About Me
I’m James — a lifelong learner inspired by curiosity, craftsmanship, and clarity. I run a Canadian digital marketing firm, Yugen Digital, where I help small businesses grow through clean design and smart SEO.
I find myself at the intersection of digital and natural — running a business from my laptop while rooted in a world shaped by centuries of tradition.
I don’t always carry my camera, but when I do, it’s to capture the beauty I see — quiet light, unexpected moments, the feeling of a place.
I’m building a life rooted in authenticity — away from the pressures of convention, and toward something slower, more intentional, and truly mine.
I live in Kyoto with my wife, drawing influence from Japan’s harmony of structure and spontaneity. My creative and professional life is shaped by a blend of cultures, disciplines, and a desire to build things that matter — to me and to others.
Photography & Videography
Visual storytelling grounds me. I capture atmosphere, emotion, and the quiet beauty of passing moments — whether on the street, in the mountains, or behind a lens at work.
Japanese Culture & Art
From ukiyo-e to wabi-sabi, Japan’s traditions have reshaped my creative sensibility. I’m drawn to subtlety, balance, and the art of restraint — both visually and philosophically.
Design, Gaming, and Creativity
I’ve always been immersed in creative systems — building worlds, designing interfaces, or solving problems through form and flow. Interactive storytelling and intentional design fuel my imagination.
Weightlifting & Self-Betterment
Strength training keeps me grounded. It’s a practice of discipline, consistency, and personal integrity — one rep at a time. A place where the body sharpens the mind.
Study, Language & Philosophy
I’m currently pursuing academic Japanese and studying 2,200+ kanji toward the JLPT N1. I also read deeply in topics of faith, philosophy, and culture — exploring how humans find meaning and make sense of the world.
In all things, may we not find joy in the journey rather than the destination? The world changes, seasons pass, and yet in each fleeting moment, there is a beauty to be embraced. A heart that seeks beauty in the ordinary finds the richness of life itself.
— Kenko Yoshida, Essays in Idleness