Reina Ueno
Ki Alignment Practitioner
Art of Nippon, Vice President
Representative Director, Japan Tairyoku Maintenance Association
Born in Japan with Korean roots, Reina Ueno works at the intersection of physical conditioning, postpartum care, and energy-based practice.
As the representative director of the Japan Tairyoku Maintenance Association, she leads the development and training of programs implemented across municipalities, educational institutions, and corporations in Japan.
As a Ki Alignment Practitioner, she offers sessions focused on restoring balance and natural flow from within. Her sessions are primarily offered through private referrals within a small, trusted circle of clients.
She is known for her ability to host, connect people, and naturally create meaningful spaces where relationships can emerge.
Through her travels around the world, she has explored diverse food cultures, and shares additive-free home cooking rooted in Japanese and Korean traditions — with a focus on creating connection and bringing people together around the table.
Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets in Japan, including television and print publications.
In 2023, she relocated to Portugal and, together with her husband Tatsuo Ueno, became involved in the Art of Nippon project. Through tea ceremony, kimono, and elements of food culture, she presents Japanese aesthetics and ways of living in a contemporary context. She is currently developing a tea room, creating meaningful connections — "En" — through space, culture, and human interaction.
Jayma Lyn Galiza
Owner of A Diplomata Asian Café & Catering
Jayma Lyn Galiza, known as "The Diplomata," is a Filipino entrepreneur and culinary curator based in Lisbon. She is the founder of A Diplomata Asian Café & Catering in Linda-a-Velha, where she brings people together through food rooted in Asian traditions and hospitality.
Born in the Philippines, Jayma completed her studies in Tourism and Hospitality at a prestigious college in Manila before joining her parents in Portugal in 2000. Her journey reflects years of dedication, resilience, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful human connections.
Her work moves fluidly between intimate café hosting and large-scale culinary events, where she presents a diverse range of Asian dishes as a form of "food diplomacy." She believes that food has the power to build bridges across cultures and to create spaces where people feel welcomed and connected.
Deeply grounded in her Filipino heritage, Jayma carries with her symbols of family, faith, and time — from the traditional bilao that gathers people around the table, to the wristwatch gifted by her parents, representing presence and continuity.
Within EN Circle Lisbon, she plays a central role in shaping warm, inclusive experiences that bring together people from different cultural backgrounds, fostering genuine connections through shared moments.
Sammi Pan
Public Sector Communication Facilitator
Senior Consultant in Global Sourcing
Sammi brings over two decades of experience in cross-cultural leadership, including a General Manager role in the global sourcing office of a well-known multinational retail group, as well as a decade leading teams at one of the world's largest supply chain companies. She holds an MBA in International Business and Corporate Management and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Political Economy in Lisbon.
After living across China and the U.S., in 2023, she relocated to Portugal, where her work gradually shifted toward facilitating communication within public-sector contexts.
Working as an independent communication facilitator, she engages with institutions across Portugal and the UK, contributing to communication within public administration and social services, including complex contexts shaped by migration and multi-layered systems.
She is one of the founders of EN Circle Lisbon. Drawing on her extensive network and ability to bring people together, she plays a central role in shaping the community. Her approach is grounded in a belief that genuine human connection exists beyond roles, identities, and labels.
Photo credit: Olga Cojocaru
