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Briefly about me: Born and raised in beautiful Oakland, California in the San Francisco Bay Area. Went to college in Berkeley. After that, went to teach English in rural Japan on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Then I went to New York City for graduate school. Stayed in New York for six years, then came out here to sunny Los Angeles.I'm a filmmaker (director/writer/producer) and playwright. My first feature film "The Harimaya Bridge" -- starring Ben Guillory, Saki Takaoka, Misa Shimizu, Danny Glover, Misono, Miho Shiraishi, Honoka, Victor Grant, and Peter Coyote -- came out in theaters all over Japan in the summer of 2009. (U.S. release upcoming.) Currently I'm preparing my second feature film. My first play "Bronzeville" -- co-written with Tim Toyama -- opened and had a very successful Los Angeles run in the spring of 2009, and will soon be published.Have had a variety of life experiences. Love to travel, and have been to several countries. As a teenager I was an orchestral musician (violin, viola). Have been a newspaper reporter and editor, among other things. I love most types of music including jazz, rock, bossa nova, R&B, hip-hop, J-pop, and classical. I'm very eclectic in my tastes.My friends tell me I'm a good, down-to-earth person who they enjoy being around, trust, and can confide in.I enjoy a wide variety of things, and I'm always willing to try something new.