Japanese Women in Canada Vol. 29 Aya Taguchi

What do you like about Canada?

I like the open-mindedness, warmth, kindness, and human-like qualities of the people. I feel like there is a spirit of helping each other and many people respect individuality in Vancouver, which is very comfortable. It’s a different feeling compared to Poland where I stayed for a working holiday. However, I feel like nothing will start unless I take initiative and reach out.

How long have you been living in Canada? Why did you come here?

I came to Vancouver in February 2018. In Japan, I was working as a sales office manager at a company that created human body dummies for car development. I had been interested in living abroad for some time, but my desire to go overseas was accelerated by having colleagues who spoke English. At the time, I was watching a TV drama called Silicon Valley and wanted to go to North America, so I stayed in Silicon Valley in the United States for a month (laughs). After that, for some reason, I went to Poland for a working holiday, but life in Poland was a completely different environment from Japan, the United States, or anywhere else. After enjoying trips to Italy, Spain, the UK, and other European countries, I decided to come back to North America and chose Vancouver, where there is a Japanese community. I went to an IT school and studied design and coding.

What have you been doing since you came here?

Although I tried to study IT, I found that it didn’t suit me when I actually tried it. I couldn’t become an IT geek… However, since I had studied it, I wanted to create an online shop and sell something.

When school ended and the deadline for an internship was approaching, I happened to meet my current business partner, who was originally a friend. I explained that I had to do an IT-related internship and that I wanted to sell something online. He suggested selling fish, which he was handling at the time. I created a website myself and started selling. Word of mouth spread more than I expected, and I eventually opened my current store, Blackjack Foods Meat & Seafood, in April 2021.

Please tell me about Blackjack Foods Meat & Seafood.

In the first online sales, beef bones became a turning point. They are essential for Vietnamese cuisine, and many people came to know about Blackjack. Since opening the store, we have gradually increased the number of products, including seafood and meat, including sashimi, and Japanese customers have also increased.

The current store on Nanaimo Street is a place I had hoped to have if it became available. It used to be a dry cleaning place. When the store was handed over to us, the dry cleaning chemicals and machines were still there, and it took us three months to remove the machines, clean, and renovate the interior.

It will be almost two years since we opened the store soon. If we are going to spend money on advertising, we want to offer the products as cheaply as possible, so we haven’t advertised much. Fortunately, it has spread mostly by word of mouth.

You’ve been wanting to start a business. How has it been going since you started?

It’s been very busy with coming up with new product ideas, sourcing, customer service, inventory management, website management, etc., but I’m enjoying it. My business partner supports me when I come up with ideas on what I want to do. Even though we don’t always agree, we’re good partners who share the same goal of wanting to grow the business.

The food industry is very competitive, but I enjoy studying and learning about fish, meat, and business, and spending a lot of time on it.

What are your future goals?

My goal is to increase the number of products, promote the store in various ways, and aim to open a second store. I want our store to be a place where customers can find great deals.

What was the hardest thing about coming to Canada? What did you learn from it?

The hardest thing was when my grandfather passed away. It wasn’t easy to go back home to see him. I loved him very much, and seeing him after he passed away was very difficult. It was as if his soul had left and he had become just an object. It made me very sad, and when I think about it, tears come to my eyes. So, I threw myself into my work.

What do you like to do?

I try to make sure I have some off time. I really enjoy watching TV shows from here (mostly from the US and UK)! Also, I like going to coffee shops and relaxing while thinking about new things.

What are your beliefs or motto?

I always cherish the thought of “wanting to do” something. When it’s something I want to do, I’m passionate, my mind keeps racing, and my speed picks up.

Message from Aya

I’ve always wanted to do something since I was young. However, I didn’t know what to do or what would happen. I wanted to have an online shop, but I didn’t have a product that resonated with me. It’s thanks to talking to my current partner that I’m here now.

I think if you keep thinking about it, things will eventually come together. It’s important to not miss the chances that may come along while holding onto that thought, and to take action and move forward. Through my own experiences, I have realized the importance of keeping that thought in mind and taking action.

Editor’s Comment

Aya’s story is an inspiring one, and it’s heartening to see how she’s been able to make a new life for herself in Canada. Her reflections on the open-mindedness, warmth, kindness, and respect for individuality in Vancouver are a testament to the welcoming nature of the city, and it’s wonderful to see her thriving in this environment.

Her journey from working in sales in Japan to running her own business in Canada is a reminder that it’s never impossible to pursue your dreams. Aya’s willingness to try new things, such as studying IT and coding, and her openness to opportunities, such as selling fish online, demonstrate the importance of being adaptable and flexible in today’s fast-changing world.

It’s clear that Aya is passionate about her business, and her dedication to learning about fish, meat, and business is admirable. Her desire to offer great deals to her customers and to expand to a second store shows that she has a strong entrepreneurial spirit.

We are looking forward to seeing her next new store and more soon!!