Karen Tei Yamashita
Yamashita was born on January 8, 1951, in Oakland, California. She attended Carleton College, earned her BA, belonged to Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated with degrees in English and Japanese literature. She spent junior year in Japan as an exchange student at Waseda University. From 1975, Yamashita lived for 9 years in Brazil, and later researched the Brazilian community in Japan. Currently, she lives in Santa Cruz, California with her husband, Ronaldo Lopes de Oliveira, a Brazilian architect. They have a son, Jon, and a daughter, Jane.
She teaches creative writing and Asian-American Literature at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Kresge College. She is a novelist, short story writer, playwright and a member of Amerasia Journal editorial board, since 1994.
Brazil is the setting for her first two novels, Through the Arc of the Rain Forest, 1990, awarded the American Book Award and The Janet Heidinger Kafka Award; and Brazil-Maru, 1992, named by the Village Voice as one of the 25 best books of that year.
Her third novel, Tropic of Orange, 1997, set in Los Angeles, was a finalist for the Paterson Fiction Prize.
Her fourth book, Circle K Cycles, 2001, grows out of her experience of the Brazilian community in Japan.
Other writings include Omen: An American Kabuki, 1978; Hiroshima Tropical, 1984; Kusei: An Endangered Species, (with Karen Mayeda) 1986; Hannah Kusoh: An American Butoh, 1989; Tokyo Carmen v. L.A. Carmen, 1996; GiLAwrecks, 1992; Noh Bozos 1993. Also short stories including "The Orange," "The Bath," "Tucano," "Asaka-no-Miya," "The Dentist and the Dental Hygienist," "Madama B," "The Last Secretary." Also essays on literature and writing appearing in diverse settings including A Japanese American Anthology, 1975; Contact II Poetry Review, 1986; Chicago Review, 1993; Circle K monthly journal series; CafeCreole website; and contributor to Rafu-Shimpo Los Angeles Japanese-American newspaper.
Info provided by: http://faculty.washington.edu/kendo/yamashita.html