Blog

Documenting Social Justice: Stories of Equality and Peace

August 12, 2016

On August 6, 2016, TopTia was humbled to follow a group of peaceful protesters in downtown Tokyo. Social media played a big role in reaching local and international audiences as  the hashtags, #‎0806blmshibuya‬ and #blacklivesmatter were marched around the Shibuya ward last Saturday. Henry Moreland Seals of Tokyo Black Professionals and Amber Richardson of the African American Youth Travel Program, both organized the march and lead 50+ protesters from start to finish in the 37 degree heat. The Message […]

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This is Where I Want TopTia to Be!

July 31, 2016

Before I started TopTia, a lot of my subjects were musicians – artists throughout the Tokyo area molding their craft and their talents into unique and captivating sounds. The musicians whom I’ve been lucky to witness and listen to are some of the most hard-working individuals and self-sacrificing people I’ve ever worked with. In 2013, I had the pleasure of following one artist from the beginning of his own journey. Michael Bodin, one of the […]

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African in Yoyogi

Yoyogi Park Summer Festivals: Celebrating the African Festival in JapanYoyogi Park Summer Festivals: Celebrating the African Festival in Japan

July 26, 2016

Growing up in a diverse city, I loved festivals and if there is one thing Japan doesn’t have a shortage of, it’s festivals–especially international ones. Vibrant, lively, and enlightening cultural festivals are held almost every summer weekend. Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park is no exception. In fact it is the epicenter of such events. Thai, Carribean, Indian, Pacific Islander, and other exotic cultures showcase their most popular cuisine, arts and the like. What a great place to film an […]

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TopTia and 2.5 Oyajis

June 12, 2016

It was a fun and enjoyable Saturday night talking with two well known YouTube bloggers, Gimmeaflakeman and Hikosaemon on their very popular YouTube show 2.5 Oyajis.  We spent the evening getting to know my story and how TopTia came to be while having a few good laughs. Check out the video via the link below and leave a comment on their video!

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