Photographer​

Daphne Youree

Daphne Youree is an award-winning photographer who studied photography at Sarah Lawrence College in the US, and in Famu International in Prague. Her work has been featured in shows in New York City, China, England, and Czech Republic. She worked 12 years with the iconic fashion photographer Arthur Elgort. She is now also the subject of the documentary film Behind Her Masks, exploring her life story through her art, and specifically this Memory Masks series. Her former artistic lives include being a child actress on TV and a rapper in a progressive electronic music Czech band in the 90's.

Co-Founder,

Kaede Kimonos

Raymond Mongroo

Raymond Mongroo is the Co-Founder of Kaede Kimonos, a New York-based brand specializing in traditional-style vintage and sustainable kimono fashion for both the entertainment industry and personal use. With a focus on cultural preservation and creative expression, Raymond helps lead Kaede’s unique approach to kimono design — offering a curated selection of authentic vintage pieces alongside the brand’s own line of Gothic and urban-style kimonos. His work bridges heritage and modernity, bringing the timeless elegance of kimono into today’s creative and fashion spaces.

Editor,

NEW YORK SEIKATSU PRESS, INC.

Ryoichi Miura

Ryoichi Miura is the Publisher and CEO of New York Seikatsu Press, Inc., a Japanese-language newspaper company based in New York City. Since its founding in 2004, the company has served the Japanese community overseas by providing timely news and cultural content through its weekly newspaper Shukan NY Seikatsu and digital platforms.

Before founding the publication, Mr. Miura worked as Deputy Editor at the editorial department of the U.S. edition of a major Japanese newspaper, where he gained in-depth experience covering the lives and interests of Japanese residents in America. He continues to serve as an important bridge connecting Japanese communities across the United States and around the world through the power of journalism and media outreach.

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Japanese Program Director,

Hunter College, CUNY

Maayan Barkan

Dr. Barkan is head of the Japanese Program at Hunter. She received her MA in Japanese language education at Osaka University of Foreign Languages in Japan, and both her second MA and PhD in Linguistics at the Graduate Center of CUNY.