About Us

Uchi was born from a simple idea: make it easier to find your dream home in Japan. While searching for our own place, we realised how frustrating it was to jump between different agent websites just to compare options. So we created Uchi as a one-stop shop, bringing together listings from Japan’s top real estate agents and developers into one easy-to-use platform. With powerful search tools and a seamless experience, finding and buying your favorite properties has never been simpler.

We’re not a real estate agent—we’re an independent service connecting global investors directly with licensed agents across Japan. From luxury ski homes and beachside retreats to city apartments and land for development, Uchi showcases the country’s most exciting properties. Our mission is to provide trusted access, independent insights, and inspiration for anyone looking to invest in Japan real estate—built by people who live here and have done it themselves.

At Uchi, we don’t just list properties—we bring Japan’s most exciting resort real estate to life. 

Behind Uchi is a dynamic and passionate team of global professionals who blend deep local knowledge of Japan’s resort market with world-class expertise in partnerships, media, marketing, and creative storytelling. From driving strategic growth and building partnerships, to producing cinematic content and running powerful digital campaigns, our people are the reason Uchi has become Japan’s leading resort property platform. We take our work seriously—but never take ourselves too seriously—which means every project comes with a dose of both professionalism and personality.

Indulge yourself in our unique expertise, our passion, our inside jokes and our positive outlook on global real estate. 

Chris is the founder and visionary behind Uchi. A Deloitte-trained chartered accountant, he combines financial rigour with entrepreneurial flair, having lived and worked in Japan’s ski resorts for over 15 years. During that time, he has built deep relationships with agents, developers, and investors while gaining a unique insider perspective on one of the world’s most dynamic property markets.

As CEO, Chris drives strategy, product development, and global expansion—always with a focus on making Uchi more than just a property portal. His expertise spans finance, valuation, M&A, and marketing, enabling Uchi to provide both data-driven insights and aspirational lifestyle branding. Chris’ vision is to create a platform that delivers unmatched value to agents and developers, while opening the doors of Japan’s resort real estate to the world.

Matt is Uchi’s Partnerships Director and right-hand man to Chris, bringing a wealth of global business experience. He launched and ran Google’s office in New Zealand, leading teams and partnerships that scaled the brand’s influence across the region. With a career of over 20 years spanning technology, digital media, and business development, Matt has a proven record of connecting audiences and brands at scale.

At Uchi, Matt focuses on strategic partnerships, audience growth, and driving new revenue opportunities for agents and developers. His blend of Silicon Valley tech expertise and commercial savvy ensures Uchi stays ahead in the rapidly evolving real estate and media landscape. Matt’s ability to bridge international best practice with local Japanese market dynamics makes him a key driver of Uchi’s growth.

Damien is Uchi’s award-winning Creative Director, responsible for ensuring the brand always looks and feels world-class. With a background in film, storytelling, and visual production, Damien has built a career creating cinematic experiences that engage and inspire. His work has been recognised with industry awards and has brought campaigns and brands to life across multiple platforms.

At Uchi, Damien leads the charge on all things creative: from property showcase films that rival luxury hotel campaigns, to the visual identity and design language that makes Uchi instantly recognisable. His ability to blend artistry with commercial objectives means Uchi doesn’t just promote listings—it elevates them into experiences. For agents and developers, Damien ensures that their properties are presented in the most compelling way possible to global investors.

Vinny is building the backbone of Uchi’s smart future: a powerful data- and AI-driven platform designed to elevate the entire user experience. As Chief Data & AI Architect, he leads the design and integration of cutting-edge data architecture that transforms raw information into actionable intelligence. He developed his expertise at Google and Databricks, advising some of their largest enterprise customers on how to unlock value from data while architecting for efficiency and long-term flexibility. This experience ensures Uchi delivers personalised recommendations, predictive analytics, and seamless content discovery - empowering agents and developers with data-rich tools that drive smarter decisions and position Uchi as a truly intelligent platform.

Leighton is an award-winning art director with over 20 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and design. He's collaborated with iconic brands like Cadbury, Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, and Sky TV, creating impactful campaigns that resonate. With two decades as a dedicated typographer, he is now channelling his expertise into Uchi and contributing to our global vision.

With decades of experience writing and editing for some of the biggest lifestyle and travel brands in the world including The Urban List (AU NZ), Yahoo, AOL and Lastminute.com, Mel ensures Uchi’s editorial voice is as polished and insightful as its properties. Her expertise helps us create stories that resonate with readers around the globe and helps to cement Uchi as Japan’s premier destination for resort real estate and beyond.

One of Uchi’s earliest team members, Gwen has grown our online voice into a trusted and engaging presence across platforms. With over five years of experience in marketing and communications, she blends sharp research and industry insight with a fun, approachable style—balancing property facts with lifestyle inspiration. Based in the Philippines, she’s also a dancer at heart, bringing energy both online and offline.

Phil is Uchi's paid marketing strategist, with over 20 years’ experience in PPC, analytics, and performance marketing, including three years at Google UK. He combines deep technical knowledge with strategic thinking to ensure every campaign delivers maximum impact.

At Uchi, Phil helps drive growth by keeping our paid media smart and effective. He also draws on his experience as an industry educator, running an advanced Google Ads training programme for marketing professionals. When not optimising campaigns, Phil can often be found running around London’s parks or adding his voice to a local choir.

At Uchi, we’re building more than a property portal—we’re building a lifestyle brand. An “A Team” of professionals with global experience and local insight, united by one mission: to make investing in Japan’s resorts exciting, accessible, and inspiring.