I know the first thing people envision when you say tofu is that semi-solid block of soft curdled soy milk. Sometimes it’s served as is with a little bit of shoyu and sliced green onions, sometimes its heated so those curls of shaved bonito slowly dance on the surface of the block and sometimes its […]
Giants honor Japanese legacy on Japanese Heritage Night
May 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
On May 16, hundreds of baseball fans arrived early to the San Francisco Giants game to enjoy Japanese Heritage Night at Oracle Park. The Giants organization hosted the annual event in partnership with the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California. This year the San Francisco Giants recognized the 120th anniversary of the 1903 […]
CAAMFest serves up sweet memories with ‘Benkyodo’
May 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Though the line did not extend around the block like the final days of the iconic Japanese confectionery, a crowd of guests lined up May 12 for Benkyodo, San Francisco’s now defunct manju shop in Japantown. However, instead of glutinous mochi, the crowd at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California was waiting […]
A-bomb survivors angry at G-7 summit
May 25, 2023 by Leave a Comment
HIROSHIMA — Many atomic bomb survivors, including campaigner Setsuko Thurlow, voiced anger and disappointment at the Group of Seven nations’ summit on May 21 after the leaders released a statement that supported the possession of nuclear weapons for deterrence and failed to mention the treaty banning nuclear arms. The 91-year-old Thurlow called the G-7 summit […]
Giants to celebrate Fuji Athletic Club on Japanese Heritage Night
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
As part of their annual Japanese Heritage Night on May 16, the San Francisco Giants will honor the history of Nikkei baseball with a nod to the Fuji Athletic Club, one of the first Japanese American teams that played in the city during the early 1900s. The Fuji Athletic Club was founded by Chiura Obata, […]
Wakasa remembered in Utah, 80 years after fatal shot in concentration camp
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
TOPAZ, Utah — A set of solemn and respectful ceremonies permeated through the Central Utah breeze April 22 under dotted clouds over the former Topaz concentration camp and the Topaz Museum in Delta, Utah. They served as a contrast to the sudden and violent death of Japanese immigrant James Hatsuaki Wakasa 80 years ago, […]
Nootbaar still basking in afterglow of amazing World Baseball Classic
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
OAKLAND, Calif. — Lars Nootbaar had a truly one-of-a-kind experience in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. As the sole American on Team Japan, the outfielder batted lead-off for a lineup that tore through the tournament, first in Tokyo and then in Miami. The Southern California native hit .269, helping Japan remain undefeated in seven games, […]
Canadian filmmaker explores a gap in family history
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Filmmaker Natalie Murao contemplates the conversation she never got to have with her grandfather in “Blue Garden” (2022, 5 minutes). The hybrid-doc-animation tells the story of Murao’s grandfather, a Japanese Canadian fisherman who was incarcerated during World War II. The Vancouver-based filmmaker first thought about creating the film in 2020 after she returned home at […]
Takoyaki recipe たこ焼き
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
Takoyaki, or grilled octopus balls, is one of Japan’s best-known street foods that originated in Osaka. Whether you make a traditional style with bits of octopus or other alternatives, these ball-shaped dumplings are fun to make with your friends and family! Takoyaki (たこ焼き) is a Japanese snack in the shape of little round balls containing […]
‘Oyakodon’ captures a Japanese restaurant heartbreakingly on the brink
May 11, 2023 by Leave a Comment
“Oyakodon” (2022, 17 min.), a short film directed by Roxy Shih, is a quiet and somber look at a Japanese restaurant in decline. Mama, the owner, opens up the dark eatery and puts out a sign with the day’s special, oyakodon, on the sidewalk outside. The titular dish is appropriate for the film: Oyakodon is […]
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