Nikkei Rising, a sub-division of Japanese-American Memorial Pilgrimages, defines the Nikkei experience by empowering, educating, and connecting Nikkei. We are a vehicle of representation by amplifying Nikkei voices and fostering communities.
IT ALL STARTED IN 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic upended plans for in-person pilgrimages across the nation. JAMP worked with partner organizations to coordinate Tadaima: A Community Virtual Pilgrimage. This virtual pilgrimage offset the loss of these vital community gatherings. While establishing the programming for Tadaima, Kimiko Marr recruited Hiro Edeza to establish a young adult branch of JAMP to create content by and for youth. Originally the group was to last only for the duration of virtual pilgrimage.
Nikkei Rising was born and the search for young, community-minded, motivated Nikkei began. The resulting group of excited young people came from different cities and had different skills, interests, and backgrounds. All were excited to take part in the new endeavor and were united in a resolve to produce great content and be a light in our community.
Nikkei Rising ran five different programs during the nine weeks of Tadaima. These programs included the Yon-Say Podcast, the JA Opportunity Fair, Hearthside Chats, DIYonsei, and the unofficial After-Hours Socials. Because of the warm support from the community and the fun of producing the Nikkei Rising programs the team decided to continue Nikkei Rising after the conclusion of the virtual pilgrimage. Today our team continues Nikkei Rising with All Things JA, Nikkei Rising Productions (short/long-form videos), Moshi Moshi Mail (returning soon!), and more!
You can support us by following our Instagram @nikkeirising, taking part in our programs, or even telling your friends and family to join in. You can also email us at nikkei.rising@jampilgrimages.org. We can’t wait to see you there!
Nikkei Rising Coordinators
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Celena Gammon
TBA
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Michelle Heckert
Michelle Heckert is a Yonsei, with deep roots in the San Francisco Japantown community. She grew up attending events with her grandparents at The Center (JCCCNC), but became more involved with the Nikkei community post-college through JCYC’s Nikkei Community Internship program, volunteering with Kimochi, and participating in the Kakehashi Program through JACL. She also served as a Princess of the 2022 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Santa Clara University, as well as a Master of Arts Songwriting from Bath Spa University.
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Caroline Kimura
For Caroline Kimura, learning about Japanese American history was something she was always interested in. With both sides of her family in camps (Manzanar and Topaz), she is interested in learning more about her ancestral heritage. In her spare time, she works on her photography and writing, hoping to represent and educate the masses on what it means to be Asian American.
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Kaitlyn Kosai
Kaitlyn is a Yonsei who was born and raised in Puyallup, WA. She has been interested in preserving the stories of the incarceration since learning of her own grandparents' experience at Minidoka. Kaitlyn attended the Minidoka Pilgrimage as a youth scholar and this became the starting point of her involvement in Seattle’s Japanese American community and the creation of Nikkei Student Union at UW with her fellow youth scholars. She is looking forward to sharing the Japanese American story alongside Nikkei Rising. Kaitlyn is a graduate of the UW School of Pharmacy and currently works as a community pharmacist. She enjoys baking with her mom and listening to Super Junior and MAMAMOO in her free time.
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Lauren Matsumoto
Lauren (she/her) is a 4th gen Japanese American (yonsei) and 3rd/4th gen Chinese American, born and raised in San Diego, California. Motivated by the desire to understand her hyphen identity, learn more about her own heritage, and preserve her family's JA incarceration story (Tule Lake and Gila River), in college Lauren found her way to the nikkei community by becoming a student leader for UCSD Nikkei Student Union, national JACL and her local San Diego chapter, and the Manzanar Committee. Lauren is a 2019 graduate of UCSD with a BA in International Studies-International Business and double minors in Japanese Studies and Accounting. She currently serves as a bridge between the US and Japan working at the non-profit, U.S.-Japan Council.
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Ryan Scanlan
Ryan Scanlan is a sansei on his mom’s side. He worked as a founding treasurer for the Nikkei Student Union at San Francisco State University with Hiro. Being mixed race, Ryan hopes to continue to embracing his Japanese-American heritage while helping foster community & empowerment for those around him. Ryan is also a music nerd and he love cats, bodies of water, and blue, brown & cream as a color combination.
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Matt Weisbly
Matthew Weisbly is the Education Programs Manager for the Japanese American Citizens League. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Japanese and Japanese American history. His senior thesis explored demographic data and oral histories of Nisei soldiers with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In school, he was formerly the President of his school's Nikkei Student Union, Vice-President of the Mixed Race Student Community, and was part of the collegiate taiko group, Kazan Taiko. All while working part-time for the Asian Pacific American Student Services office on campus. He returned to USC for his Master of Education and graduated in 2024. A long-time JACL member, he also served as the Youth Representative for the Arizona Chapter and as the inaugural Ted T. Namba fellow for the PSW district.
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Robbie Yoshikawa
Robbie Yoshikawa is a 2020 graduate of California State University - Fullerton who found his love of the JA community through his involvement in Nikkei Student Union. Especially being inspired by his older brother, Ryan, and his involvement in JACL, Robbie has an ever growing passion for volunteer work and supporting JA/Asian American businesses and art. He also is a musical artist, himself, going by the stage name of Kyori The Okapi (Kyori loosely translating to “distance” and the Okapi animal representing the uniqueness of JAs). He currently works at AHTKY Insurance Agency, where he serves the JA community with their insurance needs.
Tadaima 2020 Programming
Produced by Nikkei Rising
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A Podcast for Young Nikkei by Young Nikkei
The Yon-Say Podcast Season I was presented by Nikkei Rising during the summer of 2020 as part of the Tadaima virtual pilgrimage. The podcast provided round-table discussions with young adults who are involved in the Japanese American community. The purpose of the podcast was to honor our community’s history and explore its relevance today. A new episode of the Yon-Say Podcast was released weekly during the Tadaima Virtual Pilgrimage 2020 series. You can listen to all nine episodes in Season I, learn more about Japanese American history, and meet our guests by clicking the button below.
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Explore Different Opportunities in the Community
Do you want to become involved in the Japanese American community but don’t know how? The JA Opportunity Fair was created just for you! Throughout the Tadaima 2020 Virtual Pilgrimage we met with organizations across the nation to find programs available to young Japanese American adults and allies. “All Things JA” highlights opportunities offered by Japanese Organizations. Click the button below to start your new adventure!
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Culturally Related Workshops for Young Nikkei
Learning new skills on your own can be difficult, but when one is given some guidance it can be fun! Check out Nikkei Rising’s DIYonsei workshops where young guests teach you new skills like learning how to tie an obi correctly, or how to write a journal Click the button below to check out the workshops held during Tadaima 2020
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Small Group Discussions Facilitated by Young Nikkei
Throughout the Tadaima virtual pilgrimage participants learned about Japanese American incarceration and the experiences leading up to and following the incarceration. We found group discussions helped us to absorb the lessons from the pilgrimage. During our Hearthside Chats, Nikkei Rising held small weekly discussion groups for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.