Business

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

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

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Meet Kaycee Martin of Littlest & Co.

Meet Littlest & Co. founder Kaycee Martin.

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Fatherly Finance Advice for Beginners

Learning to balance my frugality alongside some fatherly finance advice.

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When Tragedy Strikes in Nonprofit Work

Strengthening capacity to navigate tragedy and support wellness in nonprofit work. Read until the end for philanthropy's role in supporting nonprofit workers.

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Saishin Dojo: Continuing Culture

“Say ‘hashi’ and not ‘chopstick.’ Say ‘kaikan’ instead of ‘social hall.’” Rev. Mas explained to us how adults ask questions, and want to know the exact meaning of everything, but the kids will pick it up. It’s the way we all learned. 

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Capturing Our History - Zentoku

The Zentoku Foundation's mission is to be valued as an organization focused on strengthening the Japanese American culture for future generations.

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Rising with Nikkei Rising: How I Got Involved

Starting an organization is never an easy task, but 13 young adults (including myself) started an organization called Nikkei Rising.

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Recovery Café: A Nonprofit Helping Folks On Their Path to Recovery

Learn about Recovery Café, a healing community for those traumatized by addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges.

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Walk the Farm - Part Two: Issei & Nisei Farm Legacy Project

Learn more about the inspiring history of JA farming families and the Southern California-based project to preserve their stories.

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5 Things I Learned at Yo! Camp (as an Adult)

When you think of an overnight summer camp, you think of all the benefits it will have for the campers. But instructors and staff like myself learned a lot, too.

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Yo! Camp: Make Magic, Every Day

Our inaugural year of Yo! Camp was something magical. Let's explore where that magic comes from.

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Walk the Farm - Part One: Harvesting Hope

How one farm in Irvine, CA created an annual tradition that continues to bring the community together and change people’s lives around the world.

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Sake Crafting | An Interview with James Jin from Nova Brewing

Discover the creative process of crafting new sake and beer flavors from James Jin, the cofounder of Nova Brewing, and peek into life as a small business owner.

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Japantown Style | An Interview with Darin Maki of CRFT by Maki

Meet Darin Maki: founder of CRFT by Maki, a culture brand based in Little Tokyo.

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Blending Aesthetics: AKASHI-KAMA's Noragi Jacket Style Guide

Style guide for AKASHI-KAMA's signature piece, the Noragi Jacket.

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Japangeles: Story of Community

Continuing our two-part article series, this second article focuses on the unique community, design, and impact of Japangeles beyond just the business aspects.

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3 to 1: Business

How do generational differences affect business practices and philosophies? You want to know, and so do we.

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What's Your Salary?

Curious what other positions and folks get paid? Here's an easy and anonymous way to share and see!

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Hungry For More

A sushi chef turned business owner, creates a community through food.

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Flying Free: Quitting your Job

Sharing stories of personal peace... after leaving the job.

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Re-engineering the Engineering Business

We strive to bring our whole self to work, so why do some of us feel the need to hide our culture? When preparing to enter the workforce, we tend to focus on the technical aspect and aptitude needed to perform and succeed, but often forget to prepare ourselves for the difference in culture and how that defines work expectations.

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Creating Kokekreations: the Japanese Art of Moss Balls

Learn the story of a shared passion to spread a love for kokedama with the community, rooted in friendship, and belief in the importance of cultural appreciation.

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Nikkei Professionals 2022

Nikkei Professionals is an event hosted by the Southern California Intercollegiate Nikkei Council in which members have the opportunity to develop professionals skills that are often not taught in school.

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Japangeles: Story of Business

In this two-part series, stories of Japangeles, from business to community, will be shared about the company we have now know. Learn about the growth, story, and success of the well-known brand in Southern California, connecting us all to Little Tokyo.

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The Business of Holding Yourself Back in Business

As a Japanese American, are we bound to be nothing more than excellent individual contributors?

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Grief That’s Worth Its Weight in Gold

I started my pre-loved fine gold jewelry business, Teruko Jewelry, on a whim—I knew nothing about solid gold, the value of gold jewelry or even how I would mail out orders. But when the scariest thing in the world has happened to you, things that might have seemed daunting feel manageable.

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Buttercream Dreams | An Interview with Kylie Miyamoto of Kymoto Co.

Meet Kylie Miyamoto of Kymoto Co., the Tustin-based online cake shop that specializes in minimalist and modern buttercream cakes.

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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.

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Why Is It So Hard To Give Up Amazon?

Businesses like Amazon have become consumer staples because of convenient shipping options and low costs. Despite reports of unethical practices and its misalignment with my own values, why is it still so hard to give it up?

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Expectations & Reality for Legacy Family Businesses in the JA Community

When it comes to family-owned businesses in the Japanese American community, expectations are high. Here's what that pressure is like for the next generation.

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The Human in Human Resources

Are traditional human resource practices harming our community institutions? What are you doing to prioritize the wellbeing of the team powering your organization's work?

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Delivering Community Care One Meal at a Time: Little Tokyo Eats

Worried about some of our more vulnerable community members, many non-profit groups came together to help deliver delicious foods to local Little Tokyo seniors. This project, Little Tokyo Eats, benefited not only the seniors, but also the family and legacy-owned small businesses in Little Tokyo. After more than a year later, the program is ending.

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Don't Worry About Them, They're Just the Token Board Member...

As organizations seek to diversify their leadership, they often only bring on a single board member to represent an entire community. Why does tokenizing happen? What are the consequences?

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Changing the Tides on Mental Health

Learn more about the Changing Tides (CT) Crew, which consists of 6-8 AAPI young adults who strive to destigmatize mental health and create safe and accessible spaces for the community.

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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.

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Who Saved Who: Dog Rescue in the Pandemic

Dog adoption and rescue has seen exponential growth during shelter-in-place mandates. Here's my story of adopting a pup in the pandemic.

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Anzen Hardware Celebrates its 75th Anniversary

This year will mark the 75th Anniversary of my grandparents' hardware store, and I don’t know what its future holds. 

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The Greatest Restaurant I Never Knew

An ode to the beautiful life and heart-rending death of Yoonjin Hwang’s beloved Spoon by H.

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Opening A Japanese Nail Art Business in 2020

Owner and founder of Notox Nails, Lexi Suga, shares her story of opening up a Japanese nail art business in the middle of a global pandemic.

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The Asian American Community Business Shopping Guide

Are you ready? We've sourced over 100 community-based businesses all offering one-of-a-kind items. Buy for that special someone, or treat yourself.

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Board Diversity: It's 2020 and We Can Do More

Explore how a diverse board can enhance an organizations decision-making, network, and innovation.

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Next Generation Leadership Succession

Let's take a look at the methodologies and barriers to transitioning the leadership of our community's nonprofit organizations to the next generation. 

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A History of Japanese American Nonprofits

Community-based organizations make up the backbone of the Japanese American community. But where did they come from? 

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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?

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The Visitor

Hawaii is a spiritual place and no stranger to its share of ghost stories. I had my own encounter in 2015 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

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Infographic - Are the Kids (Going to Be) Alright?

Automated employment is looming, human education is in danger. This infographic explores how we can develop critical "human" competencies for the future success of our kids.

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Are the Kids (Going to Be) Alright?

Employment, socializing, and life itself is evolving at an exponential rate... education is not. What do our kids need to truly be prepared for this rapidly changing reality?

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Creating a Sense of Community in Idaho

When you don't fit in with the majority's culture, it is difficult to find your voice. Learn how one person is rooting themselves back to Idaho and creating a sense of community.

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Finding Love Advice at a Japanese Confectionary Shop

Like the varieties of manju at a Japanese confectionary shop, there are countless qualities out there that we look for in a potential partner. But which ones matter the most?

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Normalizing Self-Love: An Interview with Sex Toy Company Co-Founder Anna Lee

We're talking about self-love as it relates to sexual health. What is a smart vibrator? How does it work? We break it all down for you in our interview with Lioness co-founder Anna Lee.

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