Nationality: New Zealander
Time Living in Japan: Over 25 years
Employer: Self-Employed
Current Job Title: Freelance writer, content developer and tourism consultant
Areas of Expertise: Writer (news media, corporate content, SNS content, educational content); cross-cultural specialist (university lecturer and corporate trainer); particularly interested in travel & tourism, Japanese culture, education, cross-cultural issues and things related to the international community in Japan
Education: BA in Japanese and Economics, University of Waikato, New Zealand; MA in Intercultural Studies, SUNY Buffalo, New York, USA
Language Ability: English–native; Japanese–fluent speaker and business-level reading & writing
Bio:
Louise George Kittaka is a writer, contents developer, university lecturer and cross-cultural training consultant from New Zealand. After coming to Japan on work training, she subsequently met her Japanese husband and settled here.
Louise is a regular columnist and features writer for the Japan Times, Japan’s leading English newspaper, and also contributes to various other English-language media, including BBC Storyworks, The Michelin Guide, Lonely Planet, CNN, JNTO, Japan Airlines, Tokyo Updates, GPlus Media and All About Japan. Since 2020 she has also been writing for the Japan Tourism Agency’s ongoing project to promote multilingual language support for tourists and has created content for tourism and municipal sites around Japan.
As a freelance writer and editor for Japan’s educational publishing sector, she has contributed to numerous textbooks, study courses and national English exams.
Louise teaches at Shirayuri Women’s University and at the Jikei University School of Medicine.
Louise speaks, reads and writes English and Japanese. In her spare time, she loves traveling, visiting waterfalls, karaoke, going to afternoon tea and collecting anything to do with the “Aliens” movies.
Favorite Thing About Living in Japan:
1) Serendipitous surprises: you do not know what you will find just around the corner, and even after more than 25 years of living here, I still find things that surprise and delight me. 2) Professional attention to detail: when setting up a meeting or planning an event or project, you can be assured that people will follow through and carry out tasks to the best of their ability.
Favorite Place to Visit in Japan:
It is hard to choose, but I think that the entire Tohoku region is magical, with stunning nature, fascinating culture and such warm-hearted people. I also love waterfalls, and it’s always such fun to “discover” them while traveling around Japan.