Roy is a first generation Japanese American, born in Tokyo and raised in Southern California. His love for Oregon rivers has led to a 20-year career in water quality and watershed management in local government. He leads the Clean Rivers Coalition, a collaborative partnership of public and non-profit organizations, that launched Follow the Water, the first statewide clean water outreach campaign in Oregon. He has a Master’s degree in Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, and a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture. He is a co-author of The American Highway: Two Voices, a travelogue based on his motorcycle travels across the United States and Canada.