Nima-kai

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@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

communities families films Japanese arts Japanese cinema Japanese diaspora Japanese music Japantowns networking oral histories

@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

cinema communities families festivals food Japanese cinema Japantowns

@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

communities families fashion festivals food gardens Japanese cinema Japantowns music taiko

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

@masakoh

Masako Hashigami Shinn grew up in Tokyo and later moved to the United States, where she pursued graduate studies and worked in the finance industry. After retiring from finance, she focused on studying history, art, and design, publishing works in both Japanese and English. She has served on the boards of arts and cultural organizations including Hawaii Contemporary, the Japan ICU Foundation, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art, and New York's Japan Society. Masako currently lives in New York and Honolulu.

Masako became a Discover Nikkei volunteer writer and translator in 2024. She’s brought her extensive knowledge of the fine arts to Discover Nikkei, writing about Japanese American artists Miki Hayakawa and Na Omi Shintani. In her free time, Masako enjoys cooking different types of cuisine—her favorite spice is sansho! She also considers herself a lifelong bookworm, and especially enjoys Japanese and British police procedural novels.

What do you like most about Discover Nikkei?

I grew up in Japan but spent most of my adult life in the U.S. I often reflect on the role of cultural heritage in shaping my own identity and that of my American-born and raised children. I enjoy exploring the different perspectives within the Japanese American community on cultural identity, community history, and self-understanding.

Why did you decide to become a Discover Nikkei volunteer?

I was looking for a volunteer translations opportunity and saw the notice on the Discover Nikkei site!

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIKKEI CHRONICLES #14

Nikkei Family 2: Remembering Roots, Leaving Legacies
Baachan, grandpa, tía, irmão… what does Nikkei family mean to you? Submit your story!

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