Masako Hashigami Shinn grew up in Tokyo and moved to the U.S. after graduating from International Christian University (ICU). She pursued graduate studies in the U.S. and then worked in the finance industry, primarily in New York City. After retiring from finance, she focused on studying history, art, and design, publishing works in both Japanese and English. Masako is actively involved in various organizations, serving on the boards of the Japan ICU Foundation and Hawaii Contemporary. She was previously a board member of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art and the Japan Society in New York City. She currently resides in both New York and Honolulu.