traci kato-kiriyama
@traciakemitraci kato-kiriyama is a performer, actor, writer, author, educator, and art+community organizer who splits the time and space in her body feeling grounded in gratitude, inspired by audacity, and thoroughly insane—oft times all at once. She’s passionately invested in a number of projects that include Pull Project (PULL: Tales of Obsession); Generations Of War; The (title-ever-evolving) Nikkei Network for Gender and Sexual Positivity; Kizuna; Budokan of LA; and is the Director/Co-Founder of Tuesday Night Project and Co-Curator of its flagship “Tuesday Night Cafe.” She’s working on a second book of writing/poetry attuned to survival, slated for publication next year by Writ Large Press.
Updated August 2013
Stories from This Author
“this distant shore…”
June 15, 2023 • Mia Ayumi Malhotra , traci kato-kiriyama
This month, we’re delighted to again present the beautiful work of poet Mia Ayumi Malhotra. There is a sweet concoction of remembering, longing, and holding space for moments to recall from the past, “the lost…,” or to save for the future. What a wondrous way to get us leaning into summer and inspired to write as the season opens us up toward the next chapter…enjoy! — traci kato-kiriyama * * * * * Mia Ayumi Malhotra is the author of Mothersalt (forthcoming …
Surrender — Part 3
May 18, 2023 • Miko Shudo , traci kato-kiriyama
This month we present the final part of the collaborative poem + performative art piece from Bonbu Stories, this time featuring Yonsei musician Miko Shudo. We invite you to view the accompanying video and read this together with the preceding pieces from parts 1 & 2. Miko blends poetics here with reflections on a journey of challenge, pride and privilege, acceptance and self determination…enjoy. —traci kato-kiriyama * * * * * Miko Shudo is a Yonsei musician, born and raised in …
Surrender — Part 2
April 20, 2023 • Sydney Shiroyama , traci kato-kiriyama
This month we are happy to present both a poem from Bonbu Stories co-founder Sydney Shiroyama and a performance video from the Bonbu Stories collective themselves. Continuing with the theme of Surrender, Sydney’s is part of a linked poem with her Bonbu cohort and it reminds us the seeds we plant - of culture, of values, of resistance - in turn help us to survive, grow, and simply do the best we can…enjoy! — traci kato-kiriyama * * * * …
Surrender — Part 1
March 16, 2023 • Kendall Tani , traci kato-kiriyama
We are delighted to present poetry from Mammoth Lake, CA based artist, Kendall Tani. Kendall shares an intimate exploration of tenderness and loss, and also generously provides writing here that includes a piece (Surrender) from a larger, collective process with Bonbu Stories - a multidisciplinary Asian American artists collective I've gotten to know more recently. We'll soon feature other parts of the collective's writing tied to Surrender in upcoming Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry columns, so stay tuned, and enjoy... —traci kato-kiriyama * * * …
Flight
Feb. 16, 2023 • Genie Nakano , traci kato-kiriyama
South Bay-based poet/writer and dancer, Genie Nakano, lets us celebrate with her as she looks forward to releasing her latest book of poetry, Wings on a Silk Veil. The poems here show her inner light through pieces that are contemplative, open, and free—an honest exploration, from ancestors to an ever-changing body with a youthful heart. Thank you for this work and congratulations, Genie! —traci kato-kiriyama * * * * * Genie Nakano is a poet/writer and dancer with a master’s …
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 …
Expansion
Dec. 15, 2022 • Brynn Saito , traci kato-kiriyama
Poet, educator, and co-founder of Yonsei Memory Project, Brynn Saito brings the Nikkei Uncovered: a poetry column to a close for 2022 with writing that is at turns spare and present, expansive and lush—all the things I crave in poetry at this time of year, when the chill of this season tends to bring us to a quiet space earlier each evening. I share Brynn’s desire for “the sitting place where ghosts visit” and her writing provides a necessary stillness …
In memoriam...Jim Matsuoka
Nov. 17, 2022 • Jim H. Matsuoka , traci kato-kiriyama
It is with my heaviest, yet most grateful heart that I present this poetic speech from our beloved Jim Matsuoka, who passed on towards the end of October. Jim meant so much to surely countless many and I am simply another person who benefited greatly from his presence in so many threads of my life. He was a staunch supporter, attendee, and featured artist over literally all the years of Tuesday Night Cafe since its inception in February of 1999. …
Fruits of connection
Oct. 20, 2022 • Nikiko Masumoto , traci kato-kiriyama
Happy autumn, all! This month we feature organic farmer, artist, and Yonsei Memory Project co-founder, Nikiko Masumoto with a delicious set of poetry that reaches us from soil nurtured through the generations and welcomes “city cousins..into a relationship with the land.” Nikiko was asking questions when penning this piece—“What will happen to our farm if people don’t remember what a succulent peach tastes like, or perhaps someone has never tasted one at peak ripeness? How can I help nurture connections …
An Unstoppable Fluttering
Sept. 15, 2022 • Kelsey Kawana , traci kato-kiriyama
Yonsei entrepreneur and writer Kelsey Kawana was introduced to me by kindred friend and artist Beau Sia, and I was honored to support them both in co-producing an upcoming short film, The Unreachable Star (more in Kelsey’s bio). It was such a delight to later come across her wonderful poetry and we’re excited to present a few pieces from her 2018 book, The Long Drive Home. The three pieces shared here give insight to her voice and what she is …
