Author: Discover Nikkei

a meal of chicken katsu, cabbage, rice, miso soup, and tea

Lights, Camera, You! Be Part of Discover Nikkei’s “Pass the Food” Video

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Does your mouth start to water when you see a steamy bowl of ramen or udon? Is your go-to snack Spam musubi or onigiri? Same here! Food plays a huge role in our cultural identities. This summer, Discover Nikkei is making a video that highlights how Nikkei around the world share a community through food. We’d love for you to participate! 

If you’re handy with a camera—or a smartphone—we’re asking you to take a video with your favorite cultural food (or perhaps your Oba-chan’s signature dish?), and then “pass it” to the virtual person next to you. Plus, take a picture of your plate to show us the delicious Nikkei cuisine you prepared! We’ll be editing all the submissions together to form one longer video of Nikkei sharing food around the worldwide dinner table. The video will be shared on our website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms. 

The final video will be a celebration of the incredible diversity of our global community. No acting experience necessary! Just be yourself and have a great time. If you’re feeling extra creative, put something in the frame that represents where you live. Maybe a favorite team jersey, a photo of a special place, or a national flag in the background—the more creative, the better! 

For all the details on how to shoot and submit your video, visit 5dn.org/pass-the-food. We can’t wait to see your videos!

Nikkei Names 2 artwork featuring nametags, name badges, and kokeshi

Share the Story of Your Name with Discover Nikkei

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Discover Nikkei is thrilled to announce the thirteenth edition of Nikkei Chronicles, our annual, themed open call for writings. Discover Nikkei, a project of JANM, is a community website highlighting Nikkei identity, culture, and history. Every year, we call on the global Japanese diaspora to share personal stories around a specific theme. This year’s theme is Nikkei Names 2: Grace, Graça, Graciela, Megumi? 

Do you have a Japanese name? How did your parents choose your name? Have you ever changed your name? We invite you to share stories, essays, and vignettes about how Nikkei names connect families, reflect cultural identity, embody struggles, and more. We welcome diverse approaches to our theme. Submissions might include historical essays on naming people and places, the origins of names, how names become cross-cultural, or writing about names other than your own. For inspiration, check out some of the wonderful stories we received during our first Nikkei Names series ten years ago.

All submissions that meet the series guidelines and criteria will be published online in the Discover Nikkei Journal. Nikkei Names 2 stories will also be eligible for selection as the community favorite. Readers can vote for their favorites by logging in and giving them a “star”—the earlier you submit, the more time your story can earn stars! And, our editorial committee will select one favorite each in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese. The five favorite stories will be announced in December 2024.

All submissions must be sent by email and formatted using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Submissions must include a short author biography, a headshot, and at least one image to accompany the piece. Multiple submissions and submissions written by multiple authors are welcome. For the full submission guidelines and writing prompts, please visit 5dn.org/names2.

We can’t wait to read your stories! 

Thanks to our Nikkei Names 2 Community Partners!