Amy Uyematsu
@lasanseiAmy Uyematsu was a sansei poet and teacher from Los Angeles. She had six published collections, including her most recent, That Blue Trickster Time. Her first poetry collection, 30 Miles from J-Town, won the 1992 Nicholas Roerich Poetry Prize. Active in Asian American Studies when it first emerged in the late 60s, she was co-editor of the widely-used UCLA anthology, Roots: An Asian American Reader. Her essay, “The Emergence of Yellow Power in America” (1969), has appeared in numerous publications.
Amy was a poetry editor of Greenmakers: Japanese American Gardeners in Southern California (2000). In 2012 Amy was recognized by the Friends of the Little Tokyo Branch Library for her writing contributions to the Japanese American community. Amy taught high school math for LA Unified Schools for 32 years. She has also taught creative writing classes for the Little Tokyo Service Center. She passed away in June 2023.
Updated December 2023
Stories from This Author
Tribute to Amy Uyemastu: After — Part 7
Dec. 21, 2023 • Amy Uyematsu , traci kato-kiriyama
Here we share a final installment of a long series tribute to the late, great Amy Uyematsu. Since July, following her passing on June 23, I’ve had the honor and pleasure of sharing many voices in celebration of Amy through Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column. And as I continue to work on my own cycle of homage pieces for Amy, it has been wonderful and inspiring to witness poem after poem come in from some of my favorite writers and …
Stone Songs
Jan. 19, 2023 • Amy Uyematsu , traci kato-kiriyama
Happy New 2023, everyone! What better way to begin than with the beauty of poetry and prose from Amy Uyematsu and her most recent collection, That Blue Trickster Time (What Books Press). Here, we have three selections from a wise and fiery collection with a life force she breathes through her words of the inanimate, the historical, the body, the memory that sings, dances, and cries throughout—enjoy! —traci kato-kiriyama * * * * * * Amy Uyematsu is a Sansei poet and teacher …
Year-ending
March 18, 2021 • Amy Uyematsu , Tamiko Nimura , traci kato-kiriyama
As we survey the past year of lockdowns and quarantines that started here in the States by mid-March, 2020, we take stock of a wide spectrum of revelations and experiences over the last twelve months. From new personal practices and experiments in the arena of safer-at-home, to illness and loss, further exposure of inequities and suffering, uprising and reckoning, community unlearning and building—we share the works of two artists who give us a glimmer of their lives through poetics about …
Inspiration
May 17, 2018 • Kyoko Takenaka , Patty Ito Nagano , traci kato-kiriyama
From Shin Nikkei Kyoko Takenaka (aka Jinjabrew) and Sansei Patty Nagano, we have pieces that span various themes of inspiration. From Kyoko we have lovely and fierce words on “femme” themes, from mothers to sisterhood. And knowing that Patty had just returned from Japan, I asked her if she would graciously oblige by quickly putting something together from the inspiration that abounds in the springtime—so thankful that she did. Enjoy! —traci kato-kiriyama * * * * * Patty Ito Nagano …
My E.O. 9066 Stories: Frank Kikuchi, Manzanar DJ
March 13, 2020 • Amy Uyematsu
On April 12, 2017, I interviewed Frank Kikuchi, a local Nisei who currently lives at Hollenbeck-Palms Retirement Community. Frank, now 93 years young, was a disc jockey at Manzanar, where he was confined from 1942 through 1945. Frank and Archie Miyatake were good friends and became a DJ team. These are excerpts from a longer interview. * * * * * Amy (A): How old were you when you went to camp? Frank (F): I was 17. A: When did …
Location
Dec. 15, 2016 • Amy Uyematsu , Hiroshi Kashiwagi , traci kato-kiriyama
For the column’s inaugural post, we wanted to begin with the theme of place, location, and community and to highlight two veteran poets—Hiroshi Kashiwagi, Nisei poet based in San Francisco since 1962, and Amy Uyematsu, Sansei poet and native Angeleno. We are excited to begin with two writers who dedicate much of their creative focus and livelihood to poetry and who have had an influence on so many. Cheers to what their poetry uncovers… —traci kato-kiriyama * * * * …
Poems by Amy Uyematsu
July 22, 2012 • Amy Uyematsu
Orchid Season in Mr. Ikeda’s Garden : The “Welcome” sign still hangs abovehis garden gate though koi no longer swimin the emptied pondand hummingbirdsdo not return at spring some say the beesare disappearing too but Mr. Ikeda’s orchidscan still fill a greenhouse : White with its bold yellow throat The palest pink with violet veins Jungle green freckled withginger and maroon What could be better than choosingthe most gorgeous Or be lost in so much luxurious profusion : In Japanese legend, life’s bountyfor a …
