of the COVID started.

It was really hard for me as a business owner. I think that the owners of Small Business were the ones who suffered the most from this COVID. For the first time since I opened my store, I really thought that my store would collapse. The stress was so high that I developed urticaria on my body.

After I laid off my staff, I spent many days standing alone in the store. No customers were coming. We also do wholesale, so the inventory we had ordered was piled up to the ceiling like a mountain without being picked up. I thought about what I could do now, and redesigned my online shopping site, which I had been doing but hadn’t put that much effort into, to make it look better and make it easier to shop online. As a result, our sales have doubled or tripled.

What I learned from this situation is that relationships with people are the most important thing. I am here today because of the people who helped me and cooperated with me. No matter what the situation is, there is always something you can do.

Tell me about your store ‘Branches＆Knots‘

Branches & Knots started from my own living room. After a Pop-up shop in December 2014, it has managed to overcome the COVID period and will celebrate 8 year anniversary this December.

We started out as a store that mainly sold Japanese products, but now we also sell products made by local designers, Japanese designers who live in Vancouver, and products that are environmentally friendly and well designed. We are currently dealing with a wide range of customers from local to Montreal, Europe and Japan.

Since the start of the company, the product we would like to expand to Canada as a distributor is the Wild Bird Society’s rain boots.

Based on my past experience, I wanted to do wholesale as well as retail, and when I was looking for a product, I found these rain boots online and fell in love with them. I was rejected first because they said they didn’t do wholesale overseas, but after my third love call, they gave up (lol).

I did everything from arranging the forwarder to preparing the paperwork. All they had to do was fill out the form and send it to me. I wanted to do business with them even so.

These rain boots are still the main item in our store and I can recommend them with confidence. They are easy to wear, easy to take off, lightweight, foldable, and come in cute designs and colors. The great thing about these rain boots is that you can contribute to bird conservation in Japan just by buying a pair of rain boots. Isn’t that wonderful? These boots are perfect for Vancouver in this rainy season. Please come to the store to try them on or you can visit her online store.

What do you like to do?

Eating. Surfing. Camping. Watching Japanese dramas. Finding bargains.

I’ve just recently moved into a new house, so I’ve been obsessed with doing DIY projects lately. I’m enjoying making things for my room. I get a lot of satisfaction from the process of giving shape to what I have drawn in my head.

Is there anything you would like to do in the future?

I want to continue with Branches & Knots. I started this store thinking it would only be for a limited time, so there are many unfinished parts that I want to work on. I want to renovate it into the ideal store that I envision.

I also like to create spaces, so I would like to work as an interior designer or space creator.

What is your belief or motto?

Enjoying life. Laugh and live.

I believe it takes courage to leave when you can’t laugh anymore. It’s still challenging at the moment, but at the same time I’m enjoying it. Most importantly, I am realizing how lucky I am.

Editor’s Comment

Naomi says “The store is my child.”

Take care of it and make it grow. Spend your time generously and let it grow with the help of those around you. It’s hard work, but it’s also a lot of fun and rewarding. An existence that gives us both joy and pain……Without a doubt, that is a child. I empathized strongly.

Ever since she was a child, she was a leader and liked to plan and do something interesting.

A person who have the power to move others are the ones who act first. A person who seeks out interesting things is someone who is always on the lookout for something fun to do.

That’s exactly who she is.

Because of COCID, she faced the biggest fear that she might have lost her store. Branches & Knots is her child. I can’t imagine how painful that is….It’s beyond my imagination.

She said, “I am lucky.” These words show how grateful she is for the connections she has made with others and how she has overcome what has been a difficult time for her. Now she is about to move on to the next phase of her life.

Passing by Branches & Knots, you can enjoy the window display that changes with the seasons. Each display is beautiful, and you can feel the owner’s passion for the store.

Naomi always welcomes me with a big smile. I felt that she will continue to find the joy of her life and grow with Branches & Knots.

I can’t wait to visit her store and find something special for myself.

This Christmas season, please visit Branches & Knots for small gifts such as candles, perfume rolls, soap, wood spoons, socks, sweaters, shoes, scarves, jewelry, and more for your loved ones. You are sure to find something you like. You’ll also enjoy chatting with the staff. 💛