Información enviada por traciakemi
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Comfort
Kendall Tani, Susan Yamamura, traci kato-kiriyama
This month, we feature California-based Yonsei writer, Kendall Tani, and Arizona-based Sansei writer, Susan Yamamura. Susan’s is a lighthearted parody poem that heralds where we look for some solace during a time of major strife, while Kendall’s first piece featured here, soft bodies, speaks to a relationship with oneself through …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Spare Abundance
Courtney Ozaki, Margaret Ozaki Graves, traci kato-kiriyama
In a time of ever changing and heightened needs for social distancing, self isolation and attention to the greatest ways we can care for oneself and each other, I’m grateful to still be able to share two short poems from artists Courtney Ozaki and Margaret Ozaki Graves, both of whom …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Locale
Wataru Ebihara, Nina Chan, traci kato-kiriyama
This month I was inspired by the Little Tokyo Candidates Forum that occurred at the top of the month, to present an opportunity for all current city council candidates a chance to speak with the community. The forum, with many passionate expressions for the neighborhood, made me think on locality, …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Harmonics
Nobuko Miyamoto, Goh Nakamura, traci kato-kiriyama
This being the first month of a new year, I thought we’d present “poetics” with a different approach from any other edition of the column—to feature lyrics of two songwriters of different generations and share a bit of their music to boot. For January 2020, we have a song from …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
In Homage to Hiroshi Kashiwagi
Hiroshi Kashiwagi, traci kato-kiriyama
As we come to our 4th December and third anniversary of Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column, it seemed very fitting to pay tribute to the recently departed poet, Hiroshi Kashiwagi. A beloved community member and writer for many generations, Hiroshi was the inaugural poet featured (alongside Amy Uyematsu) when we …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Remains
Hiromi Yoshida, Terry Watada, traci kato-kiriyama
From Toronto-based writer, Terry Watada and Bloomington, Indiana-based poet, Hiromi Yoshida, are pieces that can be read as the remains of beings past, the memory of memories, the parts of a person embedded in our psyche or those aspects we wish to keep and uplift. Enjoy...
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
What spirits whisper...
Stan Yogi, Naomi Hirahara, traci kato-kiriyama
This month we are treated to two highly-lauded, accomplished writers and community heroes – Naomi Hirahara and Stan Yogi. Their pieces step out of each writer’s usual practice and into the poetry featured here (and we will surely feature more of their poetry in the future!). When I read through …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Presence
Nancy Uyemura, Amy Honjiyo, traci kato-kiriyama
This month, I sought out poems from Los Angeles-based Nancy Uyemura and Amy Honjiyo. I'd been asking Nancy for quite some time now to send me some writing ever since I learned she writes from time to time in the background of her beautiful art making career. Then, I saw …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Body
Greer Nakadegawa-Lee, Lauren Emiko Ito, traci kato-kiriyama
How do memories, observations and spirits transfer through our bodies and onto the page? How does a poem reveal where we hold the gift and burden of memory in our body?
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Theme: (open)
Mya Worrell, Kahlil Kochiyama, traci kato-kiriyama
This month I wanted to leave the theme open and invite two young voices who are both incredibly active in community building work here in Los Angeles. Kahlil Kochiyama is a UCSB (University of California, Santa Barbara) student from the South Bay - his piece places us in his relationship …