Hello! We are Alex and Ryuhei from Vancouver, Canada. Thank you for taking time to get to know us! We are beyond excited to be considered as potential parents to your child and commit to providing the most encouraging and loving home. We know how difficult it must be making such a decision and are grateful to be given this opportunity to share a little bit about ourselves.

Both of us have known from a young age that we would someday become parents. Having both grown up surrounded by a loving and nurturing family, we want nothing more than to provide that same experience to your child. We have put a lot of thought and planning into the decision to move forward with becoming parents and feel that we are now more than ready to take on the exciting and challenging role of parenting.

Ryuhei was spending a year studying abroad in Canada, where Alex was born and raised. We quickly formed a strong connection however a few months later Ryuhei had to return to Japan as his visa was set to expire. Having already fallen in love, it was not an option to forever be apart so Alex made the decision to pack up and move to Japan. While life living in a foreign country was challenging at times (for the two of us) we knew that we could rely on one another for love and support. Eventually the time came when Alex’s visa expired and he had to return to Canada. During these times of separation we would travel back and forth between Canada and Japan until eventually Ryuhei was able to become a permanent resident in Canada, in 2015.

I grew up on the outskirts of a small town, surrounded by fruit orchards and vineyards and a short walk from the beach. We had a family restaurant on the same property and to be honest I could not have asked for a better childhood. As a child I would spend almost all of my time outdoors, exploring, building tree forts, setting up roadside businesses selling drinks and ice cream. I can’t wait to become a father and provide this kind of upbringing for them as well!

Though I now live in the city I have never lost that appreciation for the outdoors and when deciding on a place to raise a family insisted that it provide ample outdoor space for a child to play and explore. Today, I still enjoy exploring but more in the form of travel and learning about different cultures. My hobbies include exercise, gardening, spending time with friends and family and trying new cafes and restaurants around town. I work for the Federal Government of Canada in law enforcement, a career I find very rewarding and one that has great benefits.

Alex is the most kind and selfless person I have ever known. He puts the needs of others first and will never turn someone down in a time of need. He is someone his friends know they can turn to and is very loyal.

I know how important it is for Alex to become a parent and I’m certain that your child, should you choose us, will be given all the love and attention they could ever need. Alex has strong values and always conducts himself with integrity. It is important to Alex to instill those strong values of thoughtfulness and kindness through his actions. I have seen how he interacts with his niece and nephew and can see the joy in his eyes (and their’s) whenever they spend time together.

I grew up in Osaka, Japan, and permanently relocated to Canada in 2015. My childhood was filled with laughter and love and I was usually the one making everyone laugh! That desire to entertain continues today as I am known amongst my friends as the funny one.

Since 2013 I have worked as a flight attendant, first in Japan and then Canada. When the pandemic lead to me being laid off in 2020 I took that opportunity to create a YouTube channel about my life as a Japanese flight attendant living in Canada and continue to create content despite now being back at work. Being a flight attendant comes with great travel perks and thus Alex & I like to travel whenever we can.

Despite being away from my friends and family in Japan I maintain those relationships and often return to Japan to visit. I hope to introduce Japanese (and other) cultures to my future child.

He is a wonderful husband who is very supportive and who encourages me to be my best. He has a fun and quirky quality that has proven to be very popular with the children he comes into contact with!

Ryuhei is definitely someone who goes all in when he commits to doing something. And I’m sure that same drive will take over when he becomes a parent. From day one I could see how important family is to him as well. He will drop everything when someone is in need and can always be relied upon. I can’t wait to see Ryuhei become a father.

We moved into our current home about 5 years ago and specifically chose it with children in mind. Our home is located in what was recently rated the best neighborhood in the entire metro area of Vancouver. We are on the edge of a historic fishing village which is located within a suburb of Vancouver. We back on to a park and can see the ocean from our upstairs window. There are a number of parks and playgrounds which are walking distance from our home as are schools, shops, a community centre, pool and other amenities. Also a must for us when choosing our home was access to nature. It really is as close as you can get to nature while still being in the city. Vancouver is just a short drive from the US and we are just two hours north of Seattle.

Our neighborhood has a real community feel and we have weekly BBQs or just hang-outs with our neighbors. Vancouver is very culturally diverse and our friends and neighbors come from all different backgrounds.

We come from very different backgrounds but we see that as a plus! Alex has an older sister with two children of her own with whom we often spend time with. Alex is also very close with him mum who often visits or puts us up when we visit her in Alex’s home town, Penticton. Nothing makes us more happy than spending time with our niece and nephew! Alex’s father (who is no longer with us) and brother in-law both were adopted and thus we have a family history in which adoption is accepted and openly discussed.

Ryuhei is an only child but grew up surrounded by extended family. His mum and aunt, with whom he is most close to, usually come for an annual trip to Canada from Japan and we try to visit as often as we can.

While there are cultural differences between the two sides, that has not gotten in the way of being one big happy family and spending time together.

We do not have any preconceived ideas about how we expect our future child to be other than for them to treat others with respect, kindness and compassion. We commit to being there to support your child as they grow and develop, inevitably face challenges, but eventually set and achieve their goals. Growing up and coming to terms with the fact that we are gay, in a world that didn’t fully accept us, brought with it a number of challenges. Having faced that challenge, along with others such as adapting to life living in a foreign country and others that we all face, we feel that we are perhaps extra sensitive to the potential struggles that an adopted child, or any child, might face. We strive to have an open dialogue with each other and with our child and encourage discussion on topics that children may not always feel comfortable speaking to their parents about. We want our child to know they can come to us without fear or shame. We also have a strong support network of friends and family, many of whom have children of their own. We both have flexible work schedules and options to take extensive parental leave.

Thank you for taking the time to get to know a little bit about us! Nothing is more important to us than providing a loving and supportive home. We commit to giving every opportunity to your child so that they may choose their own life path, while being fully supported by us.