Discover Nikkei, a web-based project of the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) that promotes connections and understanding among the global Japanese diaspora, announces the 14th edition of its “Nikkei Chronicles” special series, an annual, themed open call for writings.

For Discover Nikkei’s 20th anniversary, this year’s theme, “Nikkei Family 2: Remembering Roots, Leaving Legacies,” calls for stories, essays, and vignettes that celebrate and honor Nikkei family stories in all their forms.

Submissions are accepted until Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. Those that meet the guidelines and criteria will be published in the Discover Nikkei Journal on a rolling basis.

All submissions must be sent by email and formatted using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Submissions must include a short author biography, a headshot, and at least one image to accompany the piece. Multiple submissions and submissions written by multiple authors are welcome.

Submissions are also eligible for selection as the Nima-kai community favorite. Nima are members of the Discover Nikkei online community called Nima-kai. “Nima” stems from the combination of Nikkei and “nakama,” which is Japanese for “colleagues,” “fellows,” or “circle.” Writers are encouraged to submit their work early so that readers can vote for their favorites by logging in and giving it a “star.”

Four additional stories in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese will be selected by the editorial committee composed of Susan Ito, a Sansei writer and memoirist; Ryusuke Kawai, a journalist and nonfiction writer; Harumi López Higa, a Peruvian film director and visual artist with Okinawan roots; and Kiyoshi Harada, a jurist, university professor, and author.

More information, including guidelines and writing prompts, will be available on DiscoverNikkei.org.

The community sponsors of “Nikkei Family 2: Remembering Roots, Leaving Legacies” are Associa??o Cultural e Beneficente Nipo Brasileira de Curitiba (Japanese Brazilian Cultural and Charitable Association of Curitiba, Curitiba, Brazil), Hawaii United Okinawan Association, Liceo Mexicano Japonés, A.C. (Japanese Mexican School-Mexico City), and the National Association of Japanese Canadians.

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