Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/users/

Nima-kai

@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
@suminatogawa

湊川 スエリー明菜 Sueli Akina Minatogawa. Half Japanese from father's side and half Italian-German from mother's side.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2014 last login 11 months ago
@yukinori

Brazilian-born Japanese. Roots in Okinawa Prefecture.

São Paulo, Brazil Nima since 2014 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 11 months ago
@roberto

My name is Roberto Oshiro Teruya, I am an electronic engineer by profession, but I am also a trader. I live in Lima, Peru. My grandparents came from Okinawa. My interest is to find out about my roots.

Peru Nima since 2017 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
@jasminefire88

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

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

Japan Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@kuhiga

Tennessee, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@Jacksml

Washington, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@alemfuse

Quebec, Canada Nima since 2023 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
@lannysguns

Oregon, United States of America Nima since 2023 last login 1 year ago
@renmaicha

Lauren (Ren) Markle is the Human Resources and Finance Assistant for the Japanese American National Museum. Ren is from the island of O’ahu and relocated to Los Angeles in Spring 2023. They are a mixed Native Hawaiian, 5th generation Nikkei, and 3rd generation Taiwanese diaspora.

California, 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

Discover Nikkei Updates

NIKKEI NAMES 2
Vote for Nima-kai Favorite!
Read the stories and give a star to the ones you like the most! Help select our Community Favorite.
PROJECT UPDATES
New Site Design
See exciting new changes to Discover Nikkei. Find out what’s new and what’s coming soon!
NEW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT
We’re on Instagram!
Follow us @discovernikkei for new site content, program announcements, and more!