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| Hajime "Jim" Ueno Biogrphy |
It's no surprise that the leading Japanese language
visitor media in Hawaii, Aloha Street magazine and its web
version aloha-street.com are exceptionally cutting-edge with
president and chief editor Jim Ueno at the reigns. Jim has nearly
20 years of experience of international business with a special
emphasis on marketing to Hawaii's Japanese tourist market.
In 1994, with 10 years of marketing and advertising experience
under his belt, Jim decided to take a chance and uproot himself
from his native Tokyo and seek out novel career opportunities
abroad. It was a life change, fueled by a longstanding fascination
with the United States, which would lead him to Hawaii Pacific
University where he earned a Masters degree in business administration
and then on to a position with PacRim Marketing Group, Inc.,
where from 1996 to 1999 he spearheaded an international marketing
services department and initiated the first Hawaii destination
Web site in Japanese.
By 2000, Japan was in the midst of an "internet boom" and recognizing
that technology was changing, as were tourist trends, Jim returned
to Japan for a year to tap into those developments. Armed with
a more in depth understanding of the Japanese market and new
connections in design and production, Jim returned to Hawaii
where he took the position of chief editor of Aloha Street with
parent company Wincubic. By 2001, Jim was leading Aloha Street
as general manager and vice president. He navigated the company
successfully through the drop in the tourist industry caused
by 9/11 and in 2002, was promoted to president.
Jim was eager to change the face of Hawaii's Japanese travel
media and he has done just that. Under his leadership Aloha
Street skyrocketed as the number one rated Japanese language
travel media and has a loyal following in Japan. His creativeness,
keen understanding of the market, and absolute commitment to
quality has resulted in a media that just continues to push
the boundaries of the traditional tourist guide. Jim is now
setting his sights on the newest marketing trend in Japan called
Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, or LOHAS. LOHAS follows
the popular consumer tendency to prioritize environmental preservation,
personal health maintenance with an emphasis on alternative
medicines, and the pursuit of a sustainable society. With lofty
goals in mind, there is no telling what Jim's Aloha Street Nature
Project, a charity program that will raise donations in support
of local conservation efforts through the sale of Hawaii-themed
merchandise and the development of volunteer activities, might
achieve within the state's tourist industry.
Jim is an avid runner and has completed both the Honolulu marathon
and the Maui marathon multiple times. He is dedicated to a healthy
and inquisitive lifestyle, which includes yoga and lots of reading. |
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