jcccnc / events / nikkei 2000

The following content was taken from the Official Nikkei 2000 Conference Summary and Analysis, organized and published by The California Japanese American Community Leadership Council, The Nikkei 2000 Conference Committee and the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California in June 2001. For a copy of this booklet or for more information, please contact us.

What does "Nikkei" mean?

The term "nikkei" is not necessarily interchangeable with the term "Japanese Americans." Although the term literally means "of Japanese ancestry," the Japanese currently use it to describe people of Japanese ancestry who've left Japan. We've found that with the changing definitions of what our community has become, "Japanese American" is too exclusive of a term. Participants in the conference found that, although far from perfect, "nikkei" was a better label. "Nikkei" is a state of mind, not a label defining ancestry. It applies to those who are simpatico with the Nikkei community and its people.

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What was the purpose of the Conference?

The Nikkei 2000 Conference was an opportunity to meet new challenges at the crossroads of a millennium. Four days in April gave participants from all facets of the Nikkei community a change to gather in one place to share their perspectives, abounding ideas and relevant community-building solutions.

Although there were plenty of networking opportunities, the main purpose of this conference was to use the collective brain trust of the participants to come up with a strategic plan to address the changing needs of the Nikkei community.

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What was the vision of the Conference?

Leap ahead to the year 2020 and envision the future. There are thriving Japantowns comprised of people of all ages, ethnicities and sexual preferences. Business is humming in those J-towns with a healthy mix of retail and professional services offered. There is a community center that offers a place for people to gather. Meetings are held regularly to address community issues and the room is packed with willing participants eager to volunteer to do whatever is necessary. These are just some of the images conjured up by the participants in the Nikkei 2000 conference.

When conference participants were asked to describe their vision of the future, the idea of an all-inclusive, dynamic community topped the list. From the start, conferees concluded that traditional ideas of a "Japanese American" community were quickly becoming obsolete; the "nikkei" community has become increasingly multi-racial and reflective of the gender identity issues that are a part of American society. Nearly every discussion group (conference registrants were assigned to one of 16 discussion groups to facilitate brainstorming and discussion) listed "inclusivity and diversity" as either a common community vision or as an important community need.

Another aspect of the common vision was that of a dynamic, thriving community: one that is rich in people, money and political power. People envisioned the notion of a thriving Japantown with successful businesses, a diverse and multi-racial community and involvement by people from all ages to not only nurture the community but also to preserve Nikkei heritage, culture and history.

The communal vision also included an improved networking and communication system for all Nikkei communities that would be connected locally, nationally and globally. Members of the community would take pride in being Nikkei and would attain high visibility in the arts and media world.

But perhaps most important of all was the overall commitment to youth and to develop and sustain programs and activities that would engage youth within the Nikkei community and help them develop into the leaders of tomorrow.

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How did Nikkei 2000 come about?

In 1997, Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) sponsored a national conference to convene social service agencies working in the Japanese American community. Around 80 people from as far away as New York and Toronto, gathered in Los Angeles to review census information and share programmatic concerns, as well as discuss the formation of a national organization to share resources and develop a concerted fundraising effort.

A follow-up conference was planned to pursue the feasibility of establishing a national organization. During planning meetings, however, the conference changed from a community service agency focus to a broader community focus. A coalition led by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California (JCCCNC) determined that issues of identity, diversity, community survival and values were primary to developing the future of the Japanese American community. Therefore, Little Tokyo Service Center and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (Los Angeles) took the lead in organizing Ties That Bind: A Japanese American Community Conference.

Ties That Bind Conference

Ties That Bind, which occurred on April 3 - April 5, 1998, was one of the most generationally diverse gatherings of Japanese Americans meeting to initiate a dialogue about the current state and future of the Japanese American community. It was a confirmation that a common thread runs through all of our Japanese American communities, institutions, identities, constituencies and members. By the end of the Conference, participants produced a Declaration for the Nikkei Community that provided directives for transforming the community in the new millennium. Participants and organizers also determined that another large-scale event would be necessary to continue the dialogue started at Ties That Bind.

Nikkei 2000 Conference

Nikkei 2000: Empowering Our Community in the 21st Century (Thursday, April 27, 2000 - Sunday, April 30, 2000, San Francisco, California) served as a follow-up to Ties That Bind and as a starting point for developing concrete community action steps. Designed as a working conference, Nikkei 2000 addressed such questions as "Where are we today?," "How can we make our community more inclusive?," "What resources are currently available and where are they lacking?" and "What kind of community can meet our diverse needs?" Unlike most conferences where participants simply listen to panelists or a group of experts speak about a topic, Nikkei 2000 deemed conferees the experts on community needs and asked them to take ownership over the shape and direction of the community's future. Over 600 students, professionals, community organizers, artists, politicians and individuals from across the United States, Canada, Peru, Brazil and Japan gathered at Nikkei 2000 to brainstorm ideas and action plans that would address the critical needs identified over the four-day conference.

Creating a gathering that was interactive, applicable to the needs of various communities, intergenerational and action-oriented required a thorough and collective planning process. Organizers in the San Francisco Bay Area hosted regional meetings across the United States to learn about the needs of various Nikkei communities. Simultaneously, a planning committee of academics, non-profit leaders, students, individuals and artists was formed to develop the scope, format, structure and goals of the Conference. The staff of the JCCCNC also played an important role in handling the logistics of all Conference activities. Through everyone's tireless efforts and commitment to developing a vibrant community, the Nikkei 2000 Conference provided venues for community members of all ages to voice their opinions and build a collective vision.

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