Sonoi Oho is a Japanese entrepreneur, cancer survivor, Masters swimmer, and advocate for people living with cancer.
She is the founder and CEO of a software development company and has worked in the IT industry for more than 25 years. Her professional background includes software development, cybersecurity, business consulting, and digital communication.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and experiencing a recurrence in 2017, Sonoi has continued treatment while rebuilding her life, career, and physical strength.
One important part of that journey has been swimming.
After a 38-year break, Sonoi returned to competitive swimming. She began swimming again to regain strength, manage the effects of treatment, and reconnect with herself through movement.
In 2024, she won the women’s 50-meter freestyle event at the Japan Masters Short Course Championships in Saitama. In 2025, she competed in the 100-meter freestyle at the World Aquatics Masters Championships in Singapore, placing 33rd in her age group.
Through Masters Swimmer WITH CANCER, Sonoi shares her journey as a Cancer Swimmer and connects with people who are returning to sport, movement, and themselves after cancer.
She is also the co-founder of GanKoko, an online learning community in Japan where people living with cancer, family members, and healthcare professionals can learn together.
GanKoko offers practical, reliable, and compassionate information on cancer care, treatment, daily life, and decision-making.
Sonoi also writes and speaks about self-resilience, caregiving, aging, AI, and the ways technology can become a trusted companion during difficult stages of life.
Her work is guided by a simple belief:
Back in the pool, back to myself.