Taylor Weik

Taylor is an LA-based writer with essays and journalism in Teen Vogue, NBC Asian America, and more. She’s passionate about celebrating and sharing Asian American stories in all creative mediums, and is currently developing a game about the U.S. Japantowns called J-Town: A Visual Novel.

Posts by This Author

A Q&A with the Developers of J-Town: A Visual Novel

Iszac Gaton and Taylor Weik, developers of the upcoming indie game J-Town: A Visual Novel, talk about the game development process and all things Japantown.

Say Hello to Yu and Me Books

Small business alert! We sat down with Lucy Yu, owner of the first female-owned Asian American bookstore in New York City, to chat books and community.

Small Business Feature: Whispering Wicks

In our first small business feature, we interview the husband-and-wife team behind the candle company known as Whispering Wicks. Read on to learn more about how candle-making helped these two ICU nurses relax.

Want to Understand the History of Anti-Asian Racism? Read These Books

The Atlanta area shootings come after a recent wave of anti-Asian attacks attributed to the pandemic, but violence against Asians and Asian Americans dates back centuries. We've curated a reading list to provide historical context.

Team Yo!'s New Year Resolutions

Team Yo! sits down to share our personal New Year's Resolutions. From all of us, we want to wish you a happy new year and thank you for joining us on this journey.

Why is Funding for AAPI Organizations So Low?

AAPI Data’s new report on the state of philanthropy shows that AAPI nonprofit organizations continue to remain a low priority for grantmakers. But why?

Asian Costume Ideas

While there are no Halloween parties to look forward to this year, we have some easy and cheap Asian/Asian American costume ideas for your Zoom party at work or with friends.

Pruning the Bonsai: How the History of Japanese American Gardeners Lives on Through Their Descendants

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?

Japanese Cultural References You May Not Have Noticed in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

There are a lot of Japanese cultural Easter eggs in Animal Crossing — some obvious, some well-hidden — that are worth digging into.

5 Books by Asian/Asian American Authors to Read This Fall

Just because you’re not in school doesn’t mean you can’t learn new things! We’re turning to several books that were published this year by Asian American authors.

Kotonks & Buddhaheads: How Japanese American Experiences Differ on the Mainland and in Hawai'i

As a Japanese American who grew up with family ties in Hawai'i but came of age in California, I've encountered some cultural differences based on experiences and history. Here, I attempt to unearth some of that history.

“Isn’t It Good?”: How an Obon Dance was Created for Community

"Ei Ja Nai Ka" is a popular obon dance loved by many, but unlike other dances, it's not directly from Japan. Learn more about how PJ Hirabayashi of San Jose Taiko created the dance to be for the Japanese American community.

The Rise of the Mon Tattoo Trend: A Q&A with Japanese American Tattoo Artist Jun Osaki

More young Japanese Americans are getting their family mon, or crest, tattooed on their bodies today. In a Q&A with Portland-based artist Jun Osaki, we learn more about how tattoos can connect people to their culture.

How Sansei Dances Revived the Asian American Cover Band Era of the '60s and '70s

The Sansei dances that many Japanese American parents in Southern California enjoy today hark back to a period in the 1960s and 1970s known as the Los Angeles Asian American dance scene.

To All the Moms I've Loved Before (Well, Just One)

As kids, we loathed the idea of turning into our moms. As adults, there's nothing we love more than seeing the ways their habits and values live on in us.

Ningyo kuyo: In Japan, unwanted dolls receive a funeral send-off

It's natural for kids to outgrow their dolls when they age, but in Japan, to throw your doll away without thanking them is disrespectful. Learn more about ningyo kuyo, or doll funerals held at Shinto temples in Japan.