Hiroko Bell

Hiroko is a Japanese ATCK and a mother of two CCKs living in New York City. She is the founder of UpTCK, where she provides TCK care for Japanese expat families in New York, Japan, and worldwide.

Hiroko was born in Japan, moved back and forth between the U.S. and Japan several times during her formative years before repatriating at age fourteen. She recalls repatriation as the most difficult transition of all. She also lived in England for a year as an exchange-student, which turned out to be a significant year of self-discovery.

She worked in Tokyo, bridging people from diverse cultural backgrounds while working on advertising film production, until she found “home” in New York City with her husband.

It wasn’t until her 40s that she discovered the term Third Culture Kid. When she did, she couldn’t help but wish she had learned about TCKs much earlier in life. This realization led her to pursue ways to support TCK teens and their families in New York, Japan, and around the world as they navigate their identities and life transitions.

In 2024, she trained with TCK Training to deepen her understanding of the latest science and research-based preventative care for Japanese TCKs and their families. She is dedicated and excited to make a positive impact on the global Japanese community.