Prior to joining the School, James was the customer services and logistics manager for Japan’s top enzyme manufacturer.

James has worked in various roles since graduating, including at a luxury Japan-only travel agency, as a martial arts instructor, teaching English to children in Japan, and as the administrator for a Japanese import-export company, where he also did translation and face-to-face interpreting. 

James graduated from Oxford Brookes University in 2008 with a 2:1 in Japanese Language and Contemporary Society with German Studies.

In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his young family, martial arts and music. He plays shakuhachi (Japanese bamboo flute) and bass guitar and is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.