Sachiko is a Japanese-American with an insatiable appetite for good story. She understands character motivation on a deep level and can help you dig deeper into your character than you thought possible. Best of all, she’ll do it with her trademark enthusiasm and deep-heart kindness. Plus, if you need someone to spread punfetti through your manuscript, Sachiko has a party cannon for that.
Sachiko grew up in the Japanese-American community, both in Japan and stateside, and is the daughter of a Japanese-born, fully fluent father. She’s worked as a sensitivity reader with multiple authors, illustrators, and game designers, including Penguin, Asmodee, Abrams Books, Choice of Games, and Harper Collins.
Sachiko loves sensitivity reading, but she’s also a fan of developmental edits. Whether your story has character problems or plot holes, Sachiko always finds the right questions to ask to guide you to a better story. She particularly loves world building and character motivations.
Sachiko has yet to meet a genre she didn’t like, but she will absolutely make you katsu if your story has megafauna.
If she’s not reading or writing, Sachiko is probably fostering kittens and forgetting to give them away, working magic over the grill, or practicing yoga to connect to the divine feminine.
A masterful punster, don’t be shocked if your line edits contain some funny treats.
Her favorite books are DUNE by Frank Herbert and TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG by Connie Willis.
Learn from Sachiko!
Sachiko’s sensitivity reader work currently only includes editorial sensitivity reads.
Sensitivity / Expert
- Japanese-American characters, history, and issues, including hafu/quafu life
- White-presenting mixed-race; minority culture
- Large family life, homeschooling
- Traumatic childbirth, child loss, and grief
- Christianity, Puritanism, and religious sensitivity; post-Mormon concerns
- Trauma, sexual abuse/assault, PTSD, self-harm and suicidal ideation
- Recovery life and therapy
- Military life (specifically USAF)
- Body positivity, fatphobia, and fat activism
- Eating disorders
- Special needs children, specifically: failure-to-thrive, genetic issues, and early intervention
- Abusive relationships
- Mental inpatient care
Preferred Genres
Fantasy Sci-Fi Romcom
Avoided Genres
None!
What Clients Say
This was my first time hiring a sensitivity reader, and I was honestly a little nervous going into this process. But I knew this was something I needed to do to make sure the work resonated with the communities I’m writing about, in particular Japanese-Americans, in all their complex and diverse nuances. I was incredibly moved by the feedback I received from Sachiko, and I’m so relieved to have gone through this process, especially for a book like mine that deals heavily with identity, race in America, and displacement. I can’t recommend her highly enough. I will definitely reach out for her services again with a future manuscript, and I hope others will seek her out as well.
This is my second time working with Salt & Sage and they have been a delight both times. Prompt, helpful, and with great insights for my stories. Sachiko was particularly delightful to work with–her comments were funny and thoughtful by turn, and not only is my story better for them, but I feel validated as a writer.