Derrick is a yonsei or 4th generation Japanese-American who is an avid bon dancer. During the day, he works at Hawaii’s Plantation Village as the Education and Programs Manager. There he uses his knowledge of Japanese and Okinawan culture to promote and perpetuate Japanese and Okinawa culture and dance in Hawai‘i. He is a member of the Oahu Soto Mission Bon Dance Association and is the instructor for the Waipahu Soto Mission Bon Dance Class and the Nuuanu Soto Mission Exercise Through Bon Dance Class. Along with teaching bon dance classes, he also a student and teacher of shimbuyo or Japanese semi-classical and folk dances. He is the President of the Hawaii Japanese Dance Association and currently holds the rank of Konin Koshi or “Teacher Assistant” from the Japan Folk Dance Association. He is also the instructor for the Miyataki Hoon Kai and in 2018 he received his natori or professional name of Miyanagi Shinkichi from the Miyanagi Dance School in Tokyo.