The Nikkei Rising Coordinators
Kazuhiro Edeza
Hiro Edeza received a bachelor's degree in History with minors in Asian American Studies and Museum Studies at San Francisco State University. As a Shin-Nisei, Hiro’s exploration of his own Nikkei identity led to an interest in the Japanese American WWII experience. From there, his passion for the community grew, and inspired his involvement in a variety of JA organizations. Outside of working in the community, Hiro loves playing tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons.
Michelle Heckert
Michelle Heckert is a Yonsei, with deep roots in the San Francisco Japantown community. She grew up attending events with her grandparents at The Center (JCCCNC), but became more involved with the Nikkei community post-college through JCYC’s Nikkei Community Internship program, volunteering with Kimochi, and participating in the Kakehashi Program through JACL. She also served as a Princess of the 2022 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Music from Santa Clara University, as well as a Master of Arts Songwriting from Bath Spa University.
Caroline Kimura
For Caroline Kimura, learning about Japanese American history was something she was always interested in. With both sides of her family in camps (Manzanar and Topaz), she is interested in learning more about her ancestral heritage. In her spare time, she works on her photography and writing, hoping to represent and educate the masses on what it means to be Asian American.
Kaitlyn Kosai
Kaitlyn is a Yonsei who was born and raised in Puyallup, WA. She has been interested in preserving the stories of the incarceration since learning of her own grandparents' experience at Minidoka. Kaitlyn attended the Minidoka Pilgrimage as a youth scholar and this became the starting point of her involvement in Seattle’s Japanese American community and the creation of Nikkei Student Union at UW with her fellow youth scholars. She is looking forward to sharing the Japanese American story alongside Nikkei Rising. Kaitlyn is a graduate of the UW School of Pharmacy and currently works as a community pharmacist. She enjoys baking with her mom and listening to Super Junior and MAMAMOO in her free time.
Lauren Matsumoto
Lauren (she/her) is a 4th gen Japanese American (yonsei) and 3rd/4th gen Chinese American, born and raised in San Diego, California. Motivated by the desire to understand her hyphen identity, learn more about her own heritage, and preserve her family's JA incarceration story (Tule Lake and Gila River), in college Lauren found her way to the nikkei community by becoming a student leader for UCSD Nikkei Student Union, national JACL and her local San Diego chapter, and the Manzanar Committee. Lauren is a 2019 graduate of UCSD with a BA in International Studies-International Business and double minors in Japanese Studies and Accounting. She currently serves as a bridge between the US and Japan working at the non-profit, U.S.-Japan Council.
Rene Kumiko Nichols
Rene Kumiko Nichols is a Shin-Sansei born and raised in the Salinas Valley. She is a graduate of UC Davis with a BS in Global Disease Biology and minor in Public Health. Rene is passionate about learning and preserving JA histories. During her free time, she loves reading, doing origami, and going on long walks outdoors.
Ryan Scanlan
Ryan Scanlan is a sansei on his mom’s side. He worked as a founding treasurer for the Nikkei Student Union at San Francisco State University with Hiro. Being mixed race, Ryan hopes to continue to embracing his Japanese-American heritage while helping foster community & empowerment for those around him. Ryan is also a music nerd and he love cats, bodies of water, and blue, brown & cream as a color combination.
Matt Weisbly
Matthew Weisbly is the Education and Communications Coordinator for the Japanese American Citizens League. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California with a degree in Japanese and Japanese American history. His senior thesis explored demographic data and oral histories of Nisei soldiers with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In school, he was formerly the President of his school's Nikkei Student Union, Vice-President of the Mixed Race Student Community, and was part of the collegiate taiko group, Kazan Taiko. All while working part-time for the Asian Pacific American Student Services office on campus. A long time JACL member, he also served as the Youth Representative for the Arizona Chapter and as the inaugural Ted T. Namba fellow for the PSW district.
Robbie Yoshikawa
Robbie Yoshikawa is a 2020 graduate of California State University - Fullerton who found his love of the JA community through his involvement in Nikkei Student Union. Especially being inspired by his older brother, Ryan, and his involvement in JACL, Robbie has an ever growing passion for volunteer work and supporting JA/Asian American businesses and art. He also is a musical artist, himself, going by the stage name of Kyori The Okapi (Kyori loosely translating to “distance” and the Okapi animal representing the uniqueness of JAs). He currently works at AHTKY Insurance Agency, where he serves the JA community with their insurance needs.