It was liberating, it was freeing, and a bit scary to have no sanctuary of my own. But then the world became my sanctuary. And I realized just how little we need in terms of tangible objects to survive comfortably and still be presentable. It was honestly not only a money-saving realization, but a life-changing one as well.

While I was traveling, I had very little and still managed to keep my clothes and accessories clean and presentable, had an array of outfits, and often times, people didn’t even realize I was a traveler. I actually took better care of my stuff because I didn’t have many tangible possessions and I didn’t want to buy more, because I would have to carry it. I realized how happy and free I felt, and that we don’t need that many possessions.

As I traveled around the world, I realized just how prevalent marketing and convenience is in first world countries, and as a proportionate result, many people’s homes are full of excess stuff. The stuff that is needed, useful, or loved is amazing to have around and call your own, but excess stuff just ends up tying people down, costing them time, money, and energy.

When I voiced my thoughts, most people were incredibly responsive, usually wanting to get rid of their excess stuff, but not knowing where to start or how to do it for various reasons. It turned out that a second opinion, organizational tactics, and pinpointing the reason worked wonders. I worked with people around the world- but mostly in Europe, to downsize the amount of unnecessary stuff in their homes and to fill it with what they loved to create a happier environment.

I went to back to Asia and spent a lot of time learning about environmental balance in Bali, Feng Shui in China, Vastu Shastra in India, and reinforced principles I knew on the way of life in Japan.

And then I returned to Los Angeles. Marketing was everywhere! It’s so convenient to get to shops! Online shopping is prevalent! It’s so easy to fall into the trap of unnecessarily spending money on things that you don’t need, and what I learned all around the world (mostly in Asian cultures) was the same- too much stuff impedes the energy around you and the chances of opportunities flowing into your life.

The personal environment that we exist in is so important- it impacts your vitality, your moods, your inspiration, and happiness level. I firmly believe that your home environment mirrors your internal environment. We only get one life, so let’s make it the best we can, starting by improving our own environments.

Thanks to growing up between Japanese and American cultures, going through the full process of shedding a full household of nearly everything I owned, living and traveling so lightly for years, and traveling around the world to get hands-on learning experiences with feng shui (and related concepts), I have specialized knowledge in helping others declutter and aim for simplicity.

I take the key elements from my Japanese side, and also apply what I learned in Bali, India, and China and intertwine it with my American side with the intent of helping individuals with their personal environments even happier and more beneficial. This blog provides my insight and advice about various topics. To the Greater Los Angeles/Orange County area, I provide personal home decluttering, Feng Shui, and organizing services.

I’ve traveled to 40+ countries and have lived in the US, Japan, Morocco, Ireland, Bali, Italy, and Spain. While living between Italy and Spain, I’ve traveled extensively through Europe, improving my knowledge on how to get the best deals and the best methods of travel around each country. My head is like a vault of knowledge on cost efficient travel methods, travel ideas, and travel itineraries.

Internationally, I provide travel itinerary planning and travel advice. I include this service under the same company because whether you are at home or abroad, life is all about experiences. And that is what The Hapa Way is about, to maximize your life experiences- whether it is everyday in the comfort of your home, or during a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Somehow, my obsession with stuff (and the lack of unnecessary stuff) spiraled my career from corporate executive to a small business that would help people. And I’m happy with that. So this site was created for you- and I’m hoping that you can incorporate the Hapa Way to a happier life.