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okaeri.community

@okaeri.community

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A Nikkei LGBTQ+ Community
• A program of Little Tokyo Service Center •
#OkaeriCommunity 🏳️‍🌈 🇯🇵 🇺🇸 👬 👭

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Join us Sunday, September 20th (updated date!) from 4 to 9 pm at the Terasaki Budokan for Queer Obon presented by Okaeri!🌈

Queer Obon presented by Okaeri is a community festival that gathers our Nikkei LGBTQ+ community to remember our queer ancestors through ceremony and dance! Okaeri continues this tradition with an inclusive festival of queer joy, remembrance, and belonging. The event will feature games, food, Obon altar, Bon Odori circle dancing, and more! Queer Obon is open to all LGBTQ+ communities and friends.

Sliding scale tickets available in the link in the bio by @okaeri.community

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2 months ago

As we enter 2026, we celebrate the life of Marsha Aizumi—founder of Okaeri, compassionate leader, selfless advocate, and dear friend. Marsha passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 18th, 2025 after a yearlong battle with leukemia.

Marsha’s LGBTQ+ advocacy began through her love for her son, Aiden, whose experiences after coming out as transgender inspired her to take action. A natural community leader, Marsha joined PFLAG National’s Board of Directors in 2011, and in 2012, co-founded PFLAG SGV API. In 2013, together with Aiden, she published “Two Spirits, One Heart,” recounting her and Aiden’s journeys towards love, acceptance, and hope.

In 2014, overcoming fear, stigma, and pushback, she convened the first conference for LGBTQ+ Nikkei at JANM. That conference then grew into Okaeri, through which Marsha showed what it meant to embody love and acceptance for Nikkei and LGBTQ+ individuals of all backgrounds and identities.

Yet, what shone brightest about Marsha was her magnetic personality. A self-described “connector” of people and ideas, she encouraged those around her to follow their hearts, and spared no effort in helping them towards their goals. She was a mother figure to anyone in need, always ready with a warm hug, a smile, and genuine empathy that made you feel like the most important person in the room. She also wore her heart on her sleeve, ready to cry at a moment’s notice because of how passionately she felt, and how deeply she cared.

Though Marsha is no longer with us, she lives on through the family and legacy she created through Okaeri, PFLAG, and her many years of advocacy. We are grateful and blessed to have known Marsha, and strive to move forward with her generous warmth and unwavering kindness as our guide. Today, and every day, we offer a heartfelt “okaeri” お帰り (welcome home) to each and every life she touched, knowing she would be proud to see our community continue to thrive.

“Okaeri is your community and we welcome you home.” - Marsha

Read our full statement on Marsha at: https://www.ltsc.org/in-memoriam-marsha-aizumi/

#Okaeri #OkaeriCommunity #Nikkei #LGBTQ by @okaeri.community

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8 months ago

We are so happy with our latest Okaeri Connects group for trans and gender diverse Nikkei, plus those questioning if they may be. Kai and Xander continue to serve as facilitators for this group as we continue indefinitely!🏳️‍⚧️ by @okaeri.community

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3 days ago

One of our interns, Sohei Wu, concluded his internship with us at the end of June 2026. For a full year he helped with many of Okaeri’s initiatives, including resource gathering, working our various in-person events, and social media creation. He is continuing to support Okaeri as he joins the Steering Committee. Read on to hear from Sohei about his time as an Okaeri intern. Thank you, Sohei!

“I wanted to join the Okaeri internship because I have always admired the work, programs, and messages that I had watched Marsha Aizumi and Keith Nishida do from afar and it has been an honor to work within Okaeri for even a brief term.

My internship with Okaeri has been an incredible experience and I could not be more thankful for everyone at Okaeri that has made it so. I have gotten to meet so many new, incredible people, and have made some wonderful memories.

My favorite part of my internship was getting to be involved in a future Okaeri project that involved filming with members of Okaeri’s community, both former and current, of varying degrees of involvement. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet different members of the community and see the outreach and impact of the organization.

I need to thank Cody especially for being a mentor for the majority of my internship and l Marie, another intern, who I had the pleasure of working with during part of my term, as well as Matthew and Deena for all their support.

I’ve gotten to learn so much through this internship and have gotten to participate in so many amazing projects, and am forever grateful for this experience!
-Sohei

If you are interested in becoming an intern, check the link in the bio for the application! by @okaeri.community

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11 days ago

Thank you to everyone for attending Queer Obon Presented by Okaeri! 🌈 It was so wonderful to get together to honor our loved ones through such a lively dance circle 🪭

A special thank you to Rev. Umezu and @gbc.ichimi for speaking and leading an activity, @taikoproject for performing throughout the event, @pocarisweatusa for keeping us hydrated, and to all our amazing volunteers for putting on such a fun event! taken in Terasaki Budokan - Little Tokyo Service Center by @okaeri.community

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12 days ago

Seeking experience in social media, community outreach, and being in community with Nikkei LGBTQ+ individuals? Apply for the Okaeri Internship!🌈

Eligibility: Open to all current or recently graduated high school, college, or graduate students. While Okaeri is a Nikkei LGBTQ+ organization, the internship is open to anyone and you do not need to belong to either category to apply.

Compensation: Following successful completion of the internship, the intern will be given a stipend of $750.

Application in the linktree! by @okaeri.community

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25 days ago

Get ready for Queer Obon by practicing the dances at home! Check the link in the bio for the set list and practice videos. taken in Terasaki Budokan - Little Tokyo Service Center by @okaeri.community

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a month ago

We made history in Little Tokyo! 🏮

Thank you to @Okaeri.community, a program of @ltsc.cdc, for inviting AJSOCAL to be part of the first-ever LGBTQ+ contingent in the Nisei Week Grand Parade!

Alongside @Vietrainbowoc, @PFLAGSGVAPI, API Rainbow Coalition, and more of our incredible QTAPI partners, we filled the streets with pride, joy, and the power of community.

Last weekend was more than just a parade. It was a reminder that visibility, inclusion, and representation matter now more than ever. We marched in honor of Okaeri's late founder, Marsha Aizumi, and in continued commitment to uplifting and supporting our entire community.

As the nation's only Nikkei LGBTQ+ organization, Okaeri continues to grow its impact as a program of Little Tokyo Service Center, expanding opportunities, resources, and outreach for future generations.

Here's to showing up, standing together, and making history. 🌈✨

#NiseiWeek #AJSOCAL #Okaeri #QTAPI #LittleTokyo #RepresentationMatters #LGBTQCommunity #VisibilityMatters #CommunityPower #Pride365 by @okaeri.community

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a month ago

Join us Sunday, September 20th from 4 to 9 pm at the Terasaki Budokan for Queer Obon presented by Okaeri!🌈

Queer Obon presented by Okaeri is a community festival that gathers our Nikkei LGBTQ+ community to remember our queer ancestors through ceremony and dance! Okaeri continues this tradition with an inclusive festival of queer joy, remembrance, and belonging. The event will feature games, food, Obon altar, Bon Odori circle dancing, and more! Queer Obon is open to all LGBTQ+ communities and friends.

Sliding scale tickets available in the link in the bio taken in Terasaki Budokan - Little Tokyo Service Center by @okaeri.community

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2 months ago

Join us at the Terasaki Budokan for odori (Dance) practice Wednesday September 2nd and 9th from 6 to 9 pm, and for a decoration making event on Saturday September 13th from 12-4pm for Queer Obon! by @okaeri.community

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2 months ago

Come find our LTSC, Changing Tides, and Okaeri booth on August 22nd at this year's Nisei Week Plaza Festival!⁠
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The Plaza Festival takes over JACCC Plaza in Little Tokyo August 22-23, with all day entertainment, food and drinks, vendors, games, and more. Follow @niseiweekplaza for the full lineup and details.⁠
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See you next week! taken in Japanese American Cultural & Community Center - JACCC by @okaeri.community

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2 months ago

Want to learn more about mental health? Want to explore wellness topics in a safe AAPI space? Join us at the 4th annual Ebb and Flow: Community Mental Health Conference! 🩵⁠
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This intergenerational conference highlights conversations about mental health in the Asian American community. This year's conference has breakout sessions at different Little Tokyo locations, and will feature workshops from @ltsc_changingtides and @okaeri.community!⁠
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🗓️ Saturday, October 17th, 9AM-5PM⁠
📍 Terasaki Budokan, 249 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012⁠
🎟️ Linked in our bio taken in Terasaki Budokan - Little Tokyo Service Center by @okaeri.community

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2 months ago