As a child in Toyohashi, Japan, I grew up seeing my mother, aunt, and grandmother cooking delicious homemade food for our family meals. My father invited his co-workers for dinner that they enjoyed my mother's homemade food. One grandfather was an international businessman and the other was a city mayor who promoted globalization. In fact, my whole family encouraged me to choose a career that contributes to society. I decided on a big goal—to become an airline pilot so I could travel all over the world. I came to the United States to study abroad after high school. It took time, but I earned degrees in industrial engineering with a specialization in flight technology. It’s been 26 years since I started flying, and I’ve been a professional pilot since 2001. 

My career gave me the chance to travel all around the world, and it opened my eyes to new cultures and cuisines, especially to beautiful breads and pastries. My husband and I both like to cook, and I began baking breads and growing organic fruits and vegetables in our garden. When we were ready to start a family, I started thinking about working from home as a professional baker. 

These days, I am taking a break from flying to raise our two amazing children and to develop my baking business. My regular customers come once or twice a week to my home in Central Point to pick up their orders of bread, pies, cookies, and other made-from-scratch baked goods. I also look forward to greeting customers at my “Southern Oregon Sourdough” stand at the Jacksonville Farmers Market (May-Oct). My baking goods are also available through Rusted Gate Farm in Central Point, Oregon.