From CNBC Make It.

Growing up in Southern California, Ashley Peters had always been interested in Japanese culture and cuisine.

During the pandemic, she became obsessed with anime: the characters who never gave up, the friendships, the quiet slice-of-life moments. She was infatuated with the sound of the language and the minimalist aesthetic. The shows made her want to experience it all for herself.

In January 2025, a little less than a year after she graduated from UC Irvine, Peters boarded that flight to move to Japan.