Nice to meet you. I’m your guide, Grace. My Japanese name is Rie. Each kanji has its own meaning—“Ri” means profit, and “E” means grace, so I chose the nickname Grace. You can call me either Rie or Grace; I’d be happy with either. Let me start by giving you a brief introduction about myself.
I was born in Shizuoka and grew up there. I could clearly see Mount Fuji from my elementary school, junior high school and high school I attended. Looking back, it was a very fortunate environment, isn’t it? Since I saw Mount Fuji every day, I became able to predict the weather by observing the shape of the clouds over Mt.Fuji.
After I got married, I lived in the United States due to my husband’s job. I spent about five years in New Jersey and California. While my children attended preschool and elementary school, I participated in school volunteer activities. The experience at an American elementary school is something I still treasure to this day. As part of this volunteer activity, I brought Japanese calligraphy brushes and ink, and wrote the names of all the students in Japanese, hiragana. If you’re interested, I would be happy to write your name in hiragana as well, so please look forward to it.
After returning to Japan, I obtained the qualification of a licensed tour guide. Currently, I mainly guide cruise ship passengers who come to Shimizu Port. In addition to the famous tourist spots in Shizuoka, I also introduce hidden gems and old townscapes that only locals know about. Additionally, having raised two children in Shizuoka, I believe I know some great spots that children will enjoy. Please feel free to share what your children like or are interested in, and I would be happy to help you find the best places to visit.
I’m looking forward to the day when I can tour Shizuoka together with you.
