Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/journal/author/akioka-silvia/

Silvia Lumy Akioka

@silvialumy

Silvia Lumy Akioka is a Brazilian Sansei. She was a dekasegui at age 17, and on another occasion, she was an Exchange Student in Fukuoka Prefecture, when she published the series "The Year of a Brazilian Across the World" (Portuguese only) - it was her first contact with Discover Nikkei. She is an admirer of Japanese culture, and she also likes blogging about other themes. She was in Los Angeles volunteering for Discover Nikkei in April 2012, and she has been an official consultant for the project for 6 years.

Updated February 2019


Stories from This Author

About the web series NipoBrasileiros

July 8, 2019 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

When I found out that the web series NipoBrasileiros would be released on YouTube in April this year (2019), I was very curious. What approach would have been taken? Why was an independent producer interested in the topic? Immediately, I researched Pietà Filmes e Produções - previously unknown to me. It is a production company that creates audiovisual content for cinema, TV and new media. According to them, “they look for stories with characters who are normally invisible”. It started …

In Company with the Happy Old Age

Feb. 13, 2019 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

I went to visit a very dear aunt who lives on the coast of Sao Paulo. I am proud of her, for even in her eighties she drives her car, cooks, and she has been living alone since her husband passed away. Oh, of course, she likes to take walks, karaoke, and she has a lot of friends. I do not get much along with the elderly and my mother passed away when I was 25, so I miss hearing …

Nikkei Chronicles #5—Nikkei-go: The Language of Family, Community, and Culture
Dona Terezinha’s teachings

Sept. 27, 2016 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

My mother's name was Terezinha. She left us this earthly life at the age of 59 and I consider that she lived very little. They say that good people live a short life because they needed less time to evolve spiritually. I believe this, my mother was a great person. I have many memories with her and as we are a Nikkei family, some of these memories refer to striking Japanese words. We are three daughters. That's right, only women. …

Nikkei Chronicles #1—ITADAKIMASU! A Taste of Nikkei Culture
My gastronomic habits in Brazil

May 3, 2012 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

In my childhood, I thought that all Brazilian families had a rice cooker at home. Not only that, I imagined that it was usual for Brazilians to eat misoshiru in the cold weather and eat tamago-gohan when there was not a side dish. Do you know what tamago-gohan is? The tamago-gohan is a mixture of egg with rice and the directions are very simple: just mix a raw egg with a little soy sauce (shoyu) and place it over the …

The year of a Brazilian across the world
Chapter 10: Memories of my exchange program in Fukuoka

May 26, 2010 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

At home, in Brazil, we always talked in Portuguese. During my adolescence, I attended Japanese classes because my parents wanted that, but honestly I did not give much importance. After stopping the classes, I didn´t use Japanese anymore and I forgot much of what I learned. Of course today, I am grateful for my parents´ efforts and for how much consideration they had in my upbringing. There are things in life that we just realize after some time and maturity. …

The year of a Brazilian across the world
Capítulo 9: Um passeio na neve de Hokkaido

Feb. 23, 2010 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

Sapporo, capital da província de Hokkaido, é a quinta maior cidade do Japão. Sapporo já foi palco dos Jogos Olímpicos de Inverno em fevereiro de 1972 e ainda organiza eventos internacionais de esportes de inverno. Seus verões são frescos, o que acaba atraindo muitos turistas de outras partes do Japão para curtir suas temperaturas agradáveis, mas seus invernos são muito gelados e rigorosos. No inverno, a região atrai turistas do mundo todo para o seu maior evento anual, o Yuki …

The year of a Brazilian across the world
Capítulo 8: Lembranças de uma ex-dekassegui

Jan. 28, 2010 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

Acabei relembrando os tempos como dekassegui, ao visitar uma cidade na qual ainda residem muitos deles, apesar da crise que também afetou este país. Foram apenas dois dias, mas que trouxeram lembranças de um período inteiro. O dia começava bem cedo. Começava mais cedo ainda para minha querida mãe, que preparava com carinho nosso obentô.1 Que saudades de sua comida! Acordávamos cedo para esperar o ônibus da empreiteira. Levava cerca de quarenta minutos para chegar à fábrica e nesse percurso, …

The year of a Brazilian across the world
Capítulo 7: As estações do ano no Japão

Dec. 1, 2009 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

O clima no Japão varia muito conforme as estações, possibilitando caracterizar bem cada uma delas. É difícil acreditar que houve dias em que passei bastante calor aqui. Mal saía do banho e já estava suando novamente. Eu havia deixado todas as blusas de gola alta, casacos e cobertores guardados, mas ultimamente tenho retirado tudo das gavetas para voltar a usar. Em setembro, começou o outono (aki). É tempo de caquis e vale a pena experimentar o kurigohan (arroz com castanhas). …

The year of a Brazilian across the world
Capítulo 6: O lado gastronômico de Fukuoka.

Oct. 29, 2009 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

A província de Fukuoka também é conhecida por sua variedade e qualidade gastronômica. No topo da lista dos famosos pratos está o “Hakata Ramen”. As características que dão o gosto especial ao Hakata Ramen são o caldo feito à base de carne e ossos de porco e a textura firme do macarrão, apresentando um cheiro bem forte. Recomenda-se comer o macarrão antes de se tornar demasiadamente macio. Além das coberturas básicas de fatia de porco assado e cebolinha picada, você …

The year of a Brazilian across the world
Capítulo 5: Lembranças de Hiroshima

Sept. 29, 2009 • Silvia Lumy Akioka

Quando cheguei na estação de trem de Hiroshima, senti-me realizada por estar ali. Há muito tempo, guardava a vontade de conhecer essa região histórica e surpreendente do Japão.  Hoje, depois de ter conhecido, relembro com admiração e respeito tudo que senti e vi naquele lugar.  Claro que Hiroshima já voltou a ser uma cidade desenvolvida, mas o fato de ter passado por uma tragédia caracterizará para sempre o local. Quem ouve falar de Hiroshima, logo se recorda da primeira bomba …

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