Building the Space I Always Needed
Hi! I’m Kiara Phillips, the founder of Kakkoii Social Japanese Club - or KSJ Club for short. If you’re reading this, you might be wondering what this whole thing is, who I am, and why I thought the world needed yet another community.
TL:DR? I think there needs to be more opportunities for speakers and learners of the Japanese language to hang out and level up together. I especially want to aid the intermediate learners who tend to plateau when left alone in a sea of beginner friendly content.
The long version? I’m a native New Yorker who speaks fluent Japanese, loves talking, eating and connecting people. I’ve spent over a decade working in entertainment, hospitality and events - hosting, consulting, translating, interpreting and bridging cultural gaps every day. I’ve worked with artists, chefs, manga publishers and even film crews in China. I’ve been the one on the mic, in the booth, in the kitchen and behind the scenes.
But there’s something I always felt was missing. I wanted to create a space where people like me - people who live between cultures, languages, and interests - could show up fully. Not just as “language learners” or “anime fans” or “cultural ambassadors” but as whole people. Cool, smart, curious, nerdy, stylish, awkward, fluent, broken, bilingual, beginner - whatever. I wanted a club where people could be cool and kinda weird at the same time.
Still, you need a common thread for a club and for me, with my background, the only thing that makes sense is the Japanese language. I hope to create events and opportunities for people of all backgrounds to use the language as much as they can. I’d like the Kakkoii Social Japanese Club to be the bridge between traditional learning and true communication. I’ve often joked that all I want to do for a living is ‘be cute, speak Japanese, and make people laugh’ and I reckon this is the coolest way to do it.
Kiara at the 2nd Manga de Asobo event hosted by Japanklyn at Japan Village, NYC.
So what is KSJ Club exactly?
It’s a bilingual social club rooted in Japanese language, pop culture and real-life connection. We host weekly online chats, in-person events, cultural workshops and themed discussions - from anime & mental health panels to lo-fi book clubs and accountability check-ins.
We’re small and scrappy at the moment, but we’re building something intentionally. A cozy corner of New York (and the internet) for folks who are learning Japanese, navigating bilingual life, or just want to be around people who get it.
Why now?
Because I’m tired of waiting for the perfect moment. I don’t have a fancy grant or big company backing this. I just have experience, passion and a gut feeling that this matters.
Because I’ve seen how transformative language and culture can be. This isn’t just about Japanese or anime or bilingual banter. It’s about what happens when people are given tools and space to find themselves and each other.
Because I know what it’s like to feel lost on a language journey.
If you’ve ever wished there was a space where you could use your Japanese and connect naturally through shared interests like food, music, language and creativity then you’re in the right place.
We’re just getting started. Come hang out!
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Want to join our next event or just see what we’re about? Check the Events Page or say hi on Instagram or Discord.