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

@ckomai
Nima of the month: March 2015

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.

Nikkei Interests

basketball communities families food Japanese American communities Japantowns
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Nikkei Chronicles #9—More Than a Game: Nikkei Sports
Exceeding All Expectations
Keston Hiura has made a habit of breaking barriers and smashing stereotypes on his way to major lea…

Aug. 28, 2020

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baseball Keston Hiura Milwaukee Brewers (baseball team) United States Wisconsin
baseball Keston Hiura Milwaukee Brewers (baseball team) United States Wisconsin
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Howard Kakudo: Disney Animator Shared His Talents While Imprisoned at Poston Camp
In seeking to preserve and share the Japanese American experience, the Japanese American National M…

Dec. 10, 2019

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animation Arizona artists Christmas concentration camps generations greeting cards Howard Kakudo immigrants immigration Issei Japan Japanese American National Museum Japanese American National Museum (organization) migration New Year Poston concentration camp United States Walt Disney Studios World War II World War II camps
animation Arizona artists Christmas concentration camps generations greeting cards Howard Kakudo immigrants immigration Issei Japan Japanese American National Museum Japanese American National Museum (organization) migration New Year Poston concentration camp United States Walt Disney Studios World War II World War II camps
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The Japanese American Basketball Connection - Part 2
Read Part 1 >> The establishment in 1947 of a Southern California NAU to oversee a basketball leag…

March 17, 2016

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aesthetics basketball California communities generations Japanese American basketball leagues Japanese American National Museum Japanese Americans Japanese language newspapers metaphysics More Than a Game (book) newspapers Nisei Athletic Union psychology Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) Sansei sports theory of knowledge United States values
aesthetics basketball California communities generations Japanese American basketball leagues Japanese American National Museum Japanese Americans Japanese language newspapers metaphysics More Than a Game (book) newspapers Nisei Athletic Union psychology Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) Sansei sports theory of knowledge United States values
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The Japanese American Basketball Connection - Part 1
When I was five years old, our family lived in Los Angeles on 12th Avenue, near what was known as t…

March 16, 2016

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aesthetics Akira Komai basketball California Chris Komai communities games Japanese American basketball leagues Japanese American National Museum Japanese Americans Japanese language newspapers metaphysics More Than a Game (book) newspapers Nisei Athletic Union psychology Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) sports theory of knowledge United States values
aesthetics Akira Komai basketball California Chris Komai communities games Japanese American basketball leagues Japanese American National Museum Japanese Americans Japanese language newspapers metaphysics More Than a Game (book) newspapers Nisei Athletic Union psychology Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) sports theory of knowledge United States values
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The Unseen Price of Redress
The passage and signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 remains the most significant event for J…

Feb. 19, 2016

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Civil Liberties Act of 1988 documentaries films Janice Tanaka Japanese American Citizens League John Tateishi law legislation Mike Masaoka Redress movement Right of Passage (film) United States
Civil Liberties Act of 1988 documentaries films Janice Tanaka Japanese American Citizens League John Tateishi law legislation Mike Masaoka Redress movement Right of Passage (film) United States
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Why Hasn’t Ichiro Retired?
Ichiro Suzuki is easily the most accomplished Japanese baseball player to ever compete in Major L…

July 30, 2015

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Aiko Suzuki baseball Pete Rose sports Ted Williams Ty Cobb United States
Aiko Suzuki baseball Pete Rose sports Ted Williams Ty Cobb United States
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Too Much Mottainai?
After our mother passed in 2013, my siblings and I were faced with the daunting task of cleaning …

May 26, 2015

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aesthetics Buddhism business culture economics gaman (values) hoarding management metaphysics mottainai (phrase) psychology recycling religions shikata ga nai (phrase) theory of knowledge values
aesthetics Buddhism business culture economics gaman (values) hoarding management metaphysics mottainai (phrase) psychology recycling religions shikata ga nai (phrase) theory of knowledge values
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My Japanese American Families
How well do you know your own family? Specifically, your extended family: uncles, aunts, cousins, s…

March 3, 2015

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baseball Boyle Heights California cemeteries Chris Komai Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles, Calif.) families Japanese Americans Japanese language newspapers Japantowns Komai family Los Angeles mochi mochitsuki newspapers Nihonmachi Qris Yamashita Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) reunions Susumu Ito traditions United States
baseball Boyle Heights California cemeteries Chris Komai Evergreen Cemetery (Los Angeles, Calif.) families Japanese Americans Japanese language newspapers Japantowns Komai family Los Angeles mochi mochitsuki newspapers Nihonmachi Qris Yamashita Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) reunions Susumu Ito traditions United States
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Carrying on Tradition: A visit to Bunkado and the artistic, eclectic heart of Little Tokyo
Bunkado sits both physically and metaphorically at the crossroads of Little Tokyo. Nestled in th…

Jan. 16, 2015

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Bunkado (store) business California economics Irene Tsukada Simonian Little Tokyo Los Angeles management Tokio Ueyama traditions United States
Bunkado (store) business California economics Irene Tsukada Simonian Little Tokyo Los Angeles management Tokio Ueyama traditions United States
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Who's More Japanese?
One strong characteristic that marks the Japanese culture is the constant striving to name and defi…

Jan. 8, 2015

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culture identity loyalty questionnaire traditions World War II
culture identity loyalty questionnaire traditions World War II
Nima since 2005
Location Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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