About Maigo Mika
I’m a Canadian YouTuber and blogger living in a very rural part of Japan, within the mountains of Shikoku. Under the name Maigo Mika (aka maigomika), I create observational films about everyday life in the Japanese countryside — from daily routines and seasonal specialties to the lives of people (ours included) rooted in Japan’s regions.
How Maigo Mika Started
My path here didn’t begin with video, but rather in writing and design. I previously worked for a creative marketing agency producing English-language content for overseas visitors to Japan, where writing articles, creating social media posts, and editing were my bread-and-butter.
Then I moved into an akiya — one of Japan’s abandoned houses — and decided to film what it was actually like to live there.
YouTube began as something small and experimental. It was simply a creative outlet — a way to practice visual storytelling without pressure or expectation.
Then, my very first video unexpectedly reached over three million viewers.
That response made something clear: it wasn’t famous landmarks or polished travel shots that resonated with my audience. They were drawn to the in-between moments — daily life in an old country house, the rhythm of rural communities, and curiosity about how they actually function.
What Maigo Mika Does Now
That realization was the turning point, and what started as a personal experiment became my business today: a storytelling platform rooted in rural Japan. Now, I document our renovation projects, share seasonal traditions and local customs, and collaborate with Japanese municipalities to highlight their regional specialties and culture for an international audience eager to see Japan’s quieter side.
Explore More
If you’d like to explore further, you can browse my curated video favorites, learn more about my mission and services, or dive into my written guides on akiya, living in rural Japan, and rural Japan travel guides.
