Oblivious meets Tani Ikeda

In 2007 I was starting my 2nd and final year of grad school. It was also the year I met Tani Ikeda. If memory serves me right, Tani was one of Tuesday Night Cafe's first interns.  Since then Tani has gone on to found imMEDIAte Justice, a non-profit agency that puts cameras in the hands of girls and women to tell their own stories. Tani is also an amazingly talented director and photographer. 

For Sexual Assault Awareness month this past April, Tani created #SurvivorLoveLetter.  A truly inspiring campaign and practice in self love for all those who are survivors of sexual assault. Tani's father wrote her a letter and it was so touching and beautiful that it brought me and others to tears. 

Tani is rad. She is doing amazing things and I can't wait for you all to check out her Oblivious Interview!

Oblivious meets Tani Ikeda. 

Name:
​Tani Ikeda

Affiliations (arts org, fun things you do, etc) :
Filmmaker, imMEDIAte Justice nonprofit founder, novice surfer

What's the one word you are guilty of using too much?
I'm guilty of being incredibly enthusiastic in emails and tend to over use words like "Amazing!" But I do in fact think a lot of things are amazing. . .  

How did you end up doing what you are doing now?
I grew up in a political Seattle community of activists and artists. In high school, I wrote my senior thesis about Asian-American women and how we are negatively affected by the media. The conclusion of my essay was, "I know that no one in Hollywood is going to create strong, positive stories about Asian-American women, so I'm going to do it myself!" It was at that point that a lot of my ideas and political framework started to build, and I realized some kind of revolution was necessary. That's how I decided I wanted to become a filmmaker. 

Which member of the Wu-Tang Clan best describes your personality?
Ha. Maybe RZA because he keeps pushing his creative vision forward and isn't afraid to work in different artistic mediums. 

Dogs or Cats, who wins? Why?
I've had both dogs and cats so don't make me choose! It would be like picking a favorite child. If you asked me that question when I was younger I would have told you I was a bunny person. I went through a phase when I was 7 where I only ate carrots and used to sign my name in cursive with a small rabbit attached to the end of my last name. 

What is the best part of any given day for you?
I love coming home to my adorable little pitbull Yuki and partner. We become one big pile of cuddles! Also, my favorite time of day is night. I love doing creative work late at night because people stop needing your immediate attention and you can just sit with your thoughts. I've always been a night owl. 

In a zombie apocalypse who would you want on your survival team?
I would want my whole Fam to be on my team. We would definitely hit up costco to get supplies, drive up to the mountains where the zombies would freeze or at least be slower moving targets in the snow, and spend a lot of time telling stories next to a fire in a cabin. Strong and smart people are good assets to have around, but I think if you are actually going to survive a zombie apocalypse you need people who can make you laugh and feel human again.      

What is the last thing you searched for on google? Pizza Rat

If you could talk to your high school self, what would say?
I would tell my high school self to remember that it will all get better from here.     

What is the best thing or meal you ever ate? 
The one thing that I love is dried mangos. I fiend for them on my period and gobble them up like candy. I even would ask for dried mangos for Christmas as a kid and once got bunches of them in my stocking! 

What is a memorable project that you are working on or have worked on? 
I just got back from shooting a documentary in Japan about 80-year-old Ama free divers. I got to scuba dive with them underwater and ate fresh abalone with them on the beach. They rode around town on motorcycles and are the coolest gang of grandmas I've ever met.