rk@chicagoshimpo.com

Robert W. Karr, Jr. is the 8th President and Editor & Chief, and the Chicago Shimpo’s first leader who is not of Japanese ancestry.

In April 2022, Karr began the transformation of the Chicago Shimpo to an on-line public service. "We will build the capabilities of the Chicago Shimpo to ensure that the stories and places which connect us can be shared now and with the future generations. The Chicago Shimpo was started for important reasons, and those reasons is no less relevant today as when the paper was first published on November 15, 1945," explains Karr.

With that, Karr is determined that the Chicago Shimpo will continue to be an important institution based in Chicago that reports and chronicles current events, maintains historical records, and promotes greater mutual respect and understanding among people of all nations.

Karr earned a bachelor’s degree in Asian Languages and Literature and International Business Certificate from the University of Iowa, and juris doctor degree from DePaul University School of Law. He also studied and worked extensively in Japan, including undergraduate studies at Nanzan University and law school studies at Doshisha University.

In addition to the Chicago Shimpo, Karr is Chief Legal Officer, Vice President, and member of the Executive and DE&I Committees of Blommer Chocolate Company, a global cocoa processing and chocolate manufacturer serving over 800 brands.

shimpo@mc.net

Yoshiko Urayama was the 7th President and Editor & Chief (2000-2022). When she took over the newspaper, she made critical changes to the publication and expanded outreach to a broader audience of readers, even beyond the Nikkei community. These changes included more timely coverage of local events, English version of news from Japan, interviews, and discussions on a broad range of contemporary topics.

In 2017, Urayama began work with the Hoover Institution to digitize every edition of the Chicago Shimpo from its inception in 1945. This work continues and will be completed later this year through this final print edition. The collection is available on-line in the Institutions Library and Archives and will also be available directly on the Chicago Shimpo website.

In 2018, Urayama began developing a succession plan for the Chicago Shimpo. In order to preserve it in perpetuity and ensure its continued financial support beyond its traditional subscription base, Urayama transferred its assets to a newly formed 501(c)3 non-profit organization. As a result, the Chicago Shimpo is able to operate as a public service similar to that of other non-profit media organizations, such as the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio.