Tamiko Nimura

Tamiko Nimura, a third-generation Japanese American and second-generation Filipina American, is a freelance writer, essayist, community journalist, and public historian. Her academic training in literature and American ethnic studies prepared her for her current projects in storytelling, biography, arts writing, public history, social justice, and community service. She is inspired by her family’s enduring love of books, the arts, and education, as well as her wider community’s collective, intergenerational spirit of “kodomo no tame ni” (for the sake of the children). She is the writer of ROSA FRANKLIN: A LIFE IN HEALTH CARE, PUBLIC SERVICE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE (Washington State Legislature, forthcoming) and co-writer (with Frank Abe) of WE HEREBY REFUSE (Chin Music Press, Wing Luke Museum, forthcoming). She received a Grant LAB/ARTISTS UP award in 2016. Tamiko lives with her composer husband Josh Parmenter and their two daughters in Tacoma.

Tamiko received 2019 GAP Award funding for WE HEREBY REFUSE (Chin Music Press, Wing Luke Museum). The project is a co-written graphic novel on Japanese American wartime resistance with Frank Abe and artists Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki. GAP funding will allow her to travel in order to promote the completed project.

Artist Trust thanks the Amazon Literary Partnership for underwriting this award through Artist Trust’s Corporate Partnership program. For information about supporting Washington State artists, visit here.