Personal History
CHILDHOOD
I was born and grew up in Yamagata, Japan.
Yamagata is a
province (prefecture) and the actual hometown I spent my childhood is
Kahoku-cho.
This town has a historical significance in terms of safflower production and its
trading with Kyoto. The Yamagata prefecture is known for producing
cherries.
COMING TO AMERICA
After graduating Sagae High School, I studied Academic English
in Tokyo for a year. I started my college in Fall 1991 at the
University
of Nevada, Reno. Then I transferred to the
University of Arizona in 1993
to pursue my interest in linguistics.
The first dance experience I ever had in my life was when I was three. I followed my bigger sister for her ballet lesson. I was imitating whatever she was doing.
I started ballroom dance as a adult. In the dance field, men lead movements and women must follow them.
I learned basic steps of waltz, tango, foxtrot, rumba, cha-cha-cha, mambo, salsa, and meringue. Among them, I like Latin dance the most. The pictures were taken when I participated in dance showcase at the Arizona Ballroom Co.
