Japanese American Identity

I’m here to guide you through the unbearable and excruciating… I mean, FUN AND ACTION-PACKED opportunity of being dragged…BROUGHT to a bases of ball game.

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.

For a long time, I have had this dream of going on a cross country roadtrip constantly pestering me.

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

I moved to San Jose three years ago; this is my story of experiencing community in both NorCal and SoCal.

Obon, like many Japanese American cultural practices, exists in the intersections of race and religion. Although Obon is a more widely accepted cultural-religious practice, this was not always the case.

When it comes to summer camps and programs, parents and kids often underestimate the importance and value of these opportunities. Let's explore the deep value of the summer camp experience.

There are three movies/TV shows I watch annually: The Last Samurai, Lost In Translation, and Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown (specifically season 8, episode 6 entitled “Japan with Masa”).

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

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.

Thank you Ji-chan for teaching me and exposing me to Japanese art forms. Your efforts to teach me about my Japanese culture have not gone unnoticed.

Collegiate taiko has had a prolific expansion over the last couple of decades. Let's explore how it's grown and where it still needs to go.

It is our hope that the taiko community never loses sight of its roots as it works toward an inclusive and collaborative future that celebrates individual uniqueness and cultural diversity.

With the sudden surge of covid over winter break, Japan has completely shut down their borders to foreigners, and made it very difficult for Japan passport holders to enter Japan. Here's my story.

Through a friend of a friend. Isn't that how most people meet their significant others?

A little reflection on the beginning of middle age and self love

February in the JA community is filled by two major holidays: Day of Remembrance and Valentine’s Day. Let's honor both by re-evaluating how we look at gender, pronouns, love, and identity with our youth.

Gia Gunn chats about her journey from dancing Nihon-buyo as a child to RuPaul's Drag Race to self discovery and activism.

Ready for a craft? Kawaii, not kowai! Wish for lots of tricks (or treats!) this Halloween with this festive Kabocha Daruma.

Dungeons & Dragons is back and its players are more diverse than ever. In this article we explore how Japanese American players navigate the fantasy world, D&D's problematic past, and what they've learned about themselves along the way.

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.

How is the Nikkei community represented on TikTok, and how will digital identity- and community-building affect our current generation?

Being Japanese American, I grew up with the expectations of not being a “burden” to other people, and living in the pandemic has sometimes felt like treading in deep waters without rest. 

Whether you learned to ride yesterday or have been riding for decades, own a beach cruiser, BMX, fixed gear, road or recumbent bike, are 10 or 60, I hope to inspire you to get out and ride.

Park Ranger Kurt Ikeda shares his love of national parks and the legacy he carries on at Minidoka as a Japanese American.

As COVID shut down businesses and prevented us from laying out at the beach, I turned to spearfishing in Hawaii.

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.

The title says it all. Plus, I included a little mix that I think you'll enjoy.

Hey, come and check out this bowl cut.

It took me a long time to accept myself. Asian beauty standards for men in K-drams and K-pop groups gave me comfort.

Deep down, we know it's important to make an effort to hear our grandparents' stories, but starting those conversations can sometimes be challenging. Here's another reminder that it's definitely worth trying.

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.

Enjoying school can be hard when you feel like you don't belong. There are many factors that impact how much an individual enjoys school, but one that looms large is the demographics of the school.

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.

Are you Lakers or Clippers, Sansei Dad or Gen Z? At obon, are you an eater or a dancer? Take the quiz, share the quiz, have a good laugh!

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?

Though deciding which team to cheer for during the Olympics may seem like a no-brainer to some, it can be more complex if your family is tied to multiple countries. One mixed-race writer shares his story.

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.

Where exactly is the Japanese diaspora? Check out our visual depiction of where the Nikkei community has settled around the world.

What is it to be a Black Japanese American? What should I tell you? What should you know? 

A collection of photos capturing family, friendship, cultural preservation, isolation, and the Japanese diaspora.

As Nikkei Japanese Americans, some of us are used to calling ourselves "JAs." However, the term may unintentionally divide our community, posing the question of if we should begin to normalize the term "Nikkei" instead.

The Buddhist origins of obon festivals pose a predicament for some Christians, noted as being in conflict with their religious beliefs, while others view them simply as a cultural event to celebrate Japanese American heritage.

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.