Born in Tokyo, raised in London, and now based in Stockholm, I’ve spent my life between cultures, languages, and ways of seeing the world. Recently, I learned there’s a term for people like me - third culture kids - and that’s an identity i resonate with.

I’m a curious traveller, a lifelong learner, and a creative at heart. I find joy in discovering new places, people, and ideas, often from the back of a scooter. I love nature, islands, Yayoi Kusama and cinema. I’ve recently found calm in carving woodcut prints during long winter evenings, usually while listening to my favourite albums or podcasts

My name, Nakako, originally comes from an unbeatable combination in Mahjong. It includes the character "Naka" (中), meaning *middle*. I like to think I was always meant to work in the space between: between cultures, perspectives, and ways of communicating.

Over the past decade, I’ve worked across media, tech, and culture — from global content operations at Spotify to cross-cultural production for broadcasters like NHK, and creative work within cinema and live events. After returning to study at Hyper Island, I shifted my focus toward social impact storytelling and digital strategy for purpose-driven brands.