The Ultimate Staff.

It was like the Avengers coming together. We brought together an all-star staff, highly experienced in youth development, summer programming, and dedicated to building the best camp program ever.

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Last Year's Staff

Alissa Okada
Ally Yamashita
Andrew Takahashi
Anna Tsuchimoto
Annika Tamaki
Ashley  Omiya
Brandon Hirano
Brianne Yasukochi
Cade Okohira
Casey Murase
Charlene Tonai Din
Chet Oshima
Chris Hirata
Cora Uchida
Courtney Takeda
Craig Ishii
Daniel Yaguchi
Della Hu
Emiko Kranz
Eric Komatsu
Erin Hayashida
Gianna Furumoto
Grace Omiya
Grant Yasukochi
Haley Kaneshiro
Harry Embuido
Iris Hirata
Jacie Matsuura
Jack Yoshioka
Jarrett Wong
Jayme Ota
Jenna Nakanishi
Jennifer  Yamashita
Jennifer Terada
Jill Katsuda
Joanne Ishii
Jordan Uyeki
Joyce Komatsu
Jules Yap
Juli Yoshinaga
Julia Shimada
Julia Tonai
Juliana Tom

Kaitlyn  Joe
Kalyn Wong
Kamryn Uyeki
Kasey Noguchi
Kate Higashi
Katie Mitani
Kaya  Terada
Kayleen Hino
Kelly Sera
Kendall Arata
Kengo Adachi
Kent Marume
Kevin  Mok
Kevin Yamashita
Kole Kikuta
Kyle Noda
Lauryn Chang
Leo Dong
Madeline Sugimoto
Marisa Katsuda
Mark Hara
Matthew Yamamoto
Maya Hernandez
Megan Hamabe
Megan Nagasaki
Melanie Suson
Michelle Hirano
Nicole Oshima
Niiko Hara
Olivia Maehara
Philip Hirose
Rodney Nishimura
Ryan Hino
Ryan Ishii
Samantha Hirata
Sarah Ando
Sarah Pulliam
Scott Shima
Sonoko Silvers
Steve Ishii
Tian  Haenschke
Tomi Okuno
Wyatt Hamabe

Thank You!

Thank you to our  incredible staff that made our 2024 program such a success. Looking forward to seeing you at next year’s program!

Our Planning Committee

Courtney Takeda

8+ years of involvement in Japanese American community and youth development programs.

Della Hu

Has prior experience working with youth as a camp counselor and in the healthcare setting as a nurse. Always excited to be at Yo! Camp.

Emiko Kranz

Served in a variety of chair and president positions for youth-serving organizations. Completed a dual masters in Community Health Sciences and Asian American studies at UCLA.

Eric Komatsu

Has over 8 years of youth development experience within the Japanese American Community serving as a camp counselor and youth basketball coach.

Grant Yasukochi

4+ years of youth development experience within the Japanese American community.

Jacie Matsuura

Currently practicing emergency medicine physician with over 12 years of experience in youth development, working at various youth summer and basketball camps as both counselor and director.

Kalyn Wong

4th year Sociology major at UCLA with 7 years of experience as a youth camp counselor. Involved in various collegiate JA organizations.

Kelly Sera

Is an elementary school teacher with 10 years of experience as a youth camp counselor and director. In 2017, she was crowned Miss Tomodachi and served as a cultural ambassador on the Nisei Week Court.

Kent Marume

Community builder and artist at heart, with 9 years of camp counseling experience; teacher and designer by profession.

Marisa Katsuda

Inspired by 11 years of camp counseling and directing at youth summer camps and church camps, became a middle school math teacher for the last four years.

Megan Nagasaki

8+ years of youth development experience across the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Michelle Hirano

Has a master of arts in teaching, and written curriculum for schools, camps, and non-profit programs. She has helped run summer camps for youth for the past 10 years.

Olivia Maehara

UCR student, and an all-around great gal.

Quynh Tran

Involved in leadership positions at UCSD's Nikkei Student Union throughout college and has a passion for community building, which she hopes to continue fostering at Yo! Camp.

Sarah Ando

Community builder and artist at heart, with 9 years of camp counseling experience; teacher and designer by profession.

Scott Shima

Scott Shima has been involved with Japanese American summer camps since he was 18 years old in various capacities. He is now 30 and looks forward to bringing his life of experience to Yo! Camp this summer. See ya at camp!

Wyatt Hamabe

6+ years in youth mentorship as a basketball coach and camp counselor. Loves salad.

Craig Ishii

20 years of experience working with thousands of Japanese American youth. Founder of Kizuna. Past SoCal Regional Director of JACL. Taiko instructor at Orange County Buddhist Church.