CEO and founder of POJ Studio, Tina is a designer by trade with roots in Japan. She serves as a bridge between worlds: Japan and the West, digital and analog, traditional and modern living. Leading the research & development of culturally embedded products, she drives new business initiatives that bring traditional Japanese goods and experiences to those who appreciate them. 

After a fast-paced decade in digital product design across Tokyo and Silicon Valley, she longed for lasting quality, grounded experiences, and a sense of contribution to community. Her mother—a Japanese craftswoman-at-heart—took her to meet artisans across Japan, where she learned many struggled to survive. Those encounters inspired POJ Studio. 

With 15+ years of branding and marketing experience from the retail and beauty industries, Jeanne is responsible for guiding the marketing and communication strategies—with a hand in inventory and production—that help put POJ Studio in front of the people who resonate with its mission. Leveraging her experience in the fragrance industry, she also teaches in-studio incense workshops and is involved in the development of incense-related products.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jeanne moved to Kyoto in 2020 and has made her home among the fascinating world of craft and culture in the ancient city.

Nina, POJ Studio's Experiences Manager, orchestrates the studio’s workshops and classes. She ensures that each detail helps immerse participants in the journey and process of creation. She manages the efforts of the Kintsugi and wider Experience team, and guides the execution of the Kintsugi Apprentice Program.

Nina has always been internationally minded. Originally from Germany, she studied English and Italian translation and rounded out her second university degree in Japanese studies with a semester abroad in Kyoto. Wanting to make Japan her home after completing her schooling, she discovered that POJ Studio was seeking a kintsugi specialist, and joined the team.

Based in LA, Tomoka is responsible for the establishment and growth of US operations, including developing and executing an expansion strategy and managing all US operations. After pivoting from her corporate career in finance and real estate, Tomoka met Tina right as POJ Studio explored its expansion to LA. She has since played a pivotal role in realizing that plan. 

Tomoka feels honored to share Japanese tradition with a broader audience and cares passionately about its preservation. By bridging the two worlds together, she creates more opportunities to help the world appreciate the facets of Japan’s beauty and culture. 

As POJ Studio’s Art Director and lead Photographer & Videographer, Sonny captures the essence of traditional craftsmanship, bringing the stories of artisans to life. Her role as guardian of POJ Studio’s visual language keeps the character of the brand consistent and ensures each captured moment is infused with narrative.

Originally from a small Swiss village in the Alps, she learned the art of storytelling alongside great photographers as an editorial designer, studying how to compose, frame, and differentiate good shots. After attending a photography exchange in Kyoto, she returned years later and merged her personal and professional passions at POJ Studio.

Teresa is the Marketing Manager at POJ Studio, guiding content and strategy to share POJ Studio’s mission with the world. She orchestrates the storytelling across social media, email, and web to bring the ecosystem of Japanese craftsmanship to life for the people who care about preserving it.

She has spent her career in content marketing, working at agencies based in the US West Coast and London, UK. She discovered the POJ Studio brand and quickly fell in love with its ethos and expression. It was a happy coincidence that they were seeking a storytelling-focused Marketing Manager.

Motivated by person-to-person exchanges, Yui is at the heart of POJ Studio’s operations. She guides communication with artisans to secure a diverse inventory of handcrafted goods. 

Working closely with Tina on research & development efforts, she helps identify new offerings that will further an international audience’s appreciation of Japanese craftsmanship.

Her interest in this area began at university. A professor shared the stories of craftsmen in a relatable light, and Yui resolved to do what she could to preserve these fading arts. She embarked on projects designed to support artisans and found her way to POJ Studio in 2021.

Jo guides the in-store experience for POJ Studio’s retail visitors. In addition to ensuring the displays immerse customers in the POJ Studio aesthetic, they support in-studio workshops and lead the staff in providing a welcoming environment.

With a degree in Japanese studies, Jo spent 1.5 years conducting research in Japan. Their interest in Japanese culture led them to POJ Studio, where they’ve been hands-on in introducing customers to artisanal products ever since.

Keiko, a Kyoto native, has been an integral part of POJ Studio from its inception. She specializes in catering to English-speaking customers at the POJ Studio shop.

Her journey to POJ Studio began in an unexpected place—an Irish pub—where she discovered a love for engaging with diverse individuals. At the pub, she met Tina’s mother-in-law, whose stories of POJ Studio’s vision and values resonated deeply with Keiko. She joined the team shortly thereafter.

Rika plays an important role in ensuring that POJ Studio products end up in the hands of customers who are excited to cherish a Piece of Japan for themselves. She connects deeply with the crafts and the people behind them, enriching her knowledge.

Rika's journey to POJ Studio began when she read a newspaper article about Tina and Tsutsumi-san's collaborative effort on Kintsugi Kits. Inspired by Tina's mission to revitalize Kyoto's traditional crafts, she kept that newspaper clipping as a reminder of the impact POJ Studio aimed to have. Post-COVID-19, Rika reached out, eager to contribute to preserving Kyoto's artisanal legacy.

Kinuko helps curate the experiences, hoping to provide enriching opportunities for those interested in Japan’s maker culture. Whether visiting sites where raw materials are gathered or engaging with artisans in their workshops, Kinuko’s work connects people through their love of Japanese craftsmanship.

Kinuko has spent 18 years in Kyoto and is excited to coordinate events with POJ Studio that highlight places and people that visitors might not otherwise have access to. By immersing themselves in Japan's everyday culture, she hopes they develop a deeper connection with the city’s cultural landscape.

Wendy is a Kintsugi Restorer at POJ, handling kintsugi repairs and contributing to the learning experience of the Kintsugi Apprentice Program. She considers the individuality of each piece, crafting an entirely custom repair solution that is thoughtful and functional.

Wendy’s background as an art restorer for a museum’s Far East collection lent itself to the practice of Kintsugi. While her restoration career initially inspired her interest in the Japanese art of repair, it was the philosophical aspect of respect for materials and nature that turned it into her full-time pursuit.

Satoko guides students through Kintsugi workshops in French and English, giving them an accessible introduction to the delicate art form she’s been studying for five years.

Her career path was marked by roles that kept her close to artisanal handiwork, including a French life concept store and a shop that sold bamboo goods. Her journey into the world of traditional crafts began in a Japanese antique gallery in Kyoto, where she first encountered kintsugi detailing. To preserve the bowls they sold, she began to learn how to mend the wares in the kintsugi tradition. She joined POJ Studio as a Kintsugi Teacher, applying her material culture background and passion for traditional methods.

Shannon is a Kintsugi teacher with a passion for blending the beauty of Japanese tradition with modern sensibilities.

Originally from a quaint island town in Rhode Island, U.S.A., Shannon moved to Tokyo at 18 to immerse herself in Japanese history and arts. Her corporate career took her across Japan and the globe before she finally settled in Kyoto to fully pursue her love for Japanese arts—particularly Kintsugi.

Her journey into Kintsugi began unexpectedly when she accidentally broke a rice bowl and tea cup gifted by a close friend and potter. Under the guidance of a local Kintsugi teacher, she restored them and fell in love with the repair technique and its deeper philosophy.

Miya is one of our Kintsugi Instructors in Los Angeles, bringing the art of golden repair to our stateside community. After several years of pursuing her own kintsugi journey, she was excited to join the POJ Studio team and share her knowledge and passion with a new audience.

Miya has taught people the art of kintsugi over many years, at universities, churches, corporations, non-profits, and more. She loves learning and sharing about Japanese traditions and culture, and brings that curiosity to all of her creative pursuits.

Born in Kyoto, Japan, Kayoko is the mother of Founder Tina and the inspiration for the creation of POJ Studio. She supports POJ Studio now by facilitating new relationships with artisans and craftspeople and is also a contributing designer.

She lived in Japan and the US before settling in Switzerland, where she started her own shop. Besides her work with us, she is also a buyer for a lifestyle brand in Zurich. Her role involves sourcing artisan goods from Japan. Tina accompanied her on one of these trips and learned about the challenges artisans faced regarding the continuation of their craft, international exposure, and sustainable business practices. These became the problems that POJ now tries to solve.