Grant Ogata

President

Ikuko Fujiwara

Language Programs Manager

Ikuko joined JASDFW in July 2021 as the Education & Language Programs Coordinator. Her academic and professional background is in TESOL and Composition which began with earning a Master’s degree in TESOL from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her career has been devoted to instruction and supporting student success while promoting diversity and inclusion in educational spaces. She has experience teaching Japanese, ESOL and college composition at various colleges in the United States. She has also organized and participated in cultural events, conferences and panel discussions that emphasize and celebrate diversity. She is committed to creating inclusive and meaningful learning spaces where people engage in cross-cultural/intercultural understanding and learn to use language in empowering ways.

Hiromi Burns

Hiromi joined JASDFW as the Japan-in-a-Suitcase Coordinator in May 2022. Through her experience of studying in different countries (Australia, Portugal, and Brazil) in college, she has found joy in cultural exchange and language learning. She has been an active volunteer member in community organizations and the Society to promote cross-cultural understanding. She graduated with associated degree in English Literature and Business English. She speaks Japanese, English, and Portuguese. 

Nina Shimaguchi

Originally from Osaka, Japan, Nina was raised in a home deeply rooted in traditional Japanese culture. Her grandmother was an instructor of tea ceremony, kimono dressing, and kadō (the art of flower arrangement), and Nina herself began practicing Japanese calligraphy at the age of three.
During her college years, Nina discovered a deep passion for sharing the richness of Japanese culture with others. She officially began her cultural outreach journey in the Houston, TX community in 2018. Since then, she has been actively planning, organizing, and overseeing a wide range of events—from intimate workshops to large-scale conventions. Known for her attention to detail, cultural insight, and creative vision, Nina brings both structure and heart to every event she leads.

Language Instructor

Texas born and raised, Grace graduated from the University of North Texas with degrees in Linguistics and Japanese. She spent a year studying abroad at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto where she fell in love with Japan’s history and culture. Upon graduating, Grace taught Japanese for over four years. She has assisted students with AP Japanese and JLPT test prep and led an 18-day study abroad trip in Japan in 2018. During the 2019-2021 school years, Grace worked as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) at junior high schools in Japan. She continued her Japanese studies and passed the JLPT N2 exam. She is excited to show students how fun learning a second langauge is.

Language Instructor

Her 20+ years of professional experience include teaching a variety of subjects at a Japanese school, providing one-on-one English language support to Japanese students to succeed in their local school learning, and tutoring non-native Japanese students in the Japanese language. Her dedication and attentive support to each student represents the fulfillment of the mission of language education in an increasingly globalized world, while serving the community as a bridge for cross-cultural communication.