Team
Susumu Watanabe
- Head Carpenter Shojiko Village
Watanabe Kensetsu have been the carpenter family for the village since Susumu’s grandfather started the company 60 years ago. Along with his brother and father, Susumu continues the tradition of fine wood work and carpentry by working closely with our team to develop designs and restoration processes to bring the beauty of the antique houses up to modern living standards.
The teams ability and willingness to source local lumber, recycle original materials and work cost effectively are key skills allowing us to bring a superior product to market on time and within an affordable budget.
Dawn Nakagawa – Director of Development McGill BA’93, Chicago MBA’00
Dawn Nakagawa is a non-profit executive with a passion for strategy development and execution. She currently works as the Executive Vice President of the Pacific Council on International Policy, a global leadership network dedicated to enhancing awareness of and developing solutions to the global challenges. In her position she oversees all aspects of the organization and drives several special initiatives including the Energy, Environment and Security Committee, the Equitable Globalization Committee and the Emerging Leaders Program.
She holds an MBA from University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and an undergraduate degree in Political Science from the McGill University in Canada. Dawn is a contributing member for the Hope Street Group think tank, an evaluator for the Yale Goldman Partnership for Non Profit Ventures and an active member of the California Peace Action Network and California league of Conservation Voters.
Jacob Reiner Cornell ALS‘93
Chief Architect & Project Management – Eden Homes
Founder – Earth Embassy
Jake is an EcoArchitect, Builder and Sustainable Technology specialist. He first came to Japan after graduating from Cornell University in 1993. His work deals mainly with promoting and improving environmentally sensitive technologies, building techniques and organic products and has been involved with projects ranging from ecologically sound highway design to recycling technology development. He is currently concentrating on building Eco Homes in Japan and development of the Organic Farm School on Mt Fuji. He also coordinates the PR and sales program for the Shojiko Traditional Village and regularly appears in Japan TV, magazines and newspapers to promote the projects.
At Eden Homes, Jake is the overall project architect responsible for initial design, structural assessment and valuation of homes, coordinating construction and budgeting to minimize costs, and ensuring use of the highest quality sustainable materials. He has 20 years of experience in sustainable design, construction management, eco-technology and agriculture in Hawaii, New York, Canada and Japan. While at Cornell University, he published The Importance of Community Involvement, outlining the benefits of creating sustainable villages to address environmental concerns. In 2000 he founded the Earth Embassy to develop and promote green businesses, and in 2006 incorporated Eden Homes, an architecture, design & build company, to construct eco-friendly homes and villages.
Paul D. Hirsch Ph.D. – Community Development Cornell ALS‘93, University of Georgia MS’98, PhD’07
Paul D. Hirsch is a professor and environmental policy research scientist at University of Syracuse. His specialty is developing conceptual tools for facilitating interdisciplinary and cross-cultural collaborative problem-solving. He is an experienced group facilitator and founding board member of the Georgia Community Loan Fund, an organization set up to provide low interest loans for community projects that link economic development and environmental conservation. Paul’s current research is part of an international effort sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation called “Advancing Conservation in a Social Context,” and centers on developing new tools and procedures for working through decisions about conservation and development that may involve difficult trade-offs. In 2009 he is traveling to Vietnam, Peru, and Tanzania to work with partners from academic institutions and NGOs.
Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Society from Cornell University, a Master of Science degree in Conservation Ecology and Sustainable Development from the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Murray Gilbert - Senior Analyst, Asset Management Team
A.J. Kabat, Construction & Project Management He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Sienna College in 1996 with a B.S. in Marketing and Management, and also holds a Summa Cum Laude associate degree in Applied Science in Building Construction. His extensive work with new construction and reform projects, combined with his real estate development and management experience bring to the team a highly critical eye for engineering, cost management and high quality construction standards.
Martin Paradine – Renewable Energy
Currently Marty is enrolled in the Masters of Science in Renewable Energy program at the University of Oldenburg, Germany. The University of Oldenburg is one of the world leaders in renewable energy studies and Marty’s position there brings to the team an invaluable insight to the cutting-edge renewable energy technologies currently coming to market.
Akaike Komuten – Japanese Detail & Restoration
Akaike-san has personally built over 30 fines homes in the Yamanashi area. In our Shojiko homes he is responsible for many of the innovative re-uses of traditional features and techniques preserved in the buildings.
His custom staircases are legendary, his classic style front doors with added security and insulation sought after, and his hand-built cedar bath tubs sell internationally.
Brad Hall – Project Coordinator Duke ENG’82, Cornell MBA ‘89
Brad is an experienced professional in managing projects in international and multicultural environments. Initially trained in engineering, he started in programming and support of mission critical systems in the financial industry, and moved into project and programme management in America, Japan and England. In addition to currently owning and running his own 13 acre organic farm business on Maui, Hawaii, he has worked as Chief of Staff for Merrill Lynch, project manager for J.P. Morgan-Chase, Senior Analyst at Goldman Sachs and a software engineer at IBM, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP 2003).
He brings to them team a demonstrated ability to oversee planning and financial development and a high level of professionalism in applying proven methodologies, such as Project Management Body of Knowledge.
2000 – 2010 . Hall of Fame – Past Staff, Interns and Volunteers
Emiko Fatima Shah Katsumata
Solar Cafe Manager
Emiko is our very capable manager at the Solar Cafe and Guesthouse. She also helps with planning and oversite of our farm and event management. Emi first came as a volunteer in the summer of 2007 and joined the team full time in April of 2008. She was born in Japan but lived many years in Pakistan, where she attended university as a fine arts major. Emi is an amazing cook and has brought to our menu an expert hand at curries, chutneys, her own vegan tofu cheese recipe, and our amazing tofu cheese cake! Her pleasant personality and diligent character are key to keeping the Solar Cafe running smooth and comfortable for guests.
Natsuco Kamano
Farm Manager and Kid’s Program Coordinator
Natusco is an Osaka native who is very serious in her work on the farm, and very serious about making the experience fun and rewarding for all who participate. Her experience spans WOOFING on various farms around Japan, volunteering in Costa Rica for 3 months, working on a sugar cane farm in Okinawa, and volunteering on the earth Embassy farm for 3 months in 2008. She has also worked with an interactive children’s puppet theater group in Minnesota and brings many interesting and educational aspects to our children’s programs.
Miho Ota de Garcia
Tierra Madre-Fair Trade Importer
Miho is the founder and director of Tierra Madre, a fair trade import organization that is devoted to the preservation of Guatemalean Rain Forest. She buys handmade goods and organic coffee directly from indigenious people and promotes forest conservation through lectures and events in Japan. As the fair trade coordinator for the Earth Embassy shop, she provides a way for our guests to support the Guatemalean local forest based economy.
Takashi Akaike
Eco Home Builder
Akaike-san is a master Japanese carpenter and has been building high quality, custom wooden homes in Japan for over 30 years. He is the general contractor for the Earth Embassy Eco-homes and in 2005 completed the first Embassy Eco Home in Tokyo with Jacob Reiner. His dedication to craftsmanship and affordablity make him a highly sought after builder and ensure that the Embassy Eco Homes are built to the highest standards of safety, durability, and comfort.
Web Master Julian
Jules lives in Paris, France. He created and manages this amazing web site. Before coming to join our team he ran his own online record distribution company, getting cutting edge techno out to the people. He currently designs and manages a variety of professional website and can be contacted at webmaster@earthembassy.org
Susanne Kurz
Cafe and Volunteer Coordinator, Animal Caretaker – Solar Cafe
Susanne was the overall site manager and kept the Solar Cafe and Guesthouse running smoothly from the summer of 2003 through 2005. Originally from Stuttgart, Germany, after attending university she worked at an eco tourism site in the jungle of Peru, where she was responsible for rehabilitating Howler monkeys. Her dedication to the project and hard work are unequalled, and her creative homemade cake recipes are renowned across Japan.
Susi is now back in Germany where she is the proud mama of a beautiful baby boy, Quentin. They live together with Spek, one of the puppies raised at the Embassy
Tom & Marcel
Sheep Specialist and Farm Carpenter
Tom and Marcel joined us for a few months in late 2008. Tom is an architect from Ireland and was super helpful with building projects and also having grown up on a sheep farm, was able to give us some good advice and help with taking care of Rueben and Eva. Marcel was just passing through on his one year mission to climb mountains all over Japan, and he ended up staying on as a volunteer and using us as a base camp between his climbs. Couldn’t have made it through the year without their help, so thanks fellows.
Jay Gearing
Farm Carpenter and Children’s Teacher
Jay is a carpenter and musician from Petersborough, England and works hard to keep the Embassy standing. In 2004 he completed our first tree house on site, and many other vital projects.
Julie Ogier
All Around Super Star
Julie joined us after a three year stint at Phantom Ranch in the bottom of the Grand Canyon. After getting all her food from the back of a mule for three years, she was happy to help on our farm and repaint our kitchen (in her own fashion). She is also a master hat maker and kept the staff heads warm this winter.
Joshia Akaike
Advisor and Carpenter
Joshia is one of the founders and owners of the successful Blue Moon beach bar in Hayama, Japan. He is German/Japanese and was a professional competition horse rider in his youth. Currently he lives in a thatched roof house on Lake Saiko with his wife and three children. He brings to our team many years of entreprenureal business management and professional construction experience.
Michael Gover
Master Baker and Chef
Michael is originally from Bristol England and has been baking and teaching cooking in Japan for over ten years. His cooking style incorporates gourmet touches from the many countries he has lived in. He teaches bread baking and cooking at the Solar Cafe and his magic touch (he can pull rabbits out of your ear) makes him very popular with kids and adults.
Azusa Kimura
Field Coordinator
Azusa is a certified science teacher from Gunma Prefecture. She is taking care of planting, fertilizing and general maintenance of our fields as well as keeping the sheep happy and well fed. Her enthusiasm and sunny disposition are a benefit to all who work with her and we are happy to have her joining the team.