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Nima-kai

@niki1018

Steering committee of Washin Kai (Friends of Classical Japanese at University of Washington)

Washington, United States of America Nima since 2021 last login 3 months ago
@nmatsumoto

I am a Toronto and New York City-based freelance writer who covers food, agriculture and the environment for publications including The Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Civil Eats. Nancy is the co-author of The Parent’s Guide to Eating Disorders: Supporting Self-Esteem, Healthy Eating & Positive Body Image at Home. She is a 2018 Stone Barns Exchange Fellow and a certified advanced sake professional.

New York, United States of America Nima since 2009 last login 4 months ago
@aldenmhayashi

Alden M. Hayashi is a Sansei who was born and raised in Honolulu but now lives in Boston. After writing about science, technology, and business for more than thirty years, he has recently begun writing fiction to preserve stories of the Nikkei experience. His first novel, Two Nails, One Love, was published in September 2021. His website: www.aldenmhayashi.com.

United States of America Nima since 2021 last login 4 months ago
@Matsugen

I have established NAC-J, a non profit organization, and are engaged in communicating the history of Japanese Americans. As part of that, I made a movie "Go for Broke! Memorie of Hawaii Japanese Niseis". This movie was premiered at the 2012 Maui Film Festival. And, produced the movie "Okagesama de ~Hawaii Nikkei Women's Trajectory". This movie has been officially selected for the 2021 Hawaii International Film Festival. The revenue of the activity will be used to support Kansha Preschool run by Nisei Veterans Memorial Center of Maui. This Kansha Preschool is a preschool that conveys pride and value as a Nikkei and gratitude to Nisei.

Japan Nima since 2012 last login 4 months ago
@jcccwa

We are an organization that is committed to preserving, promoting and sharing Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage. Mission To build and grow a central gathering place for sharing and promoting Japanese and Japanese American culture and heritage. Description To learn more about our programs and activities please visit our website at http://www.jcccw.org/ Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Mixi!

Seattle, Washington, United States of America Nima since 2012 last login 5 months ago
@kyrakaratsu

Kyra Karatsu is a Japanese-German Yonsei who grew up about an hour from Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo -- a site that she frequently visited with her Nisei (and longtime JANM volunteer) grandmother, Mary. Kyra is a third-year college student and is majoring in Communication. In addition to school and work, she enjoys writing for Discover Nikkei and the Rafu Shimpo.

California, United States of America Nima since 2021 last login 7 months ago
@GVJCI

-Mission- The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute serves the needs of the Japanese American community of the South Bay Area through educational, cultural and social programs by: Providing programs and activities, sensitive and relevant, to the needs of our senior citizens and youth; Offering use of facilities and support to community organizations which foster the best interests and welfare of the community and Striving to create an environment for better inter-generational understanding, for perpetuating the ethnic heritage of Americans of Japanese ancestry, and for promoting cultural pride and respect for all humanity. -Company Overview- The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community center providing various classes, programs, services, and facilities to the South Bay area. We also provide affordable housing through the JCI Gardens Apartments, the adjacent senior housing property. The GVJCI's roots date back to 1912, with the establishment of the Moneta Gakuen, a Japanese language school. In 1967, it was formally incorporated as the Gardena Valley Japanese Language School. Then, in 1968, the corporation changed its name to the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute to incorporate the broader services and functions the organization offered. In 1971, Compton Gakuen, Gardena Gakuen, and Moneta Gakuen merged, opening its doors officially as the GVJCI's Japanese Language School.

Gardena, California, United States of America Nima since 2010 last login 7 months ago
@silvialumy

Silvia is a Brazilian Nikkei who has been a Nima-kai member since 2009. She started sharing her experiences as an exchange student in Japan on Discover Nikkei in May 2009.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2009 last login 8 months ago
@juncurabongolan

Jun Cura-Bongolan is a Filipino yonsei born and raised in Toronto, Canada. His late grandmother was a war-displaced Japanese Filipina that had been separated from her prewar Issei father following the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during World War II. His family's tragic history encouraged him to pursue Anthropology with a Certificate in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies at York University, and continues to influence his work in community organizing around social justice issues. Currently, he is the founder and President of the Filipino-Japanese Descendants Association in Canada.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Nima since 2018 last login 8 months ago
@rkn3c

Virginia, United States of America Nima since 2024 last login 9 months ago
@jaykun

Fourth generation Nikkei, fluent in both English and Japanese after living in Tokyo for about 6 years. Living in Japan was an amazing experience, but it's definitely too hot during the summer. Glad to be back in CA. Now happily married to my wife that I met in Tokyo, working as an interpreter/designer, and addicted to coffee.

San Diego, California, United States of America Nima since 2010 last login 10 months ago
@josephkamiya

4th generation Asian American, Ryūkyū (Okinawa) x Japan roots

California, United States of America Nima since 2015 last login 11 months ago
@gjm

Texas, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 11 months ago
@Kotaro71

Antonio Kotaro Hayata is Nissei who was born in São Paulo and graduated in Law for São Paulo Catholic University (PUC-SP), MBA in Finance (FIA/USP). Today, he is in Japan, working at Kyodai Remittance responsible for the Brazilian market and the Nikkei Network, and in parallel as a legal translator and interpreter. He is a Lawyer from graduation, but finance executive by choice, where he led a career almost entirely focused on financial institutions, always connected with Japan. Crazy for sports in general, especially running and soccer. After the Covid-19 Pandemic, he discovered a new passion in road bike.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2021 last login 1 year ago
@Ivis_Imamura

Vice President of the Management Committee of the Association of the Japanese Colony of Cuba

Cuba Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@kreativitea

Yonsei living in Japan. Working as Engineering Manager for Google Maps full time, volunteering for Discover Nikkei as a technical consultant. Member emeritus of organizing committee for Copani San Fransisco 2019, and regular attendee of Copani and Kaigai Nikkeijin Taikai. Past lives include bio researcher, teaching, consumer science, startup engineering. linkedin.com/in/momoto

Japan Nima since 2011 last login 1 year ago
@Suzettekern

My mother was Japanese, my father American. I grew up in Japan and went to Yoyogi Elementary, Chofu and Zama High schools before moving to the US.

Virginia, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@MariaSonoda

I was born in Argentina and I am 64 years old. My father was Japanese and my mother was Paraguayan. I live in the United States of America.

Nevada, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@Jinmu

Bel Air, Maryland, United States of America Nima since 2013 last login 1 year ago
@hiradan

Florida, United States of America Nima since 2019 last login 1 year ago
@drewyamamura

Hello! My name is Drew Yamamura and I'm currently an undergraduate student at Cal State Fullerton. As of Summer 2023, I am serving as the JANM (Japanese American National Museum) and JABA (Japanese American Bar Association) Intern. I hope to learn more all about other Nima-kai!

California, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@kruvalcaba

Yonsei Generation. Japanese,Canadian mother / Mexican father.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@Lanny_Fujishin

Oregon, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
Nima of the Month Learn about some of our favorite Nima and what they like about Discover Nikkei.

Chiana Fujiwara is a junior at University of California, Irvine, where she studies psychology. Born and raised in Southern California, she is a fifth-generation Japanese American and Mexican American, and a second-generation Chinese American. Chiana enjoys solo traveling, studying in cafes, and learning about history. She also translates ancient Chinese poetry, which you can read on her website. Chiana hopes to become a clinical psychologist.

Chiana has been a Discover Nikkei volunteer writer since fall 2022, where she writes about present-day Nikkei culture in the United States. Stay tuned for more of her insightful stories in the coming months!

What do you like most about Discover Nikkei?

Throughout my time with Discover Nikkei, I have been able to dip my toes into the wide breadth of knowledge and cultural understanding that comes with interviewing many incredible artists and their works and stories from the overseas Japanese community! It has been a great privilege to learn more about those with similar backgrounds and how they each choose to uniquely embrace their identities, as well as more about the local culture and history of Japanese Americans and other overseas Japanese. I grew up with my attention mainly turned to mainstream media, which was not usually Japanese, so being able to discover and share with others the talented individuals who make media catered to spreading Japanese American culture or just generally can be there to serve as role models in the Japanese American and Asian American community is a very lovely feeling!

How do you connect to your Nikkei identity?

Aside from connecting to my Nikkei identity through speaking with my family about their experiences being Japanese American, I also have recently begun to explore Japanese food a lot more! I personally believe that food is the key to culture, and it has been dozens of fun getting to try out Japanese places with friends and try a bunch of different foods I’ve never had before. I’ve also joined the Japanese Student Association at my school, so from there I’ve met some really wonderful people who are very much more well-versed in Japanese culture than I am and are willing to help me navigate that part of my identity (especially through food).

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

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