Urinetown, Youth Theatre Northwest    Photo by Trina B. Wright

I came to the US from Tokyo as a high school student in 1983 and never left. Over four decades (gulp!) I've learned to speak English, earned two degrees, and acquired skills and life experience in directing, choreography, teaching, performing, and producing. I've built a career far beyond what I imagined for myself when my journey began.

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I believe in the power of theatre to transform and connect people. I'm drawn to work that involves strong ensembles and physical expression, as well as stories from across Asia, especially Japan. I am always looking for collaborative opportunities with like-minded artists to tell stories that need telling, in a safe and playful environment. Still firmly connected to my native country, I work to create opportunities to bridge my two cultures through theatre through my own production company, Za Trans-Pacific Productions, launched in 2025.

I am forever grateful to my parents who broke the mold of Japanese parenting and let me go at such a young age and I hope to honor them through my work. Above all, I feel my biggest accomplishment is being a wife and a mother to endlessly compassionate, creative, and funny people who fuel my artistic existence.