Honored to be featured in a podcast interview here: Ken Reiman – Mantra Media (mantrahq.com) where I discuss leadership, Asian American Heritage Month, the role of mothers and parents, and my book. My journey is not possible without the love, kindness, and sacrifice of my parents and grandparents. For them, my sons, and the future, my book and podcast interview are dedicated. Listen to the podcast and let me know your thoughts.
I created my first NFT today, a small but meaningful milestone, and I could not think of a better moment to do it than right before May 7. This date holds special significance for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. On May 7, 1843, John Manjiro, the first Japanese immigrant to arrive in the United States, reached American shores on a whaling ship. His courage, resilience, and willingness to step into the unknown helped shape early Japanese American history. Honoring his journey feels especially meaningful as I take my own step into something new.
There is another John on my mind as well. My son is preparing for his first communion. Watching him grow in faith, compassion, and purpose reminds me that legacy is not only something we inherit. It is something we pass on. His name, his heart, and his journey inspire me every day.
As I created this NFT, I found myself reflecting on the values that guide us. Be the person God created you to be. Remember the poor. Stand with the voiceless. Advocate for peace. These are the principles I hope my son carries with him, and the ones I try to live by.
God knows your heart. And sometimes even something as modern as an NFT becomes a tribute to heritage, to history, to family, and to the quiet ways we honor those who came before us.
In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, I revisited the remarkable story of Wu Chien‑Shiung — a scientist whose brilliance reshaped modern physics and whose courage challenged the boundaries placed on women in science.
Often called the “Queen of Physics” and the “First Lady of Physics,” Wu Chien‑Shiung was a Chinese‑American physicist whose work fundamentally changed our understanding of the universe. Born in China, she later earned her PhD in the United States and became a U.S. citizen in 1954. Her groundbreaking experiments disproved the long‑held belief that nature does not distinguish between right and left — a principle known as parity.
Her discovery was so revolutionary that it earned her two male colleagues the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physics, while Wu herself was excluded. Despite being nominated at least seven times before 1966, she never received the Nobel Prize during her lifetime. Her omission remains one of the most widely recognized injustices in the history of the award.
Wu was acutely aware of the gender discrimination that permeated the scientific world. At an MIT Symposium in October 1964, she delivered a powerful reflection on equality:
“I wonder whether the tiny atoms and nuclei, or the mathematical symbols, or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment.”
As a dual national of the United States and China, Wu Chien‑Shiung not only advanced physics but also fought for social justice, fairness, and gender equality. Her legacy continues to inspire generations of American and Asian women in STEM.
During AAPI Heritage Month, her words — and her example — remind us that the pursuit of knowledge is universal, and the fight for equality is ongoing.
Words of Wisdom by Mahatma Gandhi. Daily Rebirth and Renewal.
Happiness is not your title. It is not your salary. It is not your job. It is your family. It is your health. It is your relationships. Not the quantity of followers but the quality of lives you’ve impacted and creating your own culture where you are free to be you without fear and without apologies.
To find out more, read Tuesdays with Morrie below: “The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn’t work, don’t buy it.” — Morrie Schwartz
If God has gifted you to tell a good story, write a good book, or direct a good play, there will be opportunities for you. You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. Sadly, too often creativity is smothered rather than nurtured. There has to be a climate in which new ways of thinking, perceiving, questioning are encouraged. — Maya Angelou
My new book is out in Japanese and English, dedicated to my wife of 11 years. I decided what better way to honor her than to write a letter to her every weekend and publish a book in her honor in Japanese and Engish. Available for purchase here:
The title of the book is:
本の紹介：
妻との11年目の結婚生活へ向けての1年間、毎週土曜日に妻へ手紙を書くことにした。本作は、妻と子と、神に対するあふれんばかりの感謝を込めた52通の手紙を収めたものである。それぞれの手紙は11年の結婚生活を記念して11文で構成されている。妻をどれだけ愛しているか、妻に対してどう感じているのか、彼の気持ちを彼女に伝えるのに、あと10年待ってからでは遅すぎる。彼は書いた。手紙は夫婦の絆を深めうるということに彼は気付いたのだ。手紙を書くことで、彼の心に彼女が広がり、感謝の気持ちが湧いてくる。週末ごとに、彼はそんな特別な方法で夫婦として繋がることができた。まだ小さくて活発な、二人の男の子（7歳のジョンと4歳のマックス）の共働きの親として、お互いに自分の時間の確保が難しい日々。彼が土曜日の朝に書き続けたこの手紙は、苦楽を共にしてくれた妻へ感謝を表すと共に、妻が彼にとってどれだけ特別な存在か再確認する機会となった。絵理子は彼の愛する妻であり、友人であり、同僚でもある。
After 10 years of marriage, I decided to write a letter to my wife each Saturday of the week for an entire year. This was the start of 52 letters to my wife. Each letter is composed of 11 sentences to commemorate 11 years of marriage. The letters touch upon themes of family, faith, and children. I simply wanted to express how I felt about my wife and I did not want to wait another 10 years to tell her how much I love her. I learned that a simple letter could strengthen our relationship further. I could express my feelings more intimately. It allowed her access into my heart and feel appreciated. We were able to connect each weekend as a married couple in a special way. As the busy parents of two young, energetic boys (John aged 7 and Max aged 4), we often do not have time for ourselves let alone each other. My Saturday morning letter writing ritual gave me an opportunity to express my gratitude and carve out a space to let the person who has been by my side through ups and downs know how special she is to me. I am truly blessed to have a loving wife and friend and confidant. Sending you 52 letters with love.
American history is diverse, and there is still much that is not widely taught. A little-known site in Lorton, Virginia, is the former Workhouse Prison, now home to the Lucy Burns Museum. From 1917 to 1918, Lucy Burns and other suffragists were imprisoned there for picketing the White House in support of a constitutional amendment granting women the right to vote.
Today, the former prison cells remain visible, now filled with powerful works of art. The transformation of confinement into creativity is striking. Thanks to the courage of these women, generations of Americans can exercise the right to vote.
Among the artwork on display is a powerful painting honoring Ida B. Wells and confronting the evils of racism, a reminder that the struggle for justice has taken many forms across American history.
Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington also performed on site, adding another layer of cultural history to this remarkable place. There is much to explore at the Lucy Burns Museum. It is well worth a visit.
Places like the Lucy Burns Museum remind us that constitutional change often begins with ordinary citizens willing to endure extraordinary sacrifice. Civic progress rarely comes without courage. The right to vote, now taken for granted by many, was secured because individuals stood firm in the face of opposition. History is not only something to study. It is something to learn from.
Ken Reiman is a diplomat, author, and global affairs speaker whose work reflects faith, leadership, and lived international experience.