Edward Takayanagi is a child of post-war immigrants, born and raised in Alberta. He attended Kyoto University on the Monbusho Scholarship and lived in Japan for 5 years. After graduation he returned to Canada and moved to Vancouver to attend Law School at the University of British Columbia. He has worked for a Japanese multi-national company, in private practice, for non-profit organizations and government agencies. He has been appointed as a member of the Human Rights Tribunal in 2022.

Kyle Yakashiro grew up in Abbotsford, BC. Attended the University of British Columbia earning a BA with a double major in math and economics. Previously he worked in marketing for a Toyota dealership. Today he works in financial services as an Account Manager at Vancity Savings Credit Union.

Kimiko was born in Vancouver and raised in Surrey. She attended SFU where she acquired a B.A., B.Ed, and M.Ed. She is a full-time educator, part-time vice principal, sometimes singer, occasional plus-model, and forever excited to connect more to her Japanese culture. 

Holly grew up in and lives in Steveston and is currently the Development and Public Outreach Coordinator at Megaphone. She has been working in the DTES community for the past 7 years and values the intersection of culture and community activism the Powell Street Festival supports. She is a third generation Japanese Canadian with roots on Powell Street as her grandpa was been born and raised there. 

Marina was born and raised in Japan, and moved to Vancouver in 2012. She is the founder of Southern Wave Okinawan Music and Dance Society and actively engaged in practicing Okinawan performing arts in Lower Mainland. She is currently studying towards a Bachelor’s degree in Sustainable Agriculture. She also loves to cook and eat Japanese food. 

Debbie Cheung (she/her) has worked in arts and culture since graduating from Emily Carr University (ECU) in 2011. Her background in communication design, marketing, and event production has led her to work with various organizations, including previous stints at the UBC Museum of Anthropology and Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Before attending ECU, Debbie studied Japanese at the University of British Columbia for two years and in Tokyo for a summer semester. She looks forward to working with the Powell Street Festival team and presenting programs that engage both the Japanese Canadian and Downtown Eastside communities.