A Japanese who lives in Los Angeles. Project manager for the Discover Nikkei Web site at the Japanese American National Museum.

I’m a Yonsei, occasional artist and writer, and full-time Digital Program Manager at the Japanese American National Museum. I was born in Los Angeles and have lived in Southern California almost my entire life. I am fluent in English, can understand about 80% of conversational Japanese, and don’t know any Spanish or Portuguese (although after having worked on Discover Nikkei for so long, would like to learn someday). I love working in Little Tokyo and living in Gardena. Both areas give me wonderful access to Japanese/Nikkei food, community, and culture. I bowl in a Nikkei league once a week, and spend my free time eating, sleeping, playing on my phone and computer, rooting for the Dodgers, watching TV and reading, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. I love working on Discover Nikkei and learning about so many different Nikkei experiences around the world!

Discover Nikkei’s administrator account. We share Discover Nikkei programs, events, and important site updates. If you have questions or are interested in becoming more involved, please reach out to us at Editor@DiscoverNikkei.org.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Retired from both the U.S Air Force and local government. A Sansei whose parents were incarcerated at Heart Mountain, Wyoming (father) and Rohwer, Arkansas (mother).

Chiana Fujiwara is a fifth-generation Japanese American, fifth-generation Mexican American, and second-generation Chinese American college student from southern California majoring in Psychology and Criminology at the University of California, Irvine. Having strong connections to Japanese American Internment during World War II, she has since developed a passion for further researching the stories of her family as well as the general period and its impacts at large. Other hobbies include ancient Chinese poetry, traveling, and exploring new coffee shops. 

FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new Penguin Classics anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION. He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration, a Finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Washington State Book Award. He won an American Book Award as co-editor of JOHN OKADA: The Life & Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy, in which he authored the first-ever biography of Okada and traced the origins of his novel. He wrote and directed the award-winning PBS documentary CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION and helped organize the first-ever “Day of Remembrance.”

Okinawa Association of America (OAA) | Gardena, CaliforniaPreserving, promoting, and perpetuating Okinawan culture Sign up for our email list:https://tinyurl.com/oaa-email-list The Okinawa Association of America, Inc. (OAA) is an award-winning 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and perpetuating Okinawan culture in the greater Los Angeles area. Formed by first generation immigrants (issei) over a century ago, the OAA has grown into a multi-generational organization that hosts numerous events throughout the year including cultural presentations, performances, and senior-focused activities.The OAA's decades of service have garnered accolades including the 2025 Community Organization Recognition Award (Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California), 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year (nominated by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, 66th District) and 2019 Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award (Nisei Week Foundation). OAA leaders have also been recognized by the Okinawa Prefectural Government as Overseas Goodwill Ambassadors and Next Generation Representatives. ANNUAL EVENTS:• January – New Year's Party• February/March – Women's Club New Year Gathering• February/March – Sanshin Day• April/May – Okinawan Craft Fair• May – Kajimayaa Seniors Club Luncheon• June – Irei no Hi: Remembering the Battle of Okinawa• July – Picnic and Okinawa Bon Dance• September/October – Senior Appreciation Day• October – World Uchinaanchu Day Celebration• Special events include cultural workshops and performances, family- and senior-focused activities, screenings, and more!MONTHLY ACTIVITIES:• 2nd Fridays – Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan Language) Class (Members Only)• 3rd Saturdays – Women's Club Gathering• 3rd Saturdays – Karaoke Club (Members Only)• Last Saturdays – Nuchaashii Potluck Gathering

Kristopher Kato was born in Saitama, Japan and currently resides in Los Angeles' historic Little Tokyo neighborhood.  Since 2023, he has volunteered for Discover Nikkei, writing articles, assisting them with their data analytics, and volunteering at JANM events.  He is a cum laude graduate from California State University of Fullerton, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and a Master of Business Administration degree in Management.  

Kenji Oh(b 1981) is a contemporary classical composer, multimedia creator, and a gymnast. Born and raised in Kobe, Japan. Relocated to CA in 2010.  [Representative Works]- Opera "The Emissary" based on the novel by Yoko Tawada with Opera Parallèle- Opera "Shizue: An American Story" with Portland Opera- "Sacred Chichibu Peaks at Spring Dawn" for piano four hands, as part of ZOFOMOMA- "Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura - Josetsu Horikawa" for prepared guitar, commissioned by Giacomo Fiore

Jane Shohara Matsumoto is currently the Culinary Cultural Arts Program Curator at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC). She has worked in the public sector for 25 years, primarily in public transporation implementing the TAP smart card, but her passion is in food—its history, science, and the preparation of many different types of cuisnes, especially Japanese foods. When she is not working, she is buried in food blogs, cookbooks, or simply cooking in her kitchen. She is an avid traveler and also loves to hike.

Hello, I'm Waka from Tokyo.

Densho is a Japanese term meaning “to pass on to the next generation,” or to leave a legacy. Our mission is to preserve and share stories of Japanese American WWII incarceration to promote equity and justice today. Since 1996, Densho has used digital technology to document the testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, before their memories are extinguished. We offer these irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images and educational resources, to preserve our history, explore principles of democracy, and promote equal justice for all. Our online resources -- including over 950 oral history interviews and 80,000 images and documents, a comprehensive encyclopedia of Japanese American history, and teacher training courses -- are available free of charge to anyone anywhere in the world. But we are also activating this history through art and storytelling that connects the Japanese American WWII experience to similar injustices today, and empowers future generations to say "Never Again."