a mixed plate of Japanese American news and culture
Since the first Festival, the Mihara family — owners of Paper Tree, a paper specialty store — have offered free origami instruction as part of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. The Mihara sisters, Linda and Vicky, have fond memories of teaching children to fold paper at the Festival — starting when they were kids [...]
Traditional Japanese Music and Dance Odori (Dance) Ensohza Minyoshu at Crissy Field Center, Presidio, SF Schedule: Sun. (twice a month), 5-7 p.m. Cost: Sessions are free. Students must make a commitment to joining the performance group, which entails costume costs and other occasional fees for training with master teachers. Contact: info@enzohza.org. Training in Japanese folk dance [...]
2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Co-Grand Marshal Keiko Fukuda photo courtesy of Yuriko Gamo Romer Despite being the highest ranking female judo master in the world, Keiko Fukuda is relentlessly modest. This year, at age 98, she was honored at the National Japanese American Historical Society awards dinner, and has been selected as [...]
Since the early 1970s, George Yamasaki Jr. has been the voice of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. As emcee, Yamasaki narrates the Parade action as it runs its course — and has had plenty of experience thinking on his feet as floats stall or the order of participants changes without notice. Yamasaki, who [...]
The five women participating in the 2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival (NCCBF) Queen Program greeted media and community members for the first time as Queen candidates in San Francisco’s Japantown on March 12. Tamiko Escalante, Richelle Chiemi Farley, Jeddie Narumi Kawahatsu, Lauren Sachi Kawawaki and Kaori Saito introduced themselves and revealed what they will [...]
The 2011 Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival announced that applications are available for their 24th annual scholarship program for graduating seniors of Japanese descent in Northern California. Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a scale of 4.0 at an accredited high school. Applicants should be actively involved in her or [...]
The Nichi Bei Weekly is looking for photo submissions to be considered in the 2011 Nichi Bei Weekly Guide to the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival. People may submit photos of their favorite Festival memory, along with the following: • a photo title • photographer’s name, city of residence, phone number, and e-mail address • [...]
SAN JOSE — Jimi Yamaichi will never forget his long and frustrating battle to join the carpenters union, which turned away Japanese Americans and other Asians before the start of World War II. Yamaichi, director and curator of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, was among several speakers at the 31st annual San Jose [...]
Date: Sunday, Feb. 27 Time: 1:30 p.m. Venue: Salinas Community Center 940 North Main St. Program: “Hold These Truths: The Journey of Gordon Hirabayashi” Sponsors: The Watsonville-Santa Cruz, Gilroy, Monterey Peninsula, Salinas Valley, and San Benito County JACL chapters Contact: Mas Hashimoto at hashi79@sbcglobal.net or (831) 722-6859 There will be a presentation of “Hold These [...]
Date: Sunday, Feb. 27 Time: 9:30 a.m. Venue: Monsanto facility in Kunia Program: Honouliuli National Historic Site: Dream or Reality? Sponsors: JACL Honolulu and Monsanto Hawaii Contact: Derrick Iwata (808) 945-7633 ext. 25 The Cultural Center will present the 2011 Day of Remembrance and second Honouliuli Pilgrimage titled “Honouliuli National Historic Site: Dream or Reality?” [...]
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