Administration team

Mr. Yoshishige Komaki

Head of School

Yoshishige Komaki
Mr Komaki founded KIST with his wife, Takako, in 1997. Since that time, as School Director, he has been directly involved in the operation of the school and has overseen its development in line with his vision and founding principles.

  

Mr. Kevin Yoshihara

Elementary School Principal

Kevin Yoshihara
Mr Yoshihara has been a member of KIST since 2009. Initially working as a classroom teacher with Grades 4 and 5, he was appointed as the Elementary School Principal in 2012 with responsibilities covering K1 through Grade 5. Having also worked in schools in Canada, Kuwait and China, Mr Yoshihara has held a number of teaching and coordinator roles over the course of his career. He holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Victoria and is currently working towards his Master's degree in Education. Mr Yoshihara is a PYP workshop leader for the International Baccalaureate Organization and has led various teacher workshops in the Asia-Pacific region. His outside school hobbies include swimming, cycling and running. Originally from Canada, Mr Yoshihara's two sons attend KIST.

  

Mr. Stephen Rothkopf

Secondary School Principal

Stephen Rothkopf
Mr Rothkopf joined KIST in 2010 as the Humanities Subject Area Coordinator for the Secondary School. In 2011, he was appointed as the Secondary School Principal with responsibilities covering Grades 6 through 12. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History/Psychology from State University of New York, Albany. Mr Rothkopf also studied at Northern Arizona University earning a Master's of Education in Education Technology. Most recently, he earned his International Leadership certificate from the Principals' Training Center. Mr Rothkopf has been teaching internationally since 2002 and has held a variety of leadership positions in schools located in the United States of America, Sweden, the People's Republic of China and Thailand prior to joining KIST. His outside school hobbies include teaching about the undersea world. Mr Rothkopf is an avid scuba diver reaching the level of Master Scuba Diver Trainer, having certified many new and experienced divers at varying levels.

  

Mr. Mark Cowe

Secondary School Vice Principal / IB DP Coordinator

Mark Cowe
Mr Cowe joined KIST in 2007 as the IB Diploma Programme Coordinator for Grades 11 and 12. In 2011, in addition to his continuing duties as DP Coordinator, he was appointed as the Secondary School Vice Principal. Mr Cowe holds a Master of Arts degree in modern history and politics from the University of Edinburgh, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Nottingham, and is currently working towards a Master of Arts in international education with the University of Bath. Mr Cowe has been teaching since 1999 and has held a variety of classroom teaching and leadership roles in the UK, Qatar and El Salvador before coming to Japan. He is also employed by the IB organization as an examiner for history and theory of knowledge, and also as a workshop leader. His outside school hobbies include golf, tennis and hiking.