Mimi Okabe

Mimi_O

Mimi Okabe was born in Miyagi but immigrated to Canada with her family when she was 11-months-old. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Alberta where she currently teaches. Her research interests in Nikkei identity and culture were inspired by having co-founded Japanese for Nikkei (JFN) with her osananajimi, Sachi. In JFN’s first year of business, we have served members of the global Nikkei community from Canada and the United States, Sweden, Japan, and Australia! We look forward to growing our community! Learn more about Japanese for Nikkei at www.japanesefornikkei.com!

Updated September 2021

food en ja es pt

What is Nikkei Food? A Conversation with Chef Ron Elmaleh

By Mimi Okabe
18 Feb 2022

What does Japanese or Nikkei food in Canada look like? Taste like? Who better to ask than the executive chef and owner of Kobachi Japanese Cuisine, Ron Elmaleh. Ron is a Japanese Moroccan who was born in Israel and grew up in Japan. He went to school in the United States and currently resides in Alberta, Canada. Ron’s diverse cultural and culinary experience provides a unique perspective on how we can understand and appreciate Nikkei food, but before we delve into the topic, first, here is a little about his restaurant. Nestled in the quiet town of Sherwood Park in Alberta, Canada, a…

culture en

Writing Wrongs in the Past and Present: How Director Sherri Kajiwara is Preserving Nikkei Voices in Canada - Part 2

By Mimi Okabe
2 Feb 2022

Writing Wrongs: Intro to Protest Letters/Paroles perdues : introduction aux lettres de protestation.© Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, 2021. Read Part 1 >> I really enjoyed the process of reading through Writing Wrongs. The four “chapters” highlighted different historical moments and the highs and lows for Japanese immigrants. I found the juxtaposition of images from the past and present really interesting and as a constant reminder of the legacy of the Nikkei people in Canada. Which one of the chapters resonates with you the most? Is there a particula…

culture en

Writing Wrongs in the Past and Present: How Director Sherri Kajiwara is Preserving Nikkei Voices in Canada - Part 1

By Mimi Okabe
1 Feb 2022

Back in November, I had the opportunity to conduct an email interview with Sherri Kajiwara, the Director and Curator of Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (NNMCC) in Burnaby, Canada, who gave us a behind-the-scenes look at her most recent online exhibit, Writing Wrongs: Japanese Canadian Protest Letters of the 1940s. Available in both English and French, Writing Wrongs invites you to explore aspects of Canadian history that are not always taught in school. From stories of hope to endurance, the online exhibit features four main channels for you to navigate the history of Japanese …

identity en

Nikkei Chronicles #10—Nikkei Generations: Connecting Families & Communities

Yoru no kangaegoto | Night Thoughts

By Mimi Okabe, Sachi Kikuchi
17 Sep 2021

“Jyā mata raishū ne!” “See you later!” The Zoom call ends, and I finally head to bed. Another long day has passed for the both of us. Meetings, deadlines, teaching. Otsukare sama! As I lie on my bed, staring into the dark abyss above, I reflect on how the day went, and the things I need to prepare for tomorrow. How did we get here? By here, I mean co-founding Japanese for Nikkei and trying to advocate the importance of creating Nikkei spaces for language learners to thrive. For so long, I’ve been trying to run in the opposite direction of having …

Submit an article

Discover Nikkei

Japanese migrants and their descendants

Mimi Okabe

Nikkei Chronicles #10—Nikkei Generations: Connecting Families & Communities

Series this author contributes to

Roger Arakaki, Chef and Teacher

Nikkei Chronicles #11—Itadakimasu 3! Nikkei Food, Family, and Community

Food for Thought—TikTok & Tamagoyaki

Nikkei Chronicles #11—Itadakimasu 3! Nikkei Food, Family, and Community

Intercultural Communication Through Sushi

The Nisei Women Who Fought—And Won—An Early Redress Battle In Seattle

子どもをサーファーにするため渡米 ― 五十嵐ツトムさんとミサさん

Nikkei Chronicles #12—Growing Up Nikkei: Connecting with Our Heritage

Journal Entry #Lesson 3450: "Sharpen Your Pencils!"

Narumi Ogusuku Ubiquitous Nikkei Artist

Herald Salutes – Staff Sergeant Higuchi

The Morgenthau Diaries and FDR's Troubling Views of Minorities

書評：和泉真澄『日系カナダ人の移動と運動―知られざる日本人の越境生活史』

1992年渡米、目標は「アカデミー賞」— 俳優の井上英治さん

Kizuna 2020: Nikkei Kindness and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tiempos pandémicos: teletrabajo y koden digital

Kizuna 2020: Nikkei Kindness and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 e os heróis anônimos

香川県海外移民の父：今雪真一の情熱と功績

第３部：金子正則知事の南米訪問とその主な見解

We Need Your Help!

Help us expand translations on Discover Nikkei.

Get updates

Support this project

A project of the

Major support by

Journal Entry #Lesson 3450: "Sharpen Your Pencils!"

Narumi Ogusuku Ubiquitous Nikkei Artist

Herald Salutes – Staff Sergeant Higuchi

The Morgenthau Diaries and FDR's Troubling Views of Minorities

Mercedes Luna: Thriving Within Her Rich Heritage - Part 2

Mercedes Luna: Thriving Within Her Rich Heritage - Part 1

Remembering Roger Daniels

Journal Entry #6am – 8am: "Childhood Delusions..."

Digging up Ways to Honor Her Ancestors—Kyoko Oda and Ireichō

Aloha 'Oe, Dr. Franklin Odo: Remembering a Brilliant Scholar and a Special Mentor and Friend - Part 2

Aloha 'Oe, Dr. Franklin Odo: Remembering a Brilliant Scholar and a Special Mentor and Friend - Part 1

Journal Entry #78.79 Years: "This Mortal Coil..."

Cuando llegue el momento

Journal Entry #At Least 195 Degrees...: "Unusual Tastes..."

Parental Responsibilities

Chapter 11 (Part 2) Picture-Bride Marriages on the Rise

Miye Sugino—Art as Advocacy: “To me, art is a reclamation of identity”

Veteran History – Earl Terao: Kotonk in Paradise

Poetry - Cow 1 Is Not Cow 2

Virgil William Westdale Takes One Last Flight at 104

Journal Entry #5 Great Powers: "I'm Telling You Why..."

No Christmas Like an Inouye Family Christmas

Reflections on a Pilgrimage: The Dust of Poston

Grammy-Nominated Musician Masa Takumi and His Move to the U.S. in 2018

ByFood.com: A Cornucopia of Information for Planning Food Adventures and More in Japan — Part 1

Academy Award Nominated Writer Iris Yamashita Uses Her Lifelong Love of Writing to Forge Her Next Chapter

Dr. T.T. Yatabe, the American Loyalty League, and the Birth of the JACL

Chapter 11 (Part 1) Picture-Bride Marriages on the Rise

How Do Nikkei Living in Japan Spend Their New Year?

Bay Area Man Recalls Career Exploring World for Energy in Exotic Places

Journal Entry #70 MM, B.C.: "Santa Claus is coming to town!"

In Tribute to Roger Daniels: The Father of Us All

Remembering Roger Daniels—A Reflection

William Saroyan and the search for "The Japanese American Novel"

Joe Oishi’s Nursery and The Promised Year

Stone Songs

Reflections on a Concocted Conversation

40 Years of Toronto Taiko with Kiyoshi Nagata — Part 2

'A Heuristic Model' for Historians to Emulate with Other Camps

Nikkei in Motown: Masao Hirata, Diego Rivera and Japanese in Detroit

Journal Entry #2023: "I Resolve to Win the Lotto..."

Japanese Canadian Culture Through a Japanese Lens

A Lifetime Christmas Gift

Two Books That Shine New Light on the Nisei Experience in Japan

Expansion

Recollections from Jerome and Rohwer

ByFood.com: A Cornucopia of Information for Planning Food Adventures and More in Japan — Part 2

Candies Falling from the Sky

40 Years of Toronto Taiko with Kiyoshi Nagata — Part 1