Profile written by Joshua Wong (@columnbreak).

You make it to an SMC Seattle event or maybe an Eastside tweetup, scan the room, and recognize half of the people there. Strange… you’ve never met some of them before, but you know how they use social media, how they talk, and even their favorite places for lunch. Our next profile is the man responsible for bringing that knowledge to you here on Seattle Social Media Profiles.

Waist-high in Seattle’s social media scene is Kenji Onozawa. He’s the kind of guy who’s not afraid to wave to you across a crowded room. In April 2009, he recognized that Seattle’s growing social media community needed a place to learn about the folks who host, plan, and attend local events. Within only a few months, Kenji has created an impressive library consisting of video profiles and written content that attracts active, local social media folks as well as people who are looking at what Seattle has to offer in the social media universe.

Kenji is active on more than just his own creation. As an SMC Seattle board member, he focuses his efforts on video production, including pre-recorded and live streaming sessions, for the club’s events.

Get to know Kenji on the other side of the camera. 

The Basics:

1. What is your name?
Kenji Onozawa

2. E-mail?
kenjionozawa at hotmail dot com

3. What is your occupation/company?
Currently in between gigs, very hireable—looking for an Online Community Manager position. Love me some social media!

4. What is the best part of your job?
The commute? Lol.

5. Originally from? When and how did you end up in the Greater Seattle area?
Born in Japan, moved to Chicago when I was two because my father got a new job. We stayed there for two more years and then moved to Seattle and have been here since.

6. How can people find you on the web?
If you “Bing” my name, I think you’ll find a lot of stuff there, as well as on:

• Twitter: @kenji_onozawa
• Facebook.com/kenjionozawa

Social Media:

7. What is it about social media that attracts you?
There are so many reasons to like social media, but for me, the bottom line is it connects people. Online conversations are more and more turning into relationships, and with each of those relationships, a deeper and more meaningful community is built in the process. It’s the human connection at the core of social media that interests me and continues to bring me back.

8. How do you utilize social media?
At the moment, I use Twitter to keep in touch with the various communities I’m in; Facebook is used to keep in touch with friends, family, and colleagues; I have a blog (Seattle Social Media Profiles); I use YouTube for various reasons, but most recently, it’s been used as the medium for my interview; I use Yelp because I like to share my opinions about the local food scene here in Seattle—I like to eat.

9. What is one thing that mainstream population should know about social media?
I would want the mainstream to know that when you look past all of the technology fueling the mediums involved, whether it’s a blog, a podcast, or a video, at the very end of the day, social media is about people. If used correctly, you will create fulfilling relationships with people you never otherwise would have met in real life. It’s remarkable.

10. If people follow you on Twitter, what can they expect?
I try to tweet things that I both have a passion for and that add value in the communities in which I’m involved, whether that be about current events, technology, social media, or more. On my personal account (@kenji_onozawa), I often find I’ll tweet random thoughts and humor probably only found funny to myself. It’s good to know that I like to joke a lot and sometimes it doesn’t exactly translate to Twitter as well as I would like—I try to keep this in mind. I do have a few other Twitter accounts I use as a way of connecting to a specific community whether it’s about Seahawks football or MMA or what have you. I even have the @SeattleSonics account because I’m still a bit in the process of getting over the fact that we’ve lost them to Oklahoma. Bring back the Supes!

11. How would you describe the social media scene in Seattle?
Simply put, it is passionate, involved, and hungry. We have an amazing assortment of people from all walks of life within our community who are utilizing social media both personally or professionally. Some people are in charge of their company’s social media efforts, others may be blogging about their hobbies, and few folks are even creating the technology used to keep the medium moving forward. Regardless of their use of social media, it’s this passion for it that is ultimately having a great impact upon all of our communities in which we are involved.

12. Do you remember your social media “wow” moment? What was it?
My social media “wow” moment occurred when I met TJ Sopher (@tj_sopher) for the first time at Chris Pirillo’s tweetup (and, unfortunately, it has nothing to do with his white-boy shuffle). I started using Twitter with a lot of skepticism as I didn’t see the value or point. However, it was my curiosity that ultimately pushed me to giving it a trial run. I quickly started conversing with some people via Twitter and one of those people was TJ. Well, long story short, I ended up going to one of Chris Pirillo’s Issaquah tweetups and TJ was there. My “wow” moment was when I realized in talking with him that the same conversations and the relationship we had online translated perfectly to real life. It was an eye-opening experience.

13. What is one piece of advice you give to new users of social media?
Social media isn’t about popularity. If you’re in it just to increase the number of friends or followers you have, you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.

14. Are you currently working on any projects that involve the use of social media?
I’m currently working on SeattleSocialMediaProfiles.com. This is a site dedicated to further nurturing our great community of social media folks here in Seattle.

15. Are there any social media events or conferences in the future you would like to let people know about?
Gnomedex, MindCamp, and Twestival Seattle are all in the works. I’m only involved directly with Twestival Seattle, but Gnomedex and MindCamp are must-attend events.

Just For Fun:

16. What are your hobbies?
I love watching sports, being involved with fantasy sports, playing video games, a good beer, and reading. Oh, and eating.

17. Favorite vacation spot? Thing to do there?
I love visiting Japan in the springtime as the cherry blossoms are blooming. Most of all, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and the sushi there can’t be beat. And we’re back onto food. Shocking.

18. Favorite restaurant in Seattle?
Heeey, more food. My favorite restaurant in Seattle, as of right now, is Tsukunshinbo. Good, well-priced Japanese food.

19. Favorite things to do in Seattle in the summer?
Walk around downtown or on Alki. Love seeing all the people and soaking up the sun. Getting some fresh fish down at Pike Place and staying out late with a good bonfire.

20. Favorite quote?
“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William Arthur Ward

21. Guilty pleasure?
Watching an old Godzilla movie… Grew up watching them and enjoy watching them in all of their cheesiness.

22. Favorite actor/actress?
I think my favorite actor is Don Cheadle, Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey, or Robert Downey Jr. My favorite actress is Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, or Halle Berry.

23. I really like it when…
I see strangers help each other.

24. One day I would love to…
Scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

25. If I could meet anyone, alive or dead, I would want to meet…
Jon Stewart. I think he’s brilliant.

26. What would you like everyone to know about you?
Everyone should know that I think the Seattle social media community is filled with amazing and generous people.

Kenji Onozawa Links:

• Kenji Onozawa on Twitter
• Kenji Onozawa on Facebook
• Kenji Onozawa on LinkedIn
• Kenji Onozawa on YouTube
• Kenji Onozawa on Q13: Social Media gives rise to “Tweetups”

Kenji Onozawa and Shauna Causey Host the SMC Seattle Live Stream

Ambush Interviews with Andru Edwards, Drea Avellan, and Kenji Onozawa

Rapid-Fire Questions with Kenji Onozawa