Joy Jarman-Walsh

Nationality: American
Time Living in Japan: More than 25 years
Employer: Inbound Ambassador
Current Job Title: Founder of Inbound Ambassador
Areas of Expertise: SDG Consulting, SDG tourism Development, Sustainability-focused travel planning and destination appeal marketing. Travel destination copy writing and marketing. Seminars, Talks, Workshops and Training about SDG’s, and SDG Tourism & Business development. Rural travel destination appeal development.
Education: MA Sustainable Tourism, MA Applied Linguistics + BA Psychology

Publications Featured In InboundAmbassador, GetHiroshima, Nikkei Review, Yasuda University Journal, Japan Times, ACCJ Journal

Recent Interviews and Published Work：

• Interview with JJWalsh : Postcards from Japan  JNTO – Japan National Tourism Organisation
• Joy JarmanWalsh Showcases Peoples’ Efforts on Live Show – Sustainable Japan Times
• Embracing Sustainability – How Can Companies Do It? – ACCJ Journal (p.32~37 Contribution as one of group of SDG Japan Consultants)
• Women in CleanTech & Sustainability Conference Summary
• Flood of Inbound Tourism Must Not Swamp Japan – OpEd Nikkei Journal
• 【Interview】A Deeper Look at “World-Class” Sustainability– Yamatogokoro.jp

BIO:
Joy Jarman-Walsh (@jjwalsh) helps travel businesses in Japan enhance their appeal to international visitors by integrating tradition and culture into more sustainable tourism strategies.

With over 21 years as an Assistant Professor, Joy taught communication, tourism, business, and sustainability at the university level. She now teaches leadership and business courses part-time while continuing her work in sustainable tourism.

Originally from Hawaii, Joy first came to Japan in 1991 for what was meant to be a one-year stay in Oita after earning a Psychology degree in California. She spent three years on the JET Program, traveling across Japan on weekends to compete in rural triathlons. Afterward, she backpacked through Asia and parts of Europe for two years before settling in Hiroshima—again, “just for a year.” Nearly 30 years later, Hiroshima remains her home, where she and her family have restored a traditional house and built strong community ties.

In 1999, Joy and her partner Paul co-founded GetHiroshima, a regional website helping international residents and visitors experience the city like locals. This initiative led to the launch of the GetHiroshima Map (2005~) and GetHiroshima Travel magazine (2014–2018), as well as numerous collaborations with local tourism businesses.

Since April 2020, Joy has hosted Seek Sustainable Japan, a livestream talk show and podcast featuring inspiring individuals and organizations working toward sustainability across Japan. The series explores how to balance the needs of people, the planet, and profitability in tourism and beyond.

As a local guide, Joy offers immersive tours in Hiroshima, sharing deeper insights into the city’s history, culture, and traditions while fostering meaningful engagement with the region’s innovative and welcoming community.

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Favorite Things About Living in Japan:  Access to nature, safe, quiet and friendly communities, and finding sustainable solutions from japanese traditions, culture and innovation.