Cycling up Mt. Fuji,  Photo by Derek Yamashita

Raised in the sunny city of Huntington Beach. Derek Yamashita has long been interested in making waves in the Japanese-American Culture.  This interest sparked after he visited Japan in high school as part of a sister city exchange program.  Derek was born a fourth-generation Japanese-American.  Despite this distance from the native culture of his ancestors.  The fourth year global studies major at UCSB has since expressed deep interest in connecting with his roots.  

Derek jumped at the opportunity to study abroad in Japan during his junior year and he even plans to return for work after he graduates.  For now, he is a peer advisor at the UC Education Abroad Office where he helps others get the chance to study abroad all over the world and experience different cultures. When he's not busy expanding the cultural horizons of himself and others, Derek enjoys photography and being a part of the cycling team at his university. 

-Sierra Gordon