Seiji Yamaguchi of Los Angeles Area on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Seiji Yamaguchi and have shared our conversation below.

Seiji , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building is the inner architecture of my life. When I was younger, I wasn’t trying to escape a place or people, but more a sense of limitation. I felt confined by my age and the small radius of the world I had access to. But I carried a very vivid sense of the life I wanted to grow into.

Being raised by entrepreneurial parents who believed deeply in me gave me the confidence to follow that intuition. So from 16 onward, I made choices that were guided by passion, curiosity, and a desire for something larger than the reality I knew then.

And now, when I look at my life and the places I’ve lived, the connections I’ve built, the work I do- I can trace all of it back to that invisible work: the courage to trust my vision before anyone else could see it.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Seiji Yamaguchi. I’ve been an entrepreneur since I was 13, when I launched my first natural makeup brand. At 16, I expanded into eco-friendly, coconut-oil–based candles, an experience that shaped both my work ethic and my passion for creating meaningful products and experiences.

Over time, that early drive evolved into what I do today: travel curation and event design across Los Angeles, the Netherlands, and Spain. I bring a unique perspective to my work by incorporating elements of Feng Shui – a practice I was raised with. Right now, I’m focused on curating events that blend and elevate the five senses. I grew up with the idea that our senses shape how we experience energy and meaning, so my goal is to design gatherings that feel immersive.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me I’m releasing is the version that believed every need I sensed had to be met by me. My work relies on intuitively understanding people, and that sensitivity is one of my strengths. But when intuition becomes obligation, it stops being a gift. I’m learning to set boundaries with that part of myself so I can continue to create meaningful experiences while also staying authentic to myself.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
The value of perspective. Pain creates contrast, it shows us how good the other side feels, and it helps us see what truly matters. For me, perspective isn’t just about challenges; it’s about clarity on what we really want, who we can truly rely on to feel heard, and who we can laugh and share light moments with. It’s about recognizing the people, experiences, and simple sparks of joy that genuinely matter. In every hard moment, I try to find the lesson, and through that, I’ve learned more about myself. There’s no such thing as a waste of time if you gained something from it.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One foundational truth in my life is how perspective can completely change the way you experience everything. It’s been close to me even before I had the word for it. I remember looking into the distance as a child and realizing that, even when I was observing my surroundings, it could look entirely different depending on how I felt inside. I learned early on that to begin any process whether it’s starting my day, making decisions, or creating experiences – I first needed to get my energy right. That way, my perspective is aligned and intentional. As my mother always says, ‘If you can own your energy, you can own your life,’ and I think that captures everything I strive to live by.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely, without any hesitation. There is no external validation I could get that would ever match up to the pure ecstasy I feel from completing something for myself. Not everything needs to be seen; in fact, most of the things I’m proudest of are known by very few people, and I like it that way.

It reminds me of something my father taught me: to wipe up the water on the sink for the next person, or to leave things as you’d like to find them. The point isn’t to be noticed- it’s about showing up with integrity. If you only give your all based on someone else’s reaction, you miss out on the deeper joy and satisfaction that comes from doing it for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: theseijicollection
• Other: Instagram: @agencykitsune