I grew up in a small rural community in Denmark, and even today I feel a deep sense of gratitude that our son can attend an international school like YIS. As a Danish – Japanese family, with my wife having been raised here in Yokohama, we are very aware of how special this opportunity is.
On the surface, our son’s world looks very different from the one I grew up in. But when I reflect more deeply, I see many similarities. I was raised with a strong belief that contributing and giving back to the community you are part of is essential. From a young age, whether through my scout group or local sports teams, volunteering and helping our town was simply part of life.
After living in Asia for more than 20 years, we felt that same spirit of community when we arrived at YIS in August 2022. It made us feel at home.
Professionally, I work in international shipping, leading a Japan-based team within a global company. My role requires long-term thinking, disciplined governance, and collaboration across cultures — perspectives that I find highly relevant in Board work as well.
That is also why I joined the Board of Directors as Governance Auditor in 2023. I truly value working alongside a group of dedicated and thoughtful people to help ensure that YIS remains strong, transparent, and forward-looking. My hope is that we continue to honor the school’s history while building a foundation that allows future generations of Dragons to celebrate many more milestones and anniversaries.
Rasmus Takechi-Hansen
Governance Auditor, Board of Directors