Nikkei Chronicles #12—Growing Up Nikkei: Connecting with Our Heritage
Our theme for the 12th edition of Nikkei Chronicles—Growing Up Nikkei: Connecting with Our Heritage—asked participants to reflect upon several questions, such as: What kind of Nikkei community events did you attend? What kinds of childhood stories do you have about Nikkei food? How did you learn Japanese as a child?
Discover Nikkei accepted submissions from June to October 2023 and voting for favorite stories closed on November 30, 2023. We received 14 stories (7 English; 3 Spanish; 5 Portuguese; 0 Japanese) from Brazil, Peru, and the United States, with one submitted in multiple languages.
Thank you very much to everyone who submitted their Growing Up Nikkei stories!
We asked our editorial committee to select their favorite stories. Our Nima-kai community also voted for the stories they enjoyed. Here are their selections!
(*Translations of the selected stories are currently in progress.)
Editorial Committee’s Favorites
- ENGLISH:
An Albuquerque Childhood
By Edna Horiuchi - SPANISH:
Jinsei no aki (Autumn of Life)
By Roberto Oshiro Teruya - PORTUGUESE:
Arigatai!!!
By Edna Hiromi Ogihara Cardoso
Nima-kai Favorite:
- 18 Stars
Embracing Imperfection: A Journey of Self-Exploration in Japan
By Lauren Rise Masuda
To learn more about this writing project >>
*This series is presented in partnership with:
Check out these other Nikkei Chronicles series >>
*Logo design by Jay Horinouchi
Stories from this series
Jinsei no aki (Autumn of Life)
Aug. 9, 2023 • Roberto Oshiro Teruya
It’s the Year of the Rabbit and in October I will be 60 years old. My Okinawan grandparents would say I’m going to celebreate my tushibi1, it’s my year and it should be done according to our customs. It’s a different kind of year. Lately I read that from 60 years old and on, you should be grateful to be alive. If in previous years you were careful, now you have to pay attention to any bad thing that could …
Finding My Community
July 14, 2023 • Drew Yamamura
Growing up in the Central Valley of California, more specifically Fresno, my experience with the Nikkei community felt separate from the rest of my identity. I was often one of very few Japanese Americans at my elementary, middle, and high schools. Everyday at school, it felt like I was subconsciously and discretely ostracized. I didn’t struggle with making friends or fitting in at school; I just felt that I had to work harder than the rest of my peers. There …