Tomonari Machida
Co-Chair
Tomo was enrolled into his first Japanese language class at the Vancouver Japanese Language School in 1980. Since that time, he has been involved with the VJLS-JH as a student, a student council member, a graduate (alumni), a volunteer, and a board director.
With a background in management and education, Tomo strives to continue the legacy and the role of the VJLS-JH for the Japanese Canadian community and its greater local community.
He is grateful for the opportunity to serve as a Co-Chair for the Board of Directors.
Mike Uyeno
Co-Chair
Mike is a third generation Japanese-Canadian, born and raised in Vancouver British Columbia. As a former student of the Vancouver Japanese Language School, the organization has been a big part of his life – both past and present.
Mike enjoys giving back to the community and he has been a volunteer since 2003.
Most importantly, he is most thankful to have met his wife at the school where their son is now a stduent.
Miyuki Ito
Treasurer
Russ Gray
Russ’ daughter is a graduate of VJLS who started with Children’s World (Kodomono Kuni).
Over the past 20 years living in Vancouver, Russ’ main interests have been in woodworking and retail. He was the owner of a Japanese Antique shop called Kikori (wood cutter). Before this he lived in Toronto where he had a business making Shoji screens and Japanese furniture. Throughout his life, Russ has been a martial arts enthusiast, practicing Judo in his youth, Karate in high school and Kendo as an adult — all together about 55 years. In the early 1980s, he traveled to Japan on an artisan visa and was lucky enough to have a sponsor and to learn Japanese woodworking.
His involvement with the Japanese community in Vancouver has come in the form of contract work for many restaurants, The National Nikkei Heritage Center, UBC Nitobe Gardens, Tozenji Buddhist Temple and many other entities. At VLJS-JH, Russ has built cabinetry that is in daily use by many students. He hope to continue to contribute at VJLS-JH with his interest in Japanese history and as a long-standing member of the organization.
Russ helps the organization extensively with facilities and building maintenance.
Lisa Durrell
Lisa is a nisei Japanese-Canadian and a graduate of the Calgary Japanese Language School. What brought her to Vancouver was a dream job with the 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Now, she proudly calls Vancouver the home where her daughter attended the daycare program at Kodomo no Kuni and is now in the Kinder-class on Saturdays.
What she loves about VJLS-JH is its openness to be an inclusive community for anyone interested in the Japanese language and culture. She says, “I’m not Japanese enough sometimes, too Canadian at other times, and occasionally, people are convinced I’m born and raised in Japan! VJLS welcomes all versions of me, and I am passionate about offering this sense of belonging to everyone who walks through those doors at the School.”
She brings over a decade of communications, marketing & media experience to the Board, which she hopes will support fundraising efforts. She loves cooking and has found extreme joy in the VJLS-JH kitchen on Saturdays.
Paula Nishikawara
Secretary
Paula is an artist, mother of two grown children and a business person. Part of Paula’s practise is the Japanese art of Gyotaku. She has traveled internationally exhibiting this work and leading workshops. As far as she knows, she is the only woman of Japanese heritage teaching this art form in North America.
She has enjoyed learning more about the language, customs, the arts, sports and food while being at the School more frequently in the last year.
Her Japanese father’s family owned a convenience store before the war, just a couple blocks from the Japanese Hall. Maybe he ran down the street to watch the Asahi baseball games.
She sees so much care, life and attention alive at the Hall and would like to continue being part of its growth and success.
Igor Pavlov
Igor Pavlov grew up in Moscow, Russia and received both MS and PhD in Applied Mathematics from Moscow State University. He and his wife moved from Moscow to Vancouver in 2006. Their decision was based on the google search results for the “Best place on Earth”, promptly returning Vancouver. Just a couple of months later, their daughter was born. It’s her passion for Japanese calligraphy (shodo), language studies and culture that brought his family to VJLS.
Throughout his professional career he has been working in research and development field as a software engineer, applied mathematician and researcher for over 25 years. He also has several years of teaching experience, both at the undergraduate and high school levels, and passionate about education in general, especially about helping young people find their future career and a meaningful goal in life.
Yuko Suda
Yuko is a nisei (2nd generation) Japanese-Canadian and went to Japanese Language School (Calgary) as a child. Yuko is also a Professional Engineer with over 15 years of experience and currently completing her Executive MBA (Master of Business Administration) with the Beedie School of Business.
Yuko is closely involved in the local Japanese community, including being a Judo Yudansha (black belt) and coach at the Ishikawa Family Judo Club in Burnaby and her two children attending Japanese school (Coquitlam).
Mariko Yamamoto