Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/events/2025/02/08/6992/

Discover Nikkei Fest: Celebrating 20 Years of Our Global Community

Community Event
In Person / Virtual
Japanese American National Museum
100 N Central Ave Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Date: Feb. 8, 2025

Time: noon – 7:30 p.m.



Discover Nikkei 20th anniversary logo

Celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Discover Nikkei with a day-long festival of activities honoring Nikkei family stories. Discover Nikkei is JANM’s international, community-based project that highlights Nikkei identity, culture, and history. Discover Nikkei Fest kicks off a year-long celebration of the website’s milestone anniversary with a Community Fair, Family Stories Workshops, International Nikkei Family Stories Panel Discussion (in-person and virtual), and Reception.

TICKETS

Available starting December 28, 2024; JANM Members presale tickets available now.

Community Fair only (FREE, but you must check in for participation in the drawing and stamp rally)

TICKETS

Community Fair, Workshops, Panel Discussion, Reception (Adult: $15, Student/Youth: $5, JANM Members: FREE):

ALL ACCESS PASS

Virtual Panel Discussion (FREE, but advance registration required by Friday, February 7, 10 a.m. PST to receive the Zoom link.)

REGISTER

FESTIVAL SCHEDULE

Discover Nikkei 20th anniversary graphicCOMMUNITY FAIR (12 p.m.-3 p.m.)

  • Meet Nikkei organizations from around Southern California
  • Decorate a journal to write and draw in with this family-friendly activity! Make it your own by decorating it and then use it to collect thoughts, stories, poems, memories, and ideas. If you’re attending some of the workshops today, be sure to bring it along. You never know when inspiration will strike!
  • Pick up tickets for an opportunity drawing (JANM members receive two tickets per member!)
  • Participate in a rubber stamp rally

The fair is free but registration and check-in at the event is required to receive tickets for the opportunity drawing and participate in the stamp rally.

FAMILY STORIES WORKSHOPS (12 p.m.–2:45 p.m.)

Preserving Family Artifacts workshop

12 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Learn how to care for your treasured family heirlooms and digitize precious photos and documents in this workshop led by JANM's Director of Collections Management & Access and Curator, Kristen Hayashi.

Intergenerational Delight—a family stories poetry workshop

12 p.m.-12:45 p.m.

Explore your family stories, generational struggles, joys, and everything in between in this dynamic workshop led by Navigating With(out) Instruments author, traci kato-kiriyama.

Nikkei Genealogy 101

1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Begin your family history journey in this workshop led by Melinda Yamane Crawford and Linda Harms Okazaki of the Nikkei Genealogical Society. They will teach you how to research your family trees and dig into your Japanese roots and heritage.

Senior Memory Collection

1 p.m.-1:45 p.m.

Capture and preserve the memories of a special grandparent, parent, or any senior citizen in this workshop led by Let’s Talk Story Club. Multigenerational families and groups are invited to reflect on the life journey of seniors, record their stories in a personal memory book, and take home the book as a treasured keepsake.

Video Life History Interviews

2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

Learn how to conduct an effective life history interview with JANM’s Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center. You’ll learn how to conduct background research, formulate questions, select your equipment, and conduct, transcribe, store, and share your interview.

Family Stories Journaling

2 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

Discover how to write for pleasure and celebrate the experimentation and surprise found in journaling in this workshop led by writer and editor, Mia Nakaji Monnier. You’ll be guided through a series of prompts on documenting family stories with a family photo and a text message from a loved one. Short readings from a range of authors will show you the possibilities of journaling and personal writing. You’ll explore how to add some fun to the process with sketching, ephemera, found quotes, and colored pens. You will also learn the difference between journaling and memoir and have a chance to share your work or talk about how the writing process felt in a supportive environment.

SHARING INTERNATIONAL NIKKEI FAMILY STORIES (3:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m.)

Join a conversation about Nikkei family stories moderated by Naomi Hirahara and featuring Mitch Homma (USA), Andrew Hasegawa (Australia), Harumi López Higa (Peru), Gus Hokama (Argentina), and Jorge Okubaro (Brazil). Simultaneous translations for this in-person and virtual event will be provided in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Can’t join us in person? Watch the panel discussion virtually! Advance registration required by Friday, February 7, 10 a.m. (PST) to receive the free Zoom link.

REGISTER NOW

February 8
• 1:30 p.m. (Honolulu)
• 3:30 p.m. (Los Angeles / Seattle / Vancouver)
• 5:30 p.m. (Dallas / Mexico City / Chicago)
• 6:30 p.m. (Lima / New York / Toronto)
• 8:30 p.m. (São Paulo / Buenos Aires)
• 11:30 p.m. (London)
February 9
• 12:30 a.m. (Amsterdam)
• 7:30 a.m. (Manila)
• 8:30 a.m. (Tokyo)
• 10:30 a.m. (Sydney)

RECEPTION (5:30 p.m.–7:30 p.m.)

Enjoy special musical performances by Gus Hokama, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Los Angeles Branch, and John Azama; Nikkei-inspired food and drinks; a photo booth; and a silent auction that will give you opportunities to connect and reflect after the day’s festivities.

SPONSORS

The Nippon FoundationPort of Long Beach the green portorion beer
With generous support from Akira and Hisako Nerio Imamura and family.

Media Sponsor: rafu shimpo logo

In-kind donations are generously provided by:

yakult morinaga aquamar orion beer day-lee foods Ito En Bandai Namco Kings Hawaiian

Artwork by Jay Horinouchi.


Discover Nikkei Discover Nikkei programs (event) family histories genealogy Gus Hokama Japanese American National Museum (organization) Los Angeles Mitch Homma Naomi Hirahara Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko workshops

Profile image of editor
editor Updated Feb. 4, 2025

Nikkei Events

From festivals and exhibitions to workshops and film screenings, find out what Nikkei-related events are happening virtually or near you! Remember, your participation is an important part of building a stronger community! FAQ
Discover Nikkei brandmark

New Site Design

See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon! Learn More

Upcoming virtual events

March 30, 2025 | In Person / Virtual
Ouchi Gohan Cooking Workshop: Gyoza & Yakisoba
Profile image of GVJCI GVJCI
April 6, 2025 | In Person / Virtual
Ouchi Gohan Cooking Workshop: Sushi
Profile image of GVJCI GVJCI

Discover Nikkei Updates

SUPPORT THE PROJECT
Discover Nikkei’s 20 for 20 campaign celebrates our first 20 years and jumpstarts our next 20. Learn more and donate!
CREATIVE WRITING CONTEST
Submit a short story set in Little Tokyo to the 12th annual Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest! Stories due February 28.
PROJECT UPDATES
New Site Design
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!