“Rarely have I encountered a book that portrays the Okinawan American experience with such intimacy, humor, and brutal honesty. The literature and art in UchinaAmerican prompted a deep reflection on my own Uchinānchu identity. I am in awe of the creativity of this project—and I cannot wait for the world to see this book”

— Destin Daniel Cretton, independent filmmaker and director for Marvel Studios

In UchinaAmerican: Anthology of Okinawan American Art & Literature, more than 70 artists and writers explore the question, "What does it mean to be Okinawan American?" 

A companion to Chiburu: Anthology of Hawaiʻi Okinawan Literature, this collection expands the showcase of Okinawan American voices to the U.S. continent. Editors Lee A. Tonouchi, Laura Kina, and Wesley Iwao Ueunten curate a compilation of pivotal historical works alongside fresh new voices weaving a shared discourse of determination, joy and dissent. 

Addressing the historical absence of diasporic Okinawan narratives in the U.S. Asian American literary canon, this collection gathers a vital cohort of Okinawan American creatives. Through a vibrant array of expressions—including short stories, poetry, spoken word, essays, comics, stand-up comedy, drama, film, song, dance, music, art, craft, graphic design, fashion, and more—these creators engage with critical socio-political themes, examining the intersections of assimilation, militarism, and war trauma while championing cultural resilience, decolonization, and Indigenous futurity as pathways to peace.

Edited by Lee A. Tonouchi, Laura Kina, Kesley Iwao Uenten

Softcover with french flaps  |  384 pages  |  7" x 10"  |  full color