Happy Staff

Happy Staff

Staff

Happy Raft Staff

Come meet the Happyraft team, full of life, happiness and good nature, here to provide safe fun adventures in the wilderness of Japans Shikoku Island.
Our team is rich in experience and skills gathered from years of experience not only in the local region but also around the planet. Our team enjoy entertaining the customers and making sure their experiences are the best they can be. So have a read about the crew below and when you come for an adventure with us don’t be shy, just come say hi.

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Happy Safety

The Happyraft team, rich in experience and constantly maintaining their qualifications. Which is great, because we take our tour security and safety is one of our main priorities.
[Main qualifications]
  • RAJ/Japan River Guide Association
  • CIC/International Federation of Canyoning
  • NZRA/New Zealand Rafting Association
  • IRF/World Rafting Federation certification

The Staff

TERU
桂川輝彦
experience：21yrs
nationality：Japan(Gifu)
Teru is new boss and one of the founding members of HappyRaft. With global experience around the world in Zambia, Uganda, Nepal, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand in the off season. Loving husband and father of two children.

"I love kayaking" is Teru's mantra. The restless search for big waterfalls and swollen creeks keeps Teru at peace. Hobbies include kayaking and fishing, eating and Tequila.
ラフティング、キャニオニング
Mark Treston
マーク　トレストン
experience：25yrs
nationality：Australia(Cairns)
Founder of Happyraft. Born in 1973 Mark comes from Cairns, Australia.He now lives in the village of Iwahara, on the island of Shikoku Japan. Living in a house in the hills with spectacular views over looking the mighty Yoshino river is the place he now calls home. A lover of the outdoors Mark enjoys rugby, snowboarding and any sport that involves water.With 20+ seasons of rafting and canyoning both internationally and locally gives Mark a well rounded level of experience that has seen Happyraft become the most popular destination for rafting and canyoning in the region.
★'95～'04：Cains RNR Rafting(AU),Guide/SK ★'97～'00：Ultimate Descents(NP)･Wedge Raft(CA),Guide/SK ★'97～'04：Gunma River･Yoshino River(JP),Guide/SK ★'04～:Happy Raft(JP),Guide/SK/owner☆彡
ラフティング、キャニオニング
KOBU
武安洋平
experience：18yrs
nationality：Japan(Hokkaido)
Another one of our international guides the smiley round face of Kobu is always there to please. Busy during the summer with HappyRaft while winter sees him taking time off to relax and have a break. Last winter saw Kobu in Bali surfin it up. Surfing is one his hobbies along with eating.
ラフティング
TAKA
斎藤　隆史
experience：10yrs
nationality：Japan(Kanagawa)
Takashi has been with us for a few years, coming from Okinawa where he gave up his original trade as a fisherman. He now adds his artistic talents to the HappyRaft Base and keeps our customers entertained and safe down the river and in the canyon.
★'12～'13：Raver's Expedition(IN),Guide/SK
★'15～'16：Kaitiaki Adventure(NZ),Guide/SK
★'16～'17：Himalayan Travels(IN),Guide/SK
★'16～'17：Adventure Aves(NP),Guide/SK
ラフティング、キャニオニング
SHINJI
佐野真司
experience：9yrs
nationality：Japan(Mt.Fuji)
世界遺産　富士山の麓からやってきた期待の新人。日本一の大馬鹿野郎。FUJIYAMA級の馬鹿さ加減を証明する武勇伝？には絶句。現在、人間世界遺産に申請中。ニュージーランドの南島RangitataRiverでラフティング修行を積んで帰国後、小歩危の激流で毎日奮闘中。カヤックも頑張ってます。応援よろしくお願いします。サクセーーッス！！
趣味：寝坊・食いしん坊
特技：富士宮焼きそばを振る舞う
不得意：静かに食べる
★'11～'12：Rangitata Rafting(NZ),Training
ラフティング
AMI-GO
木元亜実
experience：12yrs
nationality：Japan(Hyogo)
ハッピーラフトのアイドルあみちゃん♥　みんなに愛されるお茶目なあみーご。群馬水上でラフティングしたり北海道に行ったりニュージーランドに行ったり　世界各国を駆け巡りいろんな経験積んでます。
★'11：Adventure Aves(NP),Guide/SK
★'12：Troll Aktiv(NO),Guide/SK
★'12～'13：Rio Aventura(AR),Guide/SK
★'14：Action whitewater adventure(US),Guide/SK
★'15～'17：Queenstown Rafting(NZ),Guide/SK
and Mexico,Costarica etc...!
ラフティング
HIRO
長瀬厚諒
experience：10yrs
nationality：Japan(Hokkaido)
He started working with HappyRaft in 2015. He is a good guy.
He loves to party and enjoy life! He is young but has good experience.

His motto is 'Yoshino river is awesome!!!'
ラフティング
TOMO
三木大幸
experience：6yrs
nationality：Japan(Hyogo)
笑顔が素敵なさわやかボーイ。冬はオーストラリアでバナナ農園で働いてます！
ゲストハウスてるやの住人兼管理人してます。一緒に遊びましょー！
ラフティング
YURI
安永有里子
experience：5yrs
nationality：Japan(Tottori)
いつも何をしてても楽しい！と若さと笑顔がはじける24歳！ぴっちぴちー
今年からラフティングレースの女子チーム「リバーフェイス」に参入し、より筋肉に磨きをかける。
飛び込み競技をしていたこともあり、ゆりの飛び込みは吉野川ガイドいち！日本一？！
みんな一緒にあそぼーよー楽しいよー！！
特技　　笑い続けること　飛び込み
苦手　　虫！虫！虫！
ラフティング、ランチ
CHELSEY
チェルシー
experience：4yrs
nationality：Canadian
She is used to the cold waters of Canada, but loves the challenges of the Japanese heat and the mighty Yoshino River! (Maybe she made this comment when it was very hot). She is excited to train for canyoning as well!

★'16-'17：REO Rafting(CA),Guide
★'17-'18：Hidden Valleys(NZ), Guide
★'18：HappyRaft(JP),Guide
ラフティング
Ellie
エリー
experience：16yrs
nationality：Kochi local
Daughter of Mark the founder, Ellie's been working at Happyraft since she was in daipers, always keeping the Happy vibe up around the base. She is our longest standing lunch girl since Happyraft began. When shes not helping at the Happyraft base she's at school or performing somewhere dancing or riding her unicycle.
ランチ
KANA
桂川加奈恵
experience：8yrs
nationality：Japan(Tokushima)
Happyraft's managing director Kana.
Formaly a nurse, she has changed her job and come to help us out at HappyRaft. Mother of Hiroto and Akari and wife to Teru, she helps keep things under control. We welcome her to HappyRaft and her helping family spirit that we love.
ランチ、オフィス
SACHI
サチ
experience：16yrs
nationality：Japan(Tokyo)
She is founder of HappyRaft with Mark, Mark's wife. Keeping the gears oiled and things running smoothly is what keeps Sachi busy. She may be wee in stature but tall in power and knowledge. She makes sure the team is firing all day long and is always doing a million things at once. Her hobbies involve horses and traveling around to strange countries on extremely large motorbikes...
トレストン佐知
ランチ、オフィス
NANACO
七個
experience：7yrs
nationality：Kochi local
受付、キッチン、ランチガール、デザイナーとなんでもこなす、アートなハチキン。一見取りつきにくそうに見えるけど、じいちゃん、ばあちゃん思いの心優しい娘。ハッピーラフトにあるカラフルなオブジェの数々はななこの作品。小物、雑貨をこよなく愛するハッピーラフト美術部　副部長。
特技　よさこい
趣味　雑貨
ランチ、オフィス
ＫＯＴＴＹ
越村直子
experience：7yrs
nationality：Japan(Tokyo)
生まれてくる国を間違えてしまった！？天パ、黒こげ。東京出身コッティーです。
「こ」こぞという時には　「し」っかりしている　「む」つかしい道も　「ら」ららら～って　「な」がれていける　「お」りじなるスタイル　「こ」ってぃむらです！
好きなもの　チョコミント　太陽
好きなこと　探検♬　
苦手　車の運転
ランチ、オフィス
A-CHAN
多田梓
experience：9yrs
nationality：Kochi local
はちきんガール。小さな体にかわいらしいお顔。自然と田舎が大好きで、HappyRaftの近くの古民家を借りて、ゲストハウスをやってます。ピザ釜つくってピザ焼いたり、古民家のリフォームを自分でやってみたり、バイタリティー溢れる女の子。シーズオフは、インドにヨガの勉強に行ったり、今年も単身南米旅行してました。また今年も一緒に遊びましょ。
ラフティング、ランチ
YUKI
ゆき
experience：5yrs
nationality：Japan(Shizuoka)
She helps keeps things moving nicely in the office!
ランチ、オフィス
SAYOSAN
さよさん
experience：16yrs
nationality：Kochi local
ベーグル作りのマスター。本名は「小夜子」っていう、なんともかわいい名前。
とってもはずかしがりやなので、お客さんがいると隠れてしまってなかなか見ることができない、レアキャラクター。
もし見つけたら、さよさんベーグルおいしかったよー　と一声かけてあげて下さい！

特技　太極拳
苦手　人前
ランチ
MARU
福井敏之
experience：18yrs
nationality：Japan(Hyogo)
Our head canyoning guide Maru, is recently a dad! You can't miss Maru as he's the one usually sporting a Mohawk (sometimes in various colours).
Extremely fun and smiling all the time Maru keeps our canyoneers safe and happy. (PS. He also guides rafts if you're lucky as well)
ラフティング、キャニオニング

STAFF WANTED

Shikoku, Japans largest and best rafting river for all around summer fun, we at Happyraft are always on the lookout for experienced and qualified river guides that are looking for an overseas experience with a busy rafting company.
Based in a mountainous region with access to plenty of activities, good times and above all, a fun work environment.
If you are planning on being in Japan for a whole year we can potentially hook you up with some winter madness in some of the world famous Japanese ski areas as well.

We support our guides with accomodation, great wages and good fun Japanese style times.
If you would like to come and be a Happyraft guide please get in touch with us.
Basic wage start from ¥800
Guide rate paid on per trip basis