Founder & Director of Finance

Henry is a distinguished graduate of both Harvard and Kyoto University, bringing over 30 years of experience as an executive in both domestic and international companies in Japan. As a certified executive coach, he leverages his diverse background to facilitate training at Nagareyama L.E.A.D., ensuring the program integrates cutting-edge and future-facing business trends. A trailblazer in his field, Henry is the first naturalized Japanese Human Rights Commissioner and serves as a member of the National Children’s Committee. He is also a proud father to five young women, embodying his commitment to nurturing the next generation.

Founder & Director of Program Development

Rebecca Wangui Kato is an experienced educator with two decades of teaching English in the Kanto area. Her passion for early childhood education inspired her to earn a certification from Liberty University and advance her career to become the Principal of a school. Committed to personal and professional growth, Rebecca completed a School Management and Leadership Program at Harvard University. Through her tailored English lessons at Becky’s English School and her role as a community representative for the Koto ward police department, she empowers children while actively contributing to public safety, fostering a supportive environment for future generations

Founder & Director of Marketing

Blanka is a dynamic entrepreneur, marketing expert, and author dedicated to empowering others through financial literacy and wealth-building strategies. With a strong focus on business development, she combines her expertise with a passion for education, serving as an ambassador for the Children’s Institute at Cape Verde. Additionally, Blanka lends her insights as a special advisor to several charity boards. Currently, she holds the position of Director of Communications for Connections at the Tokyo American Club, where she continues to inspire and connect individuals in her community.

Founder & Director of Human Resources

Alison is a dynamic creative with a deep passion for education, entrepreneurship, and celebrating African-American traditions. Renowned for her ability to bridge cultural gaps, she spent her advertising career researching and analyzing ethnic demographics. After relocating to Japan, she brought her unique cultural perspective to the classroom as an ESL teacher, enriching her students’ experiences. Recently, Alison has transitioned into full-time inventorship, where she is making waves with her innovative spirit and has developed her first patent-pending home and garden product. Her journey reflects her commitment to creativity and cultural connection, inspiring those around her.

Director of Strategic Development

Mai brings nearly a decade of experience in the startup ecosystem, with a background spanning educational technology ventures and venture capital. Her passion for supporting mission-driven organizations is rooted in her firsthand experience launching new businesses and witnessing the transformative power of education. She is committed to advancing initiatives that unlock human potential and contribute to a more enriched society. Mai holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from International Christian University and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Tokyo. She is fully bilingual in Japanese and English.

Founder

Aria is a seasoned trilingual financial accountant with over a decade of experience, including valuable time at a prestigious Big 4 accounting firm. Born in Jamaica and raised in Japan, she possesses a unique cultural perspective that enriches her professional approach. Aria holds an LLB degree from Ritsumeikan University, which complements her financial expertise and enhances her ability to navigate complex accounting challenges. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of diverse financial landscapes, she continues to make a significant impact in her field.

Business & Technical Intern

Ellen joined Nagareyama L.E.A.D. for the summer of 2026 to gain hands on experience in an international work setting. She is studying economics, marketing, and software development at Gonzaga University. She is passionate about innovation as a way to foster creativity, and look forward to bridging their technical skills with entrepreneurship while in Japan. They hope to be exposed to new cultural work experiences and build new skills in web development and project management as part of their time with Nagareyama L.E.A.D.

Design Intern

Carina joined Nagareyama Lead for the summer of 2026 to gain hands-on experience in an international work setting. She is studying engineering at California Polytechnic State University. She is passionate about how the design of the world around us shapes the way we live, and looks forward to bridging her curiosity & analytical skills with entrepreneurship while in Japan. She hopes to contribute to creating online platforms with a focus on user experience design during her time at Nagareyama L.E.A.D.

Legal Intern

Sanai joined Nagareyama L.E.A.D. in the summer of 2026 as a legal intern to gain hands-on experience in an international work setting. Aiming to pursue international and global law, Sanai took this opportunity to learn across borders and document proceedures for Nagareyama L.E.A.D. With skills in communications, literacy, and English, she looks forward to practicing in an entrepreneurial setting while in Japan and grow together with L.E.A.D.

 Program Development Intern

Charlotte joined Nagareyama Lead for the summer of 2026 to gain hands on experience in an international work setting. She is studying Business at Riverside Community College. She is quite passionate about the development of educational programs for children and looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm and work ethic to the entrepreneurship while in Japan. She hopes to flesh out her international communication skills and gain insight into the formalities of the Japanese workplace as part of her time with Nagareyama L.E.A.D.

 Program Development Intern

Samantha joined Nagareyama L.E.A.D. for the summer of 2026 to gain hands-on experience in an international work setting. She is studying Early Childhood Education at Riverside City College and is passionate about ensuring all children have fair learning opportunities. She looks forward to bridging her teaching and instructional aide skills with entrepreneurship while in Japan. She hopes to further her education and interpersonal skills as part of her time with Nagareyama L.E.A.D.

Digital Marketing Intern

Sean joined Nagareyama Lead for the summer of 2026 to gain hands on experience in an international work setting. They are studying psychology at Norco College. They are passionate about using film and photography to create visual storytelling, and look forward to bridging their creative talents with entrepreneurship while in Japan. They hope to develop Nagareyama L.E.A.D.’s media presence as part of their time with the company.

Executive Operations and Development Intern

Nusaibah joined Nagareyama L.E.A.D for the summer of 2025 to help support grant-seeking and fundraising efforts through conducting comprehensive research to compile detailed spreadsheets, develop engaging lead magnets and draft compelling application letters to enhance community outreach efforts. They studied BSc (Hons) Global Health and Social Medicine at King’s College London. Their passions include qualitative and quantitative research in global health, community volunteering in areas of youth empowerment and promoting sustainability. They have used their strong interpersonal and technical skills, demonstrated in her undergraduate research fellowship with the EMPOWER Dementia Network+ to aid in their research work with L.E.A.D while in Japan.

Program & Operations Intern

Lula Hanari joined Nagareyama L.E.A.D. in Summer 2025 to gain hands-on experience in an international, grassroots, community-focused organization. She supported the development and online implementation of Nagareyama’s educational program, transitioning it from paper-based to online for local elementary schools. During her time as an intern, she joined a Her Rise bilingual English/Japanese event in Shibuya, “Workshop on Mindset for Entrepreneurs and Women Entrepreneurs”. She graduated in July 2026 with a BA (cum laude) in Liberal Arts and Sciences, majoring in political science and geography, minoring in religious studies at University College Utrecht.

Program & Operations Intern

Bilkis joined Nagareyama L.E.A.D. in Summer 2025 to experience Japanese entrepreneurial work. They grew up in England where they studied graphic design and animation, with further studies in child development. They are passionate about children’s literature and illustration and enjoyed using their graphic skills as an intern to design and produce the mascots for Nagareyama L.E.A.D.