About the Event
Yamagata Prefecture is located in the Tohoku region in Japan. There are many attractive sightseeing destinations such as “Dewasanzan” the three sacred mountains known for its Journey of Rebirth,“Yamadera” the place of worship, and “Ginzan Onsen” the hot springs with a fascinating view that makes you feel as if you have traveled back in time. In this seminar, we will introduce the popular spots of Yamagata prefecture, Dewasanzan, and Yamadera from three speakers.
About the Speakers
Atsumi Ogata is a member of the Tourism Division at the Yamagata Prefectural Government. She was born in Beijing, China where she lived until she was 10 years old. After graduating from a university in Japan, majoring in international and regional studies, Ms. Ogata studied in Canada and obtained a second degree in international exchange and regional tourism promotions. After returning to Japan, she currently serves as a staff member at the Yamagata Prefectural Government, where she tells the word about the fascination and attractiveness of the Yamagata Prefecture.
Kanako Takahashi is an English to Japanese media translator, an amateur rakugo performer, and a member of Yamaderans, a group of Yamadera-loving English guides. She was born in Long Island, New York, and spent most of her early childhood there. After moving to Yokohama, Japan, she studied English literature at Aoyama Gakuin University and was an exchange student at the University of Washington. She currently resides in Yamagata City, where she constantly hunts for beautiful scenery, delicious cuisine, and great company.
Sara Millot-Ito lives in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, since 2017. After graduating from Toulouse II University in Japanese Studies, Sara decided to work at Tsuruoka City Hall as a Coordinator for International Relations within the JET Programme. She originally planned to stay only two years in Yamagata Prefecture, knowing nothing about the region; she thought she’d had seen it all. After learning about the Dewa Sanzan’s sacred mountains, the UNESCO Creative Gastronomy network, and the Japanese mummies called “sokushinbutsu,” Sara realized the uniqueness and beauty of Yamagata Prefecture. Since 2020, Sara has worked as DEGAM Tsuruoka Tourism Bureau’s Business Affairs Chief, managing the city’s communication strategy and tourism products.
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