When: Thursday, February 13, 2025, 5:00pm – 6:15pm
Where: Broad 2160E

Letters to Home is among the first anthologies to spotlight LGBTQ+ Nikkei experiences and allyship through an intergenerational lens.

Marsha Aizumi (she/her) is the founder of Okaeri, co-founder of PFLAG San Gabriel Valley API, and a mother of a transgender son who
inspired her to advocate for the Nikkei LGBTQ+ communities. Marsha and her son, Aiden, wrote “Two Spirits, One Heart.” They have traveled all over the U.S. to speak and encourage LGBTQ+ individuals and their families to embrace their true selves.

Cody Uyeda (he/him) is a fourth generation Japanese American from Southern California. He is currently Okaeri’s Program & Admin Coordinator, and previously came from a background in the education, research, and legal fields. He is passionate about supporting the Japanese American community, as well as exploring culture, arts, and the outdoors.

Rino Kodama (they/them) is a nonbinary shin- nisei artist based in Los Angeles, originally from the Bay Area. When they are not working as Okaeri’s Tech & Media Marketing Coordinator, you can find them in their backyard ceramic studio hand building sculptures and vases. They are passionate in helping shape a compassionate Japanese American community that is able to hold our queer and trans multiplicities and expansiveness.

Moderated by Grace Hong, professor of Gender Studies and Asian American Studies at UCLA.