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The Latest from NichiBei.org

  • OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea

    OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea

    It is customary when greeting guests to first serve tea in typical Japanese custom. This longtime tradition of Japanese etiquette and culture is, at its core, an artform that concentrates on fulfilling the role… [more ... ]

    OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea
  • THE BEAUTY OF BRUSHSTROKES: Akie Karahashi and the art of shodo

    THE BEAUTY OF BRUSHSTROKES: Akie Karahashi and the art of shodo

    Akie Karahashi, a Bay Area Japanese language and shodo teacher, organizes a display of select works of calligraphy at the festival. Karahashi talks about her passion for the art and the beauty that she sees in the… [more ... ]

    THE BEAUTY OF BRUSHSTROKES: Akie Karahashi and the art of shodo
  • Kelly Yuka Walton crowned 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen

    Kelly Yuka Walton crowned 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen

    Kelly Yuka Walton, an eighth-grade math teacher who grew up in San Francisco, was crowned the 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen April 13 during the annual Queen Program, held at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas… [more ... ]

    Kelly Yuka Walton crowned 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen
  • SHORINJI KEMPO: Strength and serenity

    SHORINJI KEMPO: Strength and serenity

    In the basement of Sokoji Soto  Mission in San Francisco’s Japantown, 16 men and women, clad all in white, are fighting. In pairs, they send strong kicks to their opponents’ chests, hurling loud, menacing shouts.… [more ... ]

    SHORINJI KEMPO: Strength and serenity
  • 2013 Northern Calif. Cherry Blossom Queen Program candidates announced

    2013 Northern Calif. Cherry Blossom Queen Program candidates announced

    The five candidates who will compete for the title of Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were introduced to the public for the first time on Saturday, March 16 at the Union Bank Community Room in San Francisco’s… [more ... ]

    2013 Northern Calif. Cherry Blossom Queen Program candidates announced
  • OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea

    OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea

    It is customary when greeting guests to first serve tea in typical Japanese custom. This longtime tradition of Japanese etiquette and culture is, at its core, an artform that concentrates on fulfilling the role… [more ... ]

    OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea
  • JAMsj presentation focuses on ‘digital reconstruction’ of concentration camps

    JAMsj presentation focuses on ‘digital reconstruction’ of concentration camps

    SAN JOSE — Individuals will soon be able to virtually experience the sights and sounds of the wartime American concentration camps, including the barracks and gardens, through mobile devices such as smartphones… [more ... ]

    JAMsj presentation focuses on ‘digital reconstruction’ of concentration camps
  • Finding rare books, inner peace at Forest Books

    Finding rare books, inner peace at Forest Books

    Situated in the Buchanan Mall (Osaka Way) just a few stores away from Sutter Street is Forest Books, where the books are rare and the zendo floats. A 40-year zen Buddhist who studied writing, Forest Books owner… [more ... ]

    Finding rare books, inner peace at Forest Books

Featured Posts

From the Nichi Bei Weekly

Hisashi Iwakuma photo by Frank Abe

Seattle Nikkei community welcomes Mariners’ Iwakuma

April 18, 2013 By FRANK ABE, Special to the Nichi Bei Weekly

SEATTLE — The local Japanese American community turned out April 14 to welcome the Mariners’ number-two starter, Hisashi Iwakuma, to Seattle. Nearly 200 people filled the main hall of the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington to meet the former Nippon Professional Baseball star. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn praised Iwakuma’s fundraising work for Japanese [...]

‘IF YOU DON’T SPEAK UP, WHO ELSE WILL?’:

April 18, 2013 By K.W. LEE, KoreAm Journal

Editor’s Note: This article from April 2012 is reprinted with permission from KoreAm Journal (http://iamkoream.com/april-issue-k-w-lee-challenges-the-grandchildren-of-the-la-riots). Twenty springs ago this month, for three days and nights South Central L.A. and the neighboring Koreatown burned, choked and wailed. Come April 29, it’s that awful déjà vu time again, when I, as one-time editor of the lone English [...]

THE FOUNTAINS OF AGING  photo by Ryan Tatsumoto

THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Let that wine breathe

April 18, 2013 By Ryan Tatsumoto, Nichi Bei Weekly Columnist

So you finally received that new shipment of Cabernet Sauvignon from your favorite winery (2010). You’ve been waiting six months for the shipment to arrive, and now that it’s in your hands, you want to sample it, although you should put it in the cellar to let it age. But since we can never tell [...]

Japanese American confinement site grants announced

April 18, 2013 By Nichi Bei Weekly Staff

WASHINGTON — National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis announced 10 grants totaling more than $1.4 million to help preserve and interpret the World War II confinement sites where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Some 120,000 persons of Japanese descent were detained, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, following Japan’s attack on [...]

LEARNING TEA —  The ability to better entertain guests is developed through a close connection between teacher and student.
courtesy of
John Larissou and Soei Mouri

OMOTESENKE: The appreciation of tea

April 5, 2013 By TOMO HIRAI, Nichi Bei Weekly

It is customary when greeting guests to first serve tea in typical Japanese custom. This longtime tradition of Japanese etiquette and culture is, at its core, an artform that concentrates on fulfilling the role of being an excellent host, says John Larissou, tea instructor for the Omotesenke school of tea. “The term ‘tea ceremony’ is [...]

A virtual reconstruction overview of the Topaz (Central Utah) wartime concentration camp. courtesy of Elizabeth Lee

JAMsj presentation focuses on ‘digital reconstruction’ of concentration camps

April 4, 2013 By ERIN YASUDA SOTO, Nichi Bei Weekly Contributor

Japan's strongest-recorded quake

How you can help (a partial list)

March 17, 2011 By TOMO HIRAI, Nichi Bei Weekly

HISTORICAL ICON ­— Uoki started as a fish market and ship chandlery (left).  photo courtesy of Preserving California’s Japantowns

Uoki K. Sakai market to close at end of the month, ending 105-year run: Store operated for three generations

December 22, 2011 By TOMO HIRAI, Nichi Bei Weekly

News

‘IF YOU DON’T SPEAK UP, WHO ELSE WILL?’:

Editor’s Note: This article from April 2012 is reprinted with permission from KoreAm Journal (http://iamkoream.com/april-issue-k-w-lee-challenges-the-grandchildren-of-the-la-riots). Twenty springs ago this month, for three days and nights South Central L.A. and the neighboring Koreatown burned, choked and wailed. Come April 29, it’s that awful déjà vu time again, when I, as one-time editor of the lone English [...]

Japanese American confinement site grants announced

WASHINGTON — National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis announced 10 grants totaling more than $1.4 million to help preserve and interpret the World War II confinement sites where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Some 120,000 persons of Japanese descent were detained, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, following Japan’s attack on [...]

Kelly Yuka Walton crowned 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen

Kelly Yuka Walton, an eighth-grade math teacher who grew up in San Francisco, was crowned the 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen April 13 during the annual Queen Program, held at Sundance Kabuki Cinemas in San Francisco’s Japantown. “It’s been a lifelong dream to participate in this program,” Walton, 25, said after her win. “I [...]

More news

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Our Columnists

THE FOUNTAINS OF AGING  photo by Ryan Tatsumoto

THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Let that wine breathe

By Ryan Tatsumoto, Nichi Bei Weekly Columnist

A TIGHT SQUEEZE — The train to Mumbai, from the Kaeru Kid's lodgings, which were far from the city's center, was rather packed. photo by the Kaeru Kid

THE KAERU KID: Mumbai — Scene of ‘Slumdog Millionaire’

By The Kaeru Kid

RABBIT RAMBLINGS: Hanafuda helps to bridge generations

By CHIZU OMORI, Nichi Bei Weekly

More columns

In Sports

Hisashi Iwakuma photo by Frank Abe

Seattle Nikkei community welcomes Mariners’ Iwakuma

SEATTLE — The local Japanese American community turned out April 14 to welcome the Mariners’ number-two starter, Hisashi Iwakuma, to Seattle. Nearly 200 people filled the main hall of the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington to meet the former Nippon Professional Baseball star. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn praised Iwakuma’s fundraising work for Japanese [...]

More Sports

In Travel

A TIGHT SQUEEZE — The train to Mumbai, from the Kaeru Kid's lodgings, which were far from the city's center, was rather packed. photo by the Kaeru Kid

Editor’s Note: This is the final part a four-part series. The Farm Villa driver took me to the Ranthambore train station, where I caught a 16-hour trip to Mumbai. I had a sleeper reservation, though it was not very private or comfortable, but the price was just a little over $20. Making a train reservation [...]

In Books

Everyday Harumi

BOOK REVIEW: TV personality’s take on food

Everyday Harumi By Harumi Kurihara. (Octopus Press, London, UK, 2009, 192 pp, $27.99, hardcover) This beautiful volume of famous television personality Harumi Kurihara is packed full of her classic and tweaks-on-classic recipes, all carefully crafted with the special Harumi characteristics, yet with careful consideration toward what is available in American grocery stores. From basics such [...]

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Most Recent Posts

  • Seattle Nikkei community welcomes Mariners’ Iwakuma
  • OBITUARY: George “Masao” Hiromoto
  • ‘IF YOU DON’T SPEAK UP, WHO ELSE WILL?’:
  • THE GOCHISO GOURMET: Let that wine breathe
  • Japanese American confinement site grants announced
  • Kelly Yuka Walton crowned 2013 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen
  • Finding rare books, inner peace at Forest Books

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