Background and Interests of the Okayama Committee 2005 Person to Person Exchange program

Candidate Information
San Jose/Okayama Sister Cities Person to Person Program, 2005
Travelers: Eugene Sakai, Tina Tam

Thumbnail Biographical Information

Eugene Sakai is an architect in a private business. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Masters degree from the University of California at Berkeley [UC Berkeley]. He has studied and is interested in urban planning and public art. He is currently a member of the San Jose City Arts Commission. Mr. Sakai assisted in the implementation of the new gate of the Japanese Friendship Garden as designed by Okayama architect Akihiko Namba.

Tina Tam is a City Planner for the City of San Francisco. Previously she had similar poritions in San Jose and Fairfield, California. She holds two Masters degrees from Georgia Technical Institute [Georgia Tech] in Architecture and Urban Planning.

Professional Interests
Architecture

--Contemporary Multi-family housing design
--Prefabricated housing (kit houses)
--Wireless technology in the home
--builidngs designed by Tadao Ando, architect
--Integration of art and architecture in public buildings
--Current trends in public art
--Advancements in seismic building technology

City Planning

--Development regulations
--Development review process
--Historic preservation regulations
--Government incentive programs for development (affordable housing, historic preservation)

Urban Design

--“New Towns”
--Coordination of transit and regional development patterns
--Jobs/housing mix relative to development regulations

Would like to research for Pacific Neighbors Project

List of donors to the gate fund (1997)

Would be interested to visit any of these Okayama attractions

Shimo Yubara Hot Springs
Hanabijin No Sato Hot Springs
Okayama Korakuen Garden
Okayama Castle
Omizuen Garden
Kurashiki Ivy Square
Kurashiki Tivoli Park
Shurakuen Garden
Seto Ohashi BridgeOther interests
Tsuyama Cherry blossom Festival (early April)
Tea ceremony
Sogetsu ikebana
Sumo
Popular sporting events

Hobbies/Personal Interests
Basketball
Fitness & exercise