What do you mean by "Nikkei" and "Decolonization"?

Our About NDT page answers this question well, but here are a few more words on the topic:

Nikkei refers to members of the Japanese empire's diaspora. As opposed to Japanese American, Nikkei is inclusive of diaspora members from all over the globe, not only the U.S. Additionally, Nikkei includes people whose ancestors were colonial subjects of Japan or came to live in Japan but are not of traditionally-defined Japanese ancestry.

For example, members of our most recent delegation include folks who are Zainichi Korean, who are Japanese Latin-American, Japanese-Canadian, of Filipino-Japanese ancestry, and so on. We may not all be "Japanese American," but we are all Nikkei.

When we talk about decolonizing Nikkei, we mean learning about Japan's history outside of modern Japanese frameworks: it's like learning about the history of the Japanese American internment camps from a former incarceree, rather than from a truncated textbook paragraph.

The Japanese government is in heavy denial of its imperial atrocities, and that denial perpetuates many injustices that occur on the archipelago today. When we say we want to decolonize Nikkei, it means we want to connect with the people of Japan and its former imperial subjects in an authentic way that embraces the  archipelago in its entirety, creating space for positive change, rather than sanitizing its history.

Japan's government does not take responsibility for its history, and as Nikkei, we carry a responsibility to our homeland to see it as it is, not as we would wish it to be. Nikkei decolonization tour rejects the rose-colored glasses of tourism in favor of reality — a harder path, perhaps, but a more rewarding one.

When/where is your next tour?

We are in the early planning stage for a trip in 2026. Stay tuned, and get in contact if you're interested in joining! But we also respond to custom requests to help create an Itinerary. We're happy to help either way!

Can I join a future tour?

We'd love to have you! Reach out to us at nikkeidecolonizationtour@gmail.com or using our contact form, and we'll be in touch!

How else can I get involved?

If you can't join us abroad, we'd love to have your help spreading the word! Contact us about volunteer opportunities, fundraising events, and guest lectures!

Can I donate?

When we announce our next tour, we will fundraise to help cover the program costs and to help fund our teachback events after the trip. We also hold fundraisers in the Bay Area sometimes — follow our social media accounts to stay in the loop!