I tell stories.
I am a New England-based writer and artist. Using myriad available mediums – including written word, music, design, and photography – I create compelling narratives that tell the Asian-American experience.
My main inspiration is the story of Nakahama “John” Manjiro, the first Japanese person to live in the United States. A resident of Massachusetts, Manjiro transcended the cultural norms of his time to become a pivotal figure in the history of both Japan and the U.S. Manjiro’s legacy of cultural exchange and inter-cultural dialogue is a core tenet that I draw from in much of my work.
A Little Bit About Me
I was born in Chicago to Hong Kong immigrants. My mother’s parents – my maternal grandparents – fled mainland China during World War II and eventually settled in a fishing village a few miles from Hong Kong. My grandfather made a living selling gasoline to the local fishing boats, and my mother grew up among the children of fishermen. Both of my parents left their islands behind in the mid ’70s when they came to the United States to pursue advanced degrees, but their roots as island dwellers have shaped me and brought me back to the sea in my writing.
I was raised in Colorado and Texas, received my B.A. in English Literature and Japanese at the University of Texas at Austin, and then moved abroad to Japan. When I returned, I discovered Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick while working at a local library. That book changed my life, leading to an eventual move to New England, where I was able to nurture my love for all things nautical and historic. In the past decade of living here, I have split my time between several passions: as a U.S. Coast Guard-licensed tall ship sailor aboard historic wooden vessels, as the artistic director of a traditional Japanese drumming ensemble, and as an author and speaker, writing and lecturing on the history of American whaling and on the role of the sea in the American and especially Asian-American experience. I also work as a web and graphic designer, specializing in website design and branding for nonprofits.
I currently live in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the 19th century capital of American whaling – fitting for someone like me, who loves Moby-Dick so much. This vibrant and diverse city, about an hour south of Boston, combines a thriving arts scene with the quaint seaside vibe that defines many of New England’s coastal towns.
I'm passionate about these organizations!
I’ve been very fortunate to be involved on the board and committee level with several nonprofit organizations, both locally here in Southern New England, and nationally, whose missions are to advance education, inclusion, and diversity.
AZOREAN MARITIME HERITAGE SOCIETY
NEW BEDFORD, MA
WEBMASTER
The Azorean Maritime Heritage Society (AMHS) promotes Azorean culture and our shared whaling heritage by raising awareness and pride within New England’s Azorean-American community.
WHITFIELD-MANJIRO FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
FAIRHAVEN, MA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS/EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
Celebrating the life of the first Japanese person to live in the United States, the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship Society owns and operates the Whitfield-Manjiro Friendship House museum, Manjiro’s first home in this country.
TAIKO COMMUNITY ALLIANCE
SAN JOSE, CA
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE/NORTH AMERICAN TAIKO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEMBER
Taiko Community Alliance exists to empower the people and advance the art of taiko (Japanese drumming). Actively honoring the past as we look to the future of taiko, we celebrate tradition and foster innovation.
TALL SHIPS AMERICA
NEWPORT, RI
ANNUAL CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBER
The mission of Tall Ships America is to encourage character building through sail training, promote sail training to the North American public, and support education under sail.