Vince Takemi Ebata
Vince Takemi Ebata is a seasoned freelance writer based in Kagoshima, Japan. He is passionate about exploring his family history and ancestry as a third-generation Nikkeijin. He created “The Curious Tanuki,” a blog site showcasing his expertise and insights as a Nikkei Sansei living in Japan. Vince’s current writing project, “When Cherry Blossoms Fall,” is a thoughtful examination of his family’s emigration experiences. With a fascination for Japanese history and culture, Vince enjoys discovering and sharing his perspective about the country he now calls home. Vince’s polished writing style and in-depth research make him a valuable asset to any project.
Updated July 2023
Stories from This Author
A Journey of Self-Discovery: My “Japaneseness” — Part 2
July 31, 2023 • Vince Takemi Ebata
Read Part 1 >> Chance Encounter in Tokyo At age 16, I traveled to Japan with a group of Hawai‘i boys to train at the Kodokan Judo Institute in Tokyo. While there, I met a Japanese man who sparked my interest in the origins and meaning of my family name, Ebata. Embarrassed by my lack of knowledge about my surname, the man struggled to write it, commenting that it was “unusual.” This chance encounter made me realize how little I …
A Journey of Self-Discovery: My “Japaneseness” — Part 1
July 30, 2023 • Vince Takemi Ebata
A “journey” can be described as a path or road one takes to reach a destination. Like a journey, life is a continuous process of learning and self-discovery that can lead to wisdom and insight. This journey of my “Japaneseness” has led me to self-discovery as a Sansei, a third-generation descendant of Japanese immigrants to Hawai‘i, now living in Japan. Connecting with my Japanese Roots In the spring of 2022, I emigrated to Japan to live with my wife and …
