Miya Iwataki

Miya Iwataki’s life experience as an AAPI woman activist, Japanese American warrior for Justice and Reparations; KPFK-FM East Wind Radio host; architect of diversity and cultural competency programs for LA County Health; have Inspired a lifelong respect for cultures, community and commitment to justice and equity. Her poetry, writings and columns are shaped by an appreciation for the profound effect of words and language on our culture and our times. She is a member of Nikkei Progressives, NCRR and Nat’l Nikkei Reparations Coalition fighting to win Black Reparations today. As Vice President of Little Tokyo Historical Society, she’s working to preserve the history, legacy and cultural soul of Little Tokyo in the face of gentrification. (Profile photo: Ai Nomura)

Updated July 2023

culture en

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Tribute to Amy Uyematsu — Part 2

By Miya Iwataki, Nina Chan, traci kato-kiriyama
21 Jul 2023

Part 1 >> Accolades from far and wide are celebrating Amy Uyematsu. Long overdue recognition is growing, and glowing with appreciation for her incredible collection of poetry. I want to talk about her other superpower. Amy Uyematsu, poetry Sensei. My poetry mentor who restored my joy of writing with her wit, wisdom and works. She challenged us each week with a variety of themes and tied them to works from well-known and obscure poets to broaden our writing reach. Like the Uyematsu Camillias now housed at the Descanso Gardens, her deft care helped us grow and thrive. Dearest Amy &nda…

culture en

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Owed to Amy

By Nina Chan, Miya Iwataki, Kathy Nishimoto Masaoka, Keiko Ikari Miya, traci kato-kiriyama
19 Aug 2021

To borrow from the title of one of this month’s features, the theme for this month is all about paying homage to one of our most beloved writers, Amy Uyematsu. Amy has been writing and teaching for decades and is going through the fight of her life right now—and what is a community-based poetry column if not a platform to support the best energies and wishes possible for the better health of one of our own poets? You will see Amy’s poems throughout the lifespan of this column and much more importantly, through her incredible collection of work featured in several tomes. I h…

culture en

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Hailing

By Miya Iwataki, traci kato-kiriyama
15 Apr 2021

This month, we are honored to again feature the fierce Miya Iwataki, a veteran activist, core member of NCRR (Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress), and writer based in Los Angeles. She presents four poems here—an observation of and hailing to the world around her, from the intimate to the masses. Miya will be featured in our 2nd annual Nikkei Uncovered virtual poetry reading on May 13 (RSVP required), where we will feature “pairs” of writers. She will be paired with poet Amy Uyematsu, who leads a weekly writing class where Miya is a participating poet. We look forward…

community en

Little Tokyo - Coming Full Circle: Tsutomu Maehara and his family, Jo Ann and Chef Akira Hirose, embody the Little Tokyo spirit

By Miya Iwataki
14 Aug 2019

Community control over land in Little Tokyo is one of the few strategies that will help prevent displacement of legacy small businesses. The Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund (LTCIF) will protect our neighborhood from losing its cultural heritage and will help achieve community control. — Takao Suzuki, LTCIF member In 1886 Charles Kame, an ex-seaman from Japan opened a Japanese restaurant at 340 E. First St., planting the roots of Little Tokyo. The community grew slowly but steadily as more Issei immigrated to California, including a large influx in the early 1900s, as thousands …

culture en

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Resistance

By Miya Iwataki, Ryan Masaaki Yokota, traci kato-kiriyama
20 Apr 2017

Welcome back to this month’s edition of Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the signing of E.O. 9066 and the 50th anniversary of the official Manzanar Pilgrimage, we look to the virtues of and stories behind resistance with pieces from Los Angeles Sansei writer and activist, Miya Iwataki, and Yonsei JA/second generation Okinawan American educator and writer, Ryan Masaaki Yokota (based in Chicago)—from a song stoked by struggle in Heart Mountain to the reasons we marched then and now and again and again…enjoy. —traci kato-kiriy…

Submit an article

Discover Nikkei

Japanese migrants and their descendants

Miya Iwataki

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Series this author contributes to

Nikkei Chronicles #5—Nikkei-go: The Language of Family, Community, and Culture

The Chuo Gakuen School: The Seeds of Prestige for the Japanese Community in Mexico

Postwar Japanese Emigration to the Dominican Republic — Part 1: A Tragic Tale

Nikkei Chronicles #3—Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João?

The Child of a Thousand Generations

Tad Nakamura’s Art and Activism

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #Around 80,000 Words: "Novel Novels..."

日系（ニッケイ）—をめぐって

第36回 和歌山市・移民資料室を訪ねる—日本の海岸線の旅の途中で⑤

David Mura’s Work Continues to Push Readers to Question the World

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Tribute to Amy Uyemastu: After — Part 3

ブラジルに残る大正デモクラシーの余韻＝日系女性アーティスト３人の物語 — その２

書評：和泉真澄『日系カナダ人の移動と運動―知られざる日本人の越境生活史』

1992年渡米、目標は「アカデミー賞」— 俳優の井上英治さん

Kizuna 2020: Nikkei Kindness and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tiempos pandémicos: teletrabajo y koden digital

Kizuna 2020: Nikkei Kindness and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 e os heróis anônimos

香川県海外移民の父：今雪真一の情熱と功績

第３部：金子正則知事の南米訪問とその主な見解

Nikkei Chronicles #12

Growing Up Nikkei: Connecting with Our Heritage

Get updates

Support this project

A project of the

Major support by

Journal Entry #Around 80,000 Words: "Novel Novels..."

David Mura’s Work Continues to Push Readers to Question the World

Tribute to Amy Uyemastu: After — Part 3

Stephen Nelson Makes History as New Dodgers Announcer

An Unsent Letter to My Nisei Grandpa–Part 1 of 3

In Their Own Voices: Understanding Heart Mountain through Oral Histories

Dr. Jiro Takai's Journey of Becoming From the Soo to Nagoya University — Part 1

Journal Entry #24 Hours: "Some Days are Too Long..."

Rediscovering Poston

The Readmission: Toyohiko Kagawa’s 1950 US Tour

A Dream Deferred, A Dream Fulfilled

Journal Entry #4 Body Types: "Poor, Poor Pitiful Ken..."

Chapter 15 (Part 1 ) — Nisei’s Political Involvement in the Japanese American Citizens League

Preserving Legacy and Artistry: A Behind-the-Scenes Look into the Henry Sugimoto Collection

Artist and Documentarian: The Life of Kango Takamura

Bridging the Past and Present: Preserving History Through the Tanaka Photo Studio Collection

Nikkei Incarceration

EO9066’s ‘Coerced Prison Work(ers)’

Journal Entry #6 More Noises: "Onomatopoeia Mania..."

An In-Depth Examination of the WRA’s Legal System

Shelter Lodge

A Journey of Self-Discovery: My “Japaneseness” — Part 2

Frozen Hair, Work Stoppages, and Other Lesser-Known Stories from Heart Mountain - Part 2

A New Take on Madama Butterfly Updates Puccini’s Opera for Modern Times

WTF — Not the What, Why, or When, It’s the How

Darcy Tamayose on Exploring Hauntings by Ghosts, Grief, and Guilt

Wisdom Grown Wild: A Conversation with Filmmaker Rea Tajiri — Part 1

Rice, Race, and Growing up Hafu

Journal Entry #Lumenø: "The Stygian Box..."

Coming Home: My Family’s Journey to Ireichō

To Be Nikkei

A Northern Lesson: Carey McWilliams and the Incarceration of Japanese Canadians

Bruce Miyahara — “OG-San” Marries Food Passion with Service — Part 2

A Journey of Self-Discovery: My “Japaneseness” — Part 1

Frozen Hair, Work Stoppages, and Other Lesser-Known Stories from Heart Mountain - Part 1

Hajichi Stories — Tree Local Women Tell Why Day Got Their Okinawan Hand Tattoos

Wisdom Grown Wild: A Conversation with Filmmaker Rea Tajiri — Part 2

Identity in the Music Industry with Musician & Two-Time Grammy Nominee Nick Lee

Journal Entry #Combining 26 Characters: "Cliché in Vain..."

The Heart of Naomi Hirahara’s Evergreen

For Kyra Karatsu—Writing is a Foregone Conclusion

Exposing America’s “Secret Weapon” — Part 2

Layle Lane: Black Woman Educator and Defender of Japanese Americans

Death of Affirmative Action

第36回和歌山市・移民資料室を訪ねる—日本の海岸線の旅の途中で⑤