WHY TANUKI
STORIES
Understanding Japan, one story at a time.
"Anyone can show you Japan. My mission is to help you understand it."
Have You Ever Wondered Why Japan Feels So Different?
Every journey begins with curiosity.
Mine began in 2019, during my first visit to Japan.
Like many travellers, I arrived eager to experience its temples, gardens, cuisine and breathtaking landscapes. Yet, within only a few hours of landing, I found myself captivated by something entirely different.
It wasn't a famous landmark or a hidden destination that caught my attention.
It was the way people interacted with one another.
The quietness of the train. The consideration shown in everyday situations. The remarkable feeling of safety. The sense that even in one of the world's most densely populated countries, harmony was not simply an ideal, but something people actively cultivated through their daily actions.
Coming from Italy and having spent ten years living in New Zealand, I had experienced very different societies. Japan offered yet another perspective—one that immediately resonated with me.
That first journey left me with countless questions, and over time those questions became a lifelong passion.
Tanuki Stories was born from that curiosity.
My goal is not simply to show visitors the beauty of Japan, but to help them understand the culture, values and history that have shaped it.
My Journey
Italy
I was born and raised in Italy, a country where history surrounds everyday life.
Growing up there taught me to appreciate beauty, conversation, family, and culture.
It also gave me a natural curiosity about how different societies develop their own traditions and ways of living.
New Zealand
Later, life took me to New Zealand, where I spent ten years building my career.
Living there completely changed my perspective.
New Zealand taught me the value of nature, balance, simplicity, and quality of life.
During those years I worked in sales and marketing, developing communication skills, building relationships with people from many different backgrounds, and learning how to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
Looking back, I didn't know it at the time, but those skills would later become essential as a cultural guide.
Japan
Everything changed in 2019.
That was the year I visited Japan for the very first time.
I travelled from Tokyo all the way to Okinawa with a Japanese friend.
And almost immediately, something felt different.
Not because of famous landmarks.
Not because of temples.
Not because of sushi.
Something much deeper.
But COVID forced me back to New Zealand and wait...
Instead of giving up, I decided to prepare for the life I hoped to build in Japan.
I enrolled in university...
The Moment Japan Changed My Life
I still remember stepping out of the airport.
Watching people quietly waiting in line.
Listening to the silence on the train.
Observing the respect people naturally showed one another.
Coming from Italy, a country of around sixty million people, and after living in New Zealand, a peaceful country of only five million, I found myself asking a simple question.
How could a country of more than one hundred million people function with such remarkable harmony?
Why did everyday interactions feel so considerate?
Why did strangers care so much about those around them?
I couldn't stop asking "why."
Some places are beautiful.
Some places resonate with you.
Japan resonated with me immediately.
I knew I wanted to understand it.
A Commitment to Learning
One of the greatest lessons Japan has taught me is that learning never truly ends.
That belief shapes the way I approach every tour.
I am currently completing a Bachelor's Degree in Japanese Language and Culture while continuing to study the Japanese language. Beyond university, I regularly read books on Japanese history, religion, society and philosophy, watch documentaries, follow academic courses, and visit museums, temples and historical sites whenever I have the opportunity.
My curiosity often extends beyond Japan itself. Understanding neighbouring cultures, particularly China and the wider East Asian region, provides valuable context for understanding how many ideas, beliefs and traditions arrived in Japan and evolved into something uniquely Japanese.
This continuous learning isn't simply a personal hobby—it directly benefits every guest I guide.
Every new tour takes months of research and careful planning. Rather than creating as many itineraries as possible, I prefer to develop experiences slowly, ensuring that every location contributes to a meaningful story.
The places we visit are important.
The stories behind them are even more important.
One of the comments I hear most often from guests is that I explain complex cultural concepts in a simple and engaging way, relating them to everyday life so they become easy to understand and remember.
I believe that a guide should never stop being a student.
Japan continues to surprise me every day, and I hope that same sense of curiosity becomes part of every journey we share.
Making Japan My Home
Moving to another country isn't simply about changing your address.
It means changing the way you see the world.
I've now emigrated twice in my life.
First to New Zealand.
Then to Japan.
Each move taught me something invaluable.
To truly live in another culture, you must be willing to question your own assumptions.
You don't lose your identity.
Instead, you learn which parts of yourself can grow, adapt, and become better through the influence of another culture.
Japan has challenged many of my beliefs.
It has taught me patience.
Humility.
Attention to detail.
And above all, the importance of harmony.
Today, together with my wife Mai, we are building our life here in Japan.
This country is no longer simply somewhere I visit.
It is home.
The Iceberg of Japanese Culture
One of the best ways I can describe Japanese culture is through the image of an iceberg.
The visible part is what attracts millions of visitors every year: temples, shrines, castles, beautiful gardens, traditional streets, regional cuisine and seasonal landscapes.
These are the places we visit, photograph and remember.
But, just like an iceberg, the largest and most important part lies beneath the surface.
Questions that seem simple often reveal much deeper stories.
Why are there so few rubbish bins?
Why is Japan considered one of the safest countries in the world?
Why is harmony such an important value?
Why do people behave with such consideration towards one another?
The answers cannot be found by simply looking around.
They are rooted in centuries of history, philosophy, religion and social values that continue to influence everyday life.
Understanding these connections transforms the way we experience Japan. A temple becomes more than an ancient building. A tea ceremony becomes more than a cultural activity. Even an ordinary walk through a neighbourhood begins to reveal stories that would otherwise remain invisible.
This is the philosophy behind Tanuki Stories.
Every tour is designed to help you discover not only what Japan is, but why it has become the country it is today.
Why I Created Tanuki Stories
During my first years studying Japan, I came across the Japanese concept of ikigai—finding purpose where your passions, strengths and values meet.
Looking back, I realised that many of the pieces of my life had quietly been leading me in the same direction.
I have always enjoyed working with people. My professional background in sales and marketing taught me how to communicate clearly, build genuine relationships and make complex ideas accessible. At the same time, my growing passion for Japanese history, culture, religion and philosophy inspired me to keep asking questions and searching for deeper meaning.
The more I studied Japan, the more I realised that what fascinated me most wasn't simply what I could see, but what was hidden beneath the surface.
Culture is like an iceberg.
Visitors admire temples, shrines, castles, gardens and traditional streets. They notice how clean the cities are, how polite people seem to be, or how safe the country feels.
But these are only the visible expressions of something much deeper.
Why are there so few rubbish bins?
Why is harmony so important?
Why do people behave the way they do?
Why has Japan developed such a unique relationship with nature, beauty and community?
The answers are rarely simple. They are rooted in centuries of history, philosophy, religion and social values.
That is why I created Tanuki Stories.
I didn't want to become a guide who simply points at monuments or recites historical dates.
My goal is to help visitors connect the visible Japan with the invisible ideas that have shaped it.
Because once you begin to understand the reasons behind what you see, Japan becomes far more than a beautiful destination.
It becomes a story.
And every place begins to make sense.
Anyone can show you Japan. My mission is to help you understand it.
Qualifications & Experience
Languages
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Italian (Native)
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English (Fluent)
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Japanese (Conversational)
Relevant Education
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Bachelor's Degree in Japanese Language & Culture (expected December 2026)
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JLPT N4
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Verified edX Certificate – Uncovering the Voices of Japanese Literature (Waseda University)
Experience
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Hundreds of guided tours across the Kansai region
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Private travellers, families and small groups
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Custom-designed cultural itineraries
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Professional Background
Before dedicating my career to Japan, I worked internationally in sales and marketing as well as financial advisory. Those years taught me the importance of clear communication, careful planning and building genuine relationships—skills that continue to shape every tour I lead today.
Life in Japan
Today I live in Japan with my wife, Mai, where we are building our life together. Living here has allowed me to experience Japan not only as a visitor, but as someone who continues to learn from its culture every day.
Let's Discover Japan Together
Whether this is your first visit to Japan or your tenth, my hope is that you leave with far more than beautiful photographs.
I hope you return home with a deeper understanding of the people, the traditions and the values that have shaped this remarkable country over the centuries.
Because understanding another culture doesn't simply enrich a journey—it changes the way we see the world.
For me, Japan has been a constant source of inspiration. It has taught me the importance of harmony, respect, consideration for others and finding beauty in everyday life.
If even a small part of those values travels home with you, then Tanuki Stories has fulfilled its purpose.
It would be a privilege to share that journey with you.
Let's discover Japan—beyond the surface.
