Hi there, I’m Aki from Tokyo. After a decade of studying and working in Europe—and a few years based in Kyoto—I’ve settled back in my hometown, and I’m looking forward to meeting Couchsurfers who are open-minded to share what they know and have. I’m not looking to host just anyone searching for a free place to stay—I love hosting guests who like to share something each other. Please include in your request what you’d like to offer or share during your stay. Whether it’s a skill, a story, a recipe, or a creative idea. Do you feel like cooking a dish from your country? Absolutely welcome! I may offer you a traditional Japanese dish (or perhaps something delightfully random, haha) when I have time. Special welcome to architects, designers, and chefs—I’d love to learn about your projects, exchange design insights, or taste your culinary creations. A Bit About Myself - Origins & Education Born and raised in Tokyo, I studied Social Welfare and Sustainability at Waseda University. Later, I completed an M.A. in Sustainability, Society & the Environment at Kiel University in Germany. - Professional Path I spent time in Amsterdam researching circular economies, then from 2021 to 2025 I lived in Kyoto, where I started working as a business designer / strategist across architecture, food, and fashion projects with a focus on sustainability. This spring, I returned to Tokyo to explore new opportunities and earn fresh perspectives. Here you can see a part of my projects and what circular economy in Japan looks like: Basics of Circular Economy and Repair Culture in Kyoto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3GrKAPeOds&t=460s This regenerative pavilion was built for the Osaka Expo, and I was proud to contribute to the architectural project: https://www.takenaka.co.jp/takenaka_e/library/news/2024/m1001_05.html Movie https://youtu.be/yFLPhqrMhys?si=S_hB32NcnLZD4yi2 Circular Initiatives at Kyoto Music Expo (Article) https://zenbird.media/compost-station-and-upcycled-vegan-ice-cream-at-music-event-kyoto-onpaku/ Circular Initiatives at Kyoto Music Expo (Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QguShu8Iyvo - Happoryoka (八方良菓) In Kyoto, I founded Happoryoka, a small confectionery brand. A lot of still good food are wasted in our society. Working with the people with disabilities, we turn local by-products—sake lees, tofu okara, ume, lemon peel, Nama Yatsuhashi—into Stollen, a traditional German Christmas sweets. It’s my way of supporting local producers as well as the welfare facilities and reducing food waste at a time. Happoryoka https://www.instagram.com/happoryoka - Published Work In 2021, I published my book “Circular Economy in Practice (『サーキュラーエコノミー実践』”, which examines cutting edged initiatives from different industries. It has been sold over 10,000 so far and I am happy to see the movement has been growing in Japan these days. “Circular Economy in Practice (『サーキュラーエコノミー実践』” https://amzn.asia/d/1Nrp5Ox Documentary Films I hardly film these days but I have created a few short films spotlighting zero-waste restaurants, upcycling brands, and community-driven sustainable projects in Europe and Asia. Here you can see my website and some of my film works I have made so far: Earthackers: https://www.earthackers.com/ Pizza 4P's (Ho Chi Ming City): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84iOVCR8xQk Instock Restaurant (Amsterdam): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOiwgna97gc MUD Jeans (Amsterdam): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iM9gkv2vxWo&feature=emb_title Løs Market (Copenhagen): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZnPzutOZvY Sustainable, Zero Waste YouTuber Mimi (Berlin): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2ZHdTRFgA8 SirPlus (Berlin): https://www.facebook.com/sirplus.de/videos/1901987736795950/