Back in the summer of 2015, I did a series of articles where I profiled black women married to Japanese men, discussing the highs and lows of building and maintaining such relationships, as well as the rewards and challenges of raising biracial children here in Japan. One of the women profiled also touched on a Facebook group she'd recently cofounded, called Black Women in Japan.

Since then, BWIJ has grown by leaps and bounds. Its member rolls have nearly quadrupled — increasing in two years' time from around 400 to over 1,500 currently — and run the gamut of the African diaspora. The group recently announced they will be holding their first national convention on March 25 in Tokyo. BWIJers from all over country are expected to attend. So Black Eye caught up with a few members to get their individual perspectives on why the group has enjoyed such success, the activities planned for the convention, its goals and what can be expected from BWIJ moving forward.

Avril Haye Matsui, BWIJ co-founder
Avril Haye Matsui, BWIJ co-founder
BWIJ was launched in September 2014, the brainchild of Avril Haye Matsui and Stephanie Fay Gayle.