Por Masako J. Itoh, published in La Plata Hochi, Noticiero del Plata

¿Participate in participate? That is the question. Today there are no more excuses: the immediacy of Internet, air travel to travel long distances in less time and at lower cost, mastering a second or even third language that facilitates communication with speakers of other languages. That's what I thought Akira Uchimura Moraga when he understood that the conditions were ideal to form a global network Nikkei without regional or language barriers.

Nippon Foundation alumni, he is one of the founders of the NGO

"I did not have much contact with the Nikkei community as a child this young Chilean-account son of a Japanese diplomat that every three years he moved from country to country-, but when entering the board of the Corporation Nikkei Valparaiso, then to travel to Japan as a fellow of the Nikkei Scholarship (Nippon Foundation) and after participating in the Convention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad (Nikkeijin Peace), I went deeper into the world Nikkei and realized that communities were aging Nikkei, but the new generation of Nikkei appeared to have no interest in continuing as they were ".

Was first elected as a Fellow of the Nippon Foundation, later worked as coordinator of the activities of these fellows, until December 2009 the very foundation gave him the chance to show his idea on the future of the community, a comprehensive vision covering all young offspring as a single organization, generating opportunities for those things, so far, were very difficult to make, based solely on individual or national initiatives.

So, in March 2010, Nippon Foundation approved the project to form the Nikkei Youth Network (NYN), an NGO dedicated to linking world's Nikkei Youth, united by a spirit of fellowship and friendship narrowings (“Kizuna”) to encourage innovative projects and creative ideas.

Sought a location for office, chose the youthful Shibuya district; traveled to Mexico, Chile, Peru, Brazil, and the United States to announce the founding of the new organization. Later, between 16 and 17 October was his first work as director of Nikkei Youth Network, that was the Nikkei Youth Summit (NYN Summit), where ten young people invited to the American continent for twelve days to share, Tokyo, your projects, ideas and experiences, just a week before the 51st Convention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad (Nikkeijin Peace), where the organization formally submitted.

- How did your vocation or how you went on the road making its way to be a bridge between people of different nationalities?

- From childhood I had to travel a lot, because my father was a Japanese diplomat, and every three years we moved to a new country in Latin America. As I am half Japanese and half Chilean, in each country that would see me as a foreigner. For example, in Chile saw me as Japanese or Chinese, and Japan, and Latin.

When I was little, always hated this be seen as foreign, but to keep traveling, I realized that being abroad people were more open to, because they were curious of what I am. I also realized that people of different nationalities may look different, but deep down everyone has a "kimochi" similar.

No matter the nationality, but the thoughts and character of each individual. After changing my mind, I found it much easier to relate to people, and for that reason I believe it's possible to make a global network of young nikkei.

Redefining Nikkei

If one is of Japanese ancestry is Nikkei. It can be a 50 percent, if hafu the hapa, or a 25 percent or to a lesser extent, as the generation to which one belongs (third, fourth,fifth to sixth). But, Nikkei Youth Network for this concept of identity, through blood, perishable seemed time, deciduous, because through successive inbreeding diluted mixtures, but not our sense of belonging. So, postulated a new concept, Nikkei at more comprehensive and deals with the participation of everyone in the Japanese culture, with the role played in shaping the identity Nikkei.

"We want to propose a more open definition of the word Nikkei, Akira says. "For us, Nikkei means any person who has strong ties with Japanese culture ". So, explains: Nikkei in Japan is written as:Japanese, which means Japan 日, and comes from the word 系 descendiente.El youth group formed last NYN want this to turn into 系 Kanji comes from the word "relationship". This inclusive definition allows us to grow and share similar ideals and experiences and achieve a stronger connection between people ".

- What are the activities they intend to work with the organizers of the COPANI 2011?

- In COPANI 2011 we plan to do the event in collaboration with Young COPANI. We give our full support for this convention to remain a success and continues to grow, so we decided to do it in conjunction with youth organizers.

- What are the next projects NYN?

- We start the year doing a bi-monthly event called "Festival NYN", whose main objective is to continue building more ties between young nikkei. These parties are always linked to a good cause too for not only have fun, but help our communities. Once you have achieved the "right recipe" of how to organize these parties, think of looking for different members of NYN who organized in their countries.

Another project, in which we are putting more effort is now the portal Hana.bi (http://hana.bi), which is bringing together a page where all the blogs and Web sites related to Japan and the Nikkei. Anyone can create their own website or blog in Hana.bi.

Addition, We plan to collaborate with COPANI 2011 in September, and then, in October, organize the next NYN Japan Summit.

- What was your personal balance with this year NYN?

- For me, This year was the year that has changed my life, since in April I became a father and started this organization in June, opening our office in Tokyo. Nikkei rganizations visited in Mexico, Chile, Peru, Brazil and the United States Contardo our organization in each country, but I feel I need to visit many more and in many other countries. I feel I missed on our part to give a more global message Nikkei organizations established, so it's one of the topics that will give more effort into 2011.

- What would you say to people who want to participate?

- There is an old story coming from Central America, called "Kurikindi"(Gold Hummingbird), which is the basis of my motivation and feeling to achieve this global network. There once was a forest fire. All animals, insects and birds in the forest ran for their lives. But there was a hummingbird named Kurikindi. He went about throwing a drop of water at its peak fire. When they saw animals, began to laugh, "What is?”. And Kurikindi answered: "I'm doing what I can."

This last sentence made me think hard about why it takes a community, a global network of people. Troubleshooting is to achieve that can not be solved individually. Many times, people can laugh or doubt you have a project, but if you can do what you think is right in difficult situations, is the first step to giant strides. I deeply believe that if we can be a huge flock of hummingbirds, can solve any problem.