Hiromi Okuyama

Hiromi Okuyama was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. Her father is Shotokan Master, Kancho T. Okuyama, who is originally from Hachijo-jima, an island near Tokyo, Japan. Her mother, Belle, is from Hong Kong. Hiromi started acting as a child. After High School, she attended York University in Toronto, and Graduated with a BA in Sociology, making it on the Academic Achievement List (Dean's list) 2 years in a row. While at York University, she took Elective courses in Theater Production for one year as well as Acting Fundamentals. In 2001, Ms. Okuyama auditioned and received a scholarship at the Second City Training Center for their Diversity Program. She went on to be part of and co-led 2 improv/comedy troupes, She was the female lead of the play FOB, written by David Henry Hwang, at the Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto. She was part of the early stages of the Fu-GEN Asian Canadian Theater Company. Under the guidance of then, Artistic Director, Nina Aquino Lee, she wrote her first play. A few years later she was accepted into the annual Fu-GEN Playwrghts' group, the Kitchen, in it's sixth year and wrote her second play, "Hitotsu" which was work-shopped and showcased. Along with her film and television as well as Voiceover work (please see Filmography), Hiromi has appeared in numerous commercials.for the following companies: MacDonald's, Walmart, Pizza Hut, Future Shop, Canadian Tire, Manulife Financial, Foodland Ontario and Scotiabank to name a few. Hiromi also studied the Meisner technique under John Riven (who studied under the Great Sanford Meisner). She achieved her 4th Degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate under her father, Kancho T. Okuyama. She also studied Tai Chi and Chinese sword under her maternal Grandfather Mok Shou-Lim, until he passed at the age of 97. She was extremely honored to be his last student. She currently lives just outside of Toronto, with her husband and two children. She writes for an unofficial Disney travel blog: Tips From the Disney Diva.