Discover Nikkei Article: Eric Nakamura: Celebrating 30 Years of Giant Robot
“We were underdogs,” Eric Nakamura says when reflecting on 30 years of Giant Robot. “There was no infrastructure. We created our own.”
At first a zine started in 1994, Giant Robot has since become an essential influence on Asian American alternative pop culture. Through the dedication, perseverance, and hard work of its founder and contributors, Giant Robot helped create a prominent voice for Asian Americans in pop culture at a time when Asian American representation was lacking. At the heart of this immense cultural symbol is Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura. “I have at least two careers, if not three. The magazine part, the store part, and the art part,” he says. “They’re a journey that goes together but also very separate, and they have done their own important thing for society or for at least our community.”