Shows / Japanese America
Japanese America
Welcome to "Japanese America," where the Japanese American National Museum unveils captivating stories that add a Nikkei slant to the American narrative. In each episode, we explore the unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs of Japanese Americans, illuminating their rich contributions to the mosaic of American life. From historical milestones to contemporary perspectives, join us for an insightful journey through the curated collection of the Japanese American National Museum, showcasing…
Episodes
Japanese AmericaJapanese American Soldiers in WWII: The 442nd Regiment, Racism, and the Cost of Loyalty
Send us Fan Mail During World War II, Japanese Americans were forced to prove their loyalty to a country that had imprisoned their families. For the men of the…
Japanese AmericaA New Audio Thriller from Koji Steven Sakai
Send us Fan Mail A little something different from me! 🎙️ Many of you know me through Japanese America, but I've also been working on a new narrative podcast…
Japanese AmericaS3E09: Costumes and Consequences: Who Gets to Wear What?
Send us Fan Mail Every October, the leaves start falling, pumpkin spice hits the menus, and the internet gears up for the exact same annual screaming match…
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S3E8: Unwanted Truth – John Okada and the Book That Wouldn't Stay Silent
Send us Fan Mail When John Okada published No-No Boy in 1957, it was met by the Japanese American community with silence, discomfort, and outright rejection…
Japanese AmericaS3E7: Kidnapped from Peru – The Naganuma Story & the Fight for JLA Redress
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Japanese America! In Season 3, Episode 7, we step directly into one of the most monumental, legally complex, and deeply…
Japanese AmericaS3E6: In the Dust Behind Barbed Wire — The Rhythm of FandangObon
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Japanese America! In our annual July Obon Special, we explore how the traditional summer dance circle has expanded into a…
Japanese AmericaSeason 3, Episode 5 (Special Uncut): Kouraku and the Taste of Home — Special Japanese Interview with Mamoru Tokuda-san (シーズン3・第5話 特別編: 後楽、故郷の味)
Send us Fan Mail This is the special, uncut companion episode to our main June 2026 feature on Kouraku, officially certified by the City of Los Angeles as…
Japanese AmericaS3E5: Kouraku and the Taste of Home — Feeding a Community
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Japanese America! In this episode, hosts Koji Steven Sakai and Michelle Malizaki take the podcast on location to Second Street…
Japanese AmericaS3E4: The People’s Government: George Takei on Democracy and the Tule Lake Legacy
Send us Fan Mail In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, hosts Koji Steven Sakai and Michelle Malizaki take the podcast on the…
Japanese AmericaSpecial Presentation: Introducing "Un-History" with Koji Steven Sakai
Send us Fan Mail Koji here. I’m stepping away from our usual schedule for a moment to share a new project I’ve been building in my garage in South Pas. As a…
Japanese AmericaS3E3: The Living Bridge: Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong and the Portland Sakura
Send us Fan Mail It is peak Sakura season in the Pacific Northwest. In this episode of Japanese America, Michelle and Koji beam up to the Rose City to sit down…
Japanese AmericaS3E2 The Architect of Community: Irene Hirano Inouye
Send us Fan Mail "Irene made all of us believe that museums could be more than things that looked towards yesterday. They could be places that are central to…
Japanese AmericaS3E1: Beyond the Rink: Kristi Yamaguchi on Heritage, Resilience, and Gold
Send us Fan Mail What happens when two distinct cultures become one lived experience? We’re kicking off Season 3 of Japanese America with a bit of a "chill" as…
Japanese AmericaS2E11 Blending Traditions Japanese American Holiday Customs and Unforgotten Voices
Send us Fan Mail Celebrate the holidays through a Japanese American lens! 🎄🥢 From quirky Christmas traditions in Japan to the rich flavors of New Year’s…
Japanese AmericaS2E10 Thanksgiving Food Traditions and Japanese American Identity
Send us Fan Mail Join hosts Koji and Michelle as they explore the fusion of Japanese and American cultures through food in the latest episode of the Japanese…
Japanese AmericaS2E9 Cruising J-Town: Exploring Japanese American Car Culture and Community
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we ride through the heart of Southern California’s Japanese American car culture with Dr. Oliver Wang, curator of the…
Japanese AmericaS2E8 Legacy of Hope: Clara Breed's Letters and the Art of Compassion
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Japanese America Podcast titled "Legacy of Hope: Clara Breed's Letters and the Art of Compassion," hosts Koji and…
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S2E7 Nisei Week and Beyond: Uniting Generations Through Tradition with Helen Ota
Send us Fan Mail In this engaging episode of the Japanese America Podcast, hosts Michelle and Koji take listeners on a nostalgic journey through the vibrant…
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S2E6 From Karate to Cuisine: Junki Yoshida's American Dream
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Japanese America podcast, we delve into the fascinating journey of Junki Yoshida, the mastermind behind Yoshida Sauce…
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S2E5 Blending Traditions and Finding Balance -- Michelle's Immigration Story
Send us Fan Mail In this engaging podcast episode, hosts Michelle and Koji explore the unique journey of Japanese immigrants adapting to life in the U.S. They…
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S2E4 From Dachau to Salvation A Story of Unexpected Heroes
Send us Fan Mail In this poignant episode of the Japanese American Podcast, we explore the incredible journey of Holocaust survivor Solly Ganor and his…
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S2E3 Bridging Generations: The Cultural Impact of Baseball in Japanese American Life
Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode of "Bridging Generations: The Cultural Impact of Baseball in Japanese American Life," hosts Koji and Michelle…
Japanese AmericaS2E2 Grace Under Fire: The Resilience of Japanese American Women in WWII
Send us Fan Mail In this poignant episode of the Japanese America Podcast, hosts Koji and Michelle delve into the incredible story of Grace Obata-Amemiya, a…
Japanese AmericaS2E1 A Journey into Japan's Stationery Wonderland
Send us Fan Mail In this engaging episode of the Japanese America podcast, hosts Michelle and Koji dive into the captivating world of Japanese stationery with…
Japanese AmericaS1E11 Quakers Acts of Kindness and Resistance: Japanese American Incarceration and Holiday Traditions
Send us Fan Mail In this enlightening podcast episode, "Acts of Kindness and Resistance: Japanese American Incarceration and Holiday Traditions," the hosts…
Japanese AmericaHonoring Nisei Heroes: David Ono on Valor, Legacy, and Cultural Reflections
Send us Fan Mail In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into the incredible stories of Japanese American Nisei veterans who displayed extraordinary…
Japanese AmericaS1E9 Giant Robot with Eric Nakamura
Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode, we delve into the rich tapestry of Asian American art and identity, exploring the journey of Eric Nakamura, the…
Japanese AmericaS1E8 Reviving Tradition Through Manzanar's Historic Diamond
Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode, we explore the profound impact of baseball on the Japanese-American community. From personal stories of youth…
Japanese AmericaS1E7 Civil Liberties Act of 1988
Send us Fan Mail Hosts Koji and Michelle delve into the intricate nature of genuine apologies and the actions that must accompany them to signify real growth…
Japanese AmericaNEW SHOW: Lucidity Traier
Send us Fan Mail It's the app that helps you dream the way you want to dream... Fascinated by nightmares, journalist Jessica Suzuki pursues the truth behind a…
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S1E6 Dear Attorney General
Send us Fan Mail Hosts Michelle and Koji explore parenthood, cultural heritage, and resilience through personal narratives and historical references. In part…
Japanese AmericaS2E5 Grandpa the Renunciant
Send us Fan Mail This episode delves into the complex intergenerational impacts of identity and citizenship within a Japanese American family, particularly…
Japanese AmericaS1E4 Grandpa the Spy?
Send us Fan Mail Hosts Koji and Michelle delve into the complexities of Japanese American identity through Koji’s unique family story. They examine why he was…
Japanese AmericaEp 3 The First Manzanar Pilgrimage
Send us Fan Mail Hosts Michelle Malizaki and Koji Steven Sakai delve into the history of the Manzanar pilgrimage. They discuss its historical significance…
Japanese AmericaEp 2 Karate Kid Revisited
Send us Fan Mail In the second episode of the Japanese America Podcast, Koji Steven Sakai and Michelle Malizaki discuss the 1984 film "The Karate Kid,"…
Japanese AmericaYuri Kochiyama's Diary with Actor Sierra Katow
Send us Fan Mail Explore the life and enduring legacy of Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese American woman whose experiences during WWII in concentration camps ignited…