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Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda @vkm

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!

Gardena, California, United States of America Nima since 2005 last login 3 days ago
@karenkawa7

Karen Kawaguchi is a writer based in New York City. She was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Nisei father from Seattle. Her dad served in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service while his family was incarcerated at Minidoka. Karen and her family moved to the U.S. in the late 1950’s, living mostly in the Chicago area. In 1967, they moved to Okinawa where she went to Kubasaki High School. After attending Wesleyan University (CT), she lived in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Seattle. She recently retired as an editor in educational publishing, having worked for Heinemann, Pearson, and other leading publishers. Karen began contributing articles to the Discover Nikkei website earlier this year, including pieces for Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30 and an article about the importance of preserving and sharing family history. She volunteers for Literacy Partners (adult ESL) and enjoys going to Japan Society, art museums, and botanical gardens. She feels fortunate to be able to draw deeply from the three cultures in her life: Japanese, American, and Japanese-American.

New York, United States of America Nima since 2022 last login 2 months ago
@discovernikkei2021511

Immigrated to Canada in 1986. BA in Sociology from Waseda University. A freelance writer for the Japanese media; a regular columnist for Vancouver-based JCCA Bulletin and Fraser Journal since 2012. Former Japanese editor of the Nikkei Voice (1989-2012). Co-founder of the Katari Japanese Storytellers since 1994. Lecturer on the Nikkei history at various universities in Japan. His translation Horonigai Shori, the Japanese edition of Bittersweet Passage by Maryka Omatsu was awarded The 4th Canadian Prime Minister Award for Publishing in 1993.

Ontario, Canada Nima since 2021 last login 1+ years ago
@intrepidmouse

Chicago, Illinois, United States of America Nima since 2006 last login 1+ years ago
@Japanophile98

Kon'nichi' wa!

New Jersey, United States of America Nima since 2021 last login 1+ years ago
@hyldeth

I am a member of the Evangelical Holiness Church of Brazil, where I have many friends of Japanese origin. Sometimes within the Church I participate in the choir singing praises in Japanese. I really enjoy Japanese cuisine.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2013 last login 1+ years ago
@momiji

California, United States of America Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@Francesca

Writer, Journalist and Author specializing in multicultural themes, art, politics, satire, comedy and popular culture for newspapers, books, radio, the web and television. Perhaps my greatest influence as a writer stems from my background of being half Japanese on my mother's side and Russian-Jewish on my father's side, which has inspired me to be more empathetic, interested and passionate about mixed race cultures and the varied human experience. Raised in both Hawaii and Los Angeles by parents who are artists and former professors, I was exposed to a rich cultural and academic experience that still feeds my inspiration to create new work and continually progress and grow as a "Hapa" artist. Some of my articles are featured in the Japanese- American National Museum exhibit entitled "Hapa-Japan, Visible and Invisible". Currently I am writing two books about my mixed racial identity; one book will be a compilation of short humorous essays, while the other will be a novel about the 442nd Infantry. Some of my articles can be read here on this wonderful site, DiscoverNikkei.org.

San Francisco, California, 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
@YuuGushiken

YO folks!! my name is Yuu Gushiken, and I'm half- okinawan, half - japanese, korean - italian - portuguese - brazilian architecture student who loves Japanese regional culture, Graphic Arts, Design, Street Culture, Baseball & Softball, to play ma' own sanshin shamisen, composin' rhymes, n' hold my 'mic!! Born to be Wild!!

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2011 last login 1+ years ago
Nima of the Month Learn about some of our favorite Nima and what they like about Discover Nikkei.

Chiana Fujiwara is a junior at University of California, Irvine, where she studies psychology. Born and raised in Southern California, she is a fifth-generation Japanese American and Mexican American, and a second-generation Chinese American. Chiana enjoys solo traveling, studying in cafes, and learning about history. She also translates ancient Chinese poetry, which you can read on her website. Chiana hopes to become a clinical psychologist.

Chiana has been a Discover Nikkei volunteer writer since fall 2022, where she writes about present-day Nikkei culture in the United States. Stay tuned for more of her insightful stories in the coming months!

What do you like most about Discover Nikkei?

Throughout my time with Discover Nikkei, I have been able to dip my toes into the wide breadth of knowledge and cultural understanding that comes with interviewing many incredible artists and their works and stories from the overseas Japanese community! It has been a great privilege to learn more about those with similar backgrounds and how they each choose to uniquely embrace their identities, as well as more about the local culture and history of Japanese Americans and other overseas Japanese. I grew up with my attention mainly turned to mainstream media, which was not usually Japanese, so being able to discover and share with others the talented individuals who make media catered to spreading Japanese American culture or just generally can be there to serve as role models in the Japanese American and Asian American community is a very lovely feeling!

How do you connect to your Nikkei identity?

Aside from connecting to my Nikkei identity through speaking with my family about their experiences being Japanese American, I also have recently begun to explore Japanese food a lot more! I personally believe that food is the key to culture, and it has been dozens of fun getting to try out Japanese places with friends and try a bunch of different foods I’ve never had before. I’ve also joined the Japanese Student Association at my school, so from there I’ve met some really wonderful people who are very much more well-versed in Japanese culture than I am and are willing to help me navigate that part of my identity (especially through food).

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

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