Education. Outreach. Advocacy.

President

(2026-)

Originally from Fukuoka, Japan, Fumi Lux spent years working in the tourism industry in both the US and Japan, also managing an English language school in Japan. After she completed the Advanced Japanese Teacher Training course, she stepped into a formal teaching role at the language school. Today, she mainly supports SJA’s mission by leading weekly library conversation classes, online language exchanges, and organizing community events. Fumi is also an active volunteer with various nonprofits to support local schools and senior communities. She resides in Arlington with her family.

Treasurer

(2025-)

Yoko Scandlen brings a strong background in international business operations, accounting support, and community advocacy. Born in Mexico and having lived in Cuba and Sri Lanka, she offers a truly global perspective. Yoko is passionate about giving back and volunteers with organizations supporting domestic violence survivors and the Japanese-American community. As a parent of two children in the APS school system, she remains actively involved in local schools and civic life. She holds a BA in English Literature from Sophia University in Tokyo. 

Co-Secretary

(2024-)

Pari is a junior at Yorktown High School and has been studying Japanese for four years -- three in class, one independently. She grew up in the Arlington area but spent a year living in Romania. Outside of learning Japanese, Pari also enjoys playing the piano and drawing. Pari hopes to share her love of Japan and its culture through the SJA, in part by advocating for the expansion of the Japanese program across Arlington Public Schools.

Member at Large

(2024-)

Juliana moved to Arlington in 2021 following her return from the JET Program where she served as a Coordinator for International Relations in Hyogo Prefecture. She is originally from Odesa, Ukraine — the sister city of Yokohama, Japan — and is an avid Japanese learner, translator, and researcher. She is passionate about the US-Japan alliance, especially as it applies to the fields of climate and international business. Juliana is a cartoonist in her spare time and hopes to spread her love of Japanese visual and performing arts.

Member at Large

(2024-)

Sean was raised in Central Florida, and relocated to Arlington in the spring of 2023. A student of Japanese language from his youth, he studied at Meikai University in Urayasu, Japan, and enjoys Japanese music, games, and calligraphy. Sean works as a software engineer, supporting the James Webb and Hubble space telescopes. He hopes to help foster the local Japanese learning community through SJA.

Member at Large

(2025-)

Bori is a Filipino-American born and raised in Arlington, VA. He began learning Japanese as a teen in APS. He currently lives in DC with his two Japanese roommates and works at the Japanese Embassy. Apart from volunteering with SJA, he has experience volunteering with various Japanese led NGOs in the Philippines, as well as at the Echigo-Tsumari Triennial Art festival in Tokamachi, Niigata. He enjoys playing kendama, practicing Japanese with his roommates/friends and spending time with family.

Youth Board Member

(2025-)

Kenshu was born and raised in Arlington. He is half Japanese and often travels to Japan to visit family. He currently is a senior at Yorktown high school and has been taking Japanese classes since freshman year. He enjoys computer science, basketball, legos, and Christopher Nolan movies. Kenshu hopes to foster fellow student’s interest in the Japanese language to expand the Japanese program in Arlington Public Schools. 

Youth Board Member

(2025-)

Momoka ("Momo") is a junior at Washington Liberty High School in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. She is half-Japanese and American and fluent in both Japanese and English. She grew up going back and forth between Japan and America due to her father’s naval duties. She loves to immerse herself in music to include playing her violin. She also enjoys playing high school tennis, traveling, watching movies and shows, reading books, drawing, playing video games, and learning new things! Momo is excited to connect with and advocate for the Japanese (language-learning) community in the greater DMV area.

Youth Board Member

(2026-)

Rose is a junior at Yorktown High School and a Mongolian American born who grew up in Arlington. She takes Japanese classes and has visited Japan to visit family and learn more about Japanese culture. She’s the president of the Japanese Club and wants to help students get interested in the language and everyday parts of Japanese culture. Outside of school, Rose enjoys playing tennis, practicing piano, drawing, watching psychological horror movies, and finding new things to try. She’s excited to connect with and support the Japanese language‑learning community in the DMV.

Member at Large

(2026-)

Hitomi Green was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. A one-year high school exchange program in Iowa inspired her lifelong passion for cultural exchange and cross-cultural communication. She earned a bachelor's degree in Music and Business through studies at SUNY and CUNY and later taught Japanese in Charlottesville. An Arlington resident since 2010, Hitomi lives with her husband, their two children who attend Arlington Public Schools, and their dog. She previously served as Secretary of the Arlington Public Schools World Languages Advisory Committee (2021–2023) and is passionate about promoting cultural understanding, Japanese language education, and inclusive community engagement.

Member at Large

(2026-)

Mariana is a born and raised Washingtonian and a graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where she earned a Master's degree in Strategy, Cybersecurity, and Intelligence. She also holds a dual Bachelor's degree in International Relations from American University and Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan, where she spent two years studying during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is passionate about international affairs, particularly the U.S.-Japan alliance, and security issues. Having lived and studied in both the United States and Japan, Mariana enjoys exploring cross-cultural perspectives and strengthening international connections. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and trying new foods in the DMV.

Member at Large

(2026-)

Guillermo is Bolivian-American, raised between Miami and Northern Virginia, where he now lives. He's pursuing a B.A. in Legal Studies with a minor in Japanese at George Mason University, having served as a Teaching Assistant in the Japanese Department and supported language instruction at Fairfax County Public Schools. As director of the Undergraduate Law Review, he researches Japanese-American constitutional interpretation, interns with Arlington's Office of the Public Defender, and serves as Secretary of the Japanese Student Association. In his free time he enjoys Japanese light novels and hunting down DMV matcha sweets, and is grateful for the chance to help make Japanese language and culture accessible across Arlington and the DMV.

Member at Large

(2026-)

Hideko Uchiyama is a Japanese-American (Japanese citizen, 13-year American resident) who believes the world will be a kinder, happier place when more people experience the calming aesthetics, person-to-person humanity, and collective community-building wonders of Japanese culture.

She has had a professional career as an engineer in Japanese and U.S. IT firms, pioneering open systems and the emerging field of cyber security.  She frequently participated in business negotiations with partners across Asia, Europe, and the US.

This experience taught her effective partnerships require not only a common language (English) but also an appreciation of each other’s cultural backgrounds.

Since retiring from IT and moving to Arlington, she has built a following as a kitsuke (kimono dressing) instructor, teaching the art and culture of kimono dressing to students of all nationalities. Additionally, she practices and demonstrates the Japanese tea ceremony (*Chado*), with her American husband explaining how this ceremony came to be, historically and how first-time viewers should appreciate it.  She is also a student of Nishiura style in Japanese calligraphy and incense. 

Member at Large

(2026-)

Hey there! So glad to share a little peek into my world. I'm Frannie Wolfson. My story actually starts in Massachusetts, but I spent most of my formative years soaking up the California vibes. In  1973, I found myself on an exciting journey as an exchange student in Japan. Looking back, I have to chuckle – I was more focused on soaking up the culture than hitting the books, so my Japanese reading skills never quite took off.

After college, I dove headfirst into the legal world, attending UCLA Law School. That led to an incredible three-decade-long career as an attorney! I had the chance to work in some fantastic places, from sunny California to the vibrant scene in Seattle, and eventually, I landed at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which was quite an experience.

About two years ago, I decided it was time to embrace a new chapter and officially retired. And guess what the first thing on my list was? To finally learn Japanese, properly this time! It feels like a wonderful full-circle moment. When I'm not  practicing with Ms. Fumi at the SJA conversation class you can usually find me indulging my creative side with art, getting lost in a captivating book, or shaking things up in a lively Zumba class. It's great to be able to pursue these passions!

I’m looking forward to being on the SJA board and getting to know everyone at SJA!