My name is [Tori] Taiyo Johnson and I am an inquisitive, hungry, and tenacious marketing consultant and web developer. More and more I am moving toward Business Process Engineering and re-engineering small businesses.

I graduated from Jochi University (Tokyo, Japan) with a bachelors degree in (and a love for) international business. But my real business education and “personal MBA” has been forged working with entrepreneurs in the fiery world of small business and supplemented by $1.50 in late fees at the public library.

Often Underestimated | Usually Underappreciated | Always Nerdy

See me hungry

[2002 - 2003] TheGaijinBook.com  <– now defunct

[2003 - 2006] JapanExchange (jpnx.com) <– defunct

[2005 - present] Nipponster.com -

“The Japan-enthusiast’s Search Engine.” This website has gone through several reincarnations.

Originally started as a social networking website ( running on Phpizabi CMS) for university students in Japan, it gained some membership traction at my university but ultimately I decided to take it in another direction.

As a Japan-specific search engine it was powered first by Swicki.com technology before the switch to the Google Custom Search which now powers it.

The site also features a multi-purpose Japanese Language Toolbar

Nipponster spawned many Japan-related web projects, helped bring together a japan-related web community, and has been one of my favourite web initiatives to date. Most of this effort was organised through Nipponster’s blog DailyJ (see below)

[2007 - present] DailyJ

On DailyJ I conducted interviews with the people behind various Japan-related websites. All in all, I conducted over 22 Japan-related interviews. DailyJ helped others receive publicity and launch their web projects. It also promoted the idea of a J-web community, an idea picked up by other websites (like JapanSoc.com) and brought to fruition.

The following is a somewhat abridged version of my personal mission statement. Some of my mission statement is personal and I have chosen not to share it with the world. No doubt that is understandable. But this version hopefully gives you an idea of my mission and an example for your own personal mission statement.

Personal Mission Statement

My mission is…
through continual development of qualities of character to:

1) … Seek to understand the purpose for my life.

2) … Be fulfilled whatever comes my way (contentment). To be confident. (internal. not based on external circumstances)

3)… [personal]

4)… Create a mobile lifestyle; very few possessions. Continual language learning.

5) Live with excitement, joy, love and deep/helpful relationships with other people (like family and friends)

And, (through knowledge, continual learning, industry, frugality, focus, discipline, and systematisation) conduct business and live my life in a way that facilitates the above life purpose to the greatest extent possible.