Reina Ueno
Representative Director,
Japan Tairyoku Maintenance Association
Ki Alignment Practitioner
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
Co-Founder
Sammi brings over two decades of experience in global sourcing and cross-cultural leadership. She held senior management roles within the global sourcing office of a leading Australian retail group across China and Southeast Asia, and previously led teams for ten years at one of the world's largest supply chain management companies.
Having lived and worked across multiple countries, including China, the U.S. and now Portugal, her international career has been shaped by continuous engagement with different cultures, systems, and ways of life.
In recent years, her work has shifted toward facilitating communication within public-sector contexts in Portugal and the United Kingdom. Engaging with public institutions and related organizations, she contributes to communication in contexts spanning public administration and social services, including challenging contexts shaped by migration and complex support systems.
Alongside this, she continues to work across borders, connecting Portuguese ceramic products with a leading high-end brand in the United States.
Drawing on her extensive network, cross-cultural experience, and ability to bring people together, she plays a central role in shaping and developing the EN Circle. Her approach is grounded in a belief in genuine human connection beyond roles, identities, and assumptions.
