New Lunar New Year Merch Available Until February 17! Check it Out!

What Would You Be Listening To If You Lived In Japan?

Photo Credit:

A RINGO A DAY

Kyle Okazaki

October 15, 2022

Find out what your doppelganger in Japan listening to with this short quiz!

Made in collaboration with the musical Leo Nabeshima Adams, a music connoisseur that's been living in Japan for over a decade.

‍

Has an approximate knowledge of many things. UCLA alum, engineer, musician, and life long learner.

Culture & Community

Sports & Leisure

With Love for Our Community: Building Community with J-Town Action と Solidarity

It’s hard to explain why working with JAS is so important to me. Showing up in action and solidarity with love for our community and a revolutionary vision for the future just feels like the right—and sometimes the only—thing to do.

Yo! This is Who I Am: Kevin Charles Keizuchi of The Shinsei Movement

If information is power, then shouldn’t we all strive for all the people in our community to feel powerful?

Survive This Winter The Japanese Way!

How to survive winter, Japanese style

Okaeri 2023: A Beautiful and Transformative Conference

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.

Our Latest Articles

In Defense of Natto

By

Sean Macdonald

I

April 17, 2024

I contend, try natto. It may seem disgusting, but really dive deep and see for yourself.

dancing in the starshine | April 2024 radiYO! Playlists

By

Nicole Oshima

I

April 16, 2024

Celebrate the end of spring with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

laying under sakura trees | March 2024 radiYO! Playlists

By

Nicole Oshima

I

March 20, 2024

Celebrate cherry blossom szn with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

Traveling for "Free"

By

Kent Marume

I

March 16, 2024

Learn how I only spent around $1,250 this year on two roundtrip international flights, 10 nights in Japan, and three nights in Amsterdam.

A Student's Guide to Organizing a Day of Remembrance

By

Alicia Tan

I

March 6, 2024

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.

Studio Ghibli’s Mundane Masterpiece

By

Alicia Tan

I

January 18, 2024

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?

“The Boy and the Heron” Prepares Studio Ghibli Fans to Say Goodbye

By

Alicia Tan

I

January 18, 2024

Although “The Boy and the Heron” encapsulates a profound message about physical loss, it also feels like a love letter to Studio Ghibli fans.

To my younger self: A semester into college, here’s what I know!

By

Alicia Tan

I

January 18, 2024

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.

Yo! This is Who I Am: Kevin Charles Keizuchi of The Shinsei Movement

By

Kevin Charles Keizuchi

I

January 18, 2024

If information is power, then shouldn’t we all strive for all the people in our community to feel powerful?

Finding Home Everywhere

By

Meili Britton

I

January 12, 2024

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.

Survive This Winter The Japanese Way!

By

Nicole Sato

I

December 19, 2023

How to survive winter, Japanese style

Okaeri 2023: A Beautiful and Transformative Conference

By

Jasmine Kono-Song

I

December 18, 2023

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.

Meet Lisa Aihara, Illustrator of “One Musubi For Me: Counting Things Japanese”

By

Nicole Oshima

I

December 10, 2023

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."

Nikkei Community Activities Directory

By

Kyle Okazaki

I

December 7, 2023

Looking for activities to do in Nikkei Communities? Check out our directory now!

Introducing the Latest Major Initiative from Yo! - the Yo! Accelerator

By

Craig Ishii

I

November 29, 2023

Introducing Yo! Accelerator - uniting and empowering builders and creators, driving innovation and lasting community impact.

Japanese Nonfluency

By

Kyle Okazaki

I

November 15, 2023

Coming to terms with knowing Spanish better than Japanese was embarrassing yet indicative of the uniqueness of Japanese American culture.

Dear Tatami

By

Nicole Sato

I

November 15, 2023

My love letter to the best flooring in the world. But it's also so much more.

"Blue Eye Samurai" creators hope viewers can appreciate Japanese culture in Netflix’s newest adult animated series

By

Nicole Oshima

I

November 8, 2023

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 Oppenheimer

By

Kyle Okazaki

I

October 30, 2023

Ghibli's "The Wind Rises" explores themes similar to that of Nolan's "Oppenheimer" that have influenced by engineering career.

Our Legacy: How I Created a Family Photo Archive

By

Justin Kawaguchi

I

October 27, 2023

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.

My Intersectional Identity

By

Alicia Tan

I

October 21, 2023

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?

What It's Like Traveling To Japan on Zipair, JAL's All New LCC

By

Nicole Sato

I

October 17, 2023

Have you been on Zipair? Here are the knows to survive the new Japanese LCC!

Using a Weekly Planner to Record My Kids' Funny Antics

By

Lisa Aihara

I

October 15, 2023

Using a weekly planner to catch all the moments I don't want to forget about my kids

Dina’s Guide to Surviving Graduate School Applications

By

Dina Furumoto

I

October 13, 2023

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.

A visit to the archives (Learning from our AAPI Leaders)

By

Eo Hanabusa

I

October 9, 2023

Are you feeling reflective and wistful now that Autumn is here? Archiving your memories can empower you and your community.

What To Eat on a Hot Day: Japanese Food Edition

By

Nicole Sato

I

September 18, 2023

Tired of somen? Try these Japanese summer dishes out!

"George the JA" in Netflix's "Beef"

By

Kyle Okazaki

I

September 13, 2023

George from the Netflix show BEEF serves as a reminder of my privilege as a Japanese American.

A Love Letter to Spam Musubi

By

Lisa Aihara

I

September 13, 2023

What's your perfect Spam Musubi?

Summer's End | radiYO! September 2023 Playlists

By

Nicole Oshima

I

September 8, 2023

Celebrate the end of summer with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

Three Reasons Why Queer Obon Just ~Makes Sense~

By

Mariko Rooks

I

September 8, 2023

This past June, Okaeri LA hosted the first ever Queer Obon (we think), or a festival designed to bring LGBTQ+ people together in community for this important Buddhist holiday.

Kioku: A Japanese American Magazine of Joy, Artistry, and Remembrance

By

Katey Terumi Laubscher

I

September 7, 2023

In July 2022, I attended my first ever pilgrimage at Heart Mountain Interpretive Center in Wyoming. I knew that I wanted to harness our community’s artistry as a method for sharing stories, and thus Kioku Magazine was born.

When Cancer Wasn't My Main Problem

By

Nicole Sato

I

August 22, 2023

When I got cancer, I thought that would be my biggest problem. I was very wrong.

More Articles Previous Articles