2025/06/13: my friend I says (a new message)
2025/05/27: my friend I says, my friend Michelle says (her LinkdIn)
2025/05/26: my friend Michelle says
2025/05/19: my friend Ryoko says (English translation by me)
2025/05/18: my friend Mimi says

my friend I says

She is the person who introduced me to the joy of working remotely in the early 2000s. In the midst of intense chemotherapy, she gave me a testimonial.

I asked her to vouch for me, and when she answered affirmatively, I composed the following.

“When: 2000 to 2010

What: Japanese to English translation, onsite & remote (software development)
Relationship: a boss then a client, also a friend

1. Technology: OK
2. Remote work: OK
3. English: OK
4. Personality: OK”

She messaged me back.

“(A thumb up)
Is this all right?”

Yes, thank you.

Two weeks passed, and I received another message from her. She wants to correct my write-up (the green bubble above).

Perfect English and Japanese, super high ability to read between the lines, fast work and high communication skill, there are other things too, but anyway, this [the green bubble above] needs to be way more spectacular [smile emoji].

my friend Michelle says

Michelle Houareau https://au.linkedin.com/in/michellehouareau

I’ve had the privilege of working with Ayuko remotely from Sydney for four years.
Her English fluency is exceptional—she communicates with clarity and warmth, always adapting her style to suit the person and context, whether she’s leading a Zoom book club for Japanese email subscribers or collaborating with fellow remote workers from China, Germany, Australia, Taiwan, and the USA on a virtual platform.

She is truly a standout collaborator.

Ayuko’s respect for people’s time is second to none; she is always punctual, prepared, and ensures every interaction is purposeful and considerate.

When it comes to technology, Ayuko is both fearless and methodical. For example, she recently migrated her entire email subscriber base from Mailchimp to Substack after a careful evaluation of alternatives, executing the transition smoothly and with minimal disruption. She’s equally comfortable troubleshooting software, optimizing her WordPress site and calendar for appointments each week, or using AI tools to enhance her workflow. She gets the job done: powered by technology.

Ayuko’s cultural sensitivity shines in every interaction. She regularly mentors and supports people from diverse backgrounds, often going above and beyond—like the time she gently guided a client in her 60s through her first Zoom invitation. Her home is open to international guests, and she’s received glowing reviews for her kindness and curiosity.

Communication is one of Ayuko’s greatest strengths—she’s direct and clear, but always attentive to the nuances of who she’s speaking with, adjusting her approach to ensure understanding and respect.

Above all, Ayuko is diligent, thoughtful, and genuinely invested in the success of those around her. Any organization—remote or otherwise—would be fortunate to have her on their team.

my friend Ryoko says

あゆうこさんの素晴らしい所は一言で語りきれません。

彼女とは直接グループや2人で直に会ったことがあり、zoomでmtgをしたことも、日本語でも英語でもお話ししたことがありますが、私が迷っていることがあれば背中を押してくれますし、協力が必要なことには喜んで力を貸してくれます。

また、おすすめの空間・場所・ツールなどを進んで共有してくれるので、私生活・仕事の両面で大いに成長することができました。

彼女は私より20歳以上年上ですが、いつも、安らぎとともに情熱とエネルギーを私に与えてくれます。

尊敬する先輩でもあり、同時に大好きな友人でもあり、自分の人生にあゆうこさんが居てくれて本当によかったと思っています。

良子(Ryoko)

It’s impossible to capture in a single word all the wonderful things that Ayuko is.

I have spent time with her both in group settings and one-on-one, in real life and on Zoom. We’ve spoken in both Japanese and English, and when I’m feeling uncertain about something, she encourages me. She is happy to lend a hand when I need support.

Also, she actively shares her recommendations for places and tools, which has helped me grow tremendously in both my personal and professional life.

Although she is over twenty years older than me, she always brings me enthusiasm and energy, along with a sense of calm.

To me, she is a respected mentor AND a dear friend. I am truly grateful to have Ayuko in my life.

Ryoko

[English translation by Ayuko]

my friend Mimi says

Ayuko is easily one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. We work together occasionally online through [          ]. She is always on time and friendly — a great colleague and cheerleader at the same time. Throughout these working sessions, I’ve slowly gotten to known her bit by bit, always learning something surprisingly about her: how she basically created her job by herself, how she learned to speak English at such a high proficiency, how she integrates technology into her life so well (and probably in healthier ways than lots of younger people). She is also very interested in talking about the differences between our cultures, and always ready to learn something new. I’m confident to say that she would be a creative, determined and reliable addition to any organization.

my friend Irene says

Hi Ayuko,

As I was reading through the concerns in the second screenshot, I kept thinking, “That doesn’t sound like Ayuko… nope, not that one either…”all the way to the end. It’s honestly amazing to realise just how many milestones you’ve reached, many of which I had no idea about. It only made me admire you more.

You even don’t need a resume or data to prove your worth. Any employer would be lucky to have you. Why? Because you have such a genuine curiosity about everything. You’re open-minded, thoughtful, and culturally aware. You’re always ready to learn, no matter the topic, and you don’t just skim the surface, you dive deep. You put in the time, the research, the effort, and it shows. You become an expert fast, not just because you’re smart (though you are!), but because you work for it.

As someone who’s done 376 sessions with you over the past three years, I’ve seen your consistency and your calm determination. You don’t just achieve things because you’re talented, you do it through persistence, focus, and strong time and task management.

I vouch for you, wholeheartedly.

Best regards,

Irene

my friend Rebekah says

Rebekah Kouy-Ghadosh https://kouyghadosh.com/

Living in San Francisco, being tech savvy is almost a requirement. Although Ayuko lives in Japan, I feel like her technical knowledge and prowess would fit right in with all of the denizens here I encounter. I feel almost guilty at how little Japanese I know since she is the one to carry the conversation in perfect English. Beyond a technical understanding, she is an absolute gem of a human. She is thoughtful, kind, and funny. I am envious of her discipline and ability to be in the present while thinking ahead. Consider yourself lucky to have crossed paths with her. I know I am.

my friend YW says

Title: remote work superpowers

Ayuko has been my long-time accountability partner on an international platform. we’ve logged more than 534 sessions together over the years. I always feel supported when working with her; she is genuinely one of the nicest people I know. I can count on her to show up on time and follow through on whatever she has planned. Organized, cheerful, and reliable, she does some cool things: she loves reading, her English is excellent (also reading, writing in English), and she’s active on Duolingo, competitively learning German, French, and Italian. Her tech skills are great—she once decluttered and sold items on Mercari and seemed very good at it. Often on her computer writing, she’s clearly tech-savvy. Ayuko is also culturally sensitive and respectful of others’ backgrounds; she sometimes shares interesting places for me to visit in Japan. The accountability site draws users from around the world, and only open-minded people stick with it for long because of the diversity of backgrounds. When it comes to remote reliability, there’s no doubt: Ayuko is always on time and never late. I’d gladly keep working with her—she’s reliable, a great collaborator, and a good listener. Sometimes I get emotional and share personal stories or travel experiences; she always listens (hopefully she enjoys them, lol). I don’t know every detail of her life, but I do know how organized she is. She often buys plants or flowers and spreads good vibes to everyone.

today’s special

something new: chess
something read: “What My Bones Know” by Stephanie Foo and “The Healing Power of Storytelling” by Annie Brewster, a little bit of