KEY TAKEAWAYS

• New Book: Aaron Rising A story about a young boy who grew up fast with the help of a few ladies from around the world.

• Chapter One: The beginning is the most important part to understand the life and times of Aaron

• From country side to Tokyo's red-light district full of Hostesses and other women across Asia.

Chapter One: From Blizzards to Beaches

Daniel TJ - International Reporter Tokyo, Japan

Aaron Rising – Chapter One: From Cornfields to Waikiki
By an International Reporter for SavvyJapan-Today.com

As a reporter, you get used to hearing stories—some funny, some tragic, most somewhere in between. But every once in a while, someone tells you something that makes you sit back and go, wait, what?! That happened to me a few years ago at an event in Tokyo when I met Aaron.

At first, he seemed like any other American expat. Friendly, easygoing, a little sun-weathered. But once we started talking, I realized—this guy has lived. And not in the “took a year off to backpack in Europe” way. I mean really, deeply, unpredictably lived.

So I did what any curious journalist would do—I started asking questions. Over the course of several months, I interviewed him, pieced together the chapters of his life, and what emerged is something I think you’ll find just as jaw-dropping as I did.

Fair warning before we dive in: This series is for adults. It includes some racy, unfiltered content. If you’re under 18 or just not into that kind of thing, I suggest checking out one of our other feature series—The Life of Rina might be more your speed.

But if you're ready... let’s go back to where it all began.

Aaron, Age 15

Canfield, Ohio: Where nothing ever happens

Aaron was born in Canfield, Ohio. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. It’s one of those American small towns where time seems to stand still. Cornfields, church picnics, rusty pickup trucks, and football games on Friday nights. Think long winters, chain restaurants, and neighbors who all know your dog's name.

In Canfield, diversity wasn’t just rare—it was practically invisible. Aaron had never seen a mosque. He didn’t know what kimchi was. If you’d asked him what “international” meant, he probably would’ve pointed to the frozen section at Walmart where they kept the sweet-and-sour chicken.

So when his parents sat him down one random evening and said, “We’re moving to Hawaii,” it felt like someone had swapped his life script with a completely different show.

The Great Escape

They left in the dead of winter. One last Ohio blizzard had shut down school, iced over the windows, and made every breath sting. And then suddenly, bam—Honolulu.

Aaron stepped out of the airport and was hit with warm air, palm trees, and the scent of plumeria. It was like walking into a dream—or a movie he wasn’t supposed to be in.

Gone were the snow boots and flannel jackets. Now it was shorts, slippers (locals don’t say flip-flops), and sunshine that felt like it was alive.

The contrast was so sharp, he almost felt dizzy.

Waikiki Beach: The World on One Shore

Then came Waikiki.

Aaron had never seen anything like it. Girls in bikinis laughing as they ran across the sand. Surfers jogging past with salt-stiff hair. Japanese tourists snapping photos of every palm tree. Locals shouting to each other in Pidgin, this sing-songy mix of English, Hawaiian, and who-knows-what.

His mom clutched her purse tighter. His dad muttered something about "culture shock." His younger siblings refused to look up from their phones.

But Aaron? Aaron just stared in awe.

He started going to the beach almost every day after school. He’d sit near the Duke Kahanamoku statue and just watch people. People from everywhere. Every size, shape, color, accent. It was like the entire planet decided to meet up at this one beach.

He wandered into the Ala Moana mall just to wander—watching couples hold hands, hearing languages he didn’t recognize, seeing fashion that made his Canfield classmates look like extras in a black-and-white film.

Everything buzzed. It was alive. He was alive.

What Comes Next?

Aaron didn’t know what he wanted to study. He had no clear career goal. But he knew one thing:

He didn’t want to go back.

Hawaii wasn’t just a new chapter—it was the real beginning. He started imagining a life here. Maybe college. Maybe more. He didn’t know the details yet. But he knew he was staying.

And every time another sun-kissed girl walked by with a surfboard and a wink, his heart skipped. It wasn’t just the beauty—it was the freedom. The endless possibility.

Aaron Rising is only getting started...

This is Chapter One of an ongoing true story. We’ll be releasing new chapters every Monday and/or Friday, diving into the wild ride that took Aaron from small-town Midwest to some of the most unexpected corners of the world—meeting unforgettable people, facing wild challenges, and redefining what it means to really live.

Tell your friends. Bookmark the page. Come along for the journey.

Because trust me—this story’s only going to get crazier.

DID YOU SEE THIS? The Life Of Rina