The karate sensei is regarded as a role model for his or her students in all aspects of life.  He or she is someone who has learned much from many years of intense training.  The sensei also has the best interest at heart as the students pursue their own studies of karate.

The title Sensei was bestowed upon James Tawatao, chief instructor of Las Vegas Shotokan Karate, by his teacher, Osamu Ozawa in September of 1993.  He received his official instructor’s certificate and was proclaimed by Master Ozawa to be addressed as Sensei by the students from then on.

Sensei Tawatao was born in the city of Baguio, Philippines on November 11, 1959.  His mother, Marcelina Tawatao became an immigrant of the United States in 1970 and four years later was able to petition her family to follow her to the US.  Sensei Tawatao immigrated directly to Las Vegas with his sister Ingrid, in March of 1974.  He graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) in 1986 with a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering.

Rey Braganza, his cousin and a senior instructor at the Las Vegas Shotokan dojo, introduced Sensei Tawatao to Shotokan Karate.  He started training in 1981 with Shihan Ozawa who was at the time 55 years old.  In 1983, Sensei Tawatao started teaching for Shihan Ozawa at the dojo and in September 1985, passed his 1^st degree black belt test.  A year later he achieved his 2^nd degree black belt and passed his 3^rd degree black belt test in February of 1992.  In 1995, Sensei Tawatao was chosen to take over the Las Vegas Shotokan dojo by Shihan Ozawa .

Master Ozawa was Sensei Tawatao’s first and only teacher.  His last karate instructions from Master Ozawa was on January 1, 1998 during the traditional 1^st of the year training, a special class for the new year that has been a tradition in the Las Vegas Shotokan dojo since it opened.

Sensei James Tawatao was at Shihan Ozawa’s side during his final moment on the night of April 14, 1998.  Shihan Osamu Ozawa was 72 years old.