About — Independent Editorial. Always.

Our Story

Osaka Odyssey was founded in 2021 by Margaret "Maggie" Chen, a Charleston-based interior stylist who spent three years living in a 45-square-meter apartment in Osaka's Namba district.

"I moved back to Charleston with two suitcases and a completely different relationship with my living space. I started writing about how Japanese spatial philosophy could work in American homes—bigger rooms, different climates, Western habits. The response was immediate."

Today, Osaka Odyssey is read by 85,000 monthly visitors. We publish room guides, product reviews, and seasonal inspiration rooted in Japanese design philosophy—adapted for real Western homes.

How We Work

Independence

We do not accept payment for coverage. Brands cannot pay to be featured in our guides.

Affiliate Links

Some articles contain affiliate links. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our recommendations.

Product Testing

All product recommendations are based on hands-on testing by our editorial team. We only recommend products we'd use in our own homes.

Updates

We review and update our guides quarterly. Outdated recommendations are removed or revised.

Corrections

Errors are corrected promptly and noted at the bottom of the relevant article.

Our Team

Margaret Chen

Founder & Editor in Chief

Interior stylist. Lived in Osaka 2017–2020. Based in Charleston since 2021.

Robert Tanaka

Senior Writer

Former architectural journalist. Specializes in traditional Japanese construction and spatial theory.

Emily Foster

Product Tester

Manages our product review program. Tests every item personally before recommendation.

Yuki Morimoto

Cultural Consultant

Osaka-based. Fact-checks our cultural content and connects us with artisans.