Ray Tsuchiyama's interview was a heartfelt tribute to his late father, a

Japanese-American military veteran, and a deep exploration of his

family's heritage and life journey. His paternal grandparents, from

Kumamoto, embarked on their journey to Maui in 1899, while his maternal

roots trace back to Sakhalin off of Hokkaido. Raised in Honolulu's

culturally diverse Kalihi neighborhood, Ray cultivated a profound

appreciation for diversity, which played a pivotal role in his career at

a Tokyo-based gaishikei (foreign investment) firm, where he catered to

clients in emerging global markets.