​Summary

Masahiro Sano (Ray) is a Japanese podcaster and musician, born in 1996. On YouTube, he primarily shares podcasts for Japanese language learners, while also posting short videos on TikTok and Instagram. Across these platforms, he has built a following of about 90,000 people.

Previously, he worked in the inbound tourism industry, offering Japanese lessons, translation and interpretation services, and DSLR camera experiences. Over the course of four years, he handled more than 4,000 projects, gaining a wide range of experience.

Ray is currently based in Tokyo, but in the future, he plans to open an onigiri-themed manga café (headquarters) and a ryokan hostel in Kyoto. After that, he aims to open a hostel in Tokyo as well.

 

Background

Born in 1996, Ray's interest in learning English was sparked during the summer of his second year in university when he met a bilingual American. Although he initially had no interest in English, that encounter motivated him to start studying the language. He took a year off from university to study abroad in Australia, where he further honed his English skills. Through various experiences, he developed an interest in culture, international relations, and the inbound industry.

Ray majored in Business and Marketing at university, while also completing a 420-hour course at a Japanese language teacher training school. He graduated from both schools in 2020. After working for a year at a subsidiary of a major company, he launched his inbound business, "Ray's Lighthouse," in July 2021. Alongside his inbound business, he began publishing reference books and novels, as well as pursuing music and other creative endeavors.

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2021

Ray's Lighthouse opened. Due to the impact of COVID-19, Japan closed, making inbound activities challenging. However, I focused on online lessons and translations, receiving numerous new student applications from the first month of online lessons. Translation work mainly came from personal games and major game companies, with nearly 500 projects undertaken. 

 

2022

To expand his activities, Ray started streaming videos online. Within a month of starting video posts on Instagram, his follower count skyrocketed to 25,000, with a notable increase in international followers. This growth also led to more business opportunities with companies. He released his first single, "Sparkle Night," across all streaming platforms. In October, when Japan reopened its borders to foreign tourists, Ray launched services catering specifically to them, offering support to many foreign visitors during their stay.

 

2023

Ray has published four books on Amazon: 125 Useful Japanese Phrases, Japanese Things, Interesting & Useful Japanese Phrases, and Japanese Questions about Anata. He has also taught over 1,100 Japanese lessons. Ray participated as an interpreter at events such as the Tokyo Marathon exhibition and meetings with a gaming company. In the summer, he successfully organized a study abroad program, inviting international students to Japan through his "Ray's Lighthouse" initiative. In December, he held his first international exchange live event, selling out 110 tickets. His single "New World" ranked 163rd in Turkey. By the end of the year, Ray published his novel Starting English at 20 on Amazon.

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2024

Ray began distributing content aimed at Japanese people studying English. He also launched a new business offering photography services for tourists, providing services to many visitors and completing around 100 jobs in under a year. In June, he published his first bilingual picture book, One Ticket (in both Japanese and English), on Amazon. Simultaneously, he released the book’s theme song, One Ticket, across all music streaming platforms. Following this, he continued to release other picture books, such as Yōkai Kicchan and Yōkai Matsuri.

Ray rebranded his business and music name from "rays lighthouse" to "Ray's Lighthouse." Along with the rebrand, he re-released three albums—Dream, Otaku Anthem, and Chill Tonight—across all music platforms. Aiming to establish the KMD brand, Ray began selling Japanese-themed clothing online through collaborations with various designers. The unique designs incorporate pop, modern ukiyo-e styles, yōkai, Japanese food culture, and traditional Japanese culture.

Looking ahead, Ray plans to host pop-up events. By the end of the year, he released an EP titled Salaryman, featuring three tracks, followed by the release of Painted Sky.

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2025

After stopping his inbound business, Ray transitioned into a podcaster and musician.