My legal Japanese name is Haruki Eda, but sometimes I also use my undocumented Korean name, Yang-Saeng Pak. Why do I have a Korean name? Because I'm a 3rd generation Zainichi Korean, which means my paternal Korean ancestors came to Japan due to colonization of Korea by Japan from 1910 until 1945. I know it doesn't sound like a Korean name, but it signifies my Zainichi identity precisely--neither Japanese nor Korean.

I emigrated from Japan in 2006 to educate and train myself in community organizing. "Emigrated" because I don't plan to reside there anymore, nor do I plan to become a U.S. citizen (for now). I aspire to earn a Ph.D in sociology after graduating from San Francisco State University, where I founded Asians and Queers United for Awareness (AQUA). My involvement in various areas of global social justice movement is rooted in my strong faith in hope and love, and I especially spare no love for food and traveling (even though I spare money). AQUA at SFSU | Eclipse Rising | Haruki Eda on Facebook