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
My Name is Karen Kawaguchi
Aug. 20, 2024
Stephanie Ajifu, Shibuchoo, Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko LA—Reflects on her Okinawan Cultural Heritage
March 6, 2024
Susan Miyagi McCormac Leads JapanCulture•NYC: Sharing Her Passion for Japanese Culture and Japanese Life in New York City
Aug. 21, 2023
Takeshi Furumoto: Challenges, Achievements, Helping Others
July 5, 2023
Shizuka Anderson, Canadian Japanese Actor, TV Presenter, “Japan by Food” Host, and Singer: The Evolution of Her Hafu/Nikkei Identity
July 18, 2023
ByFood.com: A Cornucopia of Information for Planning Food Adventures and More in Japan — Part 2
Jan. 18, 2023
ByFood.com: A Cornucopia of Information for Planning Food Adventures and More in Japan — Part 1
Jan. 17, 2023
Karen Tengan Okuda: Exploring and Expressing Her Uchinānchu / Okinawan Identity
Oct. 17, 2022
Mitch Homma: Preserving and Sharing Family History
Aug. 9, 2022
Documentary Photographer and Journalist Kayla Isomura Explores Nikkei Culture and Identity
June 27, 2022
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