Mai Ayano, adoptive guardian and legally recognized grandmother of Toh Ayano, serves as CEO of Aphro I Dite, a global fashion empire and Japan’s largest fashion conglomerate. Renowned as a trailblazing designer and industry icon, her silver shoulder-length hair and light brown eyes mirror the sharp elegance defining her professional stature.

After discovering Toh orphaned in Paris, she adopted him, dedicating two decades to personally training him in design, cultivating his prodigious skill. Though Toh believed surpassing her historic Geika Institute Fashion Festival record was a prerequisite for her approval, Mai clarified the challenge was his own creation, affirming her willingness to grant him independence regardless of results. When he fell short, she critiqued his stylistic dependency yet persisted in fostering his evolution, offering him substantial creative freedom within Aphro I Dite—a decision that ultimately led him to depart and launch his own brand.

Her leadership merges unyielding standards with discerning mentorship. She elevated Ikuto Tsumura from patternmaker to chief designer of Aphro I Dite’s novice division, exemplifying her knack for spotting and empowering raw talent. Pragmatic yet invested, she prioritizes proteges’ growth over conventional trajectories, balancing corporate rigor with subtle advocacy for autonomy.

Behind her austere exterior lies a strategic visionary who shaped Aphro I Dite into an industry titan. Subtle acts—like permitting Toh’s experimental projects despite his setbacks—underscore her commitment to nurturing self-reliance alongside excellence, a philosophy cementing her legacy as both a corporate force and a cultivator of innovation.