Ayako Kiyota

Ayako (she/her) is a Japanese-American writer, poet, and storyteller. A self-proclaimed introvert, she has found that writing has been a brilliant avenue to unlock creativity, authenticity, and curiosity amongst herself and others.

A therapist by profession and a writer by passion, she often highlights themes in her work that touch upon intersectionality, with aspects such as cultural identity, mental health, and family being common folds. She creates works that balance between meaningful, interpretable, yet relatable pieces that connect with an audience. She acknowledges that many of her works are windows into both personal anecdotes and into larger scape significance, but aims to be intentional in what gets portrayed. She hopes that her works are not just emotionally grounded in the human experience, but are both powerful and touching enough to resonate within the heart and soul.

Outside of Collections of Transience, Ayako is also a member of the Literature Team for Dear Asian Youth, a nonprofit global organization that is dedicated to both empowering and unifying Asian youth through intersectional activism, grassroot movements, and digital media. Through DAY, she has been able to publish works with focuses on Asian culture, identity, and solidarity with other marginalized communities.