Happy New Year! How is 2026 going for you so far?
Mine’s off to a very different start—I’m writing to you from New Zealand (my first January summer!).
This is the final stop of my world tour with Keri. And I’m buzzing from so many meaningful experiences and connections along the way.
We visited…
Shanghai—including Disneyland and the world’s only Zootopia Land
Nuremberg & Erlangen—amazing Christmas markets (I’d studied there as a university student and met up with an old friend)
Huddersfield & London—precious time with my mum and dad, catchups with childhood friends, plus a spontaneous reunion with an old translator friend who’d moved back to the UK after living in Japan for over 50 years!
Vancouver—where I reconnected with Transformational Life Coach Lisa Carpenter, my guest back in 2020 on the Sasuga! Podcast Episode 71: Stop Pushing Your Way To Success (recommended listening!)
Auckland & Tauranga—visiting Keri’s boyfriend’s family (and I even met another women’s leadership coach, who I’ll be talking about more in my emails and socials)
I’ll be back in Japan next week—energized, inspired, and excited for the year ahead.
Word of the Year
Every January, I choose a “Word of the Year”—a word to guide and inspire me for the next 12 months. Do you do this too?
Last year, my word was “Care”—and interestingly, I had many reminders to take better care of myself through illness and injury 🤪 (more on that in the next Sasuga! Tips For You).
For 2026, I’ve chosen a Japanese word: ご縁 (goen).
The closest English might be “connection.” But goen carries a deeper sense of serendipity, gratitude, and meaningful relationships—the kind of connections that feel “meant to be.”
The inspiration came from the fabulous William Nealy, Jr, one of our panelists at the final LEMI Women’s Community event last June. He has a beautiful tradition of purifying 5-yen coins (go en) at Benzaiten at Inokashira Park, Kichijoji, and gifting them to people as a symbol of appreciation for the connection.
AI, Connection, and What Matters Most
As AI becomes a bigger part of our lives and work, human connection feels more important than ever.
This year, I want to be even more intentional about valuing my relationships—with friends, colleagues, clients, readers like you, and my social community.
At the same time, I’m happily embracing AI to improve business efficiency—so I can spend more time on what only humans can do: listening, understanding, encouraging, and creating amazing things together.
Thank you for reading my blogs and being on this journey with me.
The Sasubukuro—for Busy Women in Business
Joy is also a big part of my work—which is why I brought back the Sasuga! Fukubukuro (Sasubukuro) at the end of last year.
This year’s Sasubukuro is deeply connected to goen, because it was created in collaboration with wonderful women entrepreneurs I’ve had the privilege to meet over the years:
Aiko Katoh (coichigo) helps you to identify and articulate who you really are and to recharge your mind and body with simple selfcare habits.
Style Coach Aya Jean helps you recognize the strengths and gaps in your visual presence, so you feel seen as the leader you’re becoming.
Heather Dobbin helps you see the hidden drains on your time and energy and create practical changes, so you no longer feel stretched thin or constantly under pressure.
Keri Iwata helps you take the stress and uncertainty out of planning a Disney day with a customized itinerary for less waiting and more magic.
Lillian (Kokoro Care) helps you add warmth, comfort, and mindful pleasure to everyday life with simple, high-quality Japanese foods that are easy to use.
Miyako Hazama helps you relieve midlife fatigue and restore steady, calm energy, so you can focus on what truly matters in your work and life.
Nanako Aramaki helps you let go of accumulated stress and inner heaviness through personalized sound healing, so you feel lighter, calmer, and more centred.
Shanu Agarwal helps you celebrate your achievements and identity with a meaningful, elegant jewelry piece that reminds you of your strength and confidence every time you wear it.
Tia Haygood (TOPTIA Photography) helps you feel confident in front of the camera and capture photos that truly reflect your personality and professional presence.
The Sasubukuro also includes options from me—around presenting with confidence, reflection and intention setting for ’26, and personal coaching—so you can choose what supports you most at this stage in your life and work.
Some items are complimentary and others come with generous gift coupons. Simply select what feels right for you, at a pace that works for you (most are valid for several months).
The Sasubukuro is ideal for women who want to grow personally and professionally through high-value programs and experiences—curated with experts I deeply trust and thoughtfully bundled to give you flexibility and exceptional value that isn’t normally available.
But the Sasubukuro is available only until January 12.
(And feel free to share with women you know who might love this.)
So… What’s Your Word of the Year?
Have you chosen one?