About PNO

The Pan American Nikkei Organization

Like the Pan American Nikkei Association (PANA/APN), the Pan American Nikkei Organization (PNO) seeks to develop ties between Nikkei communities separated by nationality, language, and ethnicity. While the Pan-American Nikkei Association focuses its efforts in Latin America, the Pan American Nikkei Organization seeks to develop and strengthen ties between Nikkei individuals, associations, and communities currently living or operating in Japan. The goal of this supra organization is to present a united voice that supports Nikkei efforts in Japan to preserve their culture, bolster their community and address concerns collectively. 

We are committed to developing an organization that is representative of a cross-section of Nikkei from various nationalities and ethnicities and representing their concerns and worldview. 

Mission Statement

Our mission at the Pan-American Nikkei Organization (PNO) is to develop a multinational, multiethnic Nikkei organization that serves the needs of the Dekasegi and Nikkei transnational and diasporic communities living and working in Japan. 

Our Core Values

  1. Inclusivity: We believe in embracing diversity and creating a space where individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, and ethnicities feel valued, respected, and included. We strive to break down barriers and promote integration within society.

  2. Societal Awareness: We promote a greater understanding of what it means to be Nikkei living and working in Japan. We strive to raise awareness and provoke critical thinking to challenge existing societal norms and foster positive change.

  3. Cultural Dialogue: We encourage open and respectful dialogue between different cultures, aiming to challenge preconceived notions and stereotypes. We believe in the power of cultural exchange to broaden perspectives, foster mutual understanding, and create a shared sense of humanity.

  4. Identity Exploration: We provide a forum for individuals to explore and embrace their identities beyond national or ethnic boundaries that are rooted in their experience as Nikkei living in Japan. We believe in the importance of self-discovery and self-expression, empowering individuals to claim their space within the discourse of nationhood and national identity.

  5. Collaboration: We value collaboration and partnership, recognizing that societal transformation requires collective effort. We seek to build alliances with like-minded individuals, organizations, and communities to amplify our impact and create lasting change.

Our Philosophy

Central to the ethos of this project is our goal of developing greater societal awareness of what it means to be human searching for a place in society in the face of political, cultural, economic, and ethnic barriers to integration. We wish to challenge the imaginations of a Japanese public (and by extension, other world cultures) and lay the foundation for ethnic and cultural “others” to claim space within the discourse of nationhood and national identity. We hope that our research affords a heterogenous group of individuals an opportunity to identity across national or ethnic demarcations and offers society an opportunity to build a common identity between communities divided by allegiance to nationality and cultural and ethnic difference.