Representative: Masako Mark

Born in Ota City, and currently resides in Shinagawa City.

With the help of self-IV drips for orthostatic intolerance, Masako established Mark House Hatsumoo-kan, running  a language exchange cafe, and enjoys dog dance training. 

Life History 

• High School  study abroad in USA

• BA, Faculty of Comparative Culture (now the Faculty of International Liberal Arts), Sophia University.

• While at university, passed the Japanese Language Education Competency Test and made her debut as a Japanese language teacher.  An interpreter for NHK sports programs and artists. Studied Spanish abroad, and backpacked through Europe and Southeast Asia.

• Taught Japanese at the University of Western Australia. 

• MA in Applied Linguistics, University of Sydney - Awarded the Michael Halliday University Medal.

• Established La Lingua Language School in Sydney, Australia, at the age of 24, with a 2-dollar coin investment. Starting with just one student, the school grew to become a government-accredited college with 60 staff members and 350 students.  Awarded the Australian Ethnic Business Council Award for the Best Small Business 2002.

• Diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome(ME/CFS), which later turned out to be tick-borne disease,  (Chronic) Lyme disease and co-infections, & Cerebrospinal fluid leakage, a disease in which cerebrospinal fluid, which surrounds the brain, leaks or decreases, causing the brain to sag and resulting in systemic symptoms. Also diagnosed as focal dystonia. 

• In 2006,  baptized as a Christian, a major turning point life experience.

• Moved to Japan in 2012. While house bound and (at times) bedbound, acquired several  qualifications by correspondence, and engaged in  running ME/CFS awareness campaigns,  volunteer phone counseling, and share house operation. 

• Since 2020, with the help of IV drips and home nursing,  conducted dog dance training with therapy dog Yuta! 

Currently, with  the theme of "connecting with people through words, knowledge, and heart," she launched Mark House Hatsumookan.

It aims to create a "place to belong" for those who want to rise to the challenge of social participation and reintegration, as well as for foreigners, young people, and adults seeking a place to belong in Japanese society.

"There are people who will be happy just to have you there!" -

We  aim to create a  community where people can find joy in their own existence and the existenc of others.

"You're not alone!" - to take even one step closer to a society where people feel connected.

Born in northern New South Wales and raised on a lush, natural dairy farm in Dorrigo, NSW, Australia.

Being influenced by political cartoons as a child, he became an international politics enthusiast, which led him to become a political science scholar.

Craig is a husband, best friend, family member, and caregiver of Mark Masako, who suffers from chronic illnesses. 

Language Exchange Cafe/Lounge  was established not only to connect with Japanese and international  people but also for him to learn Japanese, which was very difficult to achieve with his busy life as an university professor and a carer for Masako. 

He has taught comparative politics, international politics, international relations, global studies, and academic English at universities in Australia and Japan for over 24 years.

He has authored over 200 academic papers and articles and published "The Abe Restoration," a book about the former Japanese prime minister, in the United States.

He also co-authored "Understanding International Relations: The World and Japan," a textbook on international relations written for Japanese university students.

As an expert in international politics, he has made numerous appearances on media outlets such as the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and the Korean Arirang Broadcasting Corporation, and has written articles for academic news websites and publications such as The Conversation.

With a focus on "praise-based lessons" and "positive learning," Craig uses a wide range of audiovisual materials to energetically address global issues and current affairs, and employs teaching methods that encourage active student participation, including discussions, debates, presentations, and essay writing.

Educational background

• BA (Honours) in Government, the University of Sydney

• Master of Arts degree in International Relations, Graduate School of Pacific Studies, the Australian National University (ANU)

• Completed doctoral program in Politics and International Relations, the University of New South Wales (UNSW).

Work history

• University of New South Wales, in the School of Politics & International Relations:  

•  Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Sydney.

• Macquarie University, Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations

• As an associate professor at Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo Prefecture, he taught courses such as "Introduction to International Relations," "International Security," "Foreign Policy Analysis," "Australian International Relations," "Asia in a Global World," and "Japan in the Global Age." He was a member of the English Chapel Committee, which conducted services in English, and was an advisor to the International Affairs Club.

• After serving as a full-time professor in the Faculty of International Studies at a private university in Tokyo, he currently works at several private and national universities, while assisting his wife.