Q: How do you like Canada?
I feel that it’s more flexible and diverse in Canada. I like that people here are more easy going and flexible. It made it easier for me to raise my children in Canada. People here give a hand on the bus, stores or anywhere. Even though my kids were crying loud in public, people were so kind and they came up and told me that I am doing well and I am alright as a mom.
I also love the beauty of nature. I enjoy walking on the beach and forests. Tofino is one of my favorite places in BC. I love surfing with my kids.
What brought you here？ How long have you been living here?
I have been living in Vancouver since 2006. I got pregnant right after I married and moved to Canada. It was hard for me to adjust to the new environment. All of a sudden, there were no friends, no families or no work. Also, I was always a career oriented woman. I loved working hard and enjoying whatever I like to do for myself in Japan. I never thought I would be a stay at home mom. I felt that I was disconnected with the society after I moved to Canada. I was lonely, but I hid it so people wouldn’t know…
The other hardest thing was the language barrier. It was especially stressful to take my kids to see doctors. I didn’t want to misunderstand what the doctors said.
Q: What do you do now？ What would you like to do next?
Before I moved here, I traveled in Europe and Asia to purchase furniture and household goods for my work. I found beautiful craftsman’s works while I was working as a buyer. I would like to build a company that connects Japanese craftsmen to Canadian businesses.
I started Ogojo Canada and we are aiming to build a platform to facilitate connections and provide support for Japanese women working in Canada. We are currently working on a project called Ogojo Jan chili sauce. It is our original Japanese chili sauce, which has lots of UMAMI. It was very popular at our event, Kids Marche. We would like to expand our produce line in the future, collaborating with other people.
We are also hosting Japanese women group community IDOBATA-KAIGI. There are so many talented Japanese women in Canada. I would like to be the bridge for them to connect each other or connect with Canadian society.
Q: What is your personal belief or motto?
“It will be fine. Que sera sera.”
I like to hear people’s thoughts. I can’t tell from what I see of the person, but after a while I talk with them, they start to open themselves and show passion towards something. I like to help people understand how they can realize their passion.
I enjoy seeing the possibilities of interesting things that can be created by connecting thoughts and feelings. I would love to connect people by doing these interviews.
Editor’s comment
Yu is a confident and reliable woman. Yu mentioned that she didn’t picture herself to be a stay at home mother because she was a career focused woman. She struggled a bit after she had her children as she felt she lost herself. However, she has learned to love being a mother and doing the best for her children and family from my perspective. Now, it’s finally time for her to go onto the next step and do what she loves. We are excited to see what the future holds for her.
