On Nikkei
What is Nikkei? Ryusuke Kawai, a non-fiction writer who translated "No-No Boy," covers a variety of topics related to Nikkei, including people, history, books, movies, and music, focusing on his own involvement with Nikkei.
Stories from this series
Part 54 (2) The History of a Japanese Family in Florida
Nov. 22, 2024 • Ryusuke Kawai
From "The Story of Ichiro Omaye" Last time , we introduced the history of the Omaye family, who ran a farm in Florida, USA, based on the writings of their descendant, Omaye Kosei, who now lives in Kyoto. Kosei's grandfather, Omaye Kyujiro, left his hometown in the mountains of Hyogo Prefecture and traveled to the USA in 1903 (Meiji 36) to repay his debts. He initially worked on the West Coast, but later moved to Jacksonville in northern Florida as …
Part 54 (1) The History of a Japanese Family in Florida
Nov. 8, 2024 • Ryusuke Kawai
A story of three generations of the Omaye family A few years ago, Mr. Kosei Omaye, who lives in Kyoto City, sent me a copy of his book "The Story of Ichiro Omaye" (Zou no Mori Shobo), a family history of the Omaye family with ties to Florida in the United States. Mr. Omaye knew that I had previously written a non-fiction book about Japanese immigrants to Florida called "Yamato Colony: The Men Who Left Japan in Florida" (Shunposha). Immigration …
Part 53: What is Asian America?
Oct. 25, 2024 • Ryusuke Kawai
Start by knowing When the new coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, also raged in the United States, President Trump and other senior members of his administration called it the "China virus." The virus became associated with China, and then with Asia. As a result, there were frequent incidents of attacks and discrimination against people of Chinese and other Asian descent in the United States. Examples of this discrimination against Asians in the United States include the anti-Asian …
Part 52 (3) Connecting Japan and the World through English Rakugo - Following Kanariya Eiraku at the St. Louis Japan Festival
Oct. 11, 2024 • Ryusuke Kawai
Read Part 2 Rakugo in English - Rakumei-ya Eiraku is spreading English Rakugo to the Japanese community and around the world. He was recently invited to perform an English Rakugo performance at the St. Louis Japan Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Eiraku is also knowledgeable about Asian American culture, so we asked him what first got him interested in English and multiculturalism, and what kind of activities he has been involved in in this field. Encountering the Ainu language …
Part 52 (2) Connecting Japan and the World through English Rakugo - Following Kamariya Eiraku at the St. Louis Japan Festival
Sept. 27, 2024 • Ryusuke Kawai
Read Part 1 Rakugo in English - Kanariya Eiraku is spreading English Rakugo to the Japanese community and around the world. He was recently invited to perform an English Rakugo performance at the St. Louis Japan Festival in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. How is Rakugo known overseas, including in the US? We asked him how Japanese humor is perceived, and about other types of storytelling by Japanese people besides Rakugo. Pride in Japanese culture Kawai: How do you think Japanese …
No. 52 (part 1) Connecting Japan and the World through English Rakugo - Following Kanariya Eiraku at the St. Louis Japan Festival
Sept. 13, 2024 • Ryusuke Kawai
Rakugo, or rakugo storytelling in English, is loved by people from all over the world. Rakugo is a form of Japanese culture that transcends borders and uses Japanese humor and storytelling. One representative of this form of English rakugo is Kanariya Eiraku (real name Tatsuya Sudo, 65). Starting with an interest in the English world, Eiraku, who is also well-versed in Japanese-American theater, is the representative director of the English Rakugo Association (established in 2020), a general incorporated association that …
Discover Nikkei Updates
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!
Follow us @discovernikkei for new site content, program announcements, and more!