Meet Yuki Uchida

Hi Yuki, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In 1988, I came to the United States after graduating college in Tokyo. The plan was two years to attend graduate school. But I met my husband in Ithaca NY and married two years later. In 1990, we moved to Torrance. I majored in Biology from literature to look for a steady life. After taking prerequisites for PT school for about five years, I went to the chiropractic college.

I opened a Chiropractic and acupuncture clinic in July 2001, and my daughter was born in December. Hard work paid off and the clinic became stable.

In 2011, I started losing peripheral vision and found that I had a pituitary tumor that is a benign brain tumor, and it recurred in 2017. In five years, I talked with inspiring friends who wanted to be an astronaut and interpreter of MLB. After surgeries, I decided not to regret my life. I bought a plot in Memorial Park so that I don’t need to worry about after death. In 2018, I joined the Japan snowboard halfpipe national team. It took 30+ years to achieve my dream to attend the Olympic Games and almost there. Currently, our team is aiming for Gold, Silver, and Bronze in the Beijing Olympic 2022. My daughter got into D1 School as a golfer and also aiming for the NCAA championship. Also working as a mental coach for alma mater Meiji University Ski Team (D1) to explore their mind.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Language: Speaking English as a resident is different from tourist English. I’m still learning.

Culture: Adopting “Me culture” is hard, but freedom is a great part of the US. Balance of western and eastern culture is difficult for the first ten years.

Race: Live in Japan as a Japanese is a majority. Living in the US is the minority.

Study: Study science from liberal arts and taking A are very tough and competitive.

Illness: Death of my father is shocking and I regret coming to the US because of distance.

Marriage: Always a learning process.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Chiropractic, acupuncture, and manual therapy clinic Patients are from children to seniors.

In winter, I go to Mammoth and Colorado to work with the National Team.

Hybrid care with Eastern and Western perspectives.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Recovered from 2-time brain tumor: expensive medical fee and professionalism. Grit and passion are must items to do in the new country.

Change from English/American literature to the Medical is possible in the US.

Surrounded by inspiring friends and patients (astronauts candidates, MLB trainer, MLB interpreter, world champion of SBHP, great working mom, etc.)

Mental coach for Meiji University Ski Team (D1) in Tokyo.

Treating D1 College womens’ golfers: I learned about the D1 world. Difference D1 system in Japan and US.

Learn life lessons from the world-known figure-skating coach who immigrated from Russia.