About
People and stories make Tokyo, Tokyo makes people and stories.
umu is an independent bilingual media platform founded in Tokyo in 2025, dedicated to the city’s creative scene.
We look beyond the finished work to the people and stories behind it. Through interviews and features, we document the journeys of Tokyo based creatives, exploring what sparked their ideas, the challenges they have faced, and the passion that continues to drive their work.
We believe creativity grows through connection. By bringing together creators, creative businesses, events, and new opportunities, we want to make Tokyo’s creative scene more accessible, connected, and open to more people.
Tokyo is a concrete jungle where new ideas are born every day. Our goal is to create a place where one person’s story can lead to a new encounter, a new challenge, or the beginning of something unexpected.
What We Value
We are not a media platform that simply promotes people and brands. Through our interviews, we look deeper into how people think, what they value, and the experiences and decisions that have shaped where they are today.
Rather than creating content that quickly disappears from a social media feed, we want to tell stories that stay with you long after you have read them.
We believe those are the stories that truly matter, and that belief is at the heart of what we do.
We don’t judge the value of someone’s work by obvious markers such as name recognition, awards, years of experience, or follower count. Instead of titles and achievements, we look at each person’s unique perspective, story, and passion for what they create.
Life is not always easy, and neither is the creative process. Even creators and artists whose work may look polished from the outside move forward while dealing with doubt, frustration, and uncertainty.
We want to capture that reality as honestly as we can. What worked and what did not. The positive emotions and the negative ones. The moments of confidence, and the moments of struggle.
Behind every creative journey is a person figuring things out as they go, while continuing to hold on to what drives them.
We tell these stories to remind you that you are not the only one finding your way.
Team Members
A freelance graphic designer responsible for pretty much everything at umu, from editing and interviews to design and communications. Her curiosity never runs out, and she usually has around five new ideas floating around in her head at any given time. She is also a serious ramen lover. Her latest idea is an app that tracks how much money you’ve spent on ramen over your lifetime and lets you compete with ramen eaters across Japan.
Arran is responsible for the development and day-to-day operation of the website. His main work is as a musician and music producer, but he is also highly skilled in tech, including web development and 3D motion design. From building his own desk to remaking jeans, he can make almost anything himself. He is also regularly subjected to 725’s latest ideas at all hours of the day and night, and is getting a little tired of it.
Support Us
Help us keep umu growing and supporting Tokyo’s creative community.
Become a Sponsor
Partner with umu to connect with Tokyo’s creative community and support its growth.
