My mother was born in Japan, and all of her family still lives there. I moved to Portland with my family from Gainesville, FL in 2015 in large part due to its vibrant Japanese community. I was instantly drawn to taiko after seeing a performance by the En Taiko youth group at my son’s Japanese immersion school. While I have enjoyed taking beginner taiko classes and look forward to taking more, I don’t think I have the time (or talent) to become a performer. Joining the board of directors allows me to be involved in the group in another way. As a senior data analyst at OHSU, I hope that I will be able to leverage my analytical experience to support Portland Taiko’s administrative efforts and mission. I am passionate about fostering the sense of community and excellence that Portland Taiko represents and look forward to contributing to its continued growth and success.