Five Days of Mr. Hyphen: Ryan Takemiya

As Mr. Hyphen 2010 approaches, we bring you a closer look at each contestant -- one each day, in no particular order -- for the entire week. Let the count-down begin!

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Ryan Takemiya

A man of great posture, Ryan hopes to inspire other through walking tall. Following his graduation from Sarah Lawrence, Ryan became the recipient of the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and traveled to numerous Asian countries to research the diaspora of hip hop culture in East Asia. Upon his return, Ryan became the founder and executive director of RAMA, an arts and culture organization dedicated to the creation of a new APIA Arts Movement that is quickly gaining traction in the Bay Area. As a speaker, writer and activist, he blends performing arts with political advocacy to create his own unique form of cultural activism.

Ryan says:

I do work to highlight Asian American artists and performers, I give inspirational lectures and workshops at colleges about Asian American Cultural Identity Politics, and I do my best to be a connector between API organizations in the Bay Area, and I do have great posture. I walked through life with my head held HIGH. I'm damn proud to be Asian American, and it shows right down to my very core.