Kevin Okabe
Drawing on his experience as the NAJC’s Executive Director from 2018 to 2025, Kevin Okabe has stepped back into his role as Executive Director in an interim capacity.
Kevin has been actively involved in the Japanese Canadian community at both local and national levels for over 35 years. Although Yonsei by generation, Kevin has a deep connection to Japan—every generation of his family has married someone from Japan, creating a unique and enduring tie to his ancestral country. He is a frequent traveller to Japan, having visited the country several times for business, family and vacation.
Locally, he helped organize Japanese Canadian youth groups and served on the boards of community organizations in Winnipeg and Calgary. He is a past President of the Calgary Japanese Community Association and served five terms with the NAJC as Director, Secretary, and Treasurer. He played a key role in shaping the organization’s investment strategy and helped the organization implement strategic planning, budgeting and financial management processes.
Kevin joined the NAJC after retiring from a successful career in the private sector, where he served ten years as Chief Operating Officer for MSH International (Canada), a provider of expatriate insurance solutions. He also spent over 15 years in public practice as a consultant with Grant Thornton and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Together with his wife, Naoko Maebashi, they owned and operated several businesses in the Canadian Rockies. Kevin currently serves as Controller (Part Time) at the Kananaskis Country Golf Course.
A Chartered Professional Accountant by profession, Kevin also holds certifications in Information Technology Audit and Governance and was recognized as one of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2007. His experience as a business executive and consultant makes him well suited to support the NAJC in this leadership role.
Sayuri Toma
Sayuri was born and raised in Okinawa. After graduating from a college, she moved to Tokyo and worked as a programmer for about 5 years. She then spent time in Calgary, Kelowna, and Vancouver, as a language student. Then she back to her hometown, she worked as a web designer and website administrator for about 6 years. In 2012, she moved to Calgary, where she currently serves as the administrator for both NAJC (National Association of Japanese Canadians) and CJCA (Calgary Japanese Community Association). She has been a member of the Calgary Okinawan Club since her immigration and has been a board member since 2020, initially serving as treasurer and currently as vice-president. Her hobbies include paddleboarding and playing the Okinawan sanshin.
Julia Yamaguchi
Julia Yamaguchi is a bilingual professional born in Tokyo to a Japanese father and an American mother. Her early years included frequent travels between Japan and the U.S., fostering a deep appreciation for diverse cultures. In 2020, she moved to Calgary, Alberta, and has been serving as a Project Administrator at the National Association of Japanese Canadians since July 2023. Julia holds a degree from Gakushuin University, where Princess Aiko also studied, enhancing the institution’s distinction. An avid athlete, she played golf and lacrosse, and her hobbies include playing the piano, hiking, and traveling.
Laurie Harada
Laurie Harada (Toronto) joined the NAJC in February 2025 as Project Manager, Capacity Building Initiative. With over 25 years of experience in both the not-for-profit and for-profit sectors, including as a Project Manager at McCain Foods and serving as Executive Director at Food Allergy Canada, Laurie brings a diverse skill set to her role at NAJC. A third-generation Japanese Canadian, Laurie’s family was significantly impacted by the internment of Japanese Canadians. Her deep-rooted connection to the community fuels her commitment to its continued growth and vitality. After graduating from university, Laurie spent a few years in Tokyo working in the financial sector, including at a Japanese bank. She is excited to bring her experience and passion to the NAJC team.
Emily Coppolella
Joshua Burke
Photo and bio coming soon!
Sydney Christie
Sydney began her role of administrative assistant with the NAJC in February 2025 as part of the Capacity Building Initiative. She brings to the table 15+ years of public-facing experience across a variety of industries, and the adaptability that comes with working for small businesses and non-profits. With an education background in media communications (Dip., Humber College) and International & Community Development Studies (BA., University of Winnipeg), she is looking forward to using these skills to serve the Japanese Canadian community.
As a fourth-generation hafu, Sydney’s Nikkei roots originate from Issei farmers in Haney and Richmond, BC. Sydney is based in Winnipeg, Treaty 1 territory, where she was born and raised. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting friends out west, reading nonfiction, and perusing the Landscapes of Injustice archives with her cats.