.png){kind=small}
.avif)
When I was younger, my Japanese middle name was a source of shame, especially since I was surrounded by kids with American names. Now, I've learned how our names are innately tied to our culture.
Read Article >>Join me on my quest to find the origins of the rainbow Jell-O - a fixture at many community events and parties.
Read Article >>This month as we celebrate our heritage, we have assigned you a mission: find out more about your ancestors. We can take advantage of this time to share stories about our families and reconnect with relatives.
Read Article >>Vegetable superheroes, snake liquor, and fried doughnuts are just some of the things that make Okinawan culture amazing. To learn more about some of the things that make Okinawa's culture so rich and vibrant, read on.
Read Article >>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.
Read Article >>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.
Read Article >>We've collected and listed 20 of the most commonly mentioned Japanese American antiques and heirlooms that families have found in their cupboards, shelves, kitchens, and attics.
Read Article >>.avif)
My summers at Wisteria Chugakko brought me enriching and life-changing experiences. I learned more about Japanese culture, Buddhism, and myself.
Valentines, flowers, and honmei-choco may come and go, but good music is forever. This February, we are spotlighting Japanese music we love with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Check out this list of seven opportunities for students in the Japanese American community with details on their eligibility requirements, deadlines, and more!
Being in touch with your Japanese American roots, culture, and heritage is important. Here are 6 things you can do to connect with your JA roots, no matter where you live and regardless of your level of involvement or understanding.
Is there a time in your life that you wish you could experience again? Studying abroad in Korea was unforgettable and changed my life, but not in the ways I expected.
Three of my favorite Japanese music genres with band, song, and album recommendations.
Nancy Uyemura's retrospective art exhibit has not only given us perspective into the past, but also a glimpse into the future, as viewers continue to realize just how much value art, culture, and community have in creating a Japanese America full of resilience and joy.
Cozy up with your favorite cup of coffee and playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Since its inception in 2022, the buzz around Yo! Camp has grown louder each year. Whether it's casual talks at Obon or the countless Instagram stories and posts, people can't stop talking about Yo! Camp—and rightfully so.
As the San Gabriel Valley community bids farewell to Kodomo no Ie—a Japanese school and cultural epicenter for Shin-Nisei Japanese Americans—I reflect about the place that I dedicated my Saturday mornings to for nearly ten years.
Discover the inspiring stories behind three innovative community projects selected for the Yo! Accelerator and learn how they aim to preserve culture, uplift communities, and promote wellness.
Dance in the summer sun to playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Obon is supposed to be a time of joy, reflection, and celebration in honor of our ancestors who have come before us and who now tirelessly work to guide us towards our own liberation. And yet, I feel no joy in Obon as it approaches this year.
Yo! sat down with the cast of "Ultraman: Rising" cast members to talk about the film, what it means to bring the franchise to a new generation, and some of their favorite Japanese American community spots.
Celebrate Pride Month 2024 with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Anime doesn’t often tread is in the direction of queer characters, but several anime and manga creators have managed to slip queer and queer coded characters into their media anyways. Here are some of my personal favorites!
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2024 with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.
Rev. Cristina Moon (she/her) is a Zen priest living and training at Daihonzan Chozen-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Honolulu. Her new book, "Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness," details her early days as a human rights activist and her journey to Chozen-ji. She spoke with Yo! about her story and the book, which is available for pre-order now and will be in bookstores beginning June 18.
Available June 18, 2024, author Cristina Moon shares an excerpt of "Kotonk" from "Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness" with Yo! Magazine, reprinted in arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Contributor Alexa Toguri-Laurin shares how the recent saying “matcha tastes like grass” divides tea and coffee lovers and critiques poor matcha production.
Sometimes I wonder, if I was able to do it all for you, if some magic twist of fate gave me the power to take your place in that camp all those years ago, would I do it? To live in a barn infested with termites, to shed my Japanese name and tongue, to live a life of uncertainty, would I be able to do it all if it meant I could meet you and call you Grandpa?
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 talking about it 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.
.png)
