01. Connection
How do you connect to nature? What was a specific moment that reminded you that you are part of the natural world?
The plus side of working less is having more time to surf. Any time I’m riding a wave, I feel lucky to have the ocean as my escape and am reminded of how important it is for my physical and mental health. I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that the ocean has been our saving grace through all this COVID craziness.
02. Balance
You put so many different things out into the world- design, illustration, art direction, and music. How do you find balance between the multitude of things that you do? Is there a universal theme underneath it all?
I’m a natural-born multi-tasker and planner (super Virgo), which allows me to juggle my different jobs and hobbies with ease. No matter how busy I am, I make sure to schedule in some “me” time to workout, surf, or do a quick shoot; that’s the key to me feeling my best!
03. Tradition + Routine
What is a tradition you honor from your heritage? What is a new habit you're just starting, or sticking with this month?
Ever since I was little, my family has been making mochi and enjoying ozoni soup at my grandma’s house on New Year’s Day. I always look forward to seeing my family come together, including outer-island aunties and uncles, and celebrating our Japanese heritage.
Lately, I’ve been brewing my own iced tea from leaves that a family friend in New York sent; perfect for those hot days. It’s not only helped save money, but been a fun experiment creating all kinds of refreshing concoctions!
04. Challenge
What's challenging you right now? How are you rising to meet the challenge?
With the fashion and marketing industries taking a huge hit, not having a steady stream of work has been my greatest challenge. In the beginning I felt really anxious, but over time, I’ve come to accept it as an opportunity to reset and reevaluate what I do. The answer hasn’t revealed itself yet, but I’m open to the possibilities.
05. Motivate
What gets you moving everyday? Is it physical exercise, creative expression, social engagement? Tell us about your chosen method of being active.
I try to do one active thing a day to clear my head and unplug. Pre-COVID, my daily exercise was always hot yoga. Unfortunately, with quarantine, I’ve had to find other activities that cleanse, motivate, and make me sweat the same way. Depending on how I feel, I’ll either surf, ride my Peloton, do a yoga class, or sometimes all three!
06. Culture
What creative media are front of mind for you right now? What’s one work you’d share from your reading list, Netflix queue, etc.?
I’ve made a conscious effort to match my screen time with reading time. Since March, I’ve read 15 books! One of my favorite reads so far is “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides, a psychological thriller that had me hooked from the beginning. My top show picks would be “The Outsider” on HBO, “Kingdom” on Netflix, and “Normal People” on Hulu.
