Hi, I’m Ryuyan — Welcome to AI From Japan
This is the longer version of my “about” page. If you just want the short pitch: I’m a Kansai-based blogger who reviews AI tools, VPNs, and productivity apps from the perspective of someone actually living and working in Japan. Every recommendation here comes from real, hands-on testing — usually for at least 30 days before I write about it.
Who I Am
My name is Ryuyan Kimura. I’ve been based in the Kansai region (around Osaka) for several years, working as a content creator and tech blogger. I’m not a corporate reviewer or part of a media company — this site is run by one person, from a small apartment, with a laptop, a smartphone, and a strong opinion about which apps are actually worth paying for.
Before this blog, I spent years using AI tools, language-learning apps, VPNs, and password managers as a regular user trying to navigate Japan’s quirky digital landscape. Things foreign tutorials almost never cover — like why your Australian credit card sometimes doesn’t work on Mizuho Bank’s portal, or why Japanese banks still use virtual on-screen keyboards in 2026 — became the questions I kept getting from friends. So I started writing them down.
Why This Blog Exists
Most English-language reviews of AI tools and tech products are written by people in the US or Europe. They’re competent, but they miss everything that matters when you’re actually in Japan: which services accept Japanese credit cards, which apps have real Japanese-language support, which VPNs have servers in Tokyo with low enough ping to stream Japanese Netflix, which password managers handle full-width (全角) characters without breaking.
That’s the gap AI From Japan tries to fill. Every article on this site is written for one of three audiences:
- Expats living in Japan — people navigating a dual digital life with Japanese banking, LINE, PayPay on one side and international services on the other.
- Travelers and digital nomads — visitors who need eSIMs, VPNs, and real connectivity advice that works on actual Japanese networks.
- Japanese learners worldwide — anyone studying the language who wants honest reviews of language apps, AI tutors, and tools that genuinely work for Japanese specifically.
How I Test Products
I don’t write a review until I’ve used the product personally for at least 30 days. For the bigger tools (NordVPN, NordPass, ChatGPT Plus, Bunpro), I’ve been a paying user for over a year. When I write that something “works on my Mizuho Bank account” or “fails on Rakuten’s legacy login form,” it’s because I tried it on my actual accounts.
I run all my tests from a real Japanese ISP (currently NURO Hikari fiber) on an iPhone, a MacBook, and a Windows machine — covering the platform mix most readers actually use. Speed tests are done at multiple times of day and reported as ranges, not cherry-picked single numbers.
For more details on my testing process, see my Editorial Standards page.
My Editorial Independence
This site monetizes through affiliate partnerships, but those partnerships never influence what I write. I’ve turned down sponsored review offers from companies whose products I didn’t think were good enough for my readers. I’ve also recommended free tools (like the desktop version of Anki) where they were genuinely better than paid competitors — even when there was no commission for me.
Where I receive a commission for a recommendation, I disclose it clearly. The affiliate link costs you nothing extra. You can read more on my Affiliate Disclosure page.
What I Cover
The site is organized around four main topic clusters:
- AI Tools in Japan — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Notion AI, and how each performs specifically for Japanese use cases.
- VPN — NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN tested from Japanese fiber for streaming, privacy, and speed.
- Productivity Tools — Password managers, productivity apps, automation tools relevant to working in or with Japan.
- AI Writing & Translation — DeepL, ChatGPT, Jasper, and the Japanese-specific quirks of each.
Get In Touch
Have a question about a tool I’ve reviewed? Spotted an inaccuracy I should fix? Or just want to compare notes about life in Japan? I read every email and reply to genuine questions — see my Contact page.
If you want to keep up with new reviews, the most reliable way is to bookmark the homepage and check in monthly — I publish 4–8 new pieces a month, and major guides get updated quarterly.
A Note on the Voice
You’ll notice my writing has a more conversational, slightly Kansai-flavored tone than most tech blogs. That’s intentional. After years of reading sterile, identical SEO content, I think readers deserve a blog that sounds like a real person talking — like the friend in Japan who already tested the thing you’re about to buy. The structure is rigorous (every claim is testable, every recommendation is honest), but the voice is friendly. I hope that comes through.
Thanks for reading.
— Ryuyan, somewhere in Kansai