Nima-kai
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Chiana Fujiwara is a fifth-generation Japanese American, fifth-generation Mexican American, and second-generation Chinese American college student from southern California majoring in Psychology and Criminology at the University of California, Irvine. Having strong connections to Japanese American Internment during World War II, she has since developed a passion for further researching the stories of her family as well as the general period and its impacts at large. Other hobbies include ancient Chinese poetry, traveling, and exploring new coffee shops.
Discover Nikkei Community Engagement Specialist. I have a master's degree in History from Cal State Los Angeles with a focus on colonial Latin America and cultural geography. I'm fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. Outside of work, I volunteer as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth and enjoy making music, trying different visual arts, and writing poetry. I am a proud fourth-generation Angeleno.
FRANK ABE is co-editor with Floyd Cheung of a new Penguin Classics anthology, THE LITERATURE OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION. He is lead author of a graphic novel, WE HEREBY REFUSE: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration, a Finalist in Creative Nonfiction for the Washington State Book Award. He won an American Book Award as co-editor of JOHN OKADA: The Life & Rediscovered Work of the Author of No-No Boy, in which he authored the first-ever biography of Okada and traced the origins of his novel. He wrote and directed the award-winning PBS documentary CONSCIENCE AND THE CONSTITUTION and helped organize the first-ever “Day of Remembrance.”
The largest museum in the United States dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry as an integral part of U.S. history. Visit janm.org to learn more about our exhibitions, public programs, and projects.
Chris Komai is a freelance writer who has been involved in Little Tokyo for five decades. He was the Public Information Officer of the Japanese American National Museum for over 21 years, where he handled publicity for the organization’s special events, exhibitions and public programs. Prior to that, Komai worked for the Japanese-English newspaper The Rafu Shimpo for 18 years as a sports writer, sports editor and English editor. Komai also serves on the Little Tokyo Community Council Board, the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association Board and the Keiro Foundation Board. He has been a member of the Southern California Nisei Athletic Union Board for basketball and baseball for 40 years. Komai is one of the founders of the Nikkei Basketball Heritage Association (NBHA), which seeks to connect JA basketball history to the current players and their families. He earned a B.A. degree in English from the University of California at Riverside.
Growing up in the South Bay, Kaori Nemoto became intimately familiar with Nikkei grocery stores, outings to Little Tokyo, and the rhythm of the Japanese American community. As the daughter to shin issei and nisei parents, she felt deeply curious as to how changes in the relationship between Japan and the U.S. have transformed the Japanese American community over the past century. She hopes to build on her understanding of Japanese American history through the 2025 Nikkei Community Intership program facilitating her joint intership with the Japanese American National Museum and the Japanese American Bar Association. Kaori graduated with a B.A. from Soka University of America this year, and she will be pursuing her J.D. at Georgetown Law School in the fall. In the future, Kaori looks forward to building bridges between recent Japanese immigrants and Japanese American history and giving back to the Japanese American community that has allowed her to engage freely in her cultural heritage.
Okinawa Association of America (OAA) | Gardena, CaliforniaPreserving, promoting, and perpetuating Okinawan culture Sign up for our email list:https://tinyurl.com/oaa-email-list The Okinawa Association of America, Inc. (OAA) is an award-winning 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and perpetuating Okinawan culture in the greater Los Angeles area. Formed by first generation immigrants (issei) over a century ago, the OAA has grown into a multi-generational organization that hosts numerous events throughout the year including cultural presentations, performances, and senior-focused activities.The OAA's decades of service have garnered accolades including the 2025 Community Organization Recognition Award (Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California), 2023 California Nonprofit of the Year (nominated by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, 66th District) and 2019 Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award (Nisei Week Foundation). OAA leaders have also been recognized by the Okinawa Prefectural Government as Overseas Goodwill Ambassadors and Next Generation Representatives. ANNUAL EVENTS:• January – New Year's Party• February/March – Women's Club New Year Gathering• February/March – Sanshin Day• April/May – Okinawan Craft Fair• May – Kajimayaa Seniors Club Luncheon• June – Irei no Hi: Remembering the Battle of Okinawa• July – Picnic and Okinawa Bon Dance• September/October – Senior Appreciation Day• October – World Uchinaanchu Day Celebration• Special events include cultural workshops and performances, family- and senior-focused activities, screenings, and more!MONTHLY ACTIVITIES:• 2nd Fridays – Uchinaaguchi (Okinawan Language) Class (Members Only)• 3rd Saturdays – Women's Club Gathering• 3rd Saturdays – Karaoke Club (Members Only)• Last Saturdays – Nuchaashii Potluck Gathering
Discover Nikkei Updates
Join us for a book talk, reception, and panel discussion on Japanese Canadian history. The panel discussion will also be live-streamed via Zoom!
