Yûki Yamato
A philosophy grad from Tokyo’s Sophia University, Yamato, 30, who sometimes goes by U-ki Yamato, comes from a generation of notable young female directors. Her award-winning debut feature, 2012’s That Girl Is Dancing by the Seaside, set attendance records at the Tokyo Student Film Festival, and she followed it with a series of shorts and music videos.
◆Baba Sillah, a doctoral student at Sophia University, in Tokyo, Japan. He researches in the areas of agrarian studies, comparative politics, and political governance and development, in the multidisciplinary field of Global Studies.
Douglas Markowitz (Phoenix New Times'culture editor)
Born and raised in Broward County, Florida, he studied at Sophia University in Tokyo before graduating with honors from the University of North Florida with a bachelor's degree in communications. He began writing for Miami New Times while in college and served as their music and arts editorial intern in 2017. He moved to Phoenix in July 2018.
■ Kazuhiro Higashi / President of Resona Holdings, Inc.
Born in Fukuoka Prefecture in 1957, Higashi graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Sophia University in Tokyo in 1982 and joined Saitama Bank. He assumed various positions including executive officer in charge of finance at Resona Holdings in 2003, managing executive officer at Resona Bank in 2007 and deputy president at Resona Holdings in 2009 before taking his current position in April 2013.
Colfax holds a bachelor's in economics and comparative literature from Sophia University in Tokyo, master's degrees in both human resource leadership and human development from Azusa Pacific University and Fielding Graduate University in California, respectively, and a doctorate in human and organizational systems from Fielding Graduate University. He also holds a number of professional designations and accreditations in human resources.
中澤創太（なかざわ・そうた）
日本ヴァイオリン 代表取締役社長／CLASSIC FOR JAPAN 創設者／1985年、東京生まれ。父はヴァイオリン製作者の中澤宗幸、母はヴァイオリニスト中澤きみ子という音楽家の家系に生まれ、幼少より国際的に活躍する音楽家と触れ合いながら育つ。15歳で英国に留学。インターナショナルスクールに通いながら、オークション大手サザビーズや、世界的なイギリスの鑑定家Peter Biddulph Ltdに出入りし、十代から数多くの名器に触れる。上智大学外国語学部卒業後、株式会社電通へ入社。営業を経て、メディアプランナーとして、数々の音楽・文化を発展させるためのプロジェクトに関わった。電通在籍中、クラシック音楽の発展と若手音楽家の活動支援として、任意のプロジェクトチーム"Classic for Japan"を発足。2013年に同プロジェクトチームを一般財団法人化し、活動の場を広げている。また2014年には、名器ストラディヴァリウスをはじめ2万挺以上のヴァイオリン取扱実績を誇る創業34年の老舗、日本ヴァイオリン代表取締役社長に就任。
