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Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda @vkm

I’m a Yonsei, occasional artist and writer, and full-time Digital Program Manager at the Japanese American National Museum. I was born in Los Angeles and have lived in Southern California almost my entire life. I am fluent in English, can understand about 80% of conversational Japanese, and don’t know any Spanish or Portuguese (although after having worked on Discover Nikkei for so long, would like to learn someday). I love working in Little Tokyo and living in Gardena. Both areas give me wonderful access to Japanese/Nikkei food, community, and culture. I bowl in a Nikkei league once a week, and spend my free time eating, sleeping, playing on my phone and computer, rooting for the Dodgers, watching TV and reading, spending time with family and friends, and traveling. I love working on Discover Nikkei and learning about so many different Nikkei experiences around the world!

Gardena, California, United States of America Nima since 2005 last login 5 days ago
@karenkawa7

Karen Kawaguchi is a writer based in New York City. She was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Nisei father from Seattle. Her dad served in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service while his family was incarcerated at Minidoka. Karen and her family moved to the U.S. in the late 1950’s, living mostly in the Chicago area. In 1967, they moved to Okinawa where she went to Kubasaki High School. After attending Wesleyan University (CT), she lived in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Seattle. She recently retired as an editor in educational publishing, having worked for Heinemann, Pearson, and other leading publishers. Karen began contributing articles to the Discover Nikkei website earlier this year, including pieces for Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30 and an article about the importance of preserving and sharing family history. She volunteers for Literacy Partners (adult ESL) and enjoys going to Japan Society, art museums, and botanical gardens. She feels fortunate to be able to draw deeply from the three cultures in her life: Japanese, American, and Japanese-American.

New York, United States of America Nima since 2022 last login 1 month ago
@discovernikkei2021511

Immigrated to Canada in 1986. BA in Sociology from Waseda University. A freelance writer for the Japanese media; a regular columnist for Vancouver-based JCCA Bulletin and Fraser Journal since 2012. Former Japanese editor of the Nikkei Voice (1989-2012). Co-founder of the Katari Japanese Storytellers since 1994. Lecturer on the Nikkei history at various universities in Japan. His translation Horonigai Shori, the Japanese edition of Bittersweet Passage by Maryka Omatsu was awarded The 4th Canadian Prime Minister Award for Publishing in 1993.

Ontario, Canada Nima since 2021 last login 1+ years ago
@intrepidmouse

Chicago, Illinois, United States of America Nima since 2006 last login 1+ years ago
@Japanophile98

Kon'nichi' wa!

New Jersey, United States of America Nima since 2021 last login 1+ years ago
@hyldeth

I am a member of the Evangelical Holiness Church of Brazil, where I have many friends of Japanese origin. Sometimes within the Church I participate in the choir singing praises in Japanese. I really enjoy Japanese cuisine.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2013 last login 1+ years ago
@momiji

California, United States of America Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@Francesca

Writer, Journalist and Author specializing in multicultural themes, art, politics, satire, comedy and popular culture for newspapers, books, radio, the web and television. Perhaps my greatest influence as a writer stems from my background of being half Japanese on my mother's side and Russian-Jewish on my father's side, which has inspired me to be more empathetic, interested and passionate about mixed race cultures and the varied human experience. Raised in both Hawaii and Los Angeles by parents who are artists and former professors, I was exposed to a rich cultural and academic experience that still feeds my inspiration to create new work and continually progress and grow as a "Hapa" artist. Some of my articles are featured in the Japanese- American National Museum exhibit entitled "Hapa-Japan, Visible and Invisible". Currently I am writing two books about my mixed racial identity; one book will be a compilation of short humorous essays, while the other will be a novel about the 442nd Infantry. Some of my articles can be read here on this wonderful site, DiscoverNikkei.org.

San Francisco, California, United States of America Nima since 2013 last login 1+ years ago
@letsugo

I love exploring all things Japanese & Japanese American in Los Angeles! Got news? Post it to Discover Nikkei!

Los Angeles, California, United States of America Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@YuuGushiken

YO folks!! my name is Yuu Gushiken, and I'm half- okinawan, half - japanese, korean - italian - portuguese - brazilian architecture student who loves Japanese regional culture, Graphic Arts, Design, Street Culture, Baseball & Softball, to play ma' own sanshin shamisen, composin' rhymes, n' hold my 'mic!! Born to be Wild!!

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2011 last login 1+ years ago
Nima of the Month Learn about some of our favorite Nima and what they like about Discover Nikkei.

Lee Tonouchi, also known as “Da Pidgin Guerrilla,” is an Okinawan Yonsei writer who lives in Hawai‘i. Lee is recognized for his work advocating for the acceptance of Pidgin (Hawai‘i Creole) as a legitimate language. In 2023, he received the American Association for Applied Linguistics Distinguished Public Service Award for his advocacy of Pidgin.

Lee is the author of a number of award-winning books, including Pidgin poetry collection Significant Moments in da Life of Oriental Faddah and Son: One Hawai‘i Okinawan Journal, winner of the Asian-America Studies Book Award in 2013; children's book Okinawan Princess: Da Legend of Hajichi Tattoos, winner of the Skipping Stones Honor Award in 2020; and Chiburu: Anthology of Hawai‘i Okinawan Literature. His monthly column for Discover Nikkei, “Much Mahalos,” uses Pidgin to interview Japanese and Okinawan Americans from Hawai‘i about their stories.

What do you like about Discover Nikkei?

As one Discover Nikkei contributor who wuz born and raise in Hawai‘i, I stay in one position for talk story with lotta really interesting Hawai‘i Japanese/Okinawan folks and it's kinda cool how I get for help introduce these amazing Local people to da world.

And I not exaggerating when I say da world, cuz Discover Nikkei get one onreal reach. I love it when da people I profile report back for tell me how so many readers from so many places said dey read their interview!

Why is it important to share your Much Mahalos series on Discover Nikkei?

People get lotta stereotypes about Hawai‘i. Dey tink everybody in Hawai‘i does hula and surfs all day long. I like for tink that my Much Mahalos column helps for eju-ma-cate people and show off da full spectrum of talented kine peoples we get living ova hea. So far I wen interview one poet, stand-up comedian, actor, sanshin player, storyteller, Pidgin linguist, muralist, comic strip artist, crafter, Okinawan language activist, graphic designer, clothing designer, with planny more occupations yet for come!

Meet more Nima of the Month
Are you a Nima*? Nima are members of Discover Nikkei’s global community called Nima-kai. Create an account and share your personal and community stories, events, and more related to the Nikkei experience. Connect with Nima around the world! *The term “Nima” comes from combining Nikkei and nakama (Japanese for “colleagues”, or “fellows”, or “circle”). Create an Account

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIKKEI NAMES 2
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NIMA VOICES
Episode 17
November 12
5pm PDT | 7pm PET
Featured Nima:
Graciela Nakachi
Guest Host:
Enrique Higa

Presented in Spanish
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