12/30/2025
What a way to close out 2025 — that’s a wrap for the Shiki team.
From a business perspective, 2025 was a strong year. But for me personally, it was even more meaningful. This was the first year since I started my business in 2016 that I truly felt the power of a united, strong team.
The first five years were incredibly tough. As a new small business owner, I was waking up at 2 a.m. and working more than 18 hours a day. There was barely time to eat, sleep, or rest. Honestly, much of that period is a blur… Look at the 3rd picture which was taken at my very first company dinner— it shows how small our team was in the first few years!
As the team grew, I was able to delegate more and ease those crazy hours — but new challenges came with growth. Managing a larger team wasn’t easy, and I struggled as a leader. I wasn’t always proud of how I handled things, and I know I had a lot to learn.
This year changed everything. The Shiki team grew closer, stronger, and more united than ever. Management became smoother, trust deepened, and I found myself facing far fewer issues day to day. Even during a challenging year for me with another business, seeing this team reminded me that I can overcome anything — because I’m not doing it alone.
Every single team member feels like family. Their smiles, dedication, and hard work motivate me to keep pushing forward, to become stronger, and to succeed more — not just for our clients, but for the people who make Shiki what it is. Making our clients happy matters of course, but making my team happy matters just as much. I promise, I will never stop striving for both.
Next year marks our 10th anniversary — a major milestone. We’re planning 2 exciting new projects for Shiki, and this is only the beginning!! Stay tuned!
For now, we’ll take a few well-earned days off to recharge before another busy year ahead.
Thank you to everyone who supports us.
And most of all — thank you to my incredible team!
Misako
Owner of Shiki and Lingo