Stuff contributed by jsunada

Nikkei Chronicles #12—Growing Up Nikkei: Connecting with Our Heritage

Shared Memories

Mary Sunada

I can hear the words that Mom would repeat again before she drifted into her moments of Alzheimer. She would tell me to remember and never forget the memories that we shared together. Some of her memories of the past were tragic and sad. Others were happy and hopeful. These …

Nikkei Chronicles #10—Nikkei Generations: Connecting Families & Communities

Our Old Family Albums

Mary Sunada


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

Fishing Four

Mary Sunada

My last fishing trip to the High Sierras was on Sunday, July 7, 2019. This was our annual family vacation away from our hectic life in the city. We would call ourselves the fishing four. My husband, John, started the fishing family tradition. He grew up fishing in Fresno. He …

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

Kizuna 2020: My Birthday Wish

Mary Sunada


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

A Moment in Time

Mary Sunada

As I gazed upon my mom’s old wooden hand mirror, I found that time has not been kind to my face. There were noticeable lines across my forehead, wrinkles around the corners of my mouth and dark spots of old age.

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

A Promise

Mary Sunada


Bringing Dad Home

Mary Sunada

Returning home in October 2016 from Japan reminded me of how much my dad, Yoneto Nakata, loved me.

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

Made in Japan

Mary Sunada

This familiar phrase, “made in Japan” (Nihon-sei) reminds me of my mother, Yaeko. She was born in Gunma, Japan, on March 7, 1927. Her parents, Matsuji and Kichi Niikura, always had old fashioned Japanese values. Yaeko was their only daughter among their three sons, Hiroshi, Katsumi, and Kazuhiko. She loved …

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

A Letter to My Parents

Mary Sunada

My Dearest Mom and Dad,

Nikkei Chronicles #3—Nikkei Names: Taro, John, Juan, João?

The Chosen Names

Mary Sunada

Who is Mary Mieko Sunada? It begins with my birth certificate. A baby girl is born Mary Mieko Nakata on January 1, 1948 at 1 a.m. at 1-4 Tanaka-machi Askusa Daito-ku, Tokyo, Japan. My parents are Yoneto Nakata from Sanger, California, U.S.A. and Yaeko Niikura from Gumna-ken, Japan.

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About

Mary Sunada is a retired elementary school teacher from LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District). She has enjoyed teaching from K-4th grades for 36 years. Originally, from Asakusa, Japan, Mary was raised in California at the age of 2 years old. She has an intense curiosity in learning about her ancestors, especially her father and has written several stories since 2014. Mary has recently reconnected with relatives in Japan and is interested in finding other relatives. Discover Nikkei has given her an opportunity to express her feelings in writing and sharing her experiences with others. She believes that we are all connected to each other with our own unique stories to tell.

Nikkei interests

  • family stories

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