全米日系人博物館コミュニケーションプロダクションマネージャーを務めるムラカミ゠ツダさんは、ディスカバー・ニッケイの仕事をすることが大好きだと言います。新鮮で興味深いたくさんの話に触れる機会があり、同じ関心事を共有する世界中の人々とつながることができるからです。
南カリフォルニアの大家族の出身のムラカミ=ツダさんは、“自称”四世。かつて（自由な時間やエネルギーがもっとあった頃）は、アーティストとして日系アメリカ人の文化や歴史を探求する作品を制作していました。仕事以外の時間は、食べること、大好きなドジャースの応援、ボウリング、読書、携帯電話のゲーム（「ワードル」ファンの人はいますか？）、映画やドラマの一気見を楽しんでいます。
（2022年５月 更新）
この執筆者によるストーリー
Oshogatsu Traditions in the United States
2007年11月21日 • スーザン・チェン , ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
In the Western world, New Year’s Eve is a big day for parties to celebrate the end of a year and the fresh start of a new one. In Japan, the beginning of the New Year, or Oshogatsu, is when friends and family gather together for what is considered to be the most important holiday of the year. It is celebrated throughout the country and by Nikkei around the world with symbolic food, decorations, activities, and other traditions to wish …
on returning to my JA bowling roots
2007年10月17日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
Today, basketball and golf are the sports of choice in Japanese American communities, at least it seems to be in Southern California. However, back in the 1950s, ‘60s, and ‘70s, JA bowling leagues were all the rage. In it’s heyday, you almost had to be on a waiting list to join a team. Leagues were often scheduled back-to-back on the same night. In 2000, the Japanese American National Museum had an exhibition called More Than a Game: Sport in the …
on Southern California Obon Festivals
2007年8月9日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
I feel very fortunate to live in an area that has so many Obon festivals that are relatively accessible if you’re willing to drive. There are three in the Little Tokyo area alone. In addition, I’ve attended or have heard of others at Gardena Buddhist Church, San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Senshin Buddhist Temple, Pasadena Buddhist Church, Oxnard Buddhist Temple, Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, West Covina Buddhist Temple, West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple, and Orange County Buddhist Church. I …
on Unearthing My Family's Values
2007年6月13日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
This Father’s Day my sister and I will be bringing my father to the Japanese American National Museum for the opening of the Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden exhibition. I am always excited by new exhibitions at the Museum. As someone who works with the project teams to create web components, I get to learn a lot of new and really interesting facts and stories, and then share them with the world. This exhibition captures a very personal interest, …
on J-Town Memories
2007年4月27日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
Growing up, we would come into Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district to visit my Murakami Ba-chan who lived in Little Tokyo Towers. We’d take the elevator up to her small apartment with the display case full of kokeshi dolls, then take her out to dinner at Aoi restaurant on First Street. As young kids, my sister and I would always make a stop at the Sanrio store to spend the few dollars we had saved. We loved the stickers, stationery, …
Sakura: Beautiful Flowering Trees of Japan
2007年4月20日 • レスリー・ヤマグチ , ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
The cherry blossom, known as sakura, is the national flower of Japan. Different from the fruit-bearing trees found in other countries, these flowering trees are enjoyed mostly for their beautiful blossoms and the beauty of the falling snow-like petals. Because the blossoms only last for a few days in the spring, many travel to common viewing sites where a festive atmosphere is enjoyed by all; friends and families gather, bringing picnic baskets and sake to be shared with music and …
Japanese American Baseball
2007年4月11日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
Baseball, the quintessential American sport, has enjoyed immense popularity in Japan, as witnessed by the country’s recent championship at the inaugural World Baseball Classic. But did you know the role Japanese Americans played as early ambassadors of the sport? The game in its modern form was invented by Alexander Cartwright in 1845. Although a pick-up style game had been played by children in North America from the mid 1700s, prior to Cartwright, there were no formalized rules of play. The …
on the Women Who Inspire Me
2007年3月7日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
My grandmother and Yuri Kochiyama are two of the many women who, in their own ways, have helped shape who I am. March is Women’s History Month in the United States, so I’ve decided to take some time to reflect on the topic of women—not so much about feminism vs. femininity, but about real women in my family and those that I encounter in my life. Those women who inspire my dreams and aspirations, show me strength, and give me …
on a New Year and New Beginnings
2007年1月5日 • ビッキー・K・ムラカミ=ツダ
Shinnen Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu! Happy New Year!It’s a new year and a time for new beginnings and opportunities. This is the first of my new column series. I’ve never tried formally writing something like this before, so we’ll see how it goes. I’ll be reflecting on a variety of topics—cultural, historical, or just miscellaneous. Expect to see something from me here every other month (if it turns out well, or if I have more I want to expound upon, maybe …
