We will be in the UK from the end of July until the end of August, and we won't be able to host surfers during that period.

We will mostly be staying in Totnes area in Devon. Our accommodation is sorted out but we will be happy to meet up if you are a family with kids. My 8 years old son would love to play with other children.

I live in a small rural town near Kyoto with my wife and son. We live in a Japanese traditional style house which used to be a house of an Omi merchant, one of three famous merchants during Edo period. As a matter of fact, our town is famous for Omi Hino merchants and there are many buildings related to them.

We moved here 8 years ago because we wanted to live in the countryside. We have a small garden and grow vegetables using organic farming and Natural Farming.

I am a writer. I have published 7 books in Japanese and 3 kindle books in English. I write novels and non-fiction books. I use a pseudonym Sachiaki Takamiya for my writing.

Zen and a Way of Sustainable Prosperity: A Teaching of Omi Merchants Who Thrived In 18th Century Japan
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072LBFFYS/

IKIGAI BUSINESS: The Secret of Japanese Omi Merchants to Find a Profitable, Meaningful, and Socially friendly Business
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079Z24B1Z

IKIGAI DIET: The Secret of Japanese Diet to Health and Longevity
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CC3Y9QN/

blog:http://ikigaidietlife.com/

I am also an English teacher and coach. With my coaching practice, I help people who study English to achieve their goals by providing learning tips and mental work.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

Our town is a beautiful rural town with many rice fields. It also has many Japanese traditional style houses since it used to be the centre of Omi Hino merchants. I think it would be a great opportunity for people from other countries to visit our town to experience authentic Japan. If you like Kyoto, you will find Hino more interesting. Kyoto is great but it is so touristic that everywhere you go you are always surrounded by many other tourists with cameras. In Hino however, you will meet local people and get to see rice fields and mountains. There are many temples and shrines, too.

Visiting the Land of Omi-merchants Part 2: Hino
https://zenmerchantblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/22/visiting-the-land-of-omi-merchants-part-2-hino/

Visiting the Land of Omi-merchants part 3: Satoyama Cycling in Hino
https://zenmerchantblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/23/visiting-the-land-of-omi-merchants-part-3-satoyama-cycling-in-hino/

Visiting the Land of Omi-merchants part 4: Satoyama Experience
https://zenmerchantblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/24/visiting-the-land-of-omi-merchants-part-4-satoyama-experience/

In my 20s, I lived in England for 4 years, lived in Australia and Canada for 1 year each , I stayed in Germany and the United States for about 3 months each and a month in France. I have also visited many other countries. During my stay in all those countries I stayed at many people’s houses. Therefore I would like to give something back. I would also like to reconnect with people in those countries.

I would like to start travelling again, too. For my son’s education, I would like to take him to English speaking countries for a month or so every year.

Interests

I am interested in sustainable ways of living.

As I said before, I work as an English study coach. I am interested in coaching in general. I have developed a new coaching program called Zen and a Way of Sustainable Prosperity based on the success philosophy of Omi merchants.

I love walking, and cycling. I often cycle with my son along the rice paddies.

• writing
• books
• education
• wine
• organic food
• running
• walking
• gardening
• traveling
• cycling
• teaching
• languages
• mountains
• holistic health
• coaching
• natural food
• sustainable living
• nordic walking
• natural farming
• fermented foods
• country life
• holistic lifestyle
• transition initiatives

Music, Movies, and Books

I like listening to music. I like all kinds of music, especially classical, jazz, world music, and music from 1960s.

I haven't watched movies so much recently, but I like movies. I used to watch movies almost every week. I consider myself to be rather an intellectual person, but when it comes to movies, I enjoy watching Hollywood blockbuster movies.

Since I am a writer, I like reading books of course. I don't have a favorite writer now, but I used to like Haruki Murakami.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have hitchhiked a taxi.

Teach, Learn, Share

I said that I was learning French and German, but to be exact, I used to study them and I am not learning them at the moment. Having studied English, I know how difficult it is to master a language; I gave up the idea of learning many languages and decided to focus on one, which was English. I am still learning English even though I am a teacher now. I need to increase my vocabulary and improve my writing skill.

My wife and son need to learn English very much, especially my son. I have been speaking to him in English since he was born, and yet he is usually surrounded by many Japanese speakers and he doesn't have any opportunity to speak English.

We can share how to grow vegetables using Natural Faming method. We can also share how to make Natto and other fermented food, and about healthy lifestyle based on Japanese natural philosophies.

Staying at our house itself will give you a Japanese experience. We can take you to beautiful walks or bike rides along rice fields or forest. We can visit our friends who are also interested in sustainable ways of living.

We can have good conversations with wine or Japanese rice wine. The Omi merchant who used to live in this house was a rice wine maker. There is no greater place to drink rice wine.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can give Shiatsu and coaching.

Countries I’ve Visited

China, Egypt, France, India, Israel, Mexico, Netherlands, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Wales

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, Canada, England, Germany, Japan, United States