PRO
Marci Kobayashi
Helping people find balance, space and abundance through the Japanese concept of "yoyu." 余裕
Female from Hiroshima, Japan and speaks English, JapaneseAvailable for Collaboration, Interviews in Remote Formats
I love having conversations with those in midlife balancing work and personal passions while managing shifting priorities, such as aging parents and partners.
Interests
About Marci Kobayashi
I’m Marci Kobayashi, an author, coach, and entrepreneur living in Japan.
My journey has taken me from running a web design business to navigating caregiving for my father-in-law with Alzheimer’s and supporting my husband through cancer recovery.
Along the way, I discovered the Japanese concept of yoyu—a powerful way to create more space, ease, and abundance in daily life.
In my book, Finding Yoyu: The Japanese Compass for Navigating Overwhelm and Cultivating Abundance in 7 Key Areas of Life, I share how this concept can help anyone regain balance and resilience.
Now, I help women embrace yoyu to reduce overwhelm, shift their mindset, and reclaim their time and energy.
My Availablity
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 7am to 6pm Asia/Tokyo
Interview & Promotion
- Guest Form
- Pre-Interview Call
- Share Episodes
- Email Subscribers
My Target Audience
I love having conversations with those in midlife balancing work and personal passions while managing shifting priorities, such as aging parents and partners.
Why Invite me?
I love deep conversations—the kind that make you pause, reflect, and maybe even laugh a little along the way. As an author, coach, and long-time Japan resident, I bring a unique perspective to discussions about balance, resilience, and personal transformation—rooted in yoyu, a word commonly used in Japan but little known outside of it.
Yoyu is all about having enough space, energy, and reserves—whether it’s time, money, emotional bandwidth, or just the mental clarity to handle life’s curveballs. It’s a concept that helped me navigate caregiving for my father-in-law with Alzheimer’s, support my husband through cancer recovery, and rebuild my own sense of abundance after years of prioritizing others. Now, I help people recognize where they have (or need) yoyu and how they can cultivate more of it to move from overwhelm to ease.
What makes me a great guest?
✅ I bring a cross-cultural perspective. Having lived in Japan for 30+ years, I share an East-meets-West view on resilience, mindset, and well-being.
✅ I tell stories that stick. I weave personal experiences—from caregiving to entrepreneurship—into conversations that deeply resonate with listeners.
✅ I offer practical takeaways. I share actionable strategies for creating more yoyu in daily life, whether it’s managing time, shifting mindset, or setting boundaries.
✅ I keep it engaging. With experience speaking in English and Japanese (including on NHK World), I know how to connect with an audience.
✅ I make big ideas feel doable. Plus, I love weaving humor and warmth into deep conversations, making complex topics feel approachable and actionable.
If your audience is looking for ways to create more space, ease, and abundance in their lives, I’d love to join the conversation!