Dear Erin Yasuda Soto, Thank you for your continued support for our work at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. Your article, “Labor of Love” (Jan. 5-11, 2012) described our farming exhibit reception and the artifacts beautifully. Aggie Idemoto, Ed.D., President, Japanese American Museum of San Jose
LETTERS: Nikkei ‘enduring’ life in Louisiana
January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Note: This letter was sent in response to the article entitled “The astonishing history of Japanese Americans in Louisiana,” which ran in two parts in November. Dear Editor, I was sent copies of the Nichi Bei Weekly, dated Nov. 3-9, part 1 and Nov. 10-16, 2011, part 2, to our Gardens in Louisiana. I really [...]
LETTERS: Greetings from the Koharas
January 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Note: This letter was sent in response to the article entitled “The astonishing history of Japanese Americans in Louisiana,” which ran in two parts in November. Dear Editor, Thank you for including our Kohara clan in this article. We are all proud of our family in Louisiana. JD Sparks (Kohara) Pewee Valley, KY
Connections to Clarksburg
January 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment
CLARKSBURG, Calif. — Passing through acres of vineyards along the narrow country road, we are mesmerized by the serene rural landscape and miss the turn. We double back to find our way, and spy in the distance, a forlorn wooden-framed structure with mint julep painted trim that otherwise matches the silhouette of the old gakuen [...]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Look carefully inside oneself
January 1, 2012 By 1 Comment
Happy New Year, everyone! Thank you for reading my “Heart of Kanji” column this past year. Please continue to read any future columns in 2012. 内 (nai or uchi) means “inside,” which represents an entrance door to a house with a short curtain hanging on the inside. 観 (kan or miru) means “look or observe [...]
Reflections on the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony
December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The day began with drama. My sister and I had come to the ceremony on behalf of our late father. She had gone to the Washington Hilton, headquarters for the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, to reconnoiter and register us. Some minutes later, she phoned me yelling, “Get over here. The buses are leaving for the ceremony!” [...]
THE HEART OF KANJI: Healthy Future
December 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment
健康 (Kenko) means “health,” which I explained in my Oct. 20-26, 2011 column. 未来 (Mirai) means “future.” 未 (mi) means “not ripe yet,” and consists of two parts. The top horizontal line represents fruit that is not yet ripe and the bottom line represents a tree. 来 (rai or kuru) means “come,” and consists of [...]
Journey to Tohoku
December 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In early November 2011, my wife and I traveled to the Tohoku area on the northeast coast of Japan to witness the aftermath of the enormous earthquake and tsunami that devastated that area on March 11, 2011. Watching the tsunami destroy everything in its path on our televisions and the Internet was frightening enough, but [...]
Call for Accountability for Nov.18th Pepper-Spraying of Peaceful U.C. Davis Students
December 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
November 25, 2011 Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi Fifth floor, Mrak Hall University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616 Dear Chancellor Katehi: The violent pepper-spraying of peaceful U.C. Davis student protestors on November 18th shocked and outraged us, other Americans, and the rest of the world. It was a flashback to the Mississippi [...]
Letter to President Obama Re: Indefinite military detention
January 10, 2012 The Honorable Barack Obama President of the United States The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Obama, Before I begin, I must say that I have the utmost respect for the Office of the President, and I want to thank you for the job you are doing [...]