My Profile

Certified Laughter Leader, March 2006

Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, September 2006

Master Trainer, December 2012

Director, Laughter Yoga Japan

Originally from Boulder, Colorado, in the U.S., Mary has lived in Japan since 1973. After receiving both her BA and MA from International Christian University in Tokyo, Mary worked for over 20 years as a teacher in Japanese high schools and universities and as an editor for the bilingual monthly, CNN English Express. A mother of three grown children and a grandmother of two, Mary has also been closely involved with her local Japanese community and schools for years.

Mary is known as the mother of the LY movement in Japan, having founded its first two laughter clubs and trained Japan’s first 200 leaders and many since. She organised Dr. Kataria’s first trip to Japan in March 2008. Dedicated to supporting the “grassroots growth” of the LY movement in Japan, Mary has maintained the Laughter Yoga Japan website since 2006, as well as two national mailing lists whereby the community could keep in touch and support each other’s growth. These efforts grew into the nonprofit organisation Laughter Yoga Japan, which was recognized by the Japanese government and registered in September 2011.

Mary and her husband/LY leader, Takashi Tadokoro, in addition to their clubs, work together bringing laughter to numerous organisations in Tokyo and throughout Japan. They also help to organise and/or participate in several national and regional leader events throughout the year.