Future of Science & Technology Roundtable:
How will coming innovations impact our lives, work, and society?
Ms. Eiko Kano
Violinist & OIST Foundation Music Ambassador
Praised as an artist with “electrifying intensity and lyrical expression” by Kyoto Newspaper and “mesmerizing interpreter” by Ongakuno-Tomo Magazine, Japanese violinist Eiko Kano is known for her sensational and dynamic performances. Eiko has a thriving international career as a soloist as well as a chamber musician frequently collaborating with distinguished artists such as principal oboist of the Berlin Philharmonic Albrecht Meyer, Eugene Drucker of the Emerson Quartet and Ani Kavafian while working closely with living composers premiering new works.
Mr. Karén Hakobyan
Pianist
Armenian-American pianist and composter Karén Hakobyan has emerged as a versatile force on the international musical scene. Since his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of seventeen, he has been performing in major concert halls in Armenia, Argentina, Mexico, Germany, France, Japan and the United States. Karén is the Founder and Artistic Director of Pegasus: The Orchestra based in New York City and is also the Cultural Program Advisor of Armenia Fund, USA.
Master Grant Murata is the founder, President and Artistic Director of Ryukyu Koten Ongaku Afuso Ryu Gensei Kai, Hawaii Chapter and President of Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Kenkyuu Choichi Kai USA. Murata Sensei first studied Ryukyuan (Okinawan) folk music (Minyo) at the age of 12 under Master Henry Masatada Higa of the Higa Masatada Koten Minyo Club. In 1981, he earned his teaching certificate from Higa Sensei and began teaching. Two years later he established the Sansei Minyo Kenkyu Kai.
Join the OIST Foundation's First Anniversary Gala to hear a special performance of Okinawa Music by members of the Ryukyu Koten Afuso-Ryu Ongaku Choichi Kai USA.
Ryukyu Koten Afuso-Ryu Ongaku Choichi Kai USA's purpose is to promote and perpetuate the Afuso School style of Ryukyu (Okinawan) Classical Music and preserve the uta-sanshin teaching methods of National Living Treasure Grand Master Choichi Terukina Sensei in Hawaii and the greater United States of America.
Master Kenton Odo
Shihan (Master Instructor), Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Choichi Kai USA
Master Kenton Odo started his uta-sanshin journey in college with a desire to learn about his Okinawan background. Being a fourth generation Japanese (father's side) - Okinawan (mother's side) American, he only identified himself as a Japanese American in his formulative years. Curiosity about his Okinawan roots only intensified when Odo Sensei was given his grandfather's sanshin after his first lesson with Master Grant Murata Sensei. Uta-sanshin became a means for Odo Sensei to discover his roots and learn about the Okinawan culture. In March 1993, Odo Sensei was the recipient of the Okinawa Prefectural Scholarship and studied at the Okinawa Prefectural University of Fine Arts.
(Note: special pre-show performance by Ryukyu Koten Afuso-ryu Choichi Kai USA will begin at 6:24 PM)
Violinist Eiko Kano and Pianist Karén Hakobyan
Minister Taro Kono, Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs
Ambassador Shinsuke Sugiyama, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America
Hon. Robert Koepcke, Consul General of the United States to Naha, Okinawa, Japan
Opening Remarks
Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi, Consul General of Japan in New York
Dr. Peter Gruss, President and CEO, OIST
Panelists
Dr. Andrew Blake, former laboratory director Microsoft Research Cambridge, former Director of the Alan Turning Institute, and Chair of the Samsung AI Centre
Dr. Kenji Doya, Professor, Neural Computation Unit, OIST
Dr. Peter Gruss, President and CEO, OIST
Mr. James Higa, Executive Director at Philanthropic Ventures Foundation
Dr. Sachiko Kuno, Founder, Halcyon Incubator
Dr. Carla J. Shatz, Sapp Family Provostial Professor, The Catherine Holman Johnson Director of Stanford Bio-X, and Professor of Biology and Neurobiology, Stanford University
Ms. Amy Webb, Quantitative Futurist, NYU Stern School of Business.
Moderator
Dr. Nancy Snow, Pax Mundi ("Distinguished") Professor of Public Diplomacy at the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and Emeritus Professor of Communications at Cal State Fullerton
What are some of the most pioneering innovations in science and technology being developed today and how will they impact our lives, business, and society – now and in the future? Join the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Foundation (OIST Foundation) for a dynamic and far-reaching discussion with some of the most enterprising scientists in our world today. Together with VIP speakers and entertainment we will celebrate this new organization's accomplishments to-date as we also look toward the future.
Panelists for our core program include: Dr. Andrew Blake, former laboratory director Microsoft Research Cambridge, former Director of the Alan Turning Institute, and Chair of the Samsung AI Centre; Dr. Kenji Doya, Professor, Neural Computation Unit, OIST; Dr. Peter Gruss, President and CEO, OIST; Mr. James Higa, Executive Director at Philanthropic Ventures Foundation; Dr. Sachiko Kuno, Founder, Halcyon Incubator; Dr. Carla J. Shatz, Sapp Family Provostial Professor, The Catherine Holman Johnson Director of Stanford Bio-X, and Professor of Biology and Neurobiology, Stanford University; and Ms. Amy Webb, Quantitative Futurist, NYU Stern School of Business. Moderated by Dr. Nancy Snow, Pax Mundi ("Distinguished") Professor of Public Diplomacy at the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies and Emeritus Professor of Communications at Cal State Fullerton and author of the Japan Timesarticle Japan’s Future is an OISTer.
We will also celebrate the Foundation's one year anniversary with special musical performances from violinist Eiko Kano together with her duo partner Karén Hakobyan on the piano and members of the Ryukyu Koten Afuso Ryu Ongaku Choichi Kai performing traditional Okinawan music.
The event will also feature remarks from Ambassador Shinsuke Sugiyama, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States of America; Minister Taro Kono, Minister of State for Okinawa and Northern Territories Affairs,Ambassador Kanji Yamanouchi, Consul General of Japan in New York; Mr. Robert Koepcke; Consul General of the United States to Naha, Okinawa, Japan. Proceeds will advance the OIST Foundation’s mission to promote global science breakthroughs, strengthen US-Japan relations, and advance the sustainable development of Okinawa.
The OIST Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit, relies on private support to promote global science breakthroughs, strengthen US-Japan Relations, and advance the sustainable development of Okinawa. Please make a gift today to ensure this good work into the future. You can donate with or without purchasing a ticket.
Have questions about the event? Contact us at info@oistfoundation.org
Ms. Julie Azuma
Ms. Claire Chino
Dr. Machi Dilworth
Dr. Jonathan and Mrs. Renée Dorfan
Dr. Evan Economo
Mr. Peter Grilli
Ms. Joyce Grossbard
Mr. Hiroaki Hamada
Ms. Donna Kakazu
Dr. Takehito Kamata
Mr. Kosei Kobayashi
Mr. Tom Mason
Mr. Satoru and Mrs. Hiroko Murase
Ms. Susan Onuma
Mr. Komo and Mrs. Yoshiko Okuyama
Ms. Jie Pan
Mr. Matthew C. Perry
Mr. Thierry Porte
Dr. Tim Ravasi
Ms. Ayano Shimojo
Mr. Tomoyuki Uehara
Ms. Donna Vuchinich
Ms. Julie Meier Wright
Dr. Robert Yanagisawa
Ms. Kimberly Andrews
Anonymous
Ms. Ami Chinen
Ms. Claire Chino
Dr. Gary Cleary
Mrs. Nobuko Saito Cleary
Dr. Rita Colwell
Dr. Gregory Dilworth
Dr. Machi Dilworth
Ms. Rhonda Donahoe
Dr. Jonathan Dorfan
Mrs. Renée Dorfan
Ms. Shoko Farmer
Mr. James Gannon
Lt. Gen. Wallace “Chip” Gregson, USMC, Ret.
Mr. Karén Hakobyan
Mr. Paul Hastings
Mr. Carl Hoffman
Ms. Sanae Hori
Mr. William Hunt
Ms. Riki Ito
Itochu International Inc.
Mr. David Janes
Mrs. Patricia Janes
Japan Center for International
Exchange (JCIE/USA)
Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission
Mrs. Eiko Kano
Mr. Minoru Kano
Dr. Yuko Kakazu
Mr. Nasser Kazeminy
Rear Adm. James D. Kelly, USN, Ret.
Mr. James Kondo
Ms. Ayako Kotani
Mr. Edward Kuba
Mr. Eiichiro Kuwana
Mrs. Yumi Kuwana
Dr. Tom Lough
Dr. Faisal Mahmood
Mr. Gary Moriwaki
Mr. Dave Murphy
Dr. Cherry Murray
Okinawa Cultural Performance
Russell Investments
Ms. Chisato Sakamoto
Tanaka Memorial Foundation
Mr. Tomoyuki Uehara
Mrs. Makiko Ueshima
Mr. Takeshi Ueshima
Ms. Donna Vuchinich
Dr. Barry Whyte
Ms. Julie Meier Wright
Mr. Kenichiro Yamashiro
Mr. Yasumasa Yamamoto
Dr. Robert Yanagisawa
Ms. Magdalen Yum
Mr. Takeshi Ueshima, Chair
Mrs. Julie Meier Wright, Vice Chair
Mrs. Rhonda Donahoe, Treasurer
Mr. David Janes, Managing Director and Secretary
Dr. Hiroyuki Fujita
Lt. Gen. Wallace “Chip” Gregson (USMC, Ret.)
Dr. Yuko Kakazu
Mr. Minoru Kano
Mr. Edward Kuba
Dr. Faisal Mahmood
OIST FOUNDATION MUSIC AMBASSADOR
Ms. Eiko Kano
OIST FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS
Ms. Nina Harano
Ms. Chisato Sakamoto
OIST FOUNDATION WEBSITE &
SOCIAL MEDIA
744 Creative
Ms. Olivia Cholakova
New Revolution Media
Mr. Jeffrey Char
Dr. Richard Dasher
Dr. Jonathan Dorfan
Ms. Atsuko Fish
Dr. Susan Hackwood
Mr. Carl Hoffman
Mr. William W. Hunt
Dr. Kathryn Ibata-Arens
Mr. Ren Ito
Ms. Samjhana Khanal
Mr. Eiichiro Kuwana
Ms. Virginia Littlejohn
Ms. Kay Makishi
Ms. Karen Maples
Ms. Susan McCormac
Mr. Gary S. Moriwaki
Dr. Charles Morrison
Mr. Norman Nakasone
Ms. Nobuko Saito Cleary
Dr. Sheila Smith
Dr. Nancy Snow
Mr. Dennis Teranishi
Ms. Rona Tison
Mr. Tomoyuki Uehara
Ms. Donna Vuchinich
Dr. Robert Yanagisawa
Dr. G P Yeh