Kayla Kamei
@KaylaKayla Kamei is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in English. As a Sansei, she is interested in exploring how she can use her writing to communicate the different stories and lives of others in her community. She not only hopes to understand more about her Japanese culture from their perspectives but also hopes to bring greater awareness to their experiences.
Updated August 2024
Stories from This Author
Journey to Halfway There
May 12, 2025 • Kayla Kamei
“I just wanted to tell something that was true to myself and then hope that somebody else out there could find it, and maybe they could see themself in it too,” Christine Mari, author of Halfway There, reflected about her decision to illustrate her graphic memoir. Published in 2024, Halfway There: A Graphic Memoir of Self-Discovery documents Mari’s year abroad in Japan and her struggles with identity, social isolation, and adulthood as a biracial Japanese American born in Tokyo who …
Discover Nikkei Fest: A Celebration of Community and Culture
April 13, 2025 • Kayla Kamei
Rows of colorful tents stretched along the pathway, fabric lanterns bobbing as people flitted among booth stalls, heads bent in laughter and conversation. Smiles of all ages greeted me, excitedly welcoming me to Discover Nikkei Fest, a huge celebration held on February 8, 2025, at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) to launch a year-long commemoration of Discover Nikkei’s 20th anniversary. “It’s here,” I told my parents as I stepped into the JANM plaza in Little Tokyo. Shading my eyes, …
Let’s Talk Story Club: A Promise to Remember
Jan. 14, 2025 • Kayla Kamei
“My favorite part is learning about how someone really finds an impact in filling out the story book with their senior,” Taisho Shiono, co-founder of Let’s Talk Story Club, says when reflecting on what he enjoys most about his work in the nonprofit. Started in memory of their Obaachama, or great-grandmother, sister and brother duo Audrey and Taisho Shiono founded Let’s Talk Story Club to preserve the life histories of seniors through the style of “talking story.” Since the official …
Eric Nakamura: Celebrating 30 Years of Giant Robot
Oct. 14, 2024 • Kayla Kamei
“We were underdogs,” Eric Nakamura says when reflecting on 30 years of Giant Robot. “There was no infrastructure. We created our own.” At first a zine started in 1994, Giant Robot has since become an essential influence on Asian American alternative pop culture. Through the dedication, perseverance, and hard work of its founder and contributors, Giant Robot helped create a prominent voice for Asian Americans in pop culture at a time when Asian American representation was lacking. At the heart …
Yoskay Yamamoto: The Sky Is the Limit
Aug. 14, 2024 • Kayla Kamei
“I don’t know of any other choice,” Yoskay Yamamoto says, “but to continue.” As a successful artist and multicultural symbol of Japanese American identity, Yoskay Yamamoto serves as an inspiration to many. His artwork has brought joy to communities, wonder to children, and human connection to strangers. However, Yamamoto’s path to success was neither simple nor easy. Instead, his creative journey has been one of determination, hard work, and perseverance. Embracing a Japanese American Identity Born in Toba, Japan, Yamamoto …
To Be Nikkei
Aug. 11, 2023 • Kayla Kamei
My obaachan was only seven years old when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. The year was 1945, and my obaachan had moved approximately 8 miles out of the heart of Hiroshima city due to the escalation of the war. That day, on August 6, she was scheduled to return to the city to attend a Buddhist ceremony for her aunt, who had passed away a year earlier. However, because her mother was bedridden by a sudden …
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