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Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Short Form - Haiku and Senryu
Fran Ito, Sunny Seki, traci kato-kiriyama
This month I thought we’d have a little fun with short form and featuring two creative community members who are dear to the Japanese American and Little Tokyo communities. Sunny Seki (a.k.a. Sankyaku Seki) has taught senryu (a short form similar to haiku but with a focus on the human condition over …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Weaving
A’misa Chiu, Kyoko Nakamaru, traci kato-kiriyama
Happy summer, everyone! We’re excited to bring two more new voices to the Discover Nikkei platform - originally from the Midwest and now residing in LA, Kyoko Nakamaru; and originally from the South Bay and now residing in Portland, A’misa Chiu. Kyoko’s pieces connect her sense of self to another …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Inspiration
Kyoko Takenaka, Patty Ito Nagano, traci kato-kiriyama
From Shin Nikkei Kyoko Takenaka (aka Jinjabrew) and Sansei Patty Nagano, we have pieces that span various themes of inspiration. From Kyoko we have lovely and fierce words on “femme” themes, from mothers to sisterhood. And knowing that Patty had just returned from Japan, I asked her if she would …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Transformation
Rey Fukuda Salinas, Candace Kita, traci kato-kiriyama
This month’s column gave two writers the theme of “transformation.” One set of poetry was submitted in Spanish, by Rey Fukuda Salinas, born in Japan and raised internationally in places including Japan, Dominican Republic, and Guatemala. One submission came in English, by Candace Kita, born and raised in Chicago and currently based …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Spring
Rick Noguchi, riKu Matsuda, traci kato-kiriyama
The new season upon us is ushered in here by Los Angeles/Orange County-based riKu Matsuda and LA-born and raised Rick Noguchi, who each lend us two pieces that spring the many from memories and characters in our lives. There is a familiarity with the lessons learned and shared—of family, work …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Appetite
Genie Nakano, Shō Tanaka, traci kato-kiriyama
This month we have some light and delicious, sweet yet evocative, precious to ephemeral moments through the words shared here by the lovely yogi and artist, Genie Nakano, who hails from the South Bay of Los Angeles, and by Shō Tanaka, a friend I met a few moons ago over in …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Open
Mariko Fujimoto Rooks, Pogo Saito, traci kato-kiriyama
Happy 2018, folks! Upon entering a new year, we put forth the theme of “open” to writers Mariko Rooks, a Culver City native who is currently studying at Yale, and Pogo Saito, now based in Nyssa, Oregon. Their pieces here explore critical openings between self and the things we want …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
December
Daisuke Shen, Ken Okuno, traci kato-kiriyama
For this final column of 2017, I chose to focus on the broad possibilities this month provides—it lends itself to the December 7 reflection that comes to us from Altadena based Ken Okuno, as much as it comes through bittersweet introspection from Wilmington, North Carolina based Daisuke Shen, whose words …
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Place / Location
Erik Matsunaga, traci kato-kiriyama
This month, we feature just one writer and a beloved one to the Discover Nikkei space at that—Chicago native, Erik Matsunaga. Erik’s piece is a simple moment between old childhood pals and one that sets an image of “home” or places of significance that are, at once, transient and meaningful…enjoy.
Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column
Bite
Kazumi Chin, Lawrence Matsuda, traci kato-kiriyama
As we enter the final quarter of 2017, I didn't want to “ease” into fall but rather, take a bite out of it. Maybe there’s something feisty in the air with all the ash and soot and unrest all around us. In any case, this isn’t a time for languor …