Miya Iwataki

Miya Iwataki’s life experience as an AAPI woman activist, Japanese American warrior for Justice and Reparations; KPFK-FM East Wind Radio host; architect of diversity and cultural competency programs for LA County Health; have Inspired a lifelong respect for cultures, community and commitment to justice and equity. Her poetry, writings and columns are shaped by an appreciation for the profound effect of words and language on our culture and our times. She is a member of Nikkei Progressives, NCRR and Nat’l Nikkei Reparations Coalition fighting to win Black Reparations today. As Vice President of Little Tokyo Historical Society, she’s working to preserve the history, legacy and cultural soul of Little Tokyo in the face of gentrification. (Profile photo: Ai Nomura)

Updated July 2023

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Nikkei al descubierto: una columna de poesía

Tribute to Amy Uyematsu — Part 2

Por Miya Iwataki, Nina Chan, traci kato-kiriyama
21 Jul 2023

Part 1 >> Accolades from far and wide are celebrating Amy Uyematsu. Long overdue recognition is growing, and glowing with appreciation for her incredible collection of poetry. I want to talk about her other superpower. Amy Uyematsu, poetry Sensei. My poetry mentor who restored my joy of writing with her wit, wisdom and works. She challenged us each week with a variety of themes and tied them to works from well-known and obscure poets to broaden our writing reach. Like the Uyematsu Camillias now housed at the Descanso Gardens, her deft care helped us grow and thrive. Dearest Amy &nda…

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Nikkei al descubierto: una columna de poesía

Owed to Amy

Por Nina Chan, Miya Iwataki, Kathy Nishimoto Masaoka, Keiko Ikari Miya, traci kato-kiriyama
19 Ago 2021

To borrow from the title of one of this month’s features, the theme for this month is all about paying homage to one of our most beloved writers, Amy Uyematsu. Amy has been writing and teaching for decades and is going through the fight of her life right now—and what is a community-based poetry column if not a platform to support the best energies and wishes possible for the better health of one of our own poets? You will see Amy’s poems throughout the lifespan of this column and much more importantly, through her incredible collection of work featured in several tomes. I h…

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Nikkei al descubierto: una columna de poesía

Hailing

Por Miya Iwataki, traci kato-kiriyama
15 Abr 2021

This month, we are honored to again feature the fierce Miya Iwataki, a veteran activist, core member of NCRR (Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress), and writer based in Los Angeles. She presents four poems here—an observation of and hailing to the world around her, from the intimate to the masses. Miya will be featured in our 2nd annual Nikkei Uncovered virtual poetry reading on May 13 (RSVP required), where we will feature “pairs” of writers. She will be paired with poet Amy Uyematsu, who leads a weekly writing class where Miya is a participating poet. We look forward…

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Little Tokyo - Coming Full Circle: Tsutomu Maehara and his family, Jo Ann and Chef Akira Hirose, embody the Little Tokyo spirit

Por Miya Iwataki
14 Ago 2019

Community control over land in Little Tokyo is one of the few strategies that will help prevent displacement of legacy small businesses. The Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund (LTCIF) will protect our neighborhood from losing its cultural heritage and will help achieve community control. — Takao Suzuki, LTCIF member In 1886 Charles Kame, an ex-seaman from Japan opened a Japanese restaurant at 340 E. First St., planting the roots of Little Tokyo. The community grew slowly but steadily as more Issei immigrated to California, including a large influx in the early 1900s, as thousands …

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Nikkei al descubierto: una columna de poesía

Resistance

Por Miya Iwataki, Ryan Masaaki Yokota, traci kato-kiriyama
20 Abr 2017

Welcome back to this month’s edition of Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the signing of E.O. 9066 and the 50th anniversary of the official Manzanar Pilgrimage, we look to the virtues of and stories behind resistance with pieces from Los Angeles Sansei writer and activist, Miya Iwataki, and Yonsei JA/second generation Okinawan American educator and writer, Ryan Masaaki Yokota (based in Chicago)—from a song stoked by struggle in Heart Mountain to the reasons we marched then and now and again and again…enjoy. —traci kato-kiriy…