Staff

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 is the owner of HappyRaft. He has been rafting and kayaking for twelve 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 8.

Teru Katsuragawa

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

Steve is a New Zeeland native from Rangitata river on the south island. He has over 12 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

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!

Shino

Office&Lunch;girl

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.

Maru

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)

Kim

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 first 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.

Shin the man

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.