Hi! Bitsii here.
My name is Bethany Nakamura.
I’m an interior designer, and now also a J-YouTuber and small business owner.
In October of 2021, I moved from the US to Ehime prefecture in Shikoku; the Japanese Countryside. About one year later, I posted my first YouTube video about my experiences here. All of a sudden, I realized I had found thousands of people like me. People who want to pursue meaning, beauty, and culture. People who love Japan and want to (or have!) found their way here.
As I’ve been seemingly bouncing around and learning many things the hard way here, I wanted to share my findings and insights. Moving here can be ROUGH. I want to help ease the transition for those moving here by sharing my experiences and resources. People have found something they were searching for in my YouTube channel, but I’ll be keeping my channel for sharing some of my more personal stories.
In this website, I’m hoping to creating a place for people to gather and share some of the practicalities of moving to and living in the Japan. Every year, thousands of foreign English-speakers move to Japan. Home stuff is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the challenges. So I want to share what I’ve learned to help those who will experience the same things.
Guiding Values
Sometimes Japan feels like the wild west. Not only is the foreign culture unpredictable at times (especially for new residents), but the international space is just as varied, if not more so. Here is where we are coming from:
- Culture It matters very much that we live and operate here in a socially responsible way & with cultural sensitivity. This goes both ways - respect and care shared between local communities and international residents.
- Environment There is no doubt that we consume more than we need. We can do better to make use of what we already have intentionally, prioritize sustainable sources, and step lightly on the earth. That means caring for old akiya houses, enjoying vintage furnishings, and prioritizing healthy materials. Let's DIY with intention!
- Wellbeing What we do, how we do it, and who we do it for. Foreign residents face major stressors when navigating and acclimating to life in Japan. I know. I'm still here. Our homes are a place of recovery - let's make somewhere to recharge so you can live your best life out in the world.
- Accessibility Many people who come here have limited financial resources, whether that's an English Teacher salary or by navigating the limited work options for non-Japanese people. We want to provide affordable options so that individuals can create supportive home spaces regardless of finances.
- Empowering Women & Gender-Diverse People Japan is not known for leading progressive movements regarding gender equity... to put it lightly. We want to do our best to support, serve, include and respresent people beyond stereotypical expectations, whether that means publicly naming issues (with sensitivity), or breaking stereotypes by example.
Who Am I
Some Quick Facts
- I have a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Interior Design from the University of Minnesota (USA) and an Associate of Fine Art (AFA) degree in Visual Arts from Minneapolis College.
- I’m a creative. My childhood was split between tap dance lessons and making Sailor Moon kid-art, I memorized all the choreography to the musical CATS, studied modern dance in high school, was a professional back-up dancer for Weird Al Yankovic, and once dropped out of college to focus on my ukulele dream-folk band.
- I worked at commercial architecture firms from 2014 to 2020, briefly as design faculty at Kent State University, and also with my own solo practice. My design projects have spanned the US, Canada, Germany, China, Russia, and Japan.
- I started my “sabbatical” in Japan in late 2021, only to settle in, get married, and find a new calling.
- I may very well be the only English-speaking interior designer in Shikoku, Japan. If I’m not, by all means, please say hello!
My Journey From Designer to Creator
While I had always wanted to become an interior designer as a kid, I very quickly realized there was a misalignment between what how I wanted to design and where there was market demand. While I had visions of radically sustainable design centering around things like community gardens and public transportation, I found myself responding to desires for image and luxury.
Dropping out of college mid-degree during the US economic down-turn in 2010, I found myself biking between four-part time jobs, still not able to crest the poverty level. Due to my lack of college degree, I was repeatedly turned down from full-time positions that offered healthcare and a livable salary, so I decided that I should finish a four-year degree. So finish interior design school, I did.
I never really “fit in” to the interior design scene – I wore metallic oxfords in a land of high-heels. But perhaps it was this spirit that helped me stand out, securing one of the most coveted entry-level design firm positions before I even reached my final year.
During my professional tenure, I was able to pursue many meaningful projects and specializations. I lead design for schools for kids on the autism spectrum – requiring both evidence-based research and a solid foot in empathy. I designed offices, libraries, hospitals and cultural centers, and was also able to work on some textile surface design collaborations, brand design, environmental graphic design, and experiential strategy. I was a cherished member of marketing pursuits for my impassioned storytelling and colorful approach. I once submitted an expense receipt for six neon fanny packs and 700 bouncy balls.
Despite the freedom my bosses gave me (sometimes reluctantly), I felt stifled. It was burn-out, covid lock-down, and social uprising that pushed me past my limit. There were too many ways my corporate lifestyle was misaligned with my values and spirit. I couldn’t do corporate life any longer, and there was no going back.
I had spent so much time doing what other people wanted me to do, following their career advice and having it lead to ill-suited places, I needed to get back in touch with myself. I thought about kid Bethany, remembering her love of Totoro and Sailor Moon and her dream to live in Japan. I thought I was going to just spend a year or two in Japan, trying to live a life kid me would be proud of, but life continued to carry me places here in Japan.
Understanding the challenges of moving to and making a home-base in Japan, I’m determined to use my insight and design skills to help out other international people who have found their way here, too. All the lost toys, whether you are here for a year or here to stay.
- 1988 Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Kid tap-dancer, Sailor Moon enthusiast.
- 2001 Family moved to Minnesota, USA.
- 2007 Bought my first condo in Minneapolis at age 18 while working retail. I would be under-water on this condo for 10 years.
- 2009 Dropped out of interior design school, working four part-time jobs while performing as a songwriter/ukulelist/tap-dancer.
- 2012 Completed a Visual Arts degree from Minneapolis College.
- 2014 Started working at commercial architecture firms.
- 2015 Completed a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from the University of Minnesota.
- 2017 Bought a 100-year-old house in Minneapolis; an "accidental flip" where I thought I would settle in, but renovated and sold a few months later.
- 2018 Started working in NYC.
- 2020 Started my solo design practice and also as higher-ed design faculty.
- 2021 Accepted a position teaching English deep in rural Japan.
- 2022 Posted my first Japan akiya life YouTube video, which went viral.
- 2023 Married Tokyo-born Mr. Nakamura. We moved to a mountain village with kiwi fields and space for Koichi's permaculture and natural farming.
In the Media
Between art, design and Japan lifestyle, I’ve had the pleasure of being featured in many fun places.
Select Highlights
Typing to You From Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan
Ehime Prefecture is located on Shikoku island in Japan. While Shikoku is rarely visited by Japanese people from other islands, Ehime is known for its mikan (mandarin orange) agricultural industry. With attractions like Matsuyama Castle, Dogo Onsen, and Uwajima Castle. Dogo Onsen is credited as the inspiration for the bathhouse in the Ghibli movie, Spirited Away. Ehime Prefecture offers a rich blend of natural beauty and whimsical cultural heritage.
