Denver: M.E.M. Travel

Address:

   1209 19th Street
   Denver, CO 80202-1403

   (Sakura Square, upper level)

Denver: Denver Sister Cities International (DSCI)

Address:

   Denver Sister Cities International
   2480 W. 26th Ave, Suite 20B
   Denver, CO 80221

Denver: Denver Takayama Sister Cities Committee (DTSCC)

Address - send to the DSCI office:

   Denver Sister Cities International / Takayama Committee
   2480 W. 26th Ave, Suite 20B
   Denver, CO 80221

Tokyo: Moe Tanaka our main scout in the largest city in the world

Moe Tanaka

Moe is the oldest daughter of our good friend Akila Tanaka (see below under Takayama), and and a delightful young woman in her own right.

Moe is currently finishing up her Associate degree in Art (done in December) and will be looking for work in the Spring. She has been working part time as an assistant director in a TV production company for three years and is hoping to find work at an advertising agency or production company.

Our friend Moe Tanaka

Takayama: Akila Tanaka, Executive Director of Overseas Strategy Dept., City of Takayama - and our friend

Akila Tanaka

We first met Akila in 1993 or '94 (lost in the mists of time). We have met all his immediate family and stayed in their house. We are in touch, but not regularly. When we do re-connect it is always just like picking up a conversation you were having a few minutes before.

Akila speaks excellent English and has a real sense of humor. And he is good at his work. For this trip, he will be organizing all our activities in Takayama with the help of his staff member Takafumi Yamamoto (see below).

Our friend Akila Tanaka

Takafumi Yamamoto

Project Chief, Sister City Program Takafumi Yamamoto

Yamamoto-san will be our main contact and connection for the Takayama part of our adventure. He will meet us in Takayama and help us connect with our homestay families. He will also be managing transportation for our day trips and generally help us all feel welcome and comfortable.

Nagoya - Evan Shulgold; two times traveler and our guest speaker in August

Evan Shulgold

Evan first traveled to Japan as part of a high school student exchange program of Denver Takayama Sister City Committee, in 2002. Then when we had an adult trip to Japan in 2004, Evan joined that group. While the rest of the group was watching kabuki in Nagoya, Evan went and interviewed at a local college.

Evan was accepted at the school and studied in Nagoya. He met and married a local girl and now lives and works in Nagoya. Currently he tutors English for a number of students. He hopes to find work as an interpreter or translator.

Evan has agreed to help us in Nagoya when we land there on our way from Takayama to Hiroshima.

Our man in Nagoya Evan Shulgold

Kyoto - Sophia Boudeliou; Friend of Kitty's nephew Chris

Sophia Boudeliou

Sophia has been interested in the japanese culture since she first saw Kurosawa Akira's movie 'The Hidden Fortress' when she was 12.

After graduating from her university in France, where she majored in Japanese art and literature, she was accepted to Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto as an exchange student in September 2010, and is currently still studying there. Apart from her studying, she also entered a Japanese modeling agency in February 2011.

Our friend in Kyoto Sophia Boudeliou

Kyoto - Kitty's nephew Chris Wahamaki

Christopher Uuno Wahamaki

Chris has been interested in Japan since seeing the film "Akira" at FAR too young an age. This initial novelty grew into a deeper interest through exposure to other aspects of Japanese culture from friends and family with mutual interest in the country and it's people.

Chris graduated from Western Michigan University with a major in English and a minor in Japanese.

Chris first came to Japan in 2010 through a 1 year study abroad program at Kyoto's Ritsumeikan University. He loved this experience so much, that he returned six months later to work as an English teacher in Hyogo prefecture, where he now resides.

Our friend in Kyoto Chris Wahamaki