Interview: Music, Fashion, Wine, and Sado Island
— The Versatile Career Story of Satomi SHIDA
After studying music in Paris, gaining experience in the apparel industry, and eventually pursuing a path in winemaking, Ms. Satomi SHIDA now wears two hats on Sado Island — that of a career consultant and a bistro owner. Having navigated several major turning points, she has built a career that truly reflects who she is. We spoke with her about her journey so far and what lies ahead.
— First, could you tell us about your current work?
On weekdays, I work as a career consultant at the Sado office of “relative,” located in a shared workspace near Ryōtsu Port. On weekends, I run a bistro on Sado Island.“
― What was a major turning point in your career?
There have been several, but the most significant was when I quit my job in fashion in Paris and moved to the countryside to enter the wine industry.
It was a complete shift — from the city to the countryside, and from selling clothes to making wine.
― You originally studied music in France, right?
Yes. I graduated from a music university and had been working in both performance and teaching. However, an injury made it difficult to continue performing, and I was forced to look for a new path.
I had originally planned to return to Japan after graduation, but over time, my work and connections in France grew stronger than those back home, and I decided to stay.
I made up my mind to settle in Paris because I was deeply attracted to its cultural richness and sense of freedom. The energy of a city where you can meet people from all over the world just by stepping outside really suited me. I fell in love with everything — the people, the history, and the culture.
Then, after my injury, when I started thinking about what to do next, I remembered my long-standing love for clothing and fashion. At just the right time, I found a brand that was looking for someone fluent in both Japanese and French for a sales position, and I was fortunate enough to be hired.
I started working for the knitwear brand Eric Bompard and later spent six years at Saint Laurent.
― What inspired your move into the world of wine?
It all started with meeting my partner. He is a winemaker, and I’ve always had a deep love for food and wine. Through him, my interest in wine grew even stronger, and I began to feel that I wanted to learn more and work alongside him. That’s what led me to make a complete career change.
We’re now based in Arbois, in the Jura region of eastern France, near the Swiss border.
― You met your partner, who is also a winemaker. Did you work at a winery together?
Yes, that’s right. I worked at the winery with him.
We were involved in every step of the process — growing the grapes, making the wine, and selling it.
During harvest season, about twenty people would come to help with the hand-picking, but aside from that, it was just the two of us doing everything.
― What made you decide to move to Sado, Japan?
The idea actually came from my partner at the time. I had never really thought about leaving France.
When we found out that we were expecting a child, he said he wanted our child to experience Japanese culture. He also wanted to explore a freer way of making wine.
However, we learned about the pregnancy right after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. My family home is in Ibaraki, and from the perspective of people in France and Europe, the disaster was absolutely devastating. Many wondered what would become of Japan. There was even talk that the Kanto region might not be safe anymore.
So, even though we knew we were going to have a baby, we decided not to live in Ibaraki. While talking to friends who had studied wine in France and looking at maps of Japan together, we noticed an island off the coast of the Sea of Japan.
We thought, “We’d love to live on an island! It looks wonderful.” Encouraged by a rice farmer we met through a blog who had also relocated there, we learned more about Sado and were captivated by its nature and culture.
Eventually, we packed four suitcases and moved.
The Beginning of Bistro La Barque de Dionysos
Because wine takes time to make, we decided to first open a place where people could at least get to know the wines we were working with.
We started a bistro serving French home-style dishes and bistro cuisine made with local Sado ingredients, pairing them with our wines.
La Barque de Dionysos is a fully reservation-based bistro.
At that time, even though Niigata today has a growing wine culture, it was still very much a region where sake dominated.
We thought it would be nice to have a place where people could get to know wine.
So while working in the vineyard, we decided to open a restaurant.
― From there, what led you to become a career consultant?
Through the pandemic and various life changes, I encountered the world of career consulting.
“There was a company based in Sado that focused on career support. I felt that kind of work could really contribute to revitalizing the island.”
Now, I work online with job seekers, supporting each person’s career aspirations.
― As someone who has experienced working and changing careers abroad before returning to Japan, what message would you share with younger people thinking about taking a similar leap?
I believe it’s important not to be afraid of change. No matter which path you choose, things won’t always be easy, and fear often holds us back from taking the first step.
But five or ten years down the road, if you look back and think, “I wish I’d tried,” it’s already too late. That sense of regret can be much heavier than the fear you feel before trying. That’s why, when you feel inspired to do something, I think it’s vital to take the leap without hesitation.
And when you take that step, there will always be someone on the other side of your effort — whether it’s a customer, a colleague, or a collaborator. Skills and knowledge are important, of course, but even more essential is the ability to sense what the other person wants, what they’re thinking, and where they want to go. Anticipating that and acting on it makes all the difference.
(Her words have weight precisely because Ms. Satomi SHIDA has lived through study abroad, career changes, and the balance of parenting and work.)
― You’ve managed both motherhood and your career. Do you have any advice for those considering a career move while raising children?
It really depends on the industry, but I think it’s sometimes important to be brave enough to let yourself focus on your child when they’re very young. Many women worry about career gaps, but the early years with your child never come back. Spending that precious time together and then gradually building your “second career” as the child grows — that’s a healthy way to look at both motherhood and work.
If you push yourself too hard thinking, “I have to advance my career even though I have children,” you may start to see your child as a burden, which can create unnecessary pressure for both of you. So rather than “giving up,” I think drawing clear boundaries and maintaining emotional space are key to truly balancing both family and career.
― What do you hope to achieve in the next three to five years?
When I think about the next five or ten years, I want more working professionals to come to Sado. As a career consultant, I’ll keep doing everything I can to support that goal.
At our bistro, many visitors have told us that they’ve discovered the beauty and charm of Sado through our food and wine. Through that experience as well, I hope to continue sharing what makes Sado special.
By developing these two efforts — career support and the bistro — side by side, I hope to help create opportunities for people to return to Sado or choose it as their new home. Our Sado office currently has three members, but I’m excited for the day we grow to five, then ten.
In particular, I’d love to build our base together with young people who have left Sado once and are now coming back. By combining their fresh perspectives on Sado’s future with our ongoing projects, I’m sure we can continue to grow and explore new possibilities.
― Finally, do you have a motto or guiding phrase that you live by?
“Live in the moment.”
We often hear that setting clear goals and planning for the future is important — and of course it is — but life rarely goes exactly as planned. I think that’s what makes it beautiful.
By sincerely engaging with the people and circumstances right in front of you, and by taking each day as it comes, you can eventually build a life that truly feels your own.
Editor’s note:
Ms. Satomi SHIDA’s career journey — from music, to fashion, to wine, to hospitality, and now to consulting — embodies a life of crossing boundaries, both cultural and professional.
What remains constant is her openness to people and her courage to embrace change.
For anyone considering a career transition, her story offers not just inspiration, but a reminder of the power of curiosity, empathy, and action.
Thank you very much, Ms. Satomi SHIDA.
If you’re considering a career move or exploring new opportunities in the luxury and high-end fashion industry, we’d love to hear from you.
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