Born in Japan and currently renovating a 240 year farm house in NJ. Starting a mini rescue currently. I became a vegetarian at 13 after doing research on the fur industry. I went vegan a year later (in the 90s, in Texas, with a German mom!). This was back when whole foods basically had tofu and soymilk and no one knew how to pronounce vegan. Well- a lot has changed in 30 years. It does make a difference!