Mary (Tanaka) Abo grew up in Juneau, Alaska, where her family ran a cafe.  Her family was incarcerated at Minidoka and later returned to Juneau.She enjoys the camaraderie from sharing stories at Omoide. Her family also appreciates learning the family stories. 

Joe Abo grew up in Shelton, Washington, where his family harvested and culled oysters. His family was incarcerated at Tule Lake.. He graduated from UW and worked as an engineer at the Naval Torpedo Station at Keyport.. Writing monthly stories for Omoide is a rewarding challenge for him. 

Atsushi Kiuchi was born January 9, 1930, Sacramento, CA.
Ats and his family were incarcerated May 1942 to May 1945 at the Puyallup, WA Assembly Center and Minidoka, ID War Relocation Authority Center. In 1945 he and his family resettled to Emmett, ID. He joined the Omoide Team in 2004.

Merilee Tanbara is a third generation Japanese American who is writing a historical fiction novel. The story takes readers on a journey that begins in the early 20^th century in Tacoma’s thriving Japan town, to the aftermath of Pearl Habor, to life inside U.S. concentration camps, and finally to the obstacles faced after their release. The novel explores questions such as, How do I navigate life when I look like the enemy? How do I feel when I come home, and my community is gone? What will I do to ensure my children belong in society? The research for the novel has been both difficult and healing as she learns more about the experiences of her grandparents and parents, the Japanese American community, and ultimately about herself.

Kirin Lancaster is a 16-year-old half-Japanese American at Mercer Island High School. Her passion for spreading awareness and stories of the Japanese American experience and culture stems from her multigenerational home where she lives with her grandma, mom and siblings. She loves to write and tell stories as well as create art through drawing and music, and uses these talents to help share her and other people's culture and experiences.

Using stories and anecdotes from her Japanese immigrant parents,  Nanako is working on a historical fiction novel “Paper Ghost.” She has published short stories: “Be Worthy of Your Heritage”; “Robert and the Bomb” and books: “Tei, a memoir of the end of war and beginning of peace” and “Kwaidan, Japanese Ghost Stores and Insect Studies.” You can see more of her work at https://www.nanakowater.com/ 

Joan T Seko is a Sansei (3rd generation Japanese American) and an 86-yr-old widow born in Seattle, WA. She has five children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  She is the author of fifteen historical novels. She collaborated with thirteen other world-renowned writers to write “CHILDREN OF WAR”. The were presented with the 2023 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal Award - proceeds donated to the Children of Ukraine. Her books can be found on Amazon and Kinokuniya Book Store. 

Dee (Miyamoto) Goto is a Sansei (third-generation Japanese American) who was born and raised in Oregon/Idaho's Treasure Valley area. She received her Master’s degree in Psychosocial Nursing from the University of Washington, but the secret of life is to keep learning. Dee believes strongly in the power of storytelling and the benefits and importance of sharing Japanese culture and values with the Seattle community, specifically to set an example for the whole American community.

Doris “Kiko” (Kimura) Van Zandt was born and raised in Portland, Oregon.  Graduating from the University of Washington School of Nursing, I  spent my entire career (40 years) at Seattle Children’s Hospital. Growing up as a Sansei, I heard stories about my family’s life before and after World War II and their internment at Heart Mountain, Wyoming.  I also have many wonderful memories of my childhood, especially those with my maternal grandfather.  Omoide has provided me with the framework and motivation to get the stories and memories written down to share with others, especially my nephews, Chad and Paul.

Rakuko Sakai Rubin writes her stories in Japanese and her husband Jay translates them into English.  Rakuko grew up in Japan and Jay is from the Boston area.  They met and married in Tokyo when he was studying Japanese literature there as a graduate student and moved to Bellevue with their two children in 1975 when he started teaching at the UW.  They have four grandchildren living close by.

Carole Okamoto is a Sansei born in Oakland, California to Patty and Keith Okamoto. She grew up in South Texas and moved to Seattle in 1989. Carole joined Omoide in 2017 where she enjoys giving voice and artistic expression to her family’s history. Her mother’s family was incarcerated in Jerome, Arkansas. Her father’s family was incarcerated in Poston, Arizona. Her personal artistic journey includes encaustic, collage, asemic writing, poetry and prose. Her work is dedicated to both her Mom and her Dad in honor of their courage, dignity and grace.