Staff

staff2010

Meet the HappyRaft Crew…
We have a great team who love living and working on the Yoshino River. All of our guides are licenced by the RAJ - Rafting Association of Japan, and our canyoning guides hold licences from the CIC. We undergo rigourous training throughout the summer to ensure the safest most fun day possible. Our Kitchen staff make the finest river lunches anywhere.

 

Mark Treston

Mark smile Mark pushing down the river

Mark is the owner of HappyRaft. He has been rafting,canyoning and kayaking for fifteen years in Australia, Nepal, Canada, and Japan. He likes all water sports, rugby, and snow-boarding. He also likes katsu curries and fish and chips, and will do anything for a meat pie. Mark is married to Sachi -the bagel making genius, and has a daughter named Ellie who is 10.

 

Teru Katsuragawa

chameleon with teru cool

Teru is one of the founding members of HappyRaft. Teru has been rafting and kayaking for 11 years. He has rafted and kayaked some mean rivers in Japan, New Zealand, Chile ,Africa,Nepal,and Australia. This year Teru competed in the Himalayan Charange kayak race and finished in 2nd place . Teru owns and runs the HappyGuest-House and is the proud dad of Shanty. 

 

Steve Anderson

playing flute steve ojizo-san steve

Steve is a New Zeeland native from Rangitata river on the south island. He has over 13 years experience as a rafting guide in 14 countries around the world.  You are defiantly in safe hands with Steve on the river.  Steve loves salmon sushi and goes crazy for mango pino ice cream snacks

 

kobu

kobu kobu kayak

Konnichiwa I’m Kobu des 27 years old from Sapporo Hokkaido been rafting for 9 years here in Japan, New Zealand, also spent time kayaking in Nepal. When not rafting, I have a passion for kayaking, skiing and travelling and am also often seen at the beach surfing. This is my second season with Happy raft!

 

Shin the man

shin_frog

Hello Im Shin 29yrs old been Rafting here in Shikoku also Hokkaido for 4yrs during the summer months my winters are spent Snowboarding in Hokkaido this summer I’ll be a part of the team at HappyRaft. Favorite food is Mame Gohan! See you on the river or in the canyon.

 

Maru

maru_stand maru_DG

Hello Im Maru from Kobe am 33 years old have been Rafting on the yoshino for 8 years this summer I’ve joined the crew at Happy Raft. When I aint rafting I enjoy fishing. In the winter months I can be found in Hokkaido snowboarding. I love eating Unagi (eel)

 

Yumi Noda

Yumi Noda

Yumi Noda 10 years guiding experience around the Yoshino river. An avid climber and kayaker, Yumi runs the Midorinotokei (green clock tower guest-house) and can drink beer with the best of them. She is HappyRafts most senior guide and a big sister to us all.

 

Gordon Crabb

gordy gordy_raft

Old Man River Gordie 38yrs old also from New Zealand welcome to the Happy team! has spent a few years up in Minikami has well has Loas, Slovenia, Australia now here rafting on the Yoshino for the summer!

 

Johnny Taylor

jono

HappyRafts young gun. Milky
new member to the happy Family all the way from Brisbane Australia ! youll be seeing Johhno out on the Oboke this summer if not in a Raft carving it up in the Ducky taking photos!

 

Adam

adam

Adam 24 from New Zealand spent the last 6yrs dropping over the famous Kaituna waterfall in a raft this summer is taking a break and here for the summer enjoying the Yoshino check out that smile just had a great surf up at Otaki! Adam loves his watersports sledging Kayaking surfing and enjoys a cold Beer!

 

Kim

Kim face

Kim-san ... Two years in the Major Leagues with the Baltimore Orioles playing second base. Decided that he missed rice too much so decided to come back to the Land of the Rising Sun.After punching an umpire for a questionable call he was expelled from Japanese baseball and has decided to give rafting a go. If he is your guide try not to make him angry.
Hi my names Kim am 23yrs old This is my second season in this Industry am enjoying the Challenges of becoming a Guide. Am from Mie –Ken I like Rafting, Baseball and Snowboarding Favorite food has to be curry Rice.

 

Taka

Taka  

Ume

Ume  

Nick

Nick

Hey I’m Nick from Canada.Looking forward to seeing you on the river!

 

Toshi

Toshi  

Azu

Azu  

Ha-chan

Lunch with a punch Kasumi

Our lovely Office girl Ha-chan will make you Happy. Delicious lunches and great photos. If you hear her yell chom-bo watch out!

 

Hiromi

Hiromi  

Yumi

Yumi  

Ellie Treston

ellie Ellie1

Ellie is stoked that its yet again summer. Lunch girl, translator, waterfall jumper and safety- kayaker, Ellie is a core member of the HappyRaft team. Look out for her on the jump-rock or swimming in the waterfall under HappyRaft.

 

Sachi Treston

sachi

Sachi along with Mark are the founders of happy Raft Sachi is often busy running the office and must have the record of trips to and from Kochi taking Ellie to Ballet!

 

Happy Ranger

happy_ranger

Introducing 2010 Power Ranger Happy guides, a brief appearance but bound to come back. Keeping everyone happy all day long.

go go go......