Kiyomi Nakanishi Yamada

Born in Bebedouro, in São Paulo, Brazil, she has a Nursing degree from the University of São Paulo (USP). She worked as a professor at the State University of Londrina (UEL) until her retirement in 2010. She currently belongs to the staff of UEL’s FM Radio program “Tecer Idades” for this age group. She works as a volunteer in projects related to the field of aging, and she is a member of the board of directors of the "House of Support to the Family of Elderly Bedridden" in Londrina. She is a staff member at the Hikari Group of Londrina, whose aim is to keep Japanese culture alive. She is responsible for both the production and the written content of their site.

Updated June 2018

food en ja es pt

Nikkei Chronicles #7 — Nikkei Roots: Digging into Our Cultural Heritage

The Mochitsuki Tradition in the Hikari Group of Londrina, Paraná

By Alba Shioco Hino, Nilza Matiko Iwakura Okano, Kiyomi Nakanishi Yamada
25 Jun 2018

In Brazil, mochi – little cakes made with a glutinous Japanese rice known as mochigome – are easily found in supermarkets, street markets, and specialized grocery stores in areas with a large concentration of Japanese immigrants and their descendants.

Most of those who see this product stocked on supermarket shelves are unaware of its origins and meaning in Japanese culture.

In the past, the mochitsuki – pounding mochi – was a more laborious process as the cakes were made in artisanal fashion to celebrate special occasions like weddings and, of course, New Year celebrations – for the Japanese, the oshogatsu.

The mochigome was soaked in ...

community en ja es pt

Nikkei Chronicles #5 — Nikkei-go: The Language of Family, Community, and Culture

The Japanese language in the daily lives of the members of the Hikari Group of Londrina

By Alba Shioco Hino, Nilza Matiko Iwakura Okano, Kiyomi Nakanishi Yamada
19 Sep 2016

We belong to a generation of children, youths, adults, and seniors who are descendants of Japanese immigrants who came to Brazil in the years before World War II. Some are children, others are grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren of these immigrants.

After leaving Japan, our ancestors gradually began to absorb Western culture, although the influence of Japanese culture has been preserved in many families, especially when the younger generations come in contact with older people who pass on to the younger ones the values, the customs, the cuisine, and the Japanese language.

In Brazil, the largest Japanese colony is found in ...

community en ja es pt

Nikkei Chronicles #4 — Nikkei Family: Memories, Traditions, and Values

My Life, Our Life: The Present, The Past, and The Future

By Kiyomi Nakanishi Yamada
22 Sep 2015

In this life we are the protagonists of a number of stories, but in many instances the actors remain unknown because their recollections have not been recorded.

My maternal and paternal grandparents were born and lived in Osaka and Tokyo until the 1930s, when they came to Brazil to work in the coffee plantations.

Sizuyo, my mother, currently at the age of 89, is the only “living memory” of her family as well as my father’s. When she turned 70, she expressed the desire to record her recollections about their migration to Brazil and the hard times they experienced ...

food pt

Nikkei Chronicles #6 — Itadakimasu 2!: Another Taste of Nikkei Culture

A influência da culinária japonesa no Brasil – ontem, hoje e amanhã

By Alba Shioco Hino, Nilza Matiko Iwakura Okano, Kiyomi Nakanishi Yamada
26 Jun 2017

Os imigrantes japoneses vieram para o Brasil no século passado para trabalhar nas lavouras de café com o sonho de enriquecer e depois voltar para o Japão. Diante das dificuldades encontradas e, percebendo que não seria possível concretizar este sonho, iniciaram o processo de integração com os brasileiros (gaijin).

Aos poucos foram se adaptando aos costumes, culinária, crenças religiosas e estilo de vida do povo daqui. Mas no convívio familiar preservavam a sua cultura, principalmente quando as gerações mais novas conviviam com pessoas idosas preocupadas em repassar valores, costumes, idioma e ...

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Discover Nikkei

Japanese migrants and their descendants

Kiyomi Nakanishi Yamada

Nikkei Chronicles #7 — Nikkei Roots: Digging into Our Cultural Heritage

Nikkei Chronicles #5 — Nikkei-go: The Language of Family, Community, and Culture

Nikkei Chronicles #4 — Nikkei Family: Memories, Traditions, and Values

Nikkei Chronicles #6 — Itadakimasu 2!: Another Taste of Nikkei Culture

Series this author contributes to

The 110th Anniversary of Japanese Immigration to Brazil: Complete Return of Santos Japanese School, Long-Awaited ‘True War End,’ Finding Ways to Live Together in Peace, Overcoming Prejudice Against Foreigners - Part 1

Hapa Music is Black and Brown

Jhené Aiko and the Problem of Multiracial Self-Representation

Celebrating 55 Years of Service and Self-Defence

The Boy Who Believed That Deportation Was an Adventure

Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather's Life in Seattle

Part 1 – From Kamai to Seattle

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Bill Hosokawa: Out of the Frying Pan

Tessaku

Lawson Sakai - Part 3

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #1000's of Scares!: "Aaaaughhh!!!..."

Yoko Tani: the Mysterious Life of a Nikkei Actor

KOKI IWAI, a celebração da longevidade

Totaro y Kazuma Nishikawa: El legado de los pescadores japoneses en Baja California - Parte 2

Totaro y Kazuma Nishikawa: El legado de los pescadores japoneses en Baja California - Parte 1

孤独な望郷 ～ フロリダ日系移民森上助次の手紙から

第10回 自分を「父」と呼んだ甥が逝く

Diana Okuma: “Hacer Nikkei me ha ayudado a encontrar mi camino

Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

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Yoemon Shinmasu – My Grandfather's Life in Seattle

Part 1 – From Kamai to Seattle

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Bill Hosokawa: Out of the Frying Pan

Tessaku

Lawson Sakai - Part 3

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #1000's of Scares!: "Aaaaughhh!!!..."

Yoko Tani: the Mysterious Life of a Nikkei Actor

Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column

Place/Displace

Suspicious Points of Contact in Pre-World War Two Chicago: The Japanese Mutual Aid Society and Charles Yasuma Yamazaki - Part 2

Suspicious Points of Contact in Pre-World War Two Chicago: The Japanese Mutual Aid Society and Charles Yasuma Yamazaki - Part 1

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Lawson Sakai - Part 2

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #4 Notions to Consider: "Creative Lines..."

Norman Mineta: An American Story - New documentary captures JA experience through life of two time Cabinet secretary

Tessaku

Lawson Sakai — Part 1

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

Second Hand War Stories

Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest VI

Little Tokyo Story – Ben & Akiko

Canadian Nikkei Artist

Toronto art at the Royal Ontario Museum: Being Japanese Canadian: Reflections on a Broken World

Nikkei Chronicles #8 — Nikkei Heroes: Trailblazers, Role Models, and Inspirations

My Hero: Setsutaro Hasegawa

My Name is Neal

Journal Entry #3 Major Lines: "A Handful of Chiromancy..."

Chef and Author Caroline Ishii Introduces Japan to Canadian Food with a Vegan Twist

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Kazuki Hirose - Part 1

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Journal Entry #Over 4,000,000,000 Produced: "LEGO Fun!..."

The 150th Anniversary of Wakamatsu Colony, the First Japanese American Settlement on the North American Frontier

Part 3: Sharing of Family Stories

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Journal Entry #Givin' You My 2¢: "A Calamity of Clichés..."

Paul Takagi: A fearless Advocate

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Journal Entry #10,000 + Lies: "His Pants Must be Ablaze..."

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Chapter Nine — Where’s Som?

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10 Little-Known Stories About Rohwer Concentration Camp

孤独な望郷～フロリダ日系移民森上助次の手紙から

第10回自分を「父」と呼んだ甥が逝く