Nao Hidaka Kato

Hi, I'm Nao, a data journalist.

I studied data journalism in 2021 at Columbia Journalism School

My byline mostly appears in The Asahi Shimbun, a Japanese daily newspaper.

You can reach me by email.

==Skills==

Python (pandas, bs4, selenium, OCR), Postgres/SQL, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premiere Pro, QGIS, HTML, CSS, opensource interactive chart tools (datawrapper, flourish, etc..)

Writing (Japanese & English), editing, photography, video, social media strategy, Adobe Analytics

==Select Work==

Water Accident Hotspot Map (Japan)

A nationwide map of water-related accidents over the past decade, based on an independent analysis of 10,000 cases that reveals high-risk areas and highlights safety measures for rivers and seas. The project received the Content Division Award at the Internet Media Awards 2025. (Jul. 2024)

Air Raids on Japan: Wartime Memories

A special feature on U.S. air raids in 1945, showing rare aerial photos of Kobe, Tokyo, and Osaka devastated by urban bombing. (Mar. 2025)

Unresolved Murder Cases in Japan

Coverage of at least 369 unresolved murder cases across Japan, preserving the record so that tragic crimes are not forgotten. (Jul. 2025)

Letters from Death Row Inmate: Hakamata’s Letters

A digital feature showcasing thousands of letters Hakamada wrote to his family from the 1960s through the ’90s—providing testimony to his decades-long fight for justice, mental decline, and unbroken claim of innocence. The project won the Grand Prize at the Japan Typography Annual 2025. (May 2024)

Disney and Pixar won Oscar More than Ever

Winners used to be diverse, but giant studios now dominate the golden statuette. (Apr. 2022)

Sea Urchin is a Beloved Sushi Topping in Japan—Find Out the Best State to Try it in the United States

The Golden State may be the best bet, but local urchins are becoming increasingly expensive due to climate change. (Mar. 2022)

Figure skaters now play diverse songs on ice, See top skaters' choice of music

Classical music used to be standard skating songs. Men’s figure skating programs at this year’s Olympics were particularly musically eclectic. (Feb. 2022)

International students in Ukraine need more help as Russian intensifies attack

While the Russian invasion continues, Ukranians are not the only ones fleeing the country—those who came here to study are also trying to escape. (Mar. 2022)

Rodent Complaints Come From Everywhere in New York City

In New York City, more than 21,000 rat sightings were reported to 311 from January to November 2021—a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2019. Though outdoor dining sheds were speculated to be a factor, the data indicate a different scope. (Mar. 2022)

The Untold Massacre: Wealthy Black Neighborhoods Devastated (article in Japanese)

In 1921, a white mob destroyed Tulsa’s prosperous Greenwood District, also known as “Black Wall Street.” The Tulsa Massacre went largely unacknowledged for decades, even in the United States. Inflammatory media coverage fueled the violence, making it one of the deadliest acts of racial violence in U.S. history. (Jul. 2021)

How A Japanese Top Idol Made It in Mexico(article in Japanese)

Anna Iriyama, a Japanese idol, singer, and member of the Japanese top idol group AKB48, challenged herself to act in a Mexican telenovela. Although she did not speak Spanish, she moved from Japan on her own and took another step in her career. (May 2021)

"Parasite" Thoroughly Explained: Unveil Cultural Contexts Behind the Scene(article in Japanese)

A Korean film critic explains every detail of the Academy Award–winning "Parasite". I directed and filmed the interview clip. (Feb. 2021)