Akemi Kawano, B.M., The Julliard School (1989), M.M., The Julliard School (1991), D.M.A., Manhattan School of Music (1999), J.D., with Honors, George Washington University Law School (2002); associate in the Washington, D.C. office of Alston & Bird LLP; serves as general counsel of the Japan America Society of Washington, D.C.