Business

Discover the inspiring stories behind three innovative community projects selected for the Yo! Accelerator and learn how they aim to preserve culture, uplift communities, and promote wellness.

Initially, it wasn’t apparent how my connection to the community would help me advance my career, especially in the for-profit world. However, your unique mix of experiences and community connections may generate the most distinct and valuable ideas that anyone around you has seen.

Introducing Yo! Accelerator - uniting and empowering builders and creators, driving innovation and lasting community impact.

Meet Littlest & Co. founder Kaycee Martin.

Learning to balance my frugality alongside some fatherly finance advice.

Strengthening capacity to navigate tragedy and support wellness in nonprofit work. Read until the end for philanthropy's role in supporting nonprofit workers.

“Say ‘hashi’ and not ‘chopstick.’ Say ‘kaikan’ instead of ‘social hall.’” Rev. Mas explained to us how adults ask questions, and want to know the exact meaning of everything, but the kids will pick it up. It’s the way we all learned. 

The Zentoku Foundation's mission is to be valued as an organization focused on strengthening the Japanese American culture for future generations.

Starting an organization is never an easy task, but 13 young adults (including myself) started an organization called Nikkei Rising.

Learn about Recovery Café, a healing community for those traumatized by addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges.

Learn more about the inspiring history of JA farming families and the Southern California-based project to preserve their stories.

When you think of an overnight summer camp, you think of all the benefits it will have for the campers. But instructors and staff like myself learned a lot, too.

Our inaugural year of Yo! Camp was something magical. Let's explore where that magic comes from.

How one farm in Irvine, CA created an annual tradition that continues to bring the community together and change people’s lives around the world.

Discover the creative process of crafting new sake and beer flavors from James Jin, the cofounder of Nova Brewing, and peek into life as a small business owner.

Meet Darin Maki: founder of CRFT by Maki, a culture brand based in Little Tokyo.

Style guide for AKASHI-KAMA's signature piece, the Noragi Jacket.

Continuing our two-part article series, this second article focuses on the unique community, design, and impact of Japangeles beyond just the business aspects.

How do generational differences affect business practices and philosophies? You want to know, and so do we.

Curious what other positions and folks get paid? Here's an easy and anonymous way to share and see!

A sushi chef turned business owner, creates a community through food.

Sharing stories of personal peace... after leaving the job.

We strive to bring our whole self to work, so why do some of us feel the need to hide our culture? When preparing to enter the workforce, we tend to focus on the technical aspect and aptitude needed to perform and succeed, but often forget to prepare ourselves for the difference in culture and how that defines work expectations.

Learn the story of a shared passion to spread a love for kokedama with the community, rooted in friendship, and belief in the importance of cultural appreciation.

Nikkei Professionals is an event hosted by the Southern California Intercollegiate Nikkei Council in which members have the opportunity to develop professionals skills that are often not taught in school.

In this two-part series, stories of Japangeles, from business to community, will be shared about the company we have now know. Learn about the growth, story, and success of the well-known brand in Southern California, connecting us all to Little Tokyo.

As a Japanese American, are we bound to be nothing more than excellent individual contributors?

I started my pre-loved fine gold jewelry business, Teruko Jewelry, on a whim—I knew nothing about solid gold, the value of gold jewelry or even how I would mail out orders. But when the scariest thing in the world has happened to you, things that might have seemed daunting feel manageable.

Meet Kylie Miyamoto of Kymoto Co., the Tustin-based online cake shop that specializes in minimalist and modern buttercream cakes.

Small business alert! We sat down with Lucy Yu, owner of the first female-owned Asian American bookstore in New York City, to chat books and community.

Businesses like Amazon have become consumer staples because of convenient shipping options and low costs. Despite reports of unethical practices and its misalignment with my own values, why is it still so hard to give it up?

When it comes to family-owned businesses in the Japanese American community, expectations are high. Here's what that pressure is like for the next generation.

Are traditional human resource practices harming our community institutions? What are you doing to prioritize the wellbeing of the team powering your organization's work?

Worried about some of our more vulnerable community members, many non-profit groups came together to help deliver delicious foods to local Little Tokyo seniors. This project, Little Tokyo Eats, benefited not only the seniors, but also the family and legacy-owned small businesses in Little Tokyo. After more than a year later, the program is ending.

As organizations seek to diversify their leadership, they often only bring on a single board member to represent an entire community. Why does tokenizing happen? What are the consequences?

Learn more about the Changing Tides (CT) Crew, which consists of 6-8 AAPI young adults who strive to destigmatize mental health and create safe and accessible spaces for the community.

In our first small business feature, we interview the husband-and-wife team behind the candle company known as Whispering Wicks. Read on to learn more about how candle-making helped these two ICU nurses relax.

Dog adoption and rescue has seen exponential growth during shelter-in-place mandates. Here's my story of adopting a pup in the pandemic.

This year will mark the 75th Anniversary of my grandparents' hardware store, and I don’t know what its future holds. 

An ode to the beautiful life and heart-rending death of Yoonjin Hwang’s beloved Spoon by H.

Owner and founder of Notox Nails, Lexi Suga, shares her story of opening up a Japanese nail art business in the middle of a global pandemic.

Are you ready? We've sourced over 100 community-based businesses all offering one-of-a-kind items. Buy for that special someone, or treat yourself.

Explore how a diverse board can enhance an organizations decision-making, network, and innovation.

Let's take a look at the methodologies and barriers to transitioning the leadership of our community's nonprofit organizations to the next generation. 

Community-based organizations make up the backbone of the Japanese American community. But where did they come from? 

AAPI Data’s new report on the state of philanthropy shows that AAPI nonprofit organizations continue to remain a low priority for grantmakers. But why?

Hawaii is a spiritual place and no stranger to its share of ghost stories. I had my own encounter in 2015 at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii.

Automated employment is looming, human education is in danger. This infographic explores how we can develop critical "human" competencies for the future success of our kids.

Employment, socializing, and life itself is evolving at an exponential rate... education is not. What do our kids need to truly be prepared for this rapidly changing reality?

When you don't fit in with the majority's culture, it is difficult to find your voice. Learn how one person is rooting themselves back to Idaho and creating a sense of community.

Like the varieties of manju at a Japanese confectionary shop, there are countless qualities out there that we look for in a potential partner. But which ones matter the most?

We're talking about self-love as it relates to sexual health. What is a smart vibrator? How does it work? We break it all down for you in our interview with Lioness co-founder Anna Lee.