Generational Discussion Groups

JAMP hosts online meetings of Japanese Americans from the third, fourth, and fifth generations and shin nikkei (Japanese Americans who emigrated to the US after WWII) where participants discuss topics such as identity, history, and memory. As opposed to in-person pilgrimages, these virtual discussions allow Japanese Americans to connect without the expense and inconvenience of travel.

Generational Discussion Group Signup

Click the signup button below for the group you would like to join.

Click the arrow next to each name to read more about that group.

  • We are all people who self-identify as "Sansei." We acknowledge that these generational identities are not hard and fast, but are a guidepost for discussion. We meet monthly to discuss topics we have decided upon as a group and to have free conversation. Some topics we have discussed include: identity and our childhood, what it means to be Japanese American, pilgrimages and healing, No No Girl film with director Paul Goodman, multigenerational trauma, response to violence, and the model minority myth and our complicity. We've had guest speakers, watched videos, and just talked. Please join us for meaningful and supportive conversation. We're all on a journey! Julie Abo, a Sansei/Yonsei and Paula Fujiwara, a Sansei, are currently leading the group.

  • At these socials you'll be able to meet other Yonsei and make new friends. Plus, with no set topic, you'll be free to talk about anything you're comfortable with! We can't wait to see you, so be sure to signup below.  Kimiko Marr, a Yonsei, is currently leading this group.

  • Join Nikkei Rising coordinators who are also fellow Gosei to discuss a myriad of topics, like identity, culture, and whatever else you feel comfortable sharing. All self-identified Gosei are welcome!

  • This meeting is for those Japanese Americans whose families emigrated to the US after WWII. Though our histories are different than those families who came here pre-war, our experiences are just as important to discuss. Join our board member, Amanda Roper, for discussions about our shared experiences and explore what it means to be Shin Nikkei.

  • 🌿The Sansei meet-up group has been an unexpected healing gift in my life. Though I am relatively new to the group, I feel very much at home, and have felt that way from the very first meeting I attended. Having grown up, and lived most of my life in 97% white and/or white presenting communities, "belonging" has always been an issue for me. In stark, and very welcomed contrast, our shared experiences in the group; from intergenerational trauma, to "onigiri," and everything in between (racialized trauma and daily microaggressions), create a sense of safety, camaraderie, comfort and ease that I have only experienced in family gatherings. I am also observing the impact this is having on me as I navigate being in groups that are mostly white; I am feeling stronger, more confident, and able to simply be myself.

    Suzu Kawamoto

  • "The Yonsei Meetup is a vital, safe space to explore what it means to be in the fourth generation (of the Japanese diaspora) amid a myriad of lived experiences. It’s where I've learned to embrace vulnerability and lean into community. We unpack our intergenerational traumas and follow the reverberations, all the while tapping into the resilience of our ancestors. We share, listen, laugh, heal, and dream. And who knows, you might even find a long-lost relative!"

    Yoshiko Yeto