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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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Our biggest community mental health conference yet! At this year’s Ebb and Flow, it was inspiring to spend a day in Little Tokyo focused on AANHPI mental health through panel discussions, workshops, and more 🍵 Thank you to our sponsors, amazing speakers, break out venues, volunteers, and attendees, who came with open hearts and minds to discuss mental health in our community. Visit the link in our bio if you’d like to continue to support our work in mental health and more!
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【Queer Obon Presented by Okaeri @ Terasaki Budokan 9/20/2026】 9月20日、リトルトーキョーの寺崎武道館で「Queer Obon Presented by Okaeri」が開催されました。 Okaeriは、LGBTQ+の日系人とその家族が、日系文化とのつながりを大切にしながら安心して「帰ってこられる場所」をつくるコミュニティ。「おかえり」には、ありのままの自分で戻ってきてほしいという思いが込められています。 原点は、トランスジェンダーの息子Aidenを持つMarsha Aizumiの経験。2014年に活動を始め、2023年には日本のお盆文化とLGBTQ+ Nikkeiの居場所づくりを結びつけたQueer Obonが誕生。2025年からLTSCの正式プログラムとなり、今年は亡くなった創設者Marshaや先人たちを偲びながら、盆踊りを通して交流しました。 オープニングでは、西羅府仏教会の梅津廣英僧侶がまずお盆の意味について説明がありました。 父が3年前に亡くなった日（日本時間の9月21日）にこのようなお話が聞けて良かったです。 TAIKOPROJECTの力強い演奏に加え、「太鼓を叩いてみたい！」という参加者に実際に打ち方を教えるなど、体験できる時間を取っているのも良かったです。 . 私は今回が初参加。先月、Little Tokyo Dance Club（LTDC）の役員となり、日本語でのSNS発信を担当するようになり、以前よりさらに日系コミュニティとのつながりを感じながら参加しました。Wesley、Martha、Shirley、EftonといったLTDCの役員たちと一緒に参加できたのも嬉しかったです。 ペルーから家族でLAへ移住した日系人（スペイン語の先生）Lizともゆっくり話すことができました。「日系」といっても、その背景や歩んできた道は本当に色々です。 . 始まった頃は会場が空いていて「大丈夫かな？」と心配していましたが、午後7時の盆踊りが近づくにつれて、どんどん増え、やがて溢れるほどの人数に！踊りの輪は4〜5重にもなり、一番外側で踊っていると、前後左右の人と何度も手がぶつかってしまうほどの混みようでした。 . 「人種とか性別とかに、いったい何の問題があるんだろう？」 輪になって踊りながらふと思ったこと。 「論点が最初から人種や性別に向かわないことこそ、健全なのではないのか？」と。 . 様々な背景を持つ人たちが盆踊りの輪で踊っている光景を見ながら、自分の言うことを聞かないと言う理由で感情的に公私混同の排除を受け続けている今、LGBTQ+・「Okaeri＝おかえり」という言葉の意味を重ね合わせて考える夜でした。 On Sept. 20, Queer Obon was held at Terasaki Budokan in Little Tokyo. Okaeri offers LGBTQ+ Nikkei and their families a place to return as themselves while staying connected to their culture. Its roots lie in Marsha Aizumi’s experience with her transgender son Aiden. Rev. Ko’e Umezu opened by explaining the meaning of Obon. My father passed away three years ago on Sept. 21, Japan time, so hearing this was especially meaningful. TAIKOPROJECT performed and let guests try the drums. This was my first visit. Since joining the LITTLE TOKYO DANCE CLUB board last month, I feel more connected to the community. I also enjoyed talking with Liz, a Nikkei Spanish teacher from Peru. By 7 p.m., Outdoor Plaza was packed with four dance circles. As we danced, I wondered, “Why should race or gender be an issue at all?” While experiencing exclusion myself simply because I won’t do what one person wants, LGBTQ+ and “Okaeri”—welcome home—carried an even deeper meaning. #Okaeri #LGBTQ+ #LittleTokyoDanceClub #TerasakiBudokan
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I love @okaeri.community
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✨ Exciting weekend of queer joy ahead! This is just a mere sampling of allll the sapphic friendly events happening in the city this weekend — for even more, make sure you are subscribed to our queer events newsletter. We got you on ticket links, discounts and more, every Monday morning! Bio link to tap in❣️ LOVE YA #queerevents #losangeles #wlw #sapphic #lgbt
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#queercommunity #queerevents #lgbtqia #wlw
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The 2026 Nisei Week Court had the opportunity to stroll through the heart of Little Tokyo, visiting the small businesses, organizations, and community spaces that make our neighborhood so special. These visits are more than just a day in the community — they give the Court the chance to learn about the people, stories, and traditions that have shaped Little Tokyo and continue to keep it thriving today. We are incredibly grateful to the local business owners and community organizations who welcomed the court, shared their stories, and gave them a deeper appreciation for the community they represent. Thank you to the small businesses, volunteers, and community members who pour so much heart into Little Tokyo. Your continued support and dedication help preserve its history, celebrate its culture, and carry its spirit forward for generations to come. 💛 And a HUGE thank you to our official photographer @toyomiyatakestudio for these photos and always being our long standing partner in preserving history!
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#lgbtqia #queercommunity #queerevents #wlw
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On Sunday, August 16th, PFLAG SGV API marched with the API Rainbow Coalition in the Nisei Week Parade, alongside @okaeri.community , @vietrainbowoc, and other friends — the first time LGBTQ+ support for the API and Nikkei community has been represented in this beloved parade's history. Marching together in Little Tokyo, we showed up for our API and Nikkei families with visible, vocal support. We're proud to have stood in this milestone moment, and grateful to everyone who marched and cheered it on. #pflag #leadingwithlove #pflagproud
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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
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🎏🍱 Nisei Week 2026 🍱🎏 What an awesome Nisei Week Grand Parade! Had an amazing time in the parade with Mayor Sharon Kalani, Assemblymemeber Al Murasutchi, Councilmember David Kartsonis, the WWII Camp Wall Foundation, and family and friends. Also had the excellent pleasure of driving Councilmember Asam Sheikh for the parade route! Always such an honor to represent Torrance, Okaeri, and the WWII Japanese American Incarceration Monument in moments of celebration like the annual Nisei Week Grand Parade in Little Tokyo. Loved getting to see so many friends, loved ones, and incredible community members. Festivities will continue through August 23rd! Follow @niseiweek @niseiweekplaza and @secret.losangeles for more! #niseiweekparade #niseiweek #littletokyo #teamtorrance
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🎉It is finally time to register for the 2026 CalFresh Forum! Join us in-person at the California Ballroom in Oakland, CA on Thursday, September 24 to imagine food justice beyond the constraints of what we are told is politically possible. 🎉¡Por fin es hora de registrarse al Foro CalFresh 2026! Reúnete con nosotros en persona en el California Ballroom, en Oakland, CA, el jueves 24 de septiembre para imaginar la justicia alimentaria más allá de las limitaciones de lo que nos han dicho que es políticamente posible. 🎉 2026 年 CalFresh 論壇的報名終於開始了！ 歡迎於 9 月 24 日（星期四）親臨加州奧克蘭的加州宴會廳（California Ballroom），與我們一同構思超越「政治上可行」這項框架所限制的糧食正義。 🎉 2026 年 CalFresh 论坛的报名终于开始了！ 欢迎于9月24日（星期四）亲临加州奥克兰市的加州宴会厅（California Ballroom），与我们共同畅想超越所谓“政治可行性”限制的粮食正义。
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🤠Heel Toe Tokyo 🎌 📸 Photos post 2 of 3 💝
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