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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/users/karenkawa7/

@karenkawa7
Nima of the month: November 2022

Karen Kawaguchi is a writer based in New York City. She was born in Tokyo to a Japanese mother and a Nisei father from Seattle. Her dad served in the U.S. Army’s Military Intelligence Service while his family was incarcerated at Minidoka. Karen and her family moved to the U.S. in the late 1950’s, living mostly in the Chicago area. In 1967, they moved to Okinawa where she went to Kubasaki High School. After attending Wesleyan University (CT), she lived in Washington, D.C., Dallas, and Seattle. She recently retired as an editor in educational publishing, having worked for Heinemann, Pearson, and other leading publishers.

Karen began contributing articles to the Discover Nikkei website earlier this year, including pieces for Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30 and an article about the importance of preserving and sharing family history. She volunteers for Literacy Partners (adult ESL) and enjoys going to Japan Society, art museums, and botanical gardens. She feels fortunate to be able to draw deeply from the three cultures in her life: Japanese, American, and Japanese-American.

Nikkei Interests

communities families festivals films food Japantowns literature music television
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Nikkei Chronicles #13—Nikkei Names 2: Grace, Graça, Graciela, Megumi?
My Name is Karen Kawaguchi
Karen Kawaguchi defines and expresses who I am. Born in Tokyo in 1953 to a Japanese mom and a Nisei…

Aug. 20, 2024

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cultural identity Discover Nikkei group identity identity names Nikkei Chronicles (series) Nikkei Names 2 (series)
cultural identity Discover Nikkei group identity identity names Nikkei Chronicles (series) Nikkei Names 2 (series)
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Stephanie Ajifu, Shibuchoo, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko LA—Reflects on her Okinawan Cultural Heritage
On March 9, 2024, Discover Nikkei will host “Yeisaa nu Chimu-Don-Don: Exploring Cultural Identity t…

March 6, 2024

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California eisa (dance) folk dances Los Angeles Okinawa Okinawan dance Ryukyu Buyo (Okinawan classical dance) Ryukyu dance Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko United States Yeisaa nu Chimu-Don-Don (event)
California eisa (dance) folk dances Los Angeles Okinawa Okinawan dance Ryukyu Buyo (Okinawan classical dance) Ryukyu dance Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko United States Yeisaa nu Chimu-Don-Don (event)
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Susan Miyagi McCormac Leads JapanCulture•NYC: Sharing Her Passion for Japanese Culture and Japanese Life in New York City
As the founder and editor-in-chief of JapanCulture•NYC, an English-language resource for Japanese…

Aug. 21, 2023

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culture JapanCulture•NYC (website) Japanese culture New York (state) North Carolina Okinawans Susan Miyagi McCormac United States
culture JapanCulture•NYC (website) Japanese culture New York (state) North Carolina Okinawans Susan Miyagi McCormac United States
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Takeshi Furumoto: Challenges, Achievements, Helping Others
Takeshi Furumoto is an activist in Japanese American organizations and communities, a Vietnam War v…

July 5, 2023

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armed forces California concentration camps Furumoto Realty generations Hiroshima (city) Hiroshima Prefecture Japan Japanese Americans Kibei New York (state) Nisei retired military personnel Takeshi Furumoto Tule Lake concentration camp United States veterans Vietnam War, 1961-1975 World War II camps
armed forces California concentration camps Furumoto Realty generations Hiroshima (city) Hiroshima Prefecture Japan Japanese Americans Kibei New York (state) Nisei retired military personnel Takeshi Furumoto Tule Lake concentration camp United States veterans Vietnam War, 1961-1975 World War II camps
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Shizuka Anderson, Canadian Japanese Actor, TV Presenter, “Japan by Food” Host, and Singer: The Evolution of Her Hafu/Nikkei Identity
Readers were introduced to byFood.com, “Japan’s One-stop Food Platform,” in Discover Nikkei in Janu…

July 18, 2023

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acting actors Alberta artists byFood (website) Canada Edmonton entertainers identity Japan by Food (YouTube) Japanese Canadians Nikkei in Japan racially mixed people Shizuka Anderson
acting actors Alberta artists byFood (website) Canada Edmonton entertainers identity Japan by Food (YouTube) Japanese Canadians Nikkei in Japan racially mixed people Shizuka Anderson
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ByFood.com: A Cornucopia of Information for Planning Food Adventures and More in Japan — Part 2
Read part 1 >> Who is Serkan Toso? As I explored byFood.com, I started wondering who is the mas…

Jan. 18, 2023

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byFood (website) food Japanese food Serkan Toso
byFood (website) food Japanese food Serkan Toso
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ByFood.com: A Cornucopia of Information for Planning Food Adventures and More in Japan — Part 1
As a Nikkei New Yorker who is planning a trip to Japan in the next year or two, I recently discov…

Jan. 17, 2023

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byFood (website) food Japanese food Serkan Toso
byFood (website) food Japanese food Serkan Toso
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Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30
Karen Tengan Okuda: Exploring and Expressing Her Uchinānchu / Okinawan Identity
As a second-generation Uchinānchu (Okinawan immigrant), Karen Tengan Okuda lives and works on the u…

Oct. 17, 2022

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Australia Australians generations human geography identity Japanese diaspora Karen Tengan Okuda languages magazines Nisei Okinawans Sydney Uchinanchu
Australia Australians generations human geography identity Japanese diaspora Karen Tengan Okuda languages magazines Nisei Okinawans Sydney Uchinanchu
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Mitch Homma: Preserving and Sharing Family History
Mitch Homma, a 3rd generation Japanese American, grew up and still lives in Southern California. He…

Aug. 9, 2022

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Amache Alliance (organization) Amache concentration camp American Baptist Churches USA Baptists buildings California churches Colorado concentration camps family histories Gardena Gardena Valley Baptist Church genealogy Japan migration missionaries Mitch Homma religion Southern California United States World War II World War II camps
Amache Alliance (organization) Amache concentration camp American Baptist Churches USA Baptists buildings California churches Colorado concentration camps family histories Gardena Gardena Valley Baptist Church genealogy Japan migration missionaries Mitch Homma religion Southern California United States World War II World War II camps
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Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30
Documentary Photographer and Journalist Kayla Isomura Explores Nikkei Culture and Identity
Kayla Isomura may be best known for their work on The Suitcase Project (2018), a multimedia exhibit…

June 27, 2022

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arts Canada Canadians Chinese identity Japanese Kayla Isomura photographers photography The Suitcase Project Yume. Digital Dreams (project)
arts Canada Canadians Chinese identity Japanese Kayla Isomura photographers photography The Suitcase Project Yume. Digital Dreams (project)
Nima since 2022
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