Interview
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MICHIHIRO OKAZAKI, D.C. Owner and Chiropractor at Okazaki Chiropractic In March, 2024, Okazaki Chiropractic celebrated its 20th anniversary—a milestone that underscores its commitment to fostering health and wellness in the community. We caught up with Dr. Okazaki to reflect on this journey. Read More |
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SHIGEKO GARCIA Director - Four Seasons Haiku Class Sensei - Omotesenke Tea Ceremony The "Four Seasons Haiku Class" was established in San Diego, California, 50 years ago from her passion to learn, enjoy, and spread the way of haiku, a short form of Japanese poetry, throughout the United States. Read More |
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Dai Tamesue Track and Field Athlete Dai the Samurai Hurdler is demonstrating his multiple talents. Based in San Diego, with his sights set on the London Olympic Games in 2012. Read More |
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Tadahito Iguchi San Diego Padres Infielder Looking for a new start in San Diego, Tadahito Iguchi is ready to win The ideal living environment for his family is the basis of his Major League life. Read More |
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Mitsuhiro Iwamoto Former Teacher, School of Acupuncture and Manual Therapy for the Visually Impaired, University of Tsukuba Former Board Member, Japan Blind Sailing Association Mixed Teams of the Blind and the Sighted Compete in Yacht Racing “ Those who cannot see ” and “ those who can see ” live harmoniously together, creating the epitome of an ideal society. Read More |
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Dr. Kazuo Inamori Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Kyocera Corporation President, the Inamori Foundation Starting with only three million yen in capital and 28 employees, he has been devoting himself to the production of fine ceramics for half a century. The foremost factor in his success has been his continued “ strong desire.” Read More |
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Masayuki Imai Actor, Film Director The English version of the movie “The Winds of God – Kamikaze –” will be coming to the States! Listen to the young souls’ screaming for life and death.... Read More |
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Iris Yamashita Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Making her Hollywood debut as a screenwriter with “ Letters From Iwo Jima,” Iris Yamashita made her dream come true! Her delighted parents asked, “ Who's Clint Eastwood anyway? ” Read More |
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Kuniaki Miura President, Miura Education Center The right brain has the power to awaken the infinite potential and possibilities of human beings. With the “ Image Brain ” development approach, I want to help children have prosperous lives. Read More |
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Jeff Orr Director of Marketing WiMAX Forum You can think of it as a recipe for a certain dish that assures customers that it will have the same quality each time it is made. The WiMAX Forum exists to define and to document what steps need to be taken and then to verify that they have been followed. Read More |
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George Nobuichi Ekita Director-at-large Asian Business Association of San Diego Entrepre This generation and being here, we have a lot more freedom and more opportunities to do whatever we want. We are in America, and whatever you dream, you can make it come true! Read More |
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Yuko Takahashi Severson President, Kokusai Travel Chair, “ Build a Happy Japanese Retirement Home in San Diego” Project Dreaming of building a senior home where people of Japanese descent can live at ease and enjoy their retirement in San Diego, “ America’s Finest City ”.... Read More |
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Musashimaru Koyo (Fiamalu Penitani) Oyakata and 67th Yokozuna, Musahigawa-beya I think by the time I reached my late 20s I had that feeling...you know? That feeling that I could do what I wanted and whenever I walked into the ring I felt like, “I’m not losing today.” Read More |
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Brigitte Bélanger-Warner Publicist, “ O ”, Cirque du Soleil The big top was our home, because we were always traveling. So coming here (to Las Vegas) was the first time we ever had a fixed location or residence. It was a bit of a gamble on Steve Wynn’s part, but after all, this is Las Vegas! Read More |
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Michael Shanahan Director of Marketing & Communications Maritime Museum of San Diego While she wasn’t involved in any one historic event, she is directly tied toone of the most significant ongoing events in world history — the emigration of people across oceans. Nearly everyone one of us living in the United Sates can trace their ancestors back to someplace other than here. Read More |
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John Kaizan Neptune Musician - Composer - Craftsman The whole process is really remarkable and exacting, from selecting “ madake ” to crafting it. It requires a similar focus as composing a piece or a concert, but the general energy that is required is different. Read More |
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Lane Nishikawa Writer - Actor - Director “ Only the Brave ” So they were sending cops, helicopters, fire engines…we heard all of this noise and we were sitting there wondering, “What’s going on?” We thought it must be something big, and it turned out to be us. Read More |
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Chen SiTan aka the “ Chinese Prince of Taiji ” Two-Time World Taiji Champion Director Wushu Association of China There were a bunch of us and we didn’t know who was going to succeed or who would fail, but I was determined. When our teacher asked us to do something 10 times…I’d do it 20! Read More |
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Tatsuo Sasaki Principal Timpanist, San Diego Symphony Shigeko Sasaki Violinist, San Diego Symphony Life is a symphony performed by two loved ones. A talented musician couple’s journey through life. Their passion led them to open a unique music school teaching the younger generations. Read More |
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Fumiko Ishii Professor of Japanese Language and Culture, Irvine Valley College Japanese-English Simultaneous Interpreter An expert on English is being charmed by the stylishness of Japanese.... As a Japanese woman, she has chosen to live a unique life. Her lifelong career is to be a linguistic bridge between people. Read More |
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Masaru Emoto N.Y. Times Best Selling Author It’s like the chicken and the egg, which came first? If you have good water then of course it will have beneficial results for your body, soul and self. By the same token if we constantly ingest poor water it will have the opposite effect. Read More |
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Hiroko Suzuki Professional Football Player The So Cal Scorpions The irst Japanese player in women’s professional football is tackling life. Sports are a starting point to educate people and create a future for children. Read More |
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Alan Pate Antique Dealer - Curator - Author NINGYO: The Art of the Japanese Doll In many respects this is not only an overlooked form in the west -- it’s an undervalued form in Japan too. Go to Kyoto or Tokyo, bastions of Japanese culture, and they allocate so few resources to ningyo. Read More |
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Tentsukuman (formerly Hiromitsu Noriyasu) Former Yoshimoto Comedian Film Director, Street Poet No matter how much we love somebody, our love does not reach our loved ones if we can’t save the Earth. Here comes Tentsukuman, promising us a paradise filled with hope and smiles! Read More |
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Steve Okino Writer - Producer - Director “A Most Unlikely Hero” To question or to dissent is unpatriotic in a lot of people’s minds these days and we’re saying that it is the ultimate form of patriotism — to stand up for the beliefs and values and the traditions that this country was founded on and to question those that would infringe upon them. Read More |
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Terry Kennedy Manager, San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League When I left it I swore that I’d never go back — that was 13 years ago! I took a year off, went back to school, then I had to get back in. I figured it was pretty selfish of me after what all those coaches and managers had done for me that I wouldn’t give something back. Read More |
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Saburo Koga Sculptor Saburo Koga is a multi-talented artist in quest of comprehensive arts. As a passionate sculptor depicting the close relationship between humans and trees, he promotes carrying their own chopsticks to conserve natural resources, linking people throughout the world by the “ chopsticks of love.” Read More |
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John“Mac”McLaughlin President, CEO San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum Tugboats were pulling her out and as they rounded Pt. Loma and began heading north…all of a sudden Midway started pulling west. Something like that should have been impossible, but she wanted to head out to deeper water… almost as if she was trying to head back to Japan one last time! Read More |
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Martin L. Ito Pfc. 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Canon Co. Decorations: Purple Heart, Bronze Star for Valor It was awfully hard, and then there was a BAM, BAM, BAM and we started to run. The first thing you know my helmet dropped off my head and started rolling down the road with me chasin after it; I wanted that darned helmet so bad. Read More |
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Hideyuki “Andy” Hata Committee Organizer Japan Fiesta in San Diego Cross-cultural experience helped his dream come true eading to the birth of a Japan-US friendship event unique to San Diego! Hideyuki “ Andy ” Hata talks about the starting point and meaning of cultural exchange through sports. Read More |
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Chris Tashima Actor, Filmmaker Cedar Grove Productions My initial reaction was,“ Good idea! But where are we going to get the money to make a film? Come on.” Later though the light bulb went on, he was right, this was a perfect project for a short film and it had just fallen into my lap. Read More |
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Noritoshi Kanai President, Mutual Trading Co., Inc. Mr. Kanai talks about his half century as the initiator of the sushi boom in America. Turning his back on the system and the establishment, he decided to come to the US at age 41. He attributes the success of his food trading company to his experience in the military service and in student business, as well as, his meetings with people. Read More |
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Allan P. Judd Chief Pilot, Sanyo Lightship This is where I live; this is playtime. When I’m up here flying…its just wonderful. I love being at the interface between the land, the sea and the air. Right here, in the sky, over the water — this is as good as it gets. Read More |
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Yoko Inomata Ballet Dancer, San Diego Ballet Overcoming difficulties and inner conflicts, she made her dream come true. The petite Japanese ballet dancer is a big performer in America. Read More |
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Kazuyuki Mizuno Jewelry Designer Gems, the gorgeous works of art from Mother Earth — his artisanship amplifies their beauty and style. “ I want to show the power and romance that a stone has. It’s my job to highlight the customer’s charm.” Read More |
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Mike W. Arms President and Director Helen Woodward Animal Center Here at the HWAC nobody has to fear watching the life drain out of one of their friends - here we find homes for our animals, we don’ need to euthanize them, we send them to loving homes. That’s what it’s all about. Read More |
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Akira Takahashi Japanese Teacher, University of San Diego President Japanese Language Class Founder, Mongol Education Fund Teaching Japanese as a volunteer at a new high school in Mongolia, Mr. Takahashi spends a summer month when the teacher and students are connected by “ hope.” His passion for Japanese language education went beyond the US. He enjoys interacting with young people with big dreams who are the future of Mongolia. Read More |
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Yoshiko Ikezawa Costume Designer Free-spirited, original ideas keep appearing in America, the information hub of the world. “ I wish to inspire people and make them happy,” says the designer who animates her costumes. Read More |
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Lee Ann Kim San Diego Asian Film Foundation, Executive Director & Founder What Hollywood is saying is that these are really good films, but how are we going to market them because they're with Asian people! What are we going to do? I know, we’ll change the story, we’ll get non-Asian people to do it, we’ll change the title, and we’ll take out everything that made this film special. Read More |
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Stan Sakai Cartoonist - Creator of Usagi Yojimbo I was sketching in my sketch-book and I drew a rabbit with his ears tied-up. I just loved the design — so instead of Miyamoto Musashi, he became Miyamoto Usagi, a masterless samurai-rabbit, wandering the land, fighting injustice and seeking enlightenment. Read More |
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The Yoshida Brothers (Ryoichiro and Kenichi Yoshida) Tsugaru-Shamisen Players Having pursued the refinement of their art since age five, the Yoshida Brothers are shooting to stardom in traditional Japanese music. Exploring for new lures of Tsugaru-shamisen, the duo performs on the world stage. Read More |
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Dr. Edwin McDan Lecturer: Intercultural Communication San Diego State University The three major factors for success are curiosity, action, and experience. Living in Okinawa led me to communication studies. Life without adventure offers no prospects. Read More |
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Robert “Cita”Welch, Jr. Vice President of Tribal Enterprise Business Development Viejas Enterprises They estimate that there were about 25,000 of us when the first Europeans came here. By 1904 there were only 1,700 of us left, and in the 1850’s during the gold-rush times it was even legal to kill Indians. Read More |
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Sadami Imai LPGA Teaching Professional Wishing to enhance amateurs' skills to the maximum, Sadami Imai dreams of a “ Sadami Cup ” tournament. Fascinated by golf at age 45, she made up her mind to become a teaching professional and realize her potential. Read More |
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David Glanzer Director of Marketing and Public Relations San Diego Comic-Con International People don’t realize that even though we always have some big celebrities scheduled to appear like "Buffy" (Sarah Michele Geller) there’s no doubt that there will be other stars who will show up unannounced. Last year it was Halle Barry and Angelina Jolie who came at the last instant, before that it was Arnold Schwarzenegger... Read More |
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Dr. Kouzi Suzuki Ph. D., Education, President, Institute for English Yomiagezan Chairman of the Board, Institute for International Culture Exchange While promoting international understanding through soroban for over 39 years," Mr. Soroban " has contributed to right-brain development that enhances creativity. His passion for encouraging the use of soroban worldwide never ends. Read More |
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Akinori Otsuka Pitcher ･ San Diego Padres Since meeting Trevor Hoffman five years ago, Akinori Otsuka felt it was his destiny to join the Padres. As San Diego’s first Japanese Major Leaguer, Aki, “ the eighth inning man,” talks about his endless dreams and lofty ambitions. Read More |
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Tim Murphy President, CEO and Founder Elite Racing & Suzuki Rock‘n’ Roll Marathon So I was running along one morning and I thought, “ If I lived in Cleveland, I would do a marathon that would start and finish at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and do a big concert afterwards.” Of course the next day I thought, “ Yeah, but who wants to go to Cleveland.” Read More |
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Darrel “Mouse” Davis Head Coach, The San Diego Riptide Arena Football League 2 When I first started running it people used to tell me, “ You can’t do that! Can’t do what? Well you’ve got to have at least two backs in the backfield and you can’t have four wide receivers. Oh really! Why is that? Well that’s just the way it is.” Coaching was so conservative. Read More |
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Junko Yamamoto Artist, President, J. K. Studios In recreating images of her dream diary on canvas, she captures the vivid reality gushing from her visual memory. She wishes to uncover children’s potential through painting. Read More |
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Alexander Chuang Ph.D. Executive Director San Diego Chinese Historical Museum In Shanghai, there were areas controlled by the British, French and Japanese, that were off-limits to Chinese! Signs read “ Chinese and dogs not allowed ”. So a lot of people just wanted to get out and find a better life and make a living. Read More |
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Brian Remas Founder, Bike for Brains It wasn’t good news…when you can see the cyst on your x-ray from 12 feet away, you know it’s not a good thing, but I did feel kind of relieved. Finally, we knew what it was and everyone would believe me…now we needed to treat it. Read More |
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Ryuji Ishii President, AFC Corporation Creating sushi culture all over the U.S., his American dream has come true, with his rapidly growing company operating 1850 sushi bars in North America and earning 250 million. Read More |
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Yuka Sato Professional Ice Skater, Former Olympic skater and World Champion Looking ack they never really thought I was athletically talented enough to excel either... As a child I wasn’t very fast or strong... I always finished last in races and so they weren’t quite sure if skating was something that I should seriously pursue. Read More |
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Maki H. Miyahara Instructor at the Pasadena Cultural Institute Kendo Dojo, Valley Kendo Dojo, Member of All United States Kendo Federation and Southern California Kendo Federation They just tell you the basics, how to hold a Shinai, how to put on a Tenugui, and things like that. Knowing the basics is fine, but I also want to tell people the reason why you do it that way and how you defend yourself. Read More |
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Andrew Freund Founder & Director, California Sumo Association A minute later he puts his hands on the table and stands up, his eyes all big and excited, and says,“ I’m going to fight! ” I was stunned ̶ we were all stunned! Read More |
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Ted Jardine President-CEO San Diego Visitor Information Center ... a Mr. Stoner... had erected two information kiosks, one on either side of Des Moines, Iowa on Interstate 80, and I thought, “ My goodness... if you can do that commercially for Des Moines, Iowa you could do that for San Diego!” Read More |
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Mitsuyo Fukuda Principal, San Diego Japanese School, Japanese Teacher, Chula Vista Public High Schools, Japanese Instructor, State University of Baja California (UABC), Mexico Having devoted herself to her teaching career, this pioneer in Japanese schools continues teaching the Japanese language --- her way of repaying America for the opportunities. Read More |
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Yuko Maruyama Pianist - Composer It wasn’t until I was in high school that I accidentally found a cassette tape of my fathers... an Oscar Peterson album... so I listened to the tape and then I was shocked to hear the beautiful sound of jazz. Read More |
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Masayoshi Morimoto President and Chief Operating Officer of Benesse Corporation Former President of Sony Manufacturing Co. of America San Diego, Brazil - Overseas resident work experience spanning 25 years My life travels along the front lines of international strategizing. Read More |
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Dr. Pi-kwang Tsung Tsung Director, American Institute of Chinese Medicine, Chief Executive Tsung Corporation Putting behind his early memories of war chaos -- the Manchurian Incident, the Sino-Japanese War, the Pacific War, and the February 28th Incident --this ambitious freedom seeker left his homeland, Taiwan, and discovered his destiny in Chinese herbal medicine. Read More |
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Professor Martha W. Longenecker Founder - Director Mingei International Museum We’re all made up of quarks, and all of these pots, and all these textiles are made up of the same thing ̶ it’s a patterning of energy. So when you use that cup or when you pick up that bowl or wear that fabric or touch the spoon, if it’s whole, it makes you whole. Read More |
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Kotaro Nakamura San Diego State University Associate Professor, School of Art, Design, and Art History, Principal, Roesling Nakamura Architects, Inc. His creativity has bloomed in America, where true abilities and skills are appreciated, in pursuit of the profession of architecture as the “ fruit of the meaning.” Read More |
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Gary T. Ono Executive Director Documentary Video “Calling Tokyo” Japanese-American Radio Broadcasters During World War II My father, like most of the broadcasters, never mentioned anything about his WWII experience. It wasn’t until much later that I would accidentally discover the strategic and unheralded role that he and others had played for their country Read More |
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Sadako Oehler Professor of Ikenobo Ikebana, President of the Ikenobo San Diego Chapter “ No longing for home, with flowers I spend my days, amassing petals of time.” The heart of ikebana blooming on foreign soil. Read More |
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Rev. Hiroyuki Suzuki Mission Barabbas Evangelist, Siloam Christian Church Pastor, Director, Prison Fellowship Japan Gave speech during a breakfast before audience of 3,000 people, including the president. Read More |
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Raquel Giscafr Co-owner Promotion Sports, Inc. Ah the early days were like an adventure! We started from nothing... we had no capital and we had to work very hard to get sponsors... we did everything ourselves. Read More |
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Dr. Randall C. Phillips Honorary Consul General of Japan in San Diego, Vice President Emeritus, Alliant International University Guided by an unabiding passion for life, people and Japan, our Honorary Consul General of Japan in San Diego continues to reach out to people across our city and across the ocean showing us all the way. Read More |
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Shoji Shibuya Owner, Instructor Shoji English School Taking a cue from JFK’s inaugural address that provided guidance and direction. Overcoming his own shyness to journey along " the path of English "...of 27 years and more than 1,000 students. Read More |
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Omid Namazi Head Coach, San Diego Spirit Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) For me it’s unacceptable to think that a team is playing not to lose. I think you’ve got to go out there and want to win and expect to win! In order to do that, you’ve got to be prepared both mentally and physically. Read More |
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Nao Suzuki University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Researcher Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences (CASS) Searching for clues of the world one-second after the birth of the Big Bang. Unlocking the mysteries of the 13.7 billion year-old universe as a gift for future generations. Read More |
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Kevin Hunter Vice-President Design and Studio Activities, Calty Design Research Inc. Southern California has been and continues to be a rolling museum for automotive design and our job is to absorb all of this and create what we think will be the next direction of automotive design. Read More |
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Michael S. Inoue, Ph.D. President, The Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana Building bridges to better understanding among nations, generations and citizens; forming foundations upon which to build true peace, harmony, happiness and prosperity. Read More |
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Kazuo Kuwabara Owner “ Oriental Treasure Box ” From interior design to the world of antiques A journey of exploration for things of days-gone-by Read More |
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Ben Segawa Executive Director Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego (JAHSSD) When you talk to people like myself, 67 years old, we always divide our lives in two... before the war and after the war. It seems to be a cutoff point... we had to start our lives over again after the war. Read More |
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Katsuyoshi Ukon Ukon Services, Representative, Japan Services Association, President At 17 he washed his hands of the Yakuza; at 26 he began his journey around the world. This master “ handyman ” will satisfy your hearts desires. Read More |
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Tom Wilson Executive Director The Century Club of San Diego Organizing body of The Buick Invitational From Camp Callan to The Buick Invitational, attracting top players from around the world, the majestic Torrey Pines Golf Course has grown into one of San Diego’s most precious jewels. Read More |
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Yuichi Yaezawa Principal San Diego Minato Gakuen School Education is the guiding force that enables us to tap the potential inside of each of us. Giving warm ale to the little fighters of San Diego. Read More |
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Kayoko Yoshioka Former Broadway dancer Performing in such world-renown Broadway musicals as " Cats ", "The King and I" and " Carousel " Kayoko broke ground as one of the first Japanese dancers to perform on the legendary stages of Broadway, singing and dancing her way into our hearts. Read More |
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Sister Helen McHugh Former Chair, University of San Diego, English Dept. Member, The Religious Order of the Sacred Heart A calling that led from San Diego to Japan and beyond turned a one-year sabbatical into something that touched the lives of many... from college students to the Empress of Japan. Read More |
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Kohei Owatari Water and Stone, President Landscape Contractor The adventure of life...traveling the world to discover the true meaning of nature. Through his landscaping and adventure tours he expresses his connection with the natural world. Read More |
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Donald G. Lindburg, Ph.D. The Zoological Society of San Diego Associate Director, Conservation and Science Division Head, Office of Giant Panda Conservation From China with Love…Since their arrival at the San Diego Zoo it has been sheer “ Panda-monium ” as Dr. Lindburg and his staff patiently unravel the mysteries of San Diego’s most popular residents…the giant pandas. Read More |
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Ildong Kim, M.D. Doctor, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Primary Care Physician, San Diego Nippon Clinic, Director High school five years, driver four years... and at the end of his wanderings he found his way to becoming a doctor with the goal of someday helping to serve as a link between the American and Japanese medical systems. Read More |
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Leo Liao, Ph. D. Chairman and co-founder of World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce Co-founder of First United Bank An international trade expert, banker, and member of the State of California’s Economic Development Committee for Asia, this groundbreaking businessman loves building international relationships and a stronger San Diego. Read More |
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Thom Kaumeyer Aztecs Defensive Coordinator San Diego State University Former NFL player, coach and head coach in Japan’s Pro-football league, this San Diego native has returned home and is hoping to lead the Aztecs football team to bigger and better things. Read More |
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Tom Yanagihara President of Balboa Park Japanese Friendship Garden Deep in the heart of Balboa Park, tucked away behind the Spreckles Organ Pavilion there exists a magical place, a place of grace and beauty known as Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden. Read More |
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Yumi Climenson Impressionist Painter, Member of the La Jolla Art Association An encounter with " The Cafe Terrace at Night " decided her life’s path… this plein air painter guided by the essence of nature and deeply influenced by Van Gogh. Read More |
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Donald H. Estes Professor of History, Political Science at San Diego City College “ Before the war, there was an old Japanese community flourishing in downtown San Diego. ” “ I grew up with many Japanese who lived in our neighborhood.” Read More |