Ruthy Kanagy was born in Tokyo and grew up on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. After finishing high school in Japan and higher education in the United States, Ruthy taught English and Japanese language and culture for 22 years at universities in the United States and Japan. She also translated a Japanese children’s book, The Park Bench.

When she started cycling in earnest in 2000, she discovered the joy of traveling under her own power, without reliance on fossil fuels. A highlight was touring Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan — exploring her roots and visiting the places her family had lived when she was young. The mountains, caldera lakes, hot springs, rugged seacoast, and wildflowers were just as she remembered.

In 2006, Ruthy organized Japan Cycle Tours to introduce cyclists to Hokkaido, Tokyo, Kyoto, and other areas. She is convinced that encountering new cultures on a bicycle makes you more approachable and brings you closer to local people. Currently, Ruthy is a bicycle travel consultant at Green Gear Cycling/Bike Friday, builders of custom, high-performance bicycles that pack into a suitcase for air travel (www.bikefriday.com). Her job is to help people design the bikes they need for adventures around the world. She is also studying French and Korean in hopes of further exploring the globe by pedal power.

Other than annual trips to Japan, Ruthy calls Eugene, Oregon home; her two daughters live in San Francisco and New York City. Ruthy’s travel photos are displayed at www.livingabroadinjapan.com.