About Kiyomi

Only 34 years after her Japanese family was freed from the United States World War II prison camps that locked an innocent race (whose children were allowed to bravely defend the United States in the same war) behind barbed wire for 3 years, Kristin Michiko Hirohata was born. Her Japanese ancestry, similar to other minorities in the United States, faced and continue to face subtle and not so subtle oppression from the mainstream simply due to appearance, language, and cultural differences.

Kiyomi is the name of one of her girls and a Japanese word that means hybrid and beautiful. In her family, the combination of two separate races – Japanese and White – has created a hybrid family. In many ways, Kristin has been a hybrid of two people most of her life: one living free and one bound by the fleeting acceptance from others. She worked twice as hard for half the chance, overcompensating for what felt like a birth defect – appearing different. Sadly, their half Japanese children have endured some of the same feelings even at such a young age.

Growing up in Tempe, AZ, Kristin excelled in school, swim, cheer, gymnastics, and dance. She was homecoming queen of her high school – confirmation of peer acceptance – yet no one knew her inner struggle for the same. She pursued cheer at the University of Arizona where she began dating her future husband in 1998.

As her faith deepened, the acceptance of others became less important. She has been reborn with a New Purpose and a peace that only God offers. As the story describes, later in life she donated her time and gift of dance to a unique fundraiser centered around dance, only this time not seeking acceptance but living free. Her hope is that you may seek diversity each new day and spread a message of hope and love.