Hello!
My name is Akiko, and I’ve always had a passion for visual storytelling—whether through print, digital media, or editorial publishing. But beyond design, I am also a devoted foodie with a love for exploring new flavors and cultures. Running destination races fueled my sense of adventure, but nothing quite matched the thrill of chasing the perfect bowl of ramen.
What started as a simple food blog, inspired by my son’s love for noodles, quickly became a journey of discovery. Together, we wandered near and far, slurping our way through countless bowls, each one telling its own story. And even after all this time, that wanderlust never faded—we remained on an endless quest for the ultimate ramen experience.
MY STORY
2020-PRESENT
Strategic Communications Coordinator
CA HIGH-SPEED RAIL AUTHORITY
Develops, implements, and maintains comprehensive statewide outreach collateral to promote the high-speed rail program, utilizing social media and digital marketing platforms, including other outreach methods.
2018-2020
Multimedia Analyst
DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION
Graphic designer for printed marketing materials, social media manager, website designer, photographer, editor, content writer, event planner.
1999-2002
Graphic Designer
HOOVER INSTITUTION PRESS
Book designer for publications and journals for the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, a public policy research center at Stanford University.
1997-1999
Head Graphics Editor
NIKKEI WEEKLY
Produced editorial graphics and photographs for The Nikkei Weekly, a weekly English-language business newspaper published by Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Inc. (Nikkei) in Tokyo.
1994-1996
Marketing Communications
Production Coordinator
STANFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
Produced space ads, direct mail pieces, subject area circulars, and promotional materials for 100-110 books per year.
1991-1994
Outreach Coordinator
JAPAN SOCIETY
Coordinated over 100 U.S.-Japan programs per year including Public Education and Networking programs and the MBA Business Fellowships in Japan program.
1989-1991
Marketing Assistant
SICOMMERCE INCORPORATED
Assisted with the national marketing campaign for the game Magnetic Dimensions, a premiere party at the New York F.A.O. Schwarz store and a national commercial. Designed display boards for San Francisco and New York F.A.O. Schwarz stores.
1988-1989
Graphic Designer
ACCESS TECHNOLOGY
Designed and created user manuals, quick reference guide, computer based training folder, presentation material and other print media using Interleaf for software company.
EDUCATION
Bachelor's Degree
UC DAVIS
Design
SOCIAL MEDIA
SKILLS
Adobe Illustrator - Advanced
Adobe Photoshop - Advanced
Adobe InDesign - Advanced
WordPress - Advanced
Photography - Proficient
Microsoft Office - Advanced
EXPERTISE
WEBSITE
Designed the Department of Rehabilitation's (DOR) latest website: www.dor.ca.gov. Introduced Slickplan for site mapping and as a visual tool for stakeholders. Implemented and manage news feeds on the internal and external websites using Feedwind and WordPress.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Manage social media communications, including strategy development and implementation, content creation, maintaining the content calendar, scheduling and analytics. Find, craft and share content that is optimized for the intended platform and audience.