Umeko Izumikawa

Umeko Izumikawa (born July 9, 1969) is a Japanese-American musician, actress, and singer. She is known for being a guitarist and vocalist in the 4th and 5th Jeff Jones Band.

History
Umeko was born at Yokohama City University Medical Center in Minami-ku, Yokohama, Japan and grew up in Shiroishi, Miyagi, Japan. Her mother and some of her relatives moved to Chicago, Illinois in the United States when she was 4, while her father stayed in Japan, working as a cameraman for NHK. Umeko and her family members, upon arriving in the United States, gained dual citizenship with Japan and the United States. She attended attended Alexander Graham Bell School for kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. She attended Chicago Vocational High School for her high school education.

When she was in Kindergarten, she was ostracized when she brought sushi in her school lunch, but she gained acceptance by hosting a school luncheon where everyone brought food native to their family.

She joined The Jeff Jones Band in 1987, replacing Jane van den Goorbergh on guitar and vocals. She enjoyed many aspects of Japanese culture, including sushi and origami, which occasionally caused problems for her and her bandmates. Umeko joined the band by chance, one night she and her mother picked Jake Sanford, Jake Wrzesiński, and Robert Stainton up from a Stryper concert at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, Illinois and Robert and both Jakes asked Umeko if she could join their band. She agreed and soon became a member.

Personal life
As of 2017, Umeko lived in Austin, Texas, United States; though she maintains residences in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and Gothenburg, Sweden as well as homes in Yokohama and her native Shiroishi in Japan.

During her initial tenure with The Jeff Jones Band, Umeko moonlighted as a behavioural therapist for autistic children.

Equipment
Umeko has endorsed Schecter Guitar Research guitars and Orange amplifiers since the 1980s.

Current

 * Schecter Guitar Research E-1 FR S Special Edition Electric Guitar (Transparent Purple Burst)
 * Schecter Guitar Research E-1 Standard Solid Body Electric Guitar (Black Pearl)
 * Schecter Guitar Research Ultra III Electric Guitar (Vintage Red)
 * Orange Amplifiers Crush Pro CR120H 120W Guitar Amp Head
 * Orange Amplifiers PPC Series PPC412-C 240W 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet

Former

 * Schecter Guitar Research Jimi Hendrix Strat (Black)
 * Orange OR120 Guitar Amp Head
 * Marshall JCM 800 1982A 4x12 Guitar Speaker Cabinet