Land and micromanagement and precision agriculture techniques are perceived as innovations by environmentalists in the late 20th century. Actually, Japanese American farmers implemented these techniques in the 1900s with remarkable success...until racism intervened.
Read Article >>More than just a word, mottainai holds deep cultural and historical meaning. Let's explore how this word can be a critical rallying call for this generation.
Read Article >>One person's journey toward utilizing their passion for sustainability and activism through making face masks.
Read Article >>We are all islanders. Let's learn about the habitual adjustments that are small for us, but make a big impact on the environmental sustainability for this island we call Earth.
Read Article >>Though gardening was a common profession for Japanese American immigrants pre and post-war, their era is now over. How do their descendants perceive and preserve their family's history today?
Read Article >>Pandemic babies, pandemic dogs...how about a pandemic bonsai? Take a look through our Bonsai roundup.
Read Article >>My experience chasing the Japanese whaling fleet as a Japanese American ocean activist led me to realize that we can't approach conservation issues without also considering the historical, racial, and geopolitical context that comes along with them.
Read Article >>Whether it be a space for cultural exchange or to find a moment of peace, Japanese gardens (and elements of it) can be enjoyed around the world.
Read Article >>One writer reflects on her relationship with Amazon and why she made a conscious decision to not renew her account after learning about the company's abusive and exploitative practices.
Read Article >>To celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, we wanted to highlight our Japantowns by dedicating our May issue to these spaces. Cover art by Kyle Okazaki, read more about his piece now.
Most SoCal Japanese Americans look at Sawtelle as a place of gathering to eat, shop for J-pop influenced items, enjoy West L.A. obon, and visit the local nursery. To me, Sawtelle symbolizes HOURS of hula competition practices and bonding with hula sisters over a sweet treat from Pinkberry.
Every time I go down to Little Tokyo I can't help but smile at the larger-than-life portrait towering over the Yagura. Shohei has become a fixture of the street. Kevin asks community members for their reactions to the new Shohei Ohtani mural.
How comfortable are you with talking about death? Would you feel more comfortable with talking about death if you could do so over some beers and pizza with friends?
Initially, it wasn’t apparent how my connection to the community would help me advance my career, especially in the for-profit world. However, your unique mix of experiences and community connections may generate the most distinct and valuable ideas that anyone around you has seen.
Perhaps the one that most often sparks conversation amongst friends and strangers alike (and is thus impulsively dropped into random moments of stalled conversation on my most annoying and devious of whims), is my dislike of ramen.
Reflections from this past year's three festival queens in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu!
I know that for many, Little Tokyo is more than just a tourist spot. It’s a safe space for Japanese people to gather and participate in community activities and building. If a Japantown is supposed to be a safe space for Japanese people, then Japanese markets are my Japantown.
I contend, try natto. It may seem disgusting, but really dive deep and see for yourself.
Celebrate the end of spring with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Celebrate cherry blossom szn with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Learn how I only spent around $1,250 this year on two roundtrip international flights, 10 nights in Japan, and three nights in Amsterdam.
If you’ve ever been interested in organizing a Day of Remembrance ceremony for your community, here is a beginner-friendly guide from newbie Alicia Tan who successfully participated in the organization of two this year.
If there’s one thing Studio Ghibli is known for, it’s their ability to create amazing fantasy worlds. So why is it that my favorite Studio Ghibli film takes place in our own mundane world?
Although “The Boy and the Heron” encapsulates a profound message about physical loss, it also feels like a love letter to Studio Ghibli fans.
I just finished my first semester of college, and since college was always the one big milestone you were looking forward to, I’m here to let you know that things aren’t exactly how we expected them to be. Fear not, though, I’m here to quell all your worries and let you know how our first semester went.
If information is power, then shouldn’t we all strive for all the people in our community to feel powerful?
As the daughter of a U.S. diplomat, I’ve never lived in any country longer than four years, my entire family packing up our lives and transplanting ourselves into a new culture any time my father’s job called for it. After years of trying to find home, I now balance many cultures and practices into a unique and ever-changing identity in search of peace and community.
I was honored to be part of such a large gathering of queer and trans Nikkei. My feelings of shame were replaced with pride, as I heard Japanese Americans of different sexualities, genders, and generations share their stories.
We sat down with Lisa and her daughter Millie to let you in on who Lisa Aihara really is, and talk about her new book, "One Musubi For Me: Counting Things Japanese."
Looking for activities to do in Nikkei Communities? Check out our directory now!
Introducing Yo! Accelerator - uniting and empowering builders and creators, driving innovation and lasting community impact.
Coming to terms with knowing Spanish better than Japanese was embarrassing yet indicative of the uniqueness of Japanese American culture.
The series, which premiered on Netflix on November 3rd and stars PEN15's Maya Erskine, is the story of a mixed-race, female sword master’s revenge set in Edo-period Japan.
Ghibli's "The Wind Rises" explores themes similar to that of Nolan's "Oppenheimer" that have influenced by engineering career.
So you’re looking to process that box of old photos in the back of your baachan’s closet? You’ve come to the right place.
Starting university and exploring student organizations prompted me to ask myself some questions about who I am. How do I piece together the parts of my identity?
Have you been on Zipair? Here are the knows to survive the new Japanese LCC!
Using a weekly planner to catch all the moments I don't want to forget about my kids
Graduate school can be a daunting journey filled with imposter syndrome and self-doubt, but it can also be an exciting next step that can open many new doors and opportunities. To help ease the burden, here are a few tips that I’d like to share to those considering graduate school.