Stuff contributed by traciakemi

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Regreso

Juan de la Fuente Umetsutraci kato-kiriyama

En este mes, tenemos el honor de presentar un único poema de Juan de la Fuente Umetsu, poeta, periodista y editor nacido en Lima, Perú, en 1963. Tras leerlo usando una traducción informal (léase: Google translate) del poema, le pedí a mi pareja que llamara a su madre, una pianista que …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Inspiration

Amy UyematsuG Yamazawatraci kato-kiriyama

Hello Discover Nikkei network! I am beyond thrilled this month to bring this pair of poets to the Nikkei Uncovered poetry column. LA-born and raised, veteran Sansei poet and our inaugural feature for the column back in 2016, Amy Uyematsu returns to us with a beautiful piece about Tanko Bushi …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

What we hold - Part Two

Christine MiyazatoDonna GhassemiSeiji IgeiAmina AbuthahirNora Fujita-YuhasMiyako Noguchitraci kato-kiriyama

Over the past several years, Vigilant Love (an organization working towards safety and justice of communities impacted by Islamophobia and violence), has hosted a community Iftar bringing together hundreds of Muslim, Japanese American and other LA community members in the spirit of many years of solidarity practice between our communities. …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

What we hold

Asuka LinAaysha MemonChristie YamasakiAngie AzadSafira PatelYukino TorreyElise Umetsutraci kato-kiriyama

Over the past several years, Vigilant Love (an organization working towards safety and justice of communities impacted by Islamophobia and violence), has hosted a community Iftar bringing together hundreds of Muslim, Japanese American, and other Los Angeles community members in the spirit of many years of solidarity practice between our …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

On the inside

Vicky K. Murakami-TsudaJoy Yamaguchitraci kato-kiriyama

Welcome to another special edition of Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column. Two staff I work closely with at the Japanese American National Museum, public programs extraordinaire Joy Yamaguchi and digital guru Vicky Murakami-Tsuda, allowed me to facilitate a process with them to write poetry grounded in this particular era of …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Comfort

Kendall TaniSusan Yamamuratraci kato-kiriyama

This month, we feature California-based Yonsei writer, Kendall Tani, and Arizona-based Sansei writer, Susan Yamamura. Susan’s is a lighthearted parody poem that heralds where we look for some solace during a time of major strife, while Kendall’s first piece featured here, soft bodies, speaks to a relationship with oneself through …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Spare Abundance

Courtney OzakiMargaret Ozaki Gravestraci kato-kiriyama

In a time of ever changing and heightened needs for social distancing, self isolation and attention to the greatest ways we can care for oneself and each other, I’m grateful to still be able to share two short poems from artists Courtney Ozaki and Margaret Ozaki Graves, both of whom …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Locale

Wataru EbiharaNina Chantraci kato-kiriyama

This month I was inspired by the Little Tokyo Candidates Forum that occurred at the top of the month, to present an opportunity for all current city council candidates a chance to speak with the community. The forum, with many passionate expressions for the neighborhood, made me think on locality, …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Harmonics

Nobuko MiyamotoGoh Nakamuratraci kato-kiriyama

This being the first month of a new year, I thought we’d present “poetics” with a different approach from any other edition of the column—to feature lyrics of two songwriters of different generations and share a bit of their music to boot. For January 2020, we have a song from …

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

In Homage to Hiroshi Kashiwagi

Hiroshi Kashiwagitraci kato-kiriyama

As we come to our 4th December and third anniversary of Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column, it seemed very fitting to pay tribute to the recently departed poet, Hiroshi Kashiwagi. A beloved community member and writer for many generations, Hiroshi was the inaugural poet featured (alongside Amy Uyematsu) when we …

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About

Author of “Navigating With(out) Instruments,” a book of poetry, micro essays and notes to self—which is being taught in contemporary literature, ethnic, and Asian American studies courses at the university level, and has gained critical acclaim from a wide spectrum of poets, authors, artists, musicians, academics, community leaders & activists.

tkk also narrates for audiobooks from time to time, and recently recorded her 13th title, “The Fervor,” by Alma Katsu, acknowledged by The New York Times’ “6 Audiobooks to Listen to Now.” Her other recordings include “The Memory Police” (Yoko Ogawa); “The Swimmers” (Julie Otsuka); “Intimacies” (Katie Kitamura); and “Temple Alley Summer,” by Sachiko Kashiwaba and Avery FIscher Udagawa, which garnered tkk a Earphone Award and an Audie Award nomination.

traci is the Director/Co-Founder of Tuesday Night Project; a core artist of Vigilant Love; a longtime supporter of Okaeri; and a lead organizer with the Nikkei Progressives/NCRR Reparations Committee and the newly formed National Nikkei Reparations Coalition.

tkk is a performer and principal writer for PULLproject Ensemble, co-led by aerial artist Kennedy Kabasares, and together with composer Howard Ho and their creative team, developed “TALES OF CLAMOR,” which premiered at the Aratani Theatre Black Box in 2019, and was recently awarded a National Theatre Project grant from NEFA (New England Foundation for the Arts), which support further development of the play and capacity to tour beginning in 2023.

Nikkei interests

  • community history
  • family stories
  • festival/matsuri
  • Japanese/Nikkei food
  • Japantowns
  • art (performance and visual; contemporary and traditional); politics; spiritual practices/religious history; Nikkei diaspora.

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