2020 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
幹部
YUTA ITO
President
3rd year, Commerce (Marketing)/Media
(Public Relations and Advertising) What is an interesting fact about you? I'm mostly Japanese. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? I would probably go to my grandparents' house to visit my extended family. What is NSA to you? NSA has been a number of things to me over the last couple years. It's been a way for me to connect with ancestry, a way in which I could learn the language, and a place to meet new friends and try out different activities; but ultimately NSA is a family to me. At it's core, the Nippon Students Association are a group of students with a shared love for Japanese culture and language and I am so grateful for all the friends and memories I have made so far. Very, very keen to see how NSA can grow and thrive in the months and years to come!! |
NATALIE WONG
Vice-President
4th year, Civil Engineering (Hons.) (Surveying)
What is an interesting fact about you? I can count in 7 languages (only 1-10 though AHAHA). If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? DISNEYLAND!! I cannot stress my love for Disney. Also raid Sanrio to buy all the Hello Kitty merch. What is NSA to you? Although I couldn't go to many events due to uni struggles, I always felt welcomed. NSA created a community for me to share my interests in different aspects of Japanese culture. The atmosphere at NSA really encouraged me to want to get more involved to emulate and further this wonderful community and hopefully continue to provide a space where members can really connect with each other. |
TAICHI ISHIKAWA
Secretary
3rd year, Media (Public Relations and Advertising)
What is an interesting fact about you? I take cold showers. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? Hokkaido during the summer would be nice. Ideal temperature, fresh seafood, and beautiful scenery. One of the best places to go to have a relaxing vacation. What is NSA to you? As I was born and raised in Japan, I initially joined NSA in hopes of finding a Japanese community in UNSW. Although there was a good number of Japanese members, I also met many partial/non-Japanese members/execs who were very friendly to talk to. As of now, it’s a place where I hang out with friends and meet new people from all kinds of backgrounds. I really appreciate NSA for having this wholesome community. |
ALYSTER LUMINARIAS
Treasurer
4th year, Economics/Arts
What is an interesting fact about you? My full name is really long. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? Hokkaido, see more places I couldn't get to when I went What is NSA to you? A unique place that led me to meeting many people who were interested and passionate about the same things I am. NSA is a family of like-minded individuals. |
KOKI IZUKA
Events Coordinator3rd year, Computational Design
What is an interesting fact about you? I got into a wrong bachelor course by accident but it turned out that the course is actually interesting :D If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? I just want to visit all the prefectures in Japan and try their famous local food and keep gaining weight until I become a walking meatball. Oh and Tokyo, mainly because it has everything and it's fun staying there :) What is NSA to you? NSA is a place to meet both old and new friends for me. It helps me to know more people from different backgrounds and cultures. The events are super fun to attend and people from NSA are really friendly so it feels sooo nice to be a part of the society. |
SHERRIE KOO
Media Coordinator
3rd year, International Studies/Media (Screen and Sound Production)
What is an interesting fact about you? Some say I look like the lalafanfan duck. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? Okinawa Aquarium and paint and eat (not the fish) all day with my SO. What is NSA to you? Nippon Stu- , fun with my tomoda🧀. |
C. SOPHIA CELESTIA
Communications Officer2nd year, Media (Public Relations and Advertising)
What is an interesting fact about you? I used to own 20+ cats but I'm allergic to their fur (It didn't stop me from snuggling them though!!) If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? I would go cafe hopping around Tokyo and try the best desserts in the city. I really want to try those fluffy pancakes! What is NSA to you? I see NSA as my family. When I started my first year, it was really hard to make friends. I joined several societies but I was drawn to NSA the most because it feels like a very tight-knit community. I love going to hangouts as a way to de-stress between classes. At first, I was intimidated because I didn't really know much about Japan's culture or the language, but then I found out that it didn't really matter. Everyone was super welcoming and nice. We had lots of fun activities outside of the hangouts - Smash competitions, Karaoke, food events, NSA Ball and camp with Japanese societies from other unis as well. Overall, I've had so much fun with NSA, and I'm really looking forward to see our family grow! <3 |
NAOKI HIRAI
International Liaison
1st year, Social Work
What is an interesting fact about you? When I was high school student and practicing volleyball during PE, I missed a spike then dislocated my shoulder. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? I've never been to Hokkaido so I would like to go there to eat large crab, and participate in the Sapporo Snow Festival and creating a huge ice statue. What is NSA to you? Joining NSA is an opportunity to improve myself. I came from Japan one and a half years ago, when I could hardly speak English. Since joining NSA, I have made more friends and improved my communication skills. I am also happy to be selected as an executive, but working as a freshman is a big challenge. So I want to enjoy the NSA's activities with all my efforts over the past year. |
RIKI WALMSLEY
Sponsorship Director
4th year, Science (Statistics)/Arts (Japanese)
What is an interesting fact about you? Cheesecake and lemon tarts are hands down my favourite dessert. Also I like basketball. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? I would go to Ibaraki and sightsee the rice fields, mountains and beaches because it's a place of nostalgia and good memories for me. What is NSA to you? NSA is a wonderful and welcoming community filled with many close friends and some who I would even call my fam. |
CHIETTHA PRAJNADEWIE
Language Workshop Coordinator
4th year, Advanced Science (Hons)/Arts (Japanese)
What is an interesting fact about you? For every month of exchange, I finished a bottle of sambal to put on my eggs on toast. If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? Kyushu and Okinawa, because I haven't be there yet! As with all my other trips, I would want to visit friends in the area and eat lots of local food. What is NSA to you? My home at uni. NSA has provided me a chance to connect with so many like-minded people who share an interest in Japanese culture. Many of my closest friendships throughout my university life and NSA’s events often serve as a way for us to gather together. It’s also thanks to NSA that I’ve gotten involved with teaching and developed my passion to teach Japanese. |
YIXUAN (STEVE) SHAO
Arc Delegate
2nd year, Psychological Science
What is an interesting fact about you? More pitiful than interesting, but I've yet to travel to Japan. Admittedly, this takes a toll on my perception of my validity as an NSA exec, but soon! If you could go anywhere in Japan, where would you go and what would you do there? Given that, I'd love to wander around Tokyo for the city landscape and atmosphere. Otherwise, the Sapporo Winter festival sounds like something to behold. For things to do, it seems mandatory to satiate yourself with the cuisine, maybe arcade games too. What is NSA to you? Take it from me, NSA is just the most pure concentration of excellent people. It is the rewarding side of universities, balancing the scales, making academia tolerable. NSA is more than the events it hosts, it is also the collection of friends that you meet within, and the quality time spent outside with them. You don't have to speak Japanese, travel to Japan, heck, even know much about Japanese culture! They welcome you all the same. As long as you hold an interest for 'anything Japan', you will find a home here. And who knows? Maybe you love it so much that you become an exec also ;). |
