Nationality: USA-Japan
Time Living in Japan: 17 years
Employer: G.K. Cataldo Global Connections
Current Job Title: CEO / Intercultural Consultant
Areas of Expertise: Intercultural consultancy, inbound tourism, regional revitalization, community building, interpretation/translation, cross-cultural communication, travel writing, Public Relations, Writing and Editing, and Content Creation
Education: M.A. from SOAS, University of London in Social Anthropology, B.A. from Seattle University in Strategic Communications and Creative Writing, JMEC 24 (Tokyo), Communication Coordinator / Interpreter for Peace Boat
BIO:
Nina Otsubo Cataldo is a multi-cultural and multilingual consultant, communication specialist, and educator based in Niigata, Japan. Born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and American father, she was raised in the Pacific Northwest (Portland, OR and Seattle, WA), maintaining a deep connection to her Japanese roots while growing up immersed in diverse global cultures.
After earning a B.A. in Strategic Communications and Creative Writing from Seattle University in 2015, Nina returned to Japan to begin her career as a writer. Since then, she has worked with organizations such as JNTO, JTB, and local governments across the country as a tourism consultant and PR strategist, leveraging her intercultural background to build meaningful bridges between Japan and the world. She has traveled to over 35 prefectures and specializes in showcasing the lesser-known sides of Japan through authentic storytelling, destination branding, and inbound strategy.
In 2023, Nina completed her M.A. in Social Anthropology at SOAS, University of London. Her dissertation, “On Ritual and Revitalization: Traditional and Contemporary Methods of Community Building and Social Sustainability in Oga, Japan”, focused on community-led rural revitalization and social sustainability efforts in Akita Prefecture. Upon completing her degree, she relocated to Myoko, Niigata, where she founded and now serves as CEO of G.K. Cataldo Global Connections—a consulting and concierge company supporting inbound tourism, regional revitalization, and community building. She also teaches intercultural communication in English to students at I-nac, an outdoor education vocational school.
Nina is also the 2025 Miss SAKE Niigata Runner-Up, and continues to represent Niigata through cultural ambassadorship and sake-related promotional work.
In addition to her work in tourism and public relations, Nina is a dedicated advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is the founder of Hafu Ladies, a global community of over 1,300 mixed-race women of Japanese heritage, fostering connection, empowerment, and visibility across borders. In Japan, she frequently facilitates workshops and delivers lectures on DEI and intercultural communication, bridging cultural divides through thoughtful dialogue. Deeply committed to her local community in Myoko, Nina also volunteers as a mentor and guest speaker at area schools, inspiring students to take pride in their hometown and explore meaningful ways to revitalize their region amid a rapidly declining and globalizing population.
Her other passions include Zumba (she is a licensed instructor), property research and renovations, road trips, visiting michi-no-eki, and showing authentic Japan and slow-living through her social media
Favorite Things About Living in Japan: Empowering and supporting rural communities find ways to thrive and connect with one another, regardless of generational or cultural differences.
Favorite Place to Visit in Japan: Shizuoka for its ease to connect Kanto and Kansai, with diverse terrain from beaches to mountains; exploring the wealth of culture and cuisine in my new home prefecture of Niigata.