Our Team
Neil Butler
CEO
From Australia, Bachelor Business, Monash University, Australia. Neil has been in business in Japan and Asia for 36 years, working in marketing, branding, management, trade facilitation and business development. Neil implemented Australia's largest single international consumer marketing program. He is bilingual (English/Japanese).
Yoko Ishikawa
Director
Yoko studied at the international department of Sophia University and spent her high school years in the USA. She spent 22 years in hospital management and 28 years as an English instructor. Founded and has for 10 years been successfully running her own NPO in order to showcase Japanese culture to the world.
Paul McInnes
Editor-in-Chief
From Glasgow, Scotland, MA and M.Phil in Literature from the University of Glasgow. Former writer and contributing editor to The Japan Times, Time Out Tokyo, Tokyo Weekender, the Telegraph, TokyoFashion, Stylus and Sportswear International. Currently Editor-in-Chief of Metropolis.
Stephan
Editor
A graduate of the University of the Arts London, Stephan has over 10 years experience living and working in Japan for a variety of publications and is currently the editor and contributing photographer at Metropolis.
Caroline
Assistant Editor
Caroline is from the Philippines and the UK. She finished university at Edinburgh and has worked as a teacher, researcher, manager and horse-trainer.
Richard
Art Director
From Norwich, England. Richard is an illustrator and designer who is keen on patterns. He has lived in Tokyo for a very long time.
Fernando
Developer / Designer
From São Paulo, Brazil. Fernando has been programming for more than 10 years building websites and systems. He is passionate about technology, music and discovering new places.
Natsuki
Web Designer
Natsuki is an ex-professional dancer and a mom from Fukuoka. She graduated from a university in New York, and now works as a web designer at Metropolis.
Julia
Interactive Media Associate
Julia is from Essex, England, and studied music at the University of Leeds. She began her career at a classical music PR agency in London before moving to Japan in 2015. Currently she writes for Metropolis as well as assisting with marketing and communications for the Japan Partnership and their clients. When not in the office, Julia can be found playing the harp in venues around Tokyo.
Masaru
Interactive Media Associate
From Tokyo and New York. Studied Political Science and Journalism at Waseda University. Began out as an Editorial Intern, now assisting with marketing for Japan Partnership’s clients as well as writing for Metropolis.
Kaoru
Sales Manager
From Totori. Kaoru has more than 21 years experience in media in both Japan and Australia. In particular, he has achieved great success in niche market (Japanese market in Australia, Foreign Market in Japan) strategy, marketing and promotion.
Niki
Sales Manager
Born in Kobe, Hyogo. Lived and worked in Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Sydney and Honolulu. Resided in Sydney and Hawaii for 15 years. After graduating from school in Sydney, she worked for a Japanese travel agency for nine years, and proceeded to work in Japan for another four years. She joined Metropolis in 2007, and coordinates the print, web and social media surrounding the magazine. Niki has also worked for an advertising agency.
Eri
Sales Administrator
From Tokyo. After working in Hawaii as a writer targeting Japanese residents, Eri began working at Metropolis in 2016. She handles the office administration and serves as a liaison between the editorial team and sales team. Her hobby is diving.