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Nima-kai

@loopy12125

i want to know more of japan that my grandma left. i want to be part of it.

Indiana, United States of America Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@eri

Chile Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@tjhirasuna

Sansei, originally from Hawaii

United States of America Nima since 2005 last login 1+ years ago
@maritza

HELLO, I'M MARITZA. THE TRUTH IS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT ABOUT MY LAST NAME, YKEDA. I ONLY KNOW THAT MY GRANDFATHER HAD THAT LAST NAME AND THAT THEY TOOK HIM FROM CAÑETE... I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF GETTING MY LAST NAME BACK.

Peru Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@almostjapanese

Alberta, Canada Nima since 2009 last login 1+ years ago
@risingstars

Los Angeles, California, United States of America Nima since 2008 last login 1+ years ago
@akemi_m

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

Professor Emeritus of History and Asian American Studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he retired in 2008 as the director of the Center for Oral and Public History. Between 2001 and 2005, he served as Senior Historian at the Japanese American National Museum.

California, United States of America Nima since 2005 last login 1+ years 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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