Chasing Cherry Blossoms Thu, 06 Aug 2026 11:13:50 -0400 https://www.un-nun.com/chasing-cherry-blossoms en-us © 2026 © 2022 Chasing Cherry Blossoms yes cc09e800-d2cb-593c-8bcf-e6a07fec8cdb @reina.unnun episodic false  Reframing the American story through the multicultural experience:

An educational community storytelling podcast series featuring conversations with Japanese Americans and beyond.

As Americans grapple with increasing tension and division, what can we learn from the past to connect with each other? The series features conversations with Japanese Americans and beyond, and explores identity, culture, and history in a multicultural society.

Produced by an educator and students with diverse backgrounds, the series aims to embrace and empower local communities with multicultural experiences to share their stories and reimagine the future together.




]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) @reina.unnun https://storage.buzzsprout.com/24z5xwnmkelozsfwl5gbu0gjmcxh?.jpg Chasing Cherry Blossoms https://www.un-nun.com/chasing-cherry-blossoms Episode 13: Resettlement - Chicago Story Episode 13: Resettlement - Chicago Story Guest: Jean Mishima, President, Chicago Japanese American Historical Society

Jean Mishima was one of more than 20,000 people of Japanese ancestry to resettle in Chicago after she was incarcerated by the US government during WWII. After her incarceration at the age of six, Jean spent her youth helping her mother re-establish their lives by running a dry cleaning business. Jean’s mother was a fierce survivor who left the incarceration camp early by learning to sew and getting a job. She divorced her husband and restarted her life as a single parent of three children. Jean's story inspired the short film, Resettlement: Chicago Story, which was released last year by Full Spectrum Features as part of a cinematic digital history project that teaches Japanese American history to K-12 students.

Produced by Reina Higashitani 

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Jean Mishima, President, Chicago Japanese American Historical Society

Jean Mishima was one of more than 20,000 people of Japanese ancestry to resettle in Chicago after she was incarcerated by the US government during WWII. After her incarceration at the age of six, Jean spent her youth helping her mother re-establish their lives by running a dry cleaning business. Jean’s mother was a fierce survivor who left the incarceration camp early by learning to sew and getting a job. She divorced her husband and restarted her life as a single parent of three children. Jean's story inspired the short film, Resettlement: Chicago Story, which was released last year by Full Spectrum Features as part of a cinematic digital history project that teaches Japanese American history to K-12 students.

Produced by Reina Higashitani 

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-16458541 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 22:00:00 -0500 1624 2 13 full false Episode 12: Becoming Okinawan Episode 12: Becoming Okinawan Guest: Susan Miyagi McCormac, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Japan Culture NYC


As Gaby tries to define his multicultural identity, he meets Susan Miyagi McCormac, who grew up in North Carolina with an Okinawan mother and a U.S. military father. When Susan discovered that the 1945 Battle of Okinawa (in which the U.S. invaded Okinawa) began on her mother’s birthday, she felt an urgency to learn about her mother’s heritage. Susan is now a Japanese American community leader in New York City and runs the website Japan Culture NYC, a go-to resource for Japanese culture, events, and businesses.

Produced by Gabriel Bhasin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Susan Miyagi McCormac, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Japan Culture NYC


As Gaby tries to define his multicultural identity, he meets Susan Miyagi McCormac, who grew up in North Carolina with an Okinawan mother and a U.S. military father. When Susan discovered that the 1945 Battle of Okinawa (in which the U.S. invaded Okinawa) began on her mother’s birthday, she felt an urgency to learn about her mother’s heritage. Susan is now a Japanese American community leader in New York City and runs the website Japan Culture NYC, a go-to resource for Japanese culture, events, and businesses.

Produced by Gabriel Bhasin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-16361806 Fri, 03 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0500 1593 2 12 full false Episode 11: Increasing Visibility: From Incarceration Camp to the National Medal of the Arts Episode 11: Increasing Visibility: From Incarceration Camp to the National Medal of the Arts Guest: Joan Shigekawa, Arts and Culture Philanthropist

Many artists with underrepresented backgrounds face additional challenges when they first try to set their career path. Gaby talks to Joan Shigekawa, who received the National Medal of the Arts from the President of the United States in 2021. Since she was incarcerated as a child by the U.S. government during WWII, she made an extraordinary career in the film and television industry, and later in philanthropy work in supporting arts and culture. She shares stories of resiliency from landing her first job at CBS despite her limited experience, to producing a feminist television series in the 1970s, to her career transition after becoming a mother in her 40s. She talks about behaving invisibly, as many in our culture have been raised to do, calling it a huge mistake and advising us to be visible.

Produced by Gabriel Bhasin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Joan Shigekawa, Arts and Culture Philanthropist

Many artists with underrepresented backgrounds face additional challenges when they first try to set their career path. Gaby talks to Joan Shigekawa, who received the National Medal of the Arts from the President of the United States in 2021. Since she was incarcerated as a child by the U.S. government during WWII, she made an extraordinary career in the film and television industry, and later in philanthropy work in supporting arts and culture. She shares stories of resiliency from landing her first job at CBS despite her limited experience, to producing a feminist television series in the 1970s, to her career transition after becoming a mother in her 40s. She talks about behaving invisibly, as many in our culture have been raised to do, calling it a huge mistake and advising us to be visible.

Produced by Gabriel Bhasin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-16313392 Fri, 20 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0500 1667 2 11 full false Episode 10: The Last Japanese American Farmer Episode 10: The Last Japanese American Farmer Guest: Russell Tanita at Tanita Farm

Rusty’s father was one of the thirteen children of Naomasa Tanita who started farming in Arizona in 1928. The family business grew into a farming empire, Tanita Farm, once the largest grower and shipper of mixed vegetables in the state of Arizona in the 1960s. While the city has developed and generations of families have left farming, Rusty continues to farm in northwest Phoenix. He reflects on his family legacy as he helps a new generation of American farmers.

Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Russell Tanita at Tanita Farm

Rusty’s father was one of the thirteen children of Naomasa Tanita who started farming in Arizona in 1928. The family business grew into a farming empire, Tanita Farm, once the largest grower and shipper of mixed vegetables in the state of Arizona in the 1960s. While the city has developed and generations of families have left farming, Rusty continues to farm in northwest Phoenix. He reflects on his family legacy as he helps a new generation of American farmers.

Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13305590 Fri, 28 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 1464 1 10 full false Episode 9: A Long Journey Episode 9: A Long Journey Guest: Fumiko Sally Matsumoto Adams at Japanese American Citizen League Arizona Chapter

Growing up as a child of Japanese immigrants in the 1950s California often made Sally uncomfortable. After marrying her airman husband and living in Alaska for forty years, she finally began to reconcile with her heritage and became an active member of the Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter. 


Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Fumiko Sally Matsumoto Adams at Japanese American Citizen League Arizona Chapter

Growing up as a child of Japanese immigrants in the 1950s California often made Sally uncomfortable. After marrying her airman husband and living in Alaska for forty years, she finally began to reconcile with her heritage and became an active member of the Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter. 


Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13261098 Fri, 21 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1205 1 9 full false Episode 8: The Secret of Longevity Episode 8: The Secret of Longevity Guest: Irene Tsukada Simonian  at Bunkado

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to shutter, but as one of the few remaining original Japanese-owned businesses in Little Tokyo, legendary gift shop Bunkado had faced such hurdles before. What is the secret to its longevity? Bunkado owner Irene Tsukada Simonian shares her memories of growing up in Little Tokyo, and why she returned to run Bunkado after a 17-year absence from her hometown.

Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Irene Tsukada Simonian  at Bunkado

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many businesses to shutter, but as one of the few remaining original Japanese-owned businesses in Little Tokyo, legendary gift shop Bunkado had faced such hurdles before. What is the secret to its longevity? Bunkado owner Irene Tsukada Simonian shares her memories of growing up in Little Tokyo, and why she returned to run Bunkado after a 17-year absence from her hometown.

Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13217200 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 03:00:00 -0400 1447 1 8 full false Episode 7: The Strength of the Camps Episode 7: The Strength of the Camps Guest: Dr. Patricia Allyn Biggs at National Park Service, Manzanar National Historic Site

Every year, Japanese American communities across the nation organize a pilgrimage to former WWII incarceration camp sites. One of those sites is Manzanar National Historic Site in Southern California, preserved by the National Park Service. Historian and park ranger Dr. Biggs describes the everyday lives of 10,000 people who were forced to leave their homes, and their resilience while incarcerated in barracks in the middle of the desert.

Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest: Dr. Patricia Allyn Biggs at National Park Service, Manzanar National Historic Site

Every year, Japanese American communities across the nation organize a pilgrimage to former WWII incarceration camp sites. One of those sites is Manzanar National Historic Site in Southern California, preserved by the National Park Service. Historian and park ranger Dr. Biggs describes the everyday lives of 10,000 people who were forced to leave their homes, and their resilience while incarcerated in barracks in the middle of the desert.

Produced by Reina Higashtiani

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13178479 Fri, 07 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400 1400 1 7 full false Episode 6: Being Asian American Episode 6: Being Asian American Guests: Dr. Kathryn Nakagawa at Arizona State University / Baseline Flowers and Donna Cheung at Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter

Cat and Tin live-record a panel discussion at Arizona State University, as part of the AAPI Heritage Month celebration in the spring of 2022. Native Arizonan Dr. Nakagawa runs the last remaining Japanese American flower shop, established by her father in the 1950s. Growing up as a child of Chinese immigrants, Donna Cheung discusses how she felt connected to Japanese Americans' experience and served as a President of the Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter. They also answered questions from students from various backgrounds.

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter and Tinnley Sawan Subsin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guests: Dr. Kathryn Nakagawa at Arizona State University / Baseline Flowers and Donna Cheung at Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter

Cat and Tin live-record a panel discussion at Arizona State University, as part of the AAPI Heritage Month celebration in the spring of 2022. Native Arizonan Dr. Nakagawa runs the last remaining Japanese American flower shop, established by her father in the 1950s. Growing up as a child of Chinese immigrants, Donna Cheung discusses how she felt connected to Japanese Americans' experience and served as a President of the Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter. They also answered questions from students from various backgrounds.

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter and Tinnley Sawan Subsin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13106469 Fri, 30 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400 1374 1 6 full false Episode 5: Proud To Be Me Episode 5: Proud To Be Me Guest:  Cindi Kishiyama Harbottle at Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter

In the 1960s and ’70s, people used to travel long distances to see the Baseline Flower Fields in Phoenix, Arizona. Tin returns home and talks to Cindi Kishiyama-Harbottle at the Japanese American Citizen’s League Arizona Chapter. Cindi talks about how her family were early settlers in Arizona, and one of the first families to grow flowers at the legendary Japanese Flower Gardens on Baseline Road. Cindi tells stories of growing up at the flower shop her parents ran, as well as how she overcame struggles with finding her Asian-American identity.

Produced by Tinnley Sawan Subsin
* The pronunciation of “hapa” was pulled from the Cambridge Dictionary.

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guest:  Cindi Kishiyama Harbottle at Japanese American Citizen League, Arizona Chapter

In the 1960s and ’70s, people used to travel long distances to see the Baseline Flower Fields in Phoenix, Arizona. Tin returns home and talks to Cindi Kishiyama-Harbottle at the Japanese American Citizen’s League Arizona Chapter. Cindi talks about how her family were early settlers in Arizona, and one of the first families to grow flowers at the legendary Japanese Flower Gardens on Baseline Road. Cindi tells stories of growing up at the flower shop her parents ran, as well as how she overcame struggles with finding her Asian-American identity.

Produced by Tinnley Sawan Subsin
* The pronunciation of “hapa” was pulled from the Cambridge Dictionary.

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13093706 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 06:00:00 -0400 1757 1 5 full false Episode 4: Asian Enough? Episode 4: Asian Enough? Guests: Kathy Masaoka and Yasuko Sakamoto at Little Tokyo Service Center

Tin’s next destination is the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), an organization that provides social welfare and community services in Little Tokyo. They have been a major force in preserving the town while welcoming people from various ethnicities. Tin speaks to Kathy Masaoka, a board member of LTSC, and Yasuko Sakamoto, a founding member and former Director of Social Services at the organization. They discuss their journeys of finding community and acceptance.

Produced by Tinnley Sawan Subsin


Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guests: Kathy Masaoka and Yasuko Sakamoto at Little Tokyo Service Center

Tin’s next destination is the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), an organization that provides social welfare and community services in Little Tokyo. They have been a major force in preserving the town while welcoming people from various ethnicities. Tin speaks to Kathy Masaoka, a board member of LTSC, and Yasuko Sakamoto, a founding member and former Director of Social Services at the organization. They discuss their journeys of finding community and acceptance.

Produced by Tinnley Sawan Subsin


Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13050826 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0400 1405 1 4 full false Episode 3: Where are you REALLY from? Episode 3: Where are you REALLY from? Guests:  Dr. Brett Esaki at University of Arizona and Dane Ishibashi at Bunkado

Tin begins her journey as a biracial Asian American by traveling to Tucson to meet Dr. Brett Esaki, an assistant professor in the East Asian Studies Department at University of Arizona. Dr. Esaki – whose grandparents met in a Japanese American incarceration camp – shares his unique perspective on the camps, and along with insights on the power dynamics of silence in the Japanese-American community. She then travels to Little Tokyo in Downtown LA to meet Dane Ishibashi, the manager of legacy gift shop Bunkado. Dane talks about his experience as a fifth-generation Japanese American and the recent changes happening in Little Tokyo.

Produced by Tinnley Sawan Subsin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guests:  Dr. Brett Esaki at University of Arizona and Dane Ishibashi at Bunkado

Tin begins her journey as a biracial Asian American by traveling to Tucson to meet Dr. Brett Esaki, an assistant professor in the East Asian Studies Department at University of Arizona. Dr. Esaki – whose grandparents met in a Japanese American incarceration camp – shares his unique perspective on the camps, and along with insights on the power dynamics of silence in the Japanese-American community. She then travels to Little Tokyo in Downtown LA to meet Dane Ishibashi, the manager of legacy gift shop Bunkado. Dane talks about his experience as a fifth-generation Japanese American and the recent changes happening in Little Tokyo.

Produced by Tinnley Sawan Subsin

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-13007273 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:00:00 -0400 1453 1 3 full false Episode 2: Pride In My Heritage Episode 2: Pride In My Heritage Guests: Michael Komai and J.K. Yamamoto at Rafu Shimpo

To explore how Japanese Americans redefine their experience through community storytelling, Cat visits Rafu Shimpo, a 120-year-old Japanese-English bilingual newspaper operating in Los Angeles. Together with a group of ASU students, Cat talks to President and Publisher Michael Komai, and their longtime journalist, J.K. Yamamoto. Komai shares the story of his grandfather who was arrested by the FBI after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and how they hid Japanese-language letterpress print types to prevent confiscation by the FBI. As print businesses struggle to transition to the digital era, Rafu Shimpo survives by exploring partnerships and adapting to new reader demographics.  

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guests: Michael Komai and J.K. Yamamoto at Rafu Shimpo

To explore how Japanese Americans redefine their experience through community storytelling, Cat visits Rafu Shimpo, a 120-year-old Japanese-English bilingual newspaper operating in Los Angeles. Together with a group of ASU students, Cat talks to President and Publisher Michael Komai, and their longtime journalist, J.K. Yamamoto. Komai shares the story of his grandfather who was arrested by the FBI after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, and how they hid Japanese-language letterpress print types to prevent confiscation by the FBI. As print businesses struggle to transition to the digital era, Rafu Shimpo survives by exploring partnerships and adapting to new reader demographics.  

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-12965508 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400 1355 1 2 full false Episode 1: Banana Episode 1: Banana Guests: Dr. Mitchell Maki at Go For Broke National Education Center and Carolyn Sugiyama Classen at Southern AZ Japanese Cultural Coalition

An Arizona native, Cat often feels pressure to be a picture-perfect Asian despite her unfamiliarity with her heritage. She meets Dr. Mitchell T. Maki, President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center in Los Angeles, an organization that promotes equality by preserving the legacy of World War II American veterans of Japanese ancestry. Dr. Maki discusses how many Japanese Americans who were incarcerated by the U.S. government during WWII experienced shame that drove them to reject their Japanese heritage. 

Their discussion leads to Tucson, Arizona where Cat participates in a presentation by Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, former legislative aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. Carolyn details  her contribution to the 1980s redress movement, for which she drafted a bill that led to an unprecedented apology and monetary redress from the government. She also shares  the story of her father, who was expelled from USC due to his ancestry during WWII.

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> Guests: Dr. Mitchell Maki at Go For Broke National Education Center and Carolyn Sugiyama Classen at Southern AZ Japanese Cultural Coalition

An Arizona native, Cat often feels pressure to be a picture-perfect Asian despite her unfamiliarity with her heritage. She meets Dr. Mitchell T. Maki, President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center in Los Angeles, an organization that promotes equality by preserving the legacy of World War II American veterans of Japanese ancestry. Dr. Maki discusses how many Japanese Americans who were incarcerated by the U.S. government during WWII experienced shame that drove them to reject their Japanese heritage. 

Their discussion leads to Tucson, Arizona where Cat participates in a presentation by Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, former legislative aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. Carolyn details  her contribution to the 1980s redress movement, for which she drafted a bill that led to an unprecedented apology and monetary redress from the government. She also shares  the story of her father, who was expelled from USC due to his ancestry during WWII.

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter

Check out other episodes and slide shows on our website.

]]> @reina.unnun Buzzsprout-12924527 Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 -0400 1510 1 1 full false