Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hiroe Imai . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Hiroe , great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
What is risk, after all? Is it the fear of death?
The fear of being hurt?
Or perhaps, the fear of being rejected and denied?
Yet no matter who hurts me, even if I am shattered, even if my form changes, the true brilliance of my essence can never be taken away.
Transformation can sometimes appear as destruction. But unless we break down the old, there are times when we cannot build the new.
Through this, I have learned to cultivate the ability not to fear risk, but to embrace change as an opportunity for growth.
What is most important is never to deny myself—my past, or my experiences.
If I can become my own mother, my own father, my own fortress, and if I can stay connected to the divine and truly trust, then I believe I can overcome any risk. And this is the way I continue to live today.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I engage in many different kinds of work and activities. Yet no matter what title or role I take on, even if I let them go, and even as I grow older, my essence never changes.
Whether I am praised or criticized, I continue to face, to know, and to grow with my soul — Hiroe. Every single experience, no matter what it may be, is a lesson I hold with gratitude.
I believe that individuality is something entrusted to us by God. For that reason, there is nothing about being myself that ever needs to be denied. There are countless perspectives and ways of life in this world, but for me, the most important thing is to stay connected to myself, to exist and to express myself just as I am. That is what I value most deeply, and it is what I wish to share through my work and my presence.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Sensing Truth Through the Body (Body Wisdom) Through kinesiology, martial arts, and Bugaku, I have learned that the body is a sacred mirror reflecting the laws of the universe.
By sensing muscle responses, shifts in posture, and the flow of energy, I experience a deep connection with my inner divinity.
When the body comes into alignment, the pathways of the soul naturally cleanse and open.
2. Stillness and Presence (Presence & Awareness)
Moments of meditation or playing table tennis bring me into a state of “nothingness.”
In these moments, there is no judgment or thought—only the pure awareness of “now.”
The deeper this sense of presence becomes, the sharper my intuition, allowing me to naturally read the flow of energy around me.
3. Creative Devotion (Expression as Prayer)
All acts of creation—art, healing, music, scent, and words—feel like co-creation with the inner divinity.
These acts are prayers, dances, and celebrations of the beauty of life.
Interacting with many wonderful creators has expanded my world.
Los Angeles is home to many great creators and artists.
In particular, my encounters with Masayo, Aylmer Hitomi Taro and Rhea have enriched me, opening me to new perspectives and inspiration.
I really appreciate them so much.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
My favorite books are Eternal Quest by Paramahansa Yogananda and Be Here Now by Ram Dass.
These books are like precious companions that I encountered during one of the lowest points of my life.
In a time when all I could do was cry or pray through the pain and sadness, these books awakened my true essence — they gave me wisdom, courage, and love.
When I seek guidance or messages, I open one of these books at random and read the page that appears.
One passage that especially stayed with me is about “Liberation and Power through Meditation”:
“When one experiences the Supreme, one is freed from attachment.
Drive out all darkness with the light of God, and remove impure thoughts with right thinking.
To feel and connect with God is the highest bliss—there is no other happiness greater than this.”
And that “God” is not something that exists somewhere outside of us —
It is something that resides within.
Instead of seeking causes in the outer world,
I began to see this world as a reflection of my inner state.
From there, I learned to observe myself deeply and gently, with quiet awareness.
Whatever happens, by connecting with the inner divine, I can receive everything as “the best possible guidance” and feel gratitude for it.
After all, only we ourselves can truly transform our own circumstances.
This world is a mirror of your inner being — a place for your soul’s growth and learning.
Since encountering these books,
I’ve been able to connect deeply with my true essence,
and live each day anew — filled with beauty, joy, and vitality.
Image Credits
Photo by Aylmer Jordan Abrea
