Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda

Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda is the Communications Production Manager at the Japanese American National Museum. She loves working on the Discover Nikkei project, because it gives her the opportunity to learn so many new and interesting stories, and connect with people around the world who share similar interests.

She is a “self-proclaimed” yonsei from Southern California who comes from a large extended family. A long time ago (when she had more free time and energy), she was also an artist who explored Japanese American culture and history through her artwork. When not working, she enjoys eating, cheering on her beloved Dodgers, bowling, reading, playing games on her phone (Wordl anyone?), and binge-watching movies and shows.

Updated May 2022

community en ja es pt

Discover Nikkei Needs Your Help!

By Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda
18 May 2022

I’ve worked on countless projects during my 27 years working at the Japanese American National Museum (JANM), but my favorite is Discover Nikkei. My involvement began in 2005, not long after its launch. Over the past 17 years, my role on the project has expanded and shifted over time. I started out as the site’s first web editor, then later was promoted to project manager. My current role is focused on strategic content and technical development for the site. Working with project manager Yoko Nishimura, our small team of staff, and our growing cadre of dedicated volunteers, I get…

culture en

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

On the inside

By Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda, Joy Yamaguchi, traci kato-kiriyama
21 May 2020

Welcome to another special edition of Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column. Two staff I work closely with at the Japanese American National Museum, public programs extraordinaire Joy Yamaguchi and digital guru Vicky Murakami-Tsuda, allowed me to facilitate a process with them to write poetry grounded in this particular era of Covid-19, lockdowns, missing and finding family, and the overall unknown of now. They took a risk, trusted the process, and ran with it and crafted some really lovely work. We thought it would be fun to try something new, especially since the day this publishes we will also…

community en ja es pt

A Yonsei's Reflections...

on Discover Nikkei’s 10th Anniversary

By Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda
31 Mar 2016

Last March marked the 10th anniversary of Discover Nikkei’s public launch. Yoko Nishimura, Discover Nikkei’s Project Manager, asked me to write an article commemorating the occasion. I have struggled and procrastinated for over a year to write something. Now that we’re about to end our year-long celebration, I’m forced to quit putting it off. At first, I had planned to write something straightforward about the project’s history and accomplishments. But that didn’t really go anywhere. As I thought about how to write about a project that has been like a chil…

identity en

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

Don’t Call Me Victoria, Vicki, Vikki, or Binky…

By Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda
24 Oct 2014

When my mother was pregnant with me…in the time before ultrasounds…Dr. Shigekawa (many Los Angeles area Japanese Americans of several generations were delivered by her) told her that I would be a boy. So, my parents had decided to name me Richard Murakami. When I came out…surprise! It’s a girl! I’ve never asked why, but my mother decided to name me after a soap opera character—Victoria from One Life to Live. However, they didn’t name me “Victoria”—my legal name is “Vicky.” The character’s nickname is Vikki (wh…

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Hiroshima Revisited: Interview with Steve Nguyen

By Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda
3 Sep 2013

Steve Nguyen is the director/producer of the animated film, HIBAKUSHA which re-creates the real-life experiences of Kaz Suyeishi, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Since the release of the film, he has produced a short documentary that he filmed with the nonprofit campaign Global Zero of his visit to the city of Hiroshima. We recently asked him some questions about the projects. What about Kaz’s story inspired you to first make the animated film, and then to visit Hiroshima? The focus on Kaz as a person was more important to me than her heritage or her ethnicity. She ne…

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Discover Nikkei

Japanese migrants and their descendants

Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

A Yonsei's Reflections...

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

Series this author contributes to

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

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

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

The Ironies of the Japanese Canadian Internment History: Part 1—My Family’s Life in Greenwood

Choices for Japanese People Living in America

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10th Annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest

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Uka Sake: Closing the Circle on a Trans-Pacific Rice-Growing Legacy

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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

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第３部：金子正則知事の南米訪問とその主な見解

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Unlocking Memories

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日本時間～日本語ラジオ放送史～《ロサンゼルス編》

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