“Okaeri has been an important resource and support for many LGBTQ+ Japanese Americans, including me. This book is a great reflection of this community and its ever growing pride. Letters to Home will provide a unique sense of belonging wherever you are. Please read it and feel the warmth and welcome of coming home.” - George Takei

Letters to Home is among the first anthologies to spotlight LGBTQ+ Nikkei and ally experiences through an intergenerational lens. Bringing together art, poetry, and story-telling from nearly 50 contributors across the US and Japan, it offers a nuanced exploration of the trials and triumphs of finding community, and the process of co-constructing a sense of belonging for queer and trans Nikkei.

Works in this collection represent a range of professional and personal backgrounds, and feature Nikkei voices from locations including California, Hawai’i, Chicago, New York, and Japan. Contributors were asked to reflect on the Japanese phrase “okaeri” (お帰り), meaning “welcome home” or “welcome back,” as it relates to their lived experiences as queer Nikkei and allies.

In the words of Okaeri’s founder, Marsha Aizumi, “okaeri” reflects the hope that “no matter how far you have traveled from the JA community, you can always return home and be welcomed.” Through Letters to Home, we recognize that such an environment can only be created when we find the courage to share our stories and foster love, empathy, and understanding. This informed our desire to capture all Nikkei voices—LGBTQ+, parent, and ally—as well as provide a resource of hope and resilience to readers of all backgrounds.

Letters to Home was co-edited by Michael Matsuno, Cody Uyeda, and Rino Kodama, with cover art by Mitsuko Brooks, and layout design by Daniel Tomita.

Pick up a copy of Letters to Home on Amazon or at the JANM Book store!