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Nima-kai

@ChrisHope

I am a Yonsei Japanese Canadian; a “hapa”. Researching my family history, I became fascinated and angered with the events of the WW2 internment of Japanese Canadians to the point that I eventually spent twelve years making a film about my grandmother’s experiences during the internment. The film is called Hatsumi and is used in classrooms across Canada to assist teachers to teach the internment chapter to Canadian history students. I am a lawyer by trade, the treasurer of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto and a member of the board of governors of the Japanese American National Museum in L.A..

Canada Nima since 2016 last login 1+ years ago
@robbuscher

Rob is a mixed race yonsei Japanese American. An East Asian and Japanese Film Scholar currently teaching at Arcadia University, Rob is the Programming Director at Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival and also serves as a board member of the Philadelphia JACL.

Pennsylvania, United States of America Nima since 2013 last login 1+ years ago
@letsugo

I love exploring all things Japanese & Japanese American in Los Angeles! Got news? Post it to Discover Nikkei!

Los Angeles, California, United States of America Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago

Nima of the Month

Learn about some of our favorite Nima and what they like about Discover Nikkei.

Matthew Sueda is a Yonsei based in Hawaiʻi. Matt began volunteering for Discover Nikkei in late 2024 and has written stories about Issei photographer George Masa, an exhibition about ceramicist and educator Minnie Negoro, and Amy “Emiko” Hever, the Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Trust.

Matt works in tourism management with a focus on destination stewardship. He holds degrees from the University of Tokyo and from Swarthmore College, where he majored in Japanese. He also volunteers with the Hawaiʻi Japanese Center, supporting its archival and exhibition efforts.

What do you like most about Discover Nikkei?
Discover Nikkei provides a thoughtful space for voices from across the global Nikkei community. I appreciate the platform’s attention to context and the way it highlights both shared heritage and individual journeys. Interviewing people from different walks of life and learning from their stories has been a privilege, and I look forward to contributing more in the future.

How do you connect to your Nikkei identity?
I connect to my Nikkei identity through language and the community histories around me. Volunteering with the Hawaiʻi Japanese Center has given me a chance to work with documents and artifacts that reflect the everyday lives of Hawaiʻi’s Nikkei families. Many of these materials are in Japanese, and engaging with them has helped me better understand the challenges and hopes of earlier generations. It’s been a grounding experience and a reminder that our stories are interconnected.

Meet more Nima of the Month

Are you a Nima*?

Nima are members of Discover Nikkei’s global community called Nima-kai. Create an account and share your personal and community stories, events, and more related to the Nikkei experience. Connect with Nima around the world!
*The term “Nima” comes from combining Nikkei and nakama (Japanese for “colleagues”, or “fellows”, or “circle”).
Create an Account

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIMA VOICES
Episode 19
Guest host Tamlyn Tomita chatted with actor Christopher Sean in the latest episode of Nima Voices about his background, acting, and community involvement.
WATCH NOW!
VIRTUAL PROGRAM
Nikkei Uncovered V: a poetry reading
Tuesday, December 9
Hosted by traci kato-kiriyama. Featuring Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, Erica Isomura, and Syd Westley
SUPPORT THE PROJECT
Discover Nikkei’s 20 for 20 campaign celebrates our first 20 years and jumpstarts our next 20. Learn more and donate!