Interviews — Journal – Recipes, Rituals, Travel and Design

Allie Barnes on Using Your Heirlooms Regularly and Re-Connecting to Judaism as a Mother

The Culture Luminaries series is back this week with Allie Barnes (@alliesbest)! I loved chatting with Allie about her YouTube channel, her ritual objects, and she even brought on a special little guest, too!

Diana Emiko Tsuchida on the Importance of Reclaiming History and Cherishing Family Heirlooms

Diana is an independent historian, writer, and the creator of @tessakuproject a preservation project and printed journal series dedicated to sharing oral histories from Japanese American elders who lived through the WWII incarceration.

East Meets Dress on Creating Traditional Yet Modern Styles for Asian American Brides

The Culture Luminaries series continues with Vivian and Jenn of East Meets Dress! During her own wedding planning process, co-founder Jenn struggled to find a modern qipao and answers to her questions about her wedding tea ceremony. Two years later, together with her maid of honor Vivian, she launched East Meets Dress to help other brides in a similar position.

Culture Luminaries Series

Join me at lunchtime (PST) on Wednesdays for the Culture Luminaries IG Live Series! Each week, I'll be interviewing the women who are inspiring me right now as culture leaders in a diverse array of fields. They will share how they honor and/or blend their cultural traditions at home, how they define heirlooms, and share stories about the ones they hold closest to their hearts.

InterviewsArisa NakamuraMay 21, 2020culture, women, food, history, women of color, traditions, heirloomComment

Artist Ema Kubo on Blending Two Distinct Cultural Traditions on Paper

Ema is a Japanese American artist, art historian, art history teacher, and mother. What I love so much about Ema is how she shows us the realness of being an artist mama and of course her beautiful ink and watercolor work.

InterviewsArisa NakamuraMay 20, 2020culture, heirloom, japanese american, rituals, ema, kubo, artist, culture luminaries seriesComment

Nourish Co. Ritual Cup Collaboration: An Interview with Ceramicist Tracie Hervy

Ritual cups have been used in cultures and spiritual traditions spanning the globe for thousands of years. In this collaboration, we were inspired by the 500-year-old Japanese art of kintsugi. For the Ritual Cup, I’ve partnered with one of my favorite ceramicists, Tracie Hervy. Tracie is based in New York and inspired by the purity and simplicity of prehistoric vessels.

InterviewsArisa NakamuraNovember 13, 2019heirloom, ritual, ritual cup, tracie hervy, shopComment

Nourish Co. Challah Cover Collaboration: An Interview with Broiderie Stitch

This is the challah cover I’ve been dreaming of for years! I wanted to create a very pared-back, contemporary design of the Biblical Seven Species. It was also important to me to not include any words, so that this heirloom could be multi-purposed. Each challah cover is made entirely by hand by a team of artisans in New England, Broiderie Stitch.

InterviewsKristin PosnerNovember 13, 2019challah, challah cover, broiderie stitch, heirloom, ritual, homeComment

The Nourish Co. Sakura Tray + An Interview with Tina Frey

It was always puzzling to me that when we create a sacred moment around our dinner table for Shabbat or a holiday, we would set down an heirloom pair of silver candlesticks on an old piece of junk mail or foil to protect the table from burning wax. I wished there was something just as special to use instead, so I set out to have one made! In this collaboration, we’ve reproduced a tray in a design that has come to be synonymous with San Francisco-based artist Tina Frey.

InterviewsKristin PosnerOctober 17, 2019heirloom, tray, sakura, cherry blossom, tina frey, shopComment

An Interview with Ilana Kaufman of the Jews of Color Field Building Initiative

The work of Ilana Kaufman, the founder of Jews of Color Field Building Initiative has been encouraging and inspiring me so much lately. I can’t remember the first time I heard about Ilana because I have admittedly read every single article about Ilana and her work on the Internet; what she does is very near and dear to my heart.

An Interview with the Artist Behind Alyson Iwamoto Ceramics

Today I am so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite jewelry designers and ceramicists, Alyson Iwamoto! For me, when I wear an Alyson Iwamoto piece, it also feels like a way to wear my heritage proudly for all to see, and there’s something profoundly healing and powerful in that.

InterviewsKristin PosnerSeptember 17, 2019jewelry, alyson, iwamoto, ceramics, maker, artisan, japanese, japanese americanComment

An Interview with Naomi Takata Shepherd, the Creator Behind 6 Degrees of Hapa

Today I am so excited to introduce you to Naomi Takata Shepherd, the talented creator behind 6 Degrees of Hapa! I found myself reading Naomi’s powerful and thoughtful answers over and over again in the course of the last week. I hope that you too will find her interview as inspiring as I did, and that it will renew your sense of pride in your own identity— as it does for me.

InterviewsKristin PosnerSeptember 16, 2019naomi, 6 Degrees of Hapa, Hapa, design, mixed raceComment

A Day at Japanese American Family Farm, Hikari Farms

A couple of years back, I was so happy to discover Hikari Farms through Bi-Rite market. Everything they grow is certified organic, and you can just feel the love they put into everything. So I was over the moon when Janet Nagamine, the second generation owner, reached out and invited me to the farm for a tour and nabe lunch. Today, I am so excited to share my experience and everything I learned about this small but mighty and inspirational farm here.

InterviewsKristin PosnerSeptember 11, 2019Hikari Farms, japanese american, japanese american history, family, family owned, local, foodComment