Celia Dunkelman, President
I began performing
music professionally at the age of nine. A succession of television and concert appearances attracted the attention of the
Japanese Consulate-General in Sumatra, which led to a Yamaha Foundation sponsorship to study in Japan. I subsequently joined
the faculty of Tokyo Music & Media Arts Shobi, and after teaching for 19 years, left to concentrate on my career as an
Electone and 15-string koto performer and composer.
In 1997 I established Purity Co., Ltd., which produced my four albums
"Purity," "Sei Shou Ten: Purity, Honesty and Hope," "Klila Bracha" and "Itsukushimi."
My charity work over many years led to the establishment of the "Celia Circle" to foster ever greater friendship
among Japan, Israel and Indonesia. In 2001 I published my biography "Kono Toki O Ikiru (Seize the Moment!)," and
in 2007 "My Most Cherished Memories 2007: The Bonds of Friendship between Japan and Indonesia."
Creator of
the "Ethnic Fusion" music genre, I work closely with students, in addition to composing, arranging and performing
around the world.
Career Highlights 2008
Guest koto performer at Kamui 10th Anniversary performance • Recital at Tokyo FM Hall (celebrating 60th Anniversary
of the State of Israel & the 50th Anniversary of Japan-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations) • Founding member
and Executive Vice President of AIJ International Development Corp.
2007
"My
Most Cherished Memories: The Bonds of Friendship between Japan & Indonesia" published by Celia Circle •
Commendation from the State of Israel for Contributions to Japan-Israeli Relations• Guest performer
at 33rd Lagu Lagu Association Meeting • 10th Anniversary Recital at Tokyo FM Hall • Simfoni Persahabatan Indonesia
(both in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Japan-Indonesia Diplomatic Relations)
2006
Indonesia-Japan
joint documentary project "My Most Cherished Memories" (Parts 4-12) produced by "Celia Circle" •
Created "Japan Israel Ladies Circle (JILC)" •One World Charity Spring Event 2006 at the Residence of Israeli
Ambassador •"Ke'ev, Tikva Leshalom Ve'emuna" from the Album "Itsukushimi" used as theme song
for Ryukyu Broadcasting program "The Spread of Karate from Okinawa to the World" • Recital at Tokyo FM Hall
• "Itsukushimi" (PCLR-2006) CD Album released on Purity Records • Simfoni Persahabatan
Indonesia
2005
Performed "Amurita" at 6th Traditional Japanese Music & Dance Festival
in Chiba • "Celia's Society from the Heart" banquet in honor of Photographer Nobuo Ikegami • Salon
Concert "Indonesia-Japan-Israel Ethnic Fusion" at the Residence of Israeli Ambassador • Recital at Tokyo FM
Hall (November 12)
2004
Guest on NHK Radio program "Sunset Park" • One World Charity
Concert, Bazaar and Reception • "Celia Dunkelman Charity Concert 2004" at Mangkunagaran Pendopo Agung Palace
in Solo • Recital at Tokyo FM Hall
2003
"Celia's Society from the Heart" charity
banquet · 20th Anniversary of VP Squadron 6 · Performance at the Japanese National Theater · Recital
at Tokyo FM Hall · Recital at Tokyo FM Hall · Indonesian Cultural Exchange Symphony Concert · "Klila
Bracha" (PCLR-2003) released on Purity Records
2002
Indonesian Cultural Exchange
Symphony Concert · "Celia's Society from the Heart" charity banquet · Recital at Tokyo FM Hall
· "It's Saturday Night Live - Ethnic Fusion" at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan
2001
Celia's biography entitled Kono Toki O Ikiru ("Seize the Moment!") published by Soshinsha
· Established "Celia's Society from the Heart" charity foundation · Created "Yume-Irama"
Concert · Recital at Tokyo FM Hall · Invited guest and performer at birthday celebrations for "Bengawan
Solo" composer Gesang in Solo, Indonesia · Created world's first 15 string O-Koto (crafted by Gomi Wagakiten)
2000
Performance at National Panasonic Gobel's 30th Anniversary in Jakarta · Second
album "Sei Shou Ten: Purity, Honesty, and Hope" (CRCI-20486) released in Japan · Recital
at Tokyo FM Hall · Indonesian Cultural Exchange Symphony Concert
1999
Board member, Indonesian
Embassy Culture Center Project · Recital at Tokyo FM Hall · "Sounds of the Heart IV" Concert ·
Performances for the Indonesian Arts & Culture Festival, Japan Public School System cultural educational program, international
diplomatic corps functions at various embassies in Tokyo · Concerts and lectures throughout Japan.
1998
First album, "Purity," released in Japan by Nippon Crown Records · Recital at Tokyo
FM Hall · Performed for Her Highness Princess Hanako at a Japan-Israel Women's Welfare Organization charity function
· Regular performer at Valentine's jazz club · 11 concerts and dozens of lectures throughout Japan
1997
Purity Co., Ltd. established · Created the Indonesian Cultural Exchange Symphony
1996
Debut as a lyricist (in Cantonese) on "Binetsu" on the Bandai recording label · First of many performances
with one of Japan's most renowned O-koto artists, Satomi Fukami
1994
"Sounds of the Heart
III" Concert
1992 to present
Performer at state functions, Embassy of Israel
in Japan
1991 "
Sounds of the Heart II" Concert
1990
Various
concerts overseas
1988
First ethnic fusion concert "Sounds of the Heart I"
1986-2000
Faculty, Tokyo Music & Media Arts Shobi
1979-84
Frequent performances in Tokyo
1979
Produced recording with Gesang, one of the giants of Indonesian music and composer of "Bengawan
Solo"
1978
Grand Prize, Indonesia Electone Festival
1974-77
Performed
at the Japanese Consulate in Sumatra for Emperor's Birthday
1969-75
Performed at Wesley Church
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When I arrived in
Japan in 1977 as an assistant English instructor for Princeton-in-Asia, I expected to stay six months to a year. Instead,
I fell in love with the country, began my career, married and had three children.
I have extensive experience as a Web
Content Consultant, and in 1997 established Purity Co, Ltd., which provides online proofreading and translation (Japanese
to/from English), copywriting and editing solutions for every business need: from letters, newsletters, product brochures,
catalogue, promotional videos and presentations to web based projects.
For the past thirty years I have also been involved
in foreign language (EFL) teaching, syllabus design and curriculum development services in the field of education.
Japanese
culture has always fascinated me, and early on developed an interest in Kabuki and other forms of traditional theater, working
for several years at the Kabuki-za as a Kabuki earphone commentator. I have also practiced Aikido for over three decades,
hold a sixth degree black belt, and am currently an instructor at Kuwamori Dojo in Tokyo.
Résumé
Work Experience
Present~1997
Founder and President of Purity Co., Ltd., which provides a variety of services, among
them:
• Music and multimedia production and performances
• Preparation and narration of videos and presentations
• Desktop editing, design, layout, publishing and related tasks
• Japanese to/from English translation,
copy-writing, proofreading and editing
• Web site content provider for the Japan Association of Travel Agents,
Clarion Co., Ltd., the Yazaki Group and others
• English as a second language (ESL) teaching, syllabus design and
curriculum development
2008
Founding member and Director & Executive Vice President
of AIJ International Development Corporation (Retired).
2003~1977
Chief Instructor
at ELEC, the English Language Education Council, Inc. (Eigo Kyouiku Kyogika)
Present~1982
Senior
Consultant, Yazaki Corporation (Yazaki Sogyo K.K.).
Present~1984
Consultant
on educational materials for the Kumon Institute of Education. My work for the Educational Research Center includes: research,
compilation, and authoring of materials for teaching English conversation and speed reading skills, and for teaching Japanese
to speakers of other languages.
1988~84
Kabuki commentator for the English language earphone guide
at the Kabuki-za Theater. Each month commentators prepare a narration describing the plot and background for each play on
the program. This narration is recorded and then broadcast during the performance for the benefit of the non-Japanese speaking
audience.
1983~80
Editor and proofreader for Canon Corporation (Canon K.K.), Musashi-Kosugi, Tokyo
facility.
1980
Co-author of Strategic English for Osaka Educational Press (Osaka
Kyoiku Tosho K.K.). This textbook is designed to help candidates prepare for company entrance examinations in English.
1978~77
Private Tutor in English to the Ambassador of El Salvador.
1977
Princeton University Teaching Associate at the Institute for International Studies and Training in Fujinomiya,
Japan.
1977~70
Piano technician and tuner.
________________________________________
Education
1997
M. A. in Linguistics (TESOL), University of Surrey, Great Britain.
1977~76
Post-graduate
study in computer science and mathematics at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
1974~70
B.A.
in Philosophy, State University of New York at Stony Brook.
1971
Scholarship student at
Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
1970~67
Apprenticed piano technician, Baldwin Piano Company.
________________________________________
Publications
1997
The Application of Selected
Sociolinguistics Concepts to Second Language Syllabus Design, University of Surrey, Great Britain.
1980
Strategic English, Osaka Educational Press (Osaka Kyoiku Tosho K.K.).
________________________________________
Organizations
Jewish Community of Japan Vice President of the Board of Directors from 1991~1995.
Instructor (sixth
degree black belt) at Kuwamori
Aikido Dojo, Tokyo, Japan.
Member of the International Aikido Federation, the world-wide federation of Aikido practitioners.
Founding member and officer of the International Friends of Kabuki.
________________________________________
Personal
Citizenship: United States of America
Visa status in Japan: Permanent
Resident (Eiju-ken)
Languages: English (Native); Japanese (Fluent)
I was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on February
6, 1952, am married with three children, and in excellent health. My interests include computers, Japanese and Chinese martial
arts, Kabuki, philosophy and psychology.
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