Esther Newman

esnewman

Esther Newman grew up in California. After college and a career in marketing and media production for Ohio’s Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, she returned to school to study twentieth century American history. While in graduate school, she became interested in her family’s history which led to research on topics affecting the Japanese Diaspora including internment, migration and assimilation. She is retired but her interest in writing about and supporting organizations related to these subjects continues.

Updated November 2021

war en

Telling the Story to Understand the History

By Esther Newman
26 Apr 2022

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the United States entered WWII, thousands of American citizens who shared ancestry and facial features with the enemy and suddenly faced an overwhelming question. What would they, Japanese Americans, have to do to prove their loyalty to the country of their birth? Daniel James Brown’s Facing the Mountain examines the price of patriotism Japanese Americans paid through the lives of four young Nisei men—Rudy Tokiwa, Fred Shiosaki, Kats Miho, and Gordon Hirabayashi—three of whom were members of the 442nd Regimental Comba…

culture en

A New Mystery Novel, Island Style, from Naomi Hirahara

By Esther Newman
11 Mar 2022

Naomi Hirahara’s new mystery novel, An Eternal Lei introduces us to Leilani Santiago, a spirited, insatiably curious young woman who lives in a multigenerational, multiethnic household on the island of Kauai. Leilani saves the life of a woman found floating face down in Waimea Bay and finds herself driven to discover the victim’s identity and connections to the island. Readers will be able to easily identify with Leilani as she forges a life of independence while remaining tightly connected to her family, presided over by her outspoken Baachan. Hirahara has created a convincing …

media en

Hiroyuki Matsugen Matsumoto — Preserving the stories of Nikkei in Hawaii

By Esther Newman
15 Nov 2021

Movie producer Hiroyuki Matsugen Matsumoto’s 2021 documentary, Okagesama de - Hawaii Nikkei Women’s Trajectory is his latest effort to preserve and tell the stories of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. This follows Go for Broke! Memories of Hawaii Japanese Nisei which was completed in 2012. These two films describe the journey of Japanese immigrants from hardship and triumph to their lasting influence on Hawaiian and American culture. Interviewed via email, Matsumoto wrote that he was born in Miyazaki Prefecture in 1964 and raised in Gifu Prefecture, where he worked as a…

culture en

Artistry in Armor: An Interview with Darin S. Furukawa, Artist, Educator, and Samurai Arts Specialist

By Esther Newman
14 Aug 2015

Darin S. Furukawa and Mike Yamasaki are co-curators Japanese American National Museum’s new exhibit for the month of August, Jidai: Timeless Works of Samurai Art. Together, they are preserving and passing along an appreciation for traditional Japanese culture. Responding to emailed questions, Darin shared his perspectives on the exhibit. 1) How did you gain expertise in Japanese swords? A brief bio, please. I am actually more familiar with samurai armor than swords, but I consider myself still very much a student of both. I graduated from Stanford University with a degr…

culture en

Paying Culture Forward: Passing on the Traditions of Japanese Art Swords

By Esther Newman
31 Jul 2015

What separates a Japanese art sword from any manufactured metal-bladed weapon? An extraordinary level of craftsmanship, artistry, and specific techniques that are carefully passed along from generation to generation—in other words, tradition. Mike Yamasaki has made it his life’s work to transmit the understanding of and appreciation for traditional Japanese art swords. He’s a world renowned expert and master appraiser of samurai swords, which requires a sharp eye and broad knowledge of Japanese history and culture. In fact, Mike is the only non-Japanese citizen to ever wi…

Submit an article

Discover Nikkei

Japanese migrants and their descendants

Esther Newman

Series this author contributes to

Foujita Discovers the Americas: An Artist's Tour - Part 1

Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30

Graziela Tamanaha: Young Leadership and Inspiration in the Brazilian Nikkei Community—Part 1

Nikkei Chronicles #9—More Than a Game: Nikkei Sports

Fishing Four

Jaime Ajito: Ambassador of Nikkei Cuisine

Vancouver’s Tonari Gumi: Keeping Jun’s Magnificent Dream Alive - Part 2

多重国籍認めない日本への思い・米在住と仏在住者に聞く

Inspire Forward: Nikkei Heroes Under 30

Documentary Photographer and Journalist Kayla Isomura Explores Nikkei Culture and Identity

Illinois Japanese Unknown Heroes

Chapter 4: “Honorary Japanese Consul” George Fabyan in Geneva, IL

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #2 in First Class: "Fantasy Traveling..."

書評：和泉真澄『日系カナダ人の移動と運動―知られざる日本人の越境生活史』

1992年渡米、目標は「アカデミー賞」— 俳優の井上英治さん

Kizuna 2020: Nikkei Kindness and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tiempos pandémicos: teletrabajo y koden digital

Kizuna 2020: Nikkei Kindness and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 e os heróis anônimos

香川県海外移民の父：今雪真一の情熱と功績

第３部：金子正則知事の南米訪問とその主な見解

Episode 9

Itadakimasu 3! Nikkei Food, Family, and Community

Join Our Team

Get updates

Support this project

A project of the

Major support by

Vancouver’s Tonari Gumi: Keeping Jun’s Magnificent Dream Alive - Part 2

Documentary Photographer and Journalist Kayla Isomura Explores Nikkei Culture and Identity

Chapter 4: “Honorary Japanese Consul” George Fabyan in Geneva, IL

Journal Entry #2 in First Class: "Fantasy Traveling..."

Through The Opera Glasses

In Search of Loyalty — The Munson Memos

Japanese Canadians: Race, Religion, and Confinement

Vancouver’s Tonari Gumi: Keeping Jun’s Magnificent Dream Alive - Part 1

Thanks a Million, Norm!

Chapter 3: Torajiro and Kiku Hamano and Julius Rosenwald in Chicago

Journal Entry #90% of Us Experience Them: "Stuck Tunes..."

Eugenie Clark Swam with Sharks and Blazed a Path for Women in Science

J is for Junichiro

Nikkei Families in Cuzco

The Kai family: A Transnational Nisei Story - Part 2

Karen Maeda Allman's Life in Punk Rock - Part 3

I’m so disappointed to see stereotyped snack packaging in my supermarket

Journal Entry #5 Existential Queries: "WTF, Right?..."

Jan Johnson of Japantown's Panama Hotel: "Saving History Saves the Future" - Part 2

Kyoko Norma Nozaki Sensei: “A Minority of Minorities” - Part 2

Daisuke Kitagawa: Civil Rights and Anti-Racism Activist — Part 2

Moving Farewell to Beloved Heart Mountain Farmer

Food for Thought — TikTok & Tamagoyaki

Eighty Years Ago The World Changed For Japanese Canadians

William Denman: A Voice of Dissent on the Courts - Part 2

Chapter 1: Introduction

The Kai family: A Transnational Nisei Story - Part 1

Journal Entry #Perry White, 1946: "It's All Cattywampus!..."

How a Japanese-American Owned Real Estate Firm Broke up Racist Covenants in Southern California - Part 2

Saving the Voices of the Past: An Interview with Arthur Hansen

Jan Johnson of Japantown's Panama Hotel: "Saving History Saves the Future" - Part 1

Kyoko Norma Nozaki Sensei: “A Minority of Minorities” - Part 1

Daisuke Kitagawa: Civil Rights and Anti-Racism Activist — Part 1

The Nikkei community in Uberlândia: dispersed or uninterested?

Akashi-Kama: Inspired by Japanese-Americans. Created for Everyone.

Chapter 2: Popularity and Criticism of Japanese Servants

William Denman: A Voice of Dissent on the Courts - Part 1

Journal Entry #25-to-Life: "Miscellaneous Monikers..."

Journalist Mary Ito’s Dive into the World of Podcasting

Tori

How a Japanese-American Owned Real Estate Firm Broke up Racist Covenants in Southern California - Part 1

Baachan

Karen Maeda Allman's Life in Punk Rock - Part 1

A Surprise in the Midwest

Journal Entry #Life Lesson 1: "Time is not Refundable..."

Japanese-Brazilian Food: Japanese Cuisine with a Brazilian Touch

Journal Entry #1 Gigaparsec Away: "Howdy, Stranger..."