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Nima-kai

@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 5 months 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
@Japanophile98

Kon'nichi' wa!

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

I enjoy spending time at bookshops, taking nice walks, trying new recipes, and travelling to many different places in my free time. The most significant experience in my life was when I lived in Japan, 40 years ago.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2011 last login 1+ years ago
@laurahh

I enjoy spending time at bookshops, taking nice walks, trying new recipes, and travelling to many different places in my free time. The most significant experience in my life was when I lived in Japan, 40 years ago.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2011 last login 1+ years ago
@momiji

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

I am a Yonsei Japanese Canadian; a “hapa”. Researching my family history, I became fascinated and angered with the events of the WW2 internment of Japanese Canadians to the point that I eventually spent twelve years making a film about my grandmother’s experiences during the internment. The film is called Hatsumi and is used in classrooms across Canada to assist teachers to teach the internment chapter to Canadian history students. I am a lawyer by trade, the treasurer of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto and a member of the board of governors of the Japanese American National Museum in L.A..

Canada Nima since 2016 last login 1+ years ago
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Kayla Kamei @Kayla

Kayla Kamei is a freshman at UCLA majoring in English with a minor in Asian American Studies. She is a third-generation Japanese American and Chinese American, and grew up in Monterey Park, California. Kayla loves anime, instrumental scores, and delicious ramen. During her breaks, she enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as relaxing on her couch and reading a good book. She is excited about exploring her interests in literature, film, and law.

Kayla has been a Discover Nikkei volunteer writer since June 2023. She’s written several stories about local Japanese Americans arts and community organizations. Kayla is very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this project and is excited to listen to and share more stories from her community.

What do you like most about volunteering for Discover Nikkei?

My favorite part of volunteering for Discover Nikkei has been listening to the life stories of other people of Japanese descent. It has been inspiring for me to hear their perspectives and recognize not only their successes but also their tremendous resilience in the face of adversity. Through these stories, I have learned so much more about my culture and the people in my community. I am very grateful to be a part of the Discover Nikkei project and to contribute to this space of remembrance of grief, tragedy, love, and human connection. It has been a gift being able to hear the voices of my community and an honor to help preserve their echoes.

How do you connect to your Nikkei identity?

In addition to being a part of the Discover Nikkei community, I have remained connected to my Nikkei identity in personal ways. Ever since I was born, my family has always celebrated Oshogatsu together with my Japanese grandparents where we enjoy each other’s company with traditional New Year’s food. I also love visiting Little Tokyo and attending events at the Japanese American National Museum. Through my academic studies, my connection to my culture has evolved to include a growing critical awareness of my cultural history and how it relates to the present. Educating myself on past and current injustices as well as the Japanese American community’s resilience has helped me to understand my cultural heritage as part of my Nikkei identity.

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

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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.
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