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Carl S. Gutekunst @CSG

Carl S. Gutekunst is a genealogist, history buff, open source software developer, and volunteer “data guy.” His current project is a catalog of the “ordinary” sites of The Inceration: the storefronts, school gyms, community halls, train stations, and church parish halls that were leased by the United States Employment Service at the behest of the WCCA for use as Civil Control Stations and Points of Departure.

Los Altos, California, United States of America Nima since 2025 last login 1 month ago
forced removal Form WRA-26 Hayward Tanforan temporary detention center Topaz Tule Lake Segregation Center

Nima of the Month

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

Matthew Sueda @msueda

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”).
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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.
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Nikkei Uncovered V: a poetry reading
Tuesday, December 9
Hosted by traci kato-kiriyama. Featuring Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, Erica Isomura, and Syd Westley
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