Mensore
Mensore means welcome and this is how we want you to feel when joining a tour with our company. At Laughing Shisa Tours we specialize in private and small group tours focusing on the history and culture of Okinawa.
With a private tour you will have more flexibility and freedom as we will provide customized assistance to design a tour that fits the needs of you and your party alone. Alternatively, small group tours are pre-designed visits to some of the highlights of Okinawa's history revolving around a historical theme. Small group tours are limited to up to 6 people, so no matter what tour you choose you will be sure to get a personalized experience.
Our goal is to have you love Okinawa as much as we do when your tour is finished. We hope to see you soon!
Haitai
Haitai (Hello). My name is Michelle Fukuyama and I lead all of the tours for Laughing Shisa Tours. Born and raised in Hawaii, after graduating from Whitman College with a BA in History, I moved to Okinawa to teach English with the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme. My initial plan was to work here for two years, but I enjoyed Okinawa so much that I ended up staying for the full five years of my contract. While on the JET Programme I participated in a fieldwork study of the Battle of Okinawa with my students that opened my eyes to Okinawa's rich and, at times, tragic history. It was from this moment that learning more about Okinawa's history became my passion.
After completing my time on the JET Programme, I returned to the United States to continue my studies, receiving a MA in Museology (Museum Studies) from the University of Washington with a focus on oral history collections related to post-war Okinawa. After graduating, I married my Okinawan husband and returned to Okinawa where we have lived since with our growing family.
Since 2017, I have taught about Okinawa's rich history through fieldwork courses as an Adjunct Assistant Professor with the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC). This position made me realize that I wanted to formally learn more about Okinawa's history so I enrolled as a student at the University of the Ryukyus. In 2023, I completed my PhD, with a focus on the Okinawan women who worked as maids for Americans between 1945-1972. I see my role as a tour guide as an extension of my background in education (without the need for grading) and aim to provide every guest with a positive experience to learn more about Okinawa whether they are here for a day or a lifetime. I'm looking forward to meeting you on a tour!