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love seeker | February 2025 radiYO! Playlists

Photo Credit:

Akemi Nagashiki

Nicole Oshima

February 10, 2025

Valentines, flowers, and honmei-choco may come and go, but good music is forever. This February, we are spotlighting Japanese music we love with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

introducing: not jpop, by Kyle

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love seeker, by Nicole

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there's more to life than ryo fukui, by Chet

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tokyo calling 🤳🏼🗣️, by Alissa‍

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📍 🇯🇵✨❄️, by Sakura

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Art by Akemi Nagashiki

Nicole (she/her) is a yonsei/gosei that is passionate about community building, hair dye, and pop culture. Based in Los Angeles, with her heart in Little Tokyo.

Culture & Community

Sports & Leisure

love seeker | February 2025 radiYO! Playlists

Valentines, flowers, and honmei-choco may come and go, but good music is forever. This February, we are spotlighting Japanese music we love with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

Japanese Music Genres

Three of my favorite Japanese music genres with band, song, and album recommendations.

A Retrospective on "Nancy 2024: A Retrospective Art Exhibit"

Nancy Uyemura's retrospective art exhibit has not only given us perspective into the past, but also a glimpse into the future, as viewers continue to realize just how much value art, culture, and community have in creating a Japanese America full of resilience and joy.

oat milk | November 2024 radiYO! Playlists

Cozy up with your favorite cup of coffee and playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

Our Latest Articles

love seeker | February 2025 radiYO! Playlists

By

Nicole Oshima

I

February 10, 2025

Valentines, flowers, and honmei-choco may come and go, but good music is forever. This February, we are spotlighting Japanese music we love with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

It's Time to Get Involved: 7 Opportunities, Internships & Scholarships for Students in the JA Community

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I

February 6, 2025

Check out this list of seven opportunities for students in the Japanese American community with details on their eligibility requirements, deadlines, and more!

A Guide to Staying Connected To Your JA Culture Wherever You Are in the World

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I

January 20, 2025

Being in touch with your Japanese American roots, culture, and heritage is important. Here are 6 things you can do to connect with your JA roots, no matter where you live and regardless of your level of involvement or understanding.

“Just checking in!”: The Reality of My Experience Studying Abroad

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I

January 20, 2025

Is there a time in your life that you wish you could experience again? Studying abroad in Korea was unforgettable and changed my life, but not in the ways I expected.

Japanese Music Genres

By

Kyle Okazaki

I

January 20, 2025

Three of my favorite Japanese music genres with band, song, and album recommendations.

A Retrospective on "Nancy 2024: A Retrospective Art Exhibit"

By

Natalie Tokita

I

January 20, 2025

Nancy Uyemura's retrospective art exhibit has not only given us perspective into the past, but also a glimpse into the future, as viewers continue to realize just how much value art, culture, and community have in creating a Japanese America full of resilience and joy.

oat milk | November 2024 radiYO! Playlists

By

Nicole Oshima

I

November 22, 2024

Cozy up with your favorite cup of coffee and playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

Yo! Camp: Year Three Recap

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Ryan Ishii

I

September 1, 2024

Since its inception in 2022, the buzz around Yo! Camp has grown louder each year. Whether it's casual talks at Obon or the countless Instagram stories and posts, people can't stop talking about Yo! Camp—and rightfully so.

My Japanese school closed and I don’t know how to feel

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Emi Guzman

I

September 1, 2024

As the San Gabriel Valley community bids farewell to Kodomo no Ie—a Japanese school and cultural epicenter for Shin-Nisei Japanese Americans—I reflect about the place that I dedicated my Saturday mornings to for nearly ten years.

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Craig Ishii

I

August 5, 2024

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.

me when the UV index is 11 | July 2024 radiYO! Playlists

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I

July 25, 2024

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I

July 9, 2024

Obon is supposed to be a time of joy, reflection, and celebration in honor of our ancestors who have come before us and who now tirelessly work to guide us towards our own liberation. And yet, I feel no joy in Obon as it approaches this year.

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Nicole Oshima

I

June 13, 2024

Yo! sat down with the cast of "Ultraman: Rising" cast members to talk about the film, what it means to bring the franchise to a new generation, and some of their favorite Japanese American community spots.

JUNE BLOOM | June 2024 radiYO! Playlists

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Nicole Oshima

I

June 13, 2024

Celebrate Pride Month 2024 with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

9 Anime Characters Who Hit the Mark on LGBTQ+ Representation

By

Alicia Tan

I

June 4, 2024

Anime doesn’t often tread is in the direction of queer characters, but several anime and manga creators have managed to slip queer and queer coded characters into their media anyways. Here are some of my personal favorites!

hair down, headphones on | May 2024 radiYO! Playlists - APAHM

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Nicole Oshima

I

May 28, 2024

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2024 with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

Meet Cristina Moon, Author of "Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness"

By

Nicole Oshima

I

May 24, 2024

Rev. Cristina Moon (she/her) is a Zen priest living and training at Daihonzan Chozen-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Honolulu. Her new book, "Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness," details her early days as a human rights activist and her journey to Chozen-ji. She spoke with Yo! about her story and the book, which is available for pre-order now and will be in bookstores beginning June 18.

KOTONK | Excerpt From "Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness" by Cristina Moon

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I

May 24, 2024

Available June 18, 2024, author Cristina Moon shares an excerpt of "Kotonk" from "Three Years on the Great Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness" with Yo! Magazine, reprinted in arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc.

Your matcha tastes like grass because it’s poorly made

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Alexa Toguri-Laurin

I

May 24, 2024

Contributor Alexa Toguri-Laurin shares how the recent saying “matcha tastes like grass” divides tea and coffee lovers and critiques poor matcha production.

Dear 5844

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Alicia Tan

I

May 9, 2024

Sometimes I wonder, if I was able to do it all for you, if some magic twist of fate gave me the power to take your place in that camp all those years ago, would I do it? To live in a barn infested with termites, to shed my Japanese name and tongue, to live a life of uncertainty, would I be able to do it all if it meant I could meet you and call you Grandpa?

May 2024 Issue: Japantowns Cover Art

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Kyle Okazaki

I

May 6, 2024

To celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, we wanted to highlight our Japantowns by dedicating our May issue to these spaces. Cover art by Kyle Okazaki, read more about his piece now.

Hula Practices in Little Osaka

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I

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Kevin Charles Keizuchi

I

May 4, 2024

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The Death Deck Aims to Normalize Conversations About Death

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I

May 3, 2024

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I

May 3, 2024

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.

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I

May 3, 2024

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I

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Reflections from this past year's three festival queens in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Honolulu!

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I

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I know that for many, Little Tokyo is more than just a tourist spot. It’s a safe space for Japanese people to gather and participate in community activities and building. If a Japantown is supposed to be a safe space for Japanese people, then Japanese markets are my Japantown.

In Defense of Natto

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I

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I contend, try natto. It may seem disgusting, but really dive deep and see for yourself.

dancing in the starshine | April 2024 radiYO! Playlists

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April 16, 2024

Celebrate the end of spring with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

laying under sakura trees | March 2024 radiYO! Playlists

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Celebrate cherry blossom szn with playlists made by some of our favorite tastemakers.

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