FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: 2023: The year of the interview

Every family historian suffers from the same regret: Why didn’t I interview (insert any name) when he/she was alive? Much of genealogy is about giving a voice to our ancestors. But have you considered talking to your oldest family members while you have the opportunity? Allow them to share their stories through an interview. Now […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: Preserve your artifacts

We all have family heirlooms, photo albums, memorabilia. Some of us have a lot, some of us have very little. As the designated family historian, you may find yourself the keeper of family heirlooms. That can be a daunting task, both because of the sheer number of items, and the sense of responsibility. Getting Started […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: Who was George Masa? 

(What should you do when your genealogy hits the proverbial brick wall?) Genealogists often use the term “brick wall” when they hit a roadblock in their research. It happens to all of us. What do you do when you can’t find any more information? Have you exhausted all obvious resources? If so, then be sure […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: Are you my cousin? (Part one)

Understanding relationships is an important part of every family history journey. However, understanding relationship terminology can get a bit confusing. Half, first, removed, great, grand, step, foster, adoptive, genetic and fictive. These are just a smattering of kinship terms used in genealogy.  Let’s start with “cousin.” First cousins share a set of grandparents. In other […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: A few of my favorite things

It’s getting to be that time of year again. Have you begun to ponder holiday gifts for your friends and family? How about genealogy gifts and gadgets from or for your favorite family historian? Consider the following gifts FOR the genealogy geek in the family: A scanner for digitally preserving photos and documents. There are […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: Road Trip! Embark on a personal pilgrimage through family history

You’ve likely been researching your family history for ages. Are you ready to take your journey to the next level? At some point, you have to step away from the computer and get out of the libraries or archives. It’s time to plan your own heritage adventure. Every ancestral journey is personal. Many of you […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: On the Road Again: Planning a genealogy research trip

Any trip requires planning. If you want to go to Japan, you would consider when to go, for how long, which airline to take, which cities to visit and more. Even the most relaxed traveler would have some plans in place.  A genealogy research trip requires the same sort of planning. The more you plan, […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: It’s about time …

It’s been a very long year (and more) of sheltering-in-place, wearing masks and working remotely. Most family historians have actually enjoyed the opportunity to research from the comfort of their homes. Free access to Ancestry.com’s Library Edition during the pandemic has been a great perk, which will continue through at least December 2021. As vaccination […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: Writing your family history (part 2): Adding context to your story

Where were your ancestors during the 1906 earthquake and fire? Last November, I wrote about the “Gift of Family History.” In that article, I explained that “writing your family history is a way to give your ancestors a voice. Use documents, photographs, and family heirlooms to create the framework from which you bring your ancestors […]

FINDING YOUR NIKKEI ROOTS: The gift of family history

The holiday season is practically upon us. Have you wondered what unique gifts you might give your extended family? What about a gift of family history? Perhaps you’ve been researching your family for months, or even years. You know that there is always another record to find, another tidbit to uncover. And you might feel […]

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