Junko Wong is the president and founder of Cross World Connections, a creative agency representing thirty illustrators exclusively for work in Japan since 1991. In 1997, she established CWC-International in New York City and started representing illustrators worldwide. In 2000, CWC along with Gina Garan and Takara, was also responsible for the revival of Blythe, a doll that was manufactured for only one year in 1972.

In Dec 1999, Junko was shown photographs of Blythe by Gina Garan at an art opening at Zakka, in lower Manhattan, for the artists of CWC-International. Excited by the potential for Blythe in Japan, Junko made a presentation to Parco, a long-time client. Blythe beat out many high-profile actresses to become the image girl for the 2000 Christmas campaign. A fifteen second stop-action TV commercial was made and Blythe was instantly visible on a national scale. Blythe was the image girl for Parco until the summer of 2001 and then the first neo-Blythe doll, designed by CWC and produced by Takara was released. This doll sold out on the first day. CWC has subsequently gone on to design over 50 neo-Blythes and 60 Petite Blythes, the diminutive incarnation of the 11 3/4 inch doll in addition to numerous Blythe goods such as stationary, diaries, apparel, bags, and books.

The leader of the design and production team for Blythe, Junko hopes to keep building a strong foundation so that Blythe has a long life.

Junko was born in Bangor, Maine. Her mother was a dancer with Takarazuka (see the movie SAYONARA with Marlon Brando for details) and her father was in the US Air Force, based in Osaka when they met. Junko moved to Japan before she was one and then in first grade, moved to Honolulu. She graduated from the University of Hawaii with a BFA in Photo and Design. Junko has lived in Japan since 1983.

Before founding Cross World Connections in 1991, Junko was a freelance producer of international exhibitions and art projects. The “Crossings ‘86” exhibition between Japan and Hawaii encompassed over a hundred artists and 20 galleries and museums in Hawaii and Japan. She began her career representing seminal graphic designer Neville Brody, artist Jamie Reid (creator of the Sex Pistol collage graphics), and illustrator Isabelle Dervaux.

Currently a hula dancer and teacher in Tokyo, Junko was a member of a team from Japan that won the first Japan Kamehameha Hula Competition in Okinawa. They then went on to represent Japan in the Honolulu Kamehameha Hula Contest in 2000. In 2004, with the Hula Malamalama of Kona, Junko danced in competition at the Merry Monarch Hula Festival, the most prestigious hula contest, in Hilo.