When Sae Iino left her hometown in Saitama Prefecture to study in Thailand, she knew the next chapter of her life would be one of discovery.

What she did not expect was that the journey would take her to Wisconsin, to be an advocate for Japanese culture in Milwaukee, where the Japanese community is small, scattered, and searching for connection.

Iino, who grew up in Iruma City just north of Tokyo, described her hometown as unassuming.

“We’re really well known for our tea,” she said. “But most Japanese people overlook my prefecture. It’s kind of ‘famous for nothing’ compared to Tokyo.”

The tranquil suburban surroundings of Iruma were influential on the development of Iino’s early life, even if she did not recognize the impact it all had on her while growing up.

“After I left Japan and

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