Staff & Board members — Japan America Society of Iowa

David Yoshimura

David Yoshimura is fourth generation Japanese-American and an Iowa native. He grew up in Waukee, Iowa, and attended Iowa State University in Ames. He taught English for several years in Iowa public schools, in Chiba prefecture in Japan, and in Chicago, Illinois. He lives in West Des Moines with his wife and two kids. He is currently an attorney with international law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath in its Des Moines office, where he maintains a legal practice in international litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. He is a board member with JASI and the Iowa Asian Alliance, as well as an active member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

BOARD CHAIR & PRESIDENT

Del Christensen

Del Christensen joined the JASI Board in the past year. He also serves on the Iowa-Yamanashi Sister State Committee and has served previously on the Iowa-Terengganu, Malaysia Sister State Committee. He is the Executive Director of Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS), a nonprofit organization that promotes international peace and understanding. Through this work, he has assisted with cultural and educational programs involving more than 2,300 participants from 58 different countries. Del has made more than 75 trips to countries around the world coordinating humanitarian projects. He has long been interested in Japanese culture and his interest heightened after his daughter spent 6 years teaching English in Japan.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & TREASURER

Yoko Tanaka

Ms. Tanaka brings over 30 years of experience in customer service with servicing the businesses that work between the American and Japanese cultures. She is bilingual, bi-cultural, knowledgeable and talented in many areas, and her expertise in talent development and relationship management would be the imperative skill sets for our organization growth. She will oversee the administration, programs, and strategic plan of the organization.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & VICE PRESIDENT

Tanis Sotelo

Tanis Sotelo is an active member of Japan America Society of Iowa and a Japanese Taiko performer. In 2011, Tanis co-founded Iowa’s only Taiko ensemble group, and since then, Tanis has explored other Japanese cultural instruments and dances, such as Shinobue (bamboo flute), Shamisen (3 stringed instrument), Koto (13 stringed zither), and Shishimai (Japanese lion dance), and Obon Odori (Japanese festival dance). Over the years, Tanis has completed in a number of Japanese cultural projects with the Japan America Society of Iowa, and worked with other organizations, such as the Iowa Asian Alliance, CultureAll, and Ballet Des Moines, to explore different ways of presenting Japanese culture to schools, universities, libraries, and public events.

Amanda Gran

Bio coming soon.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & SOTEN TAIKO

BOARD OF DIRECTORS & TEAHOUSE PROJECT

Born in southside Chicago and raised in Des Moines. My love of woodworking came to the attention of my parents at an young age. I enrolled in Cabinetmaking/Furniture Building at Des Moines Technical High School and finished at the top of my class. A family trip to Japan while in High School brought a second love of Japan and Japanese woodworking. In 1984 I started Teaching Home Remodeling for the Des Moines Public Schools at the new Central Campus building. Later I took over the Carpentry/Home Building program. It was during this time that Jo and John Wetherell approached me about the Yamamoto Tea House restoration. The interior of the Yamamoto Tea House is complete and on display at the Japan American Society of Iowa headquarters in Franklin Junior High, 48 th street and Franklin Ave, Des Moines, Iowa. We are working with leaders of Des Moines and Polk County to find a more public location for the Yamaoto Tea House.

Ben Molloy

Tomomi Fujimaru