Connecting Across Generations – Nikkei Stroll @ UC Berkeley

Sept. 21, 2025

With over 60 people gathered, a curated dialogue on the Japanese American experience on the UC Berkeley campus through the decades was held.  View the reflections from guest speakers from the community as they remember campus life for students and faculty, as the different generations found their voice and community through challenging times.

Nancy Arata-Fong: 1931-1942 Nikkei student life before 1942, purchase of men’s and women’s dorms for JAs, 2013 cherry tree project

Kimi Kodani Hill: 1930-1954 – History of Professor Chiura Obata before professorship, during WWII, after WWII

Evelyn Nakano Glenn: 1958-1962 undergrad, 1990-2013 faculty Ethnic Studies and subsequent struggles to keep Ethnic Studies and the Center for Race and Gender alive

Peter Horikoshi: 1969-1973 Creation of Asian Studies after the Third World strike, working in Asian American communities, starting East Bay Japanese for Action, which became Japanese American Services of the East Bay and later J-Sei. Working with Professor Ron Takaki and writer Toshio Mori, and starting the Yokohama, California band.

Alec Macdonald: 1992-2007 Hapa Issues Forum