“Having now lived in New York for 10 years, does this finally make me a New Yorker? Do I need to be born in Japan to be considered Japanese?

I've been forced to question this as a person who neither was born in Japan nor looks traditionally Japanese. I was raised in Tokyo by my Japanese mother and my American father, and I've always felt deeply connected to my Japanese roots, and my fondness for my culture continues to grow.

As a result, I began photographing the Japanese community that surrounds me. I have been drawn to their stories, how they carry themselves, raise their families, start businesses, and create a life that is distinctly their own in New York City.

No Narratives are identical, but we all share a common thread.

This series will continue to grow and evolve as I reflect on my identity and strive to deepen my understanding of what it means to be a Japanese New Yorker.

My aim is not to define, but to expand the idea of identity and how that translates itself into feelings of familiarity, nostalgia, and a sense of belonging.”

Tess AyanoJapanese New Yorkers