Participants of the 20th America-Japan Grassroots Summit will arrive in San Francisco on Tuesday, Aug. 24, to kick off the annual meeting of Japanese and American citizens, held alternatively in Japan and the U.S. The San Francisco Bay Area was chosen as this year’s host region in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Kanrin […]
Honda introduces legislation to honor WWII U.S. POW
August 19, 2010 by Leave a Comment
WASHINGTON — Rep. Michael Honda (D-San Jose) introduced legislation on July 28 to honor World War II prisoners of war. “This legislation celebrates, honors, and commemorates the courageous and faithful men and women who were taken as U.S. POWs,” Honda said in a statement. “It also commends the GOJ for the steps it has taken to […]
Exhibit, lecture puts Kanrin Maru into context
August 5, 2010 by Leave a Comment
With the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese ship to America, many groups are seizing the moment to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic relations that paved the way for today’s strong U.S.-Japan alliance. A recent event and ongoing exhibit at the Japan Information Center delve deeper into the reality of the voyage […]
Farewell reception held for consul general
July 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment
As soon as he landed in San Francisco some three years ago, Consul General of Japan Yasumasa Nagamine hit the ground running, participating in a string of community events starting with the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco-Osaka sister city relationship. From then, in a seemingly record pace, he attended a flurry of community events. […]
OBITUARY: Cappy Harada
July 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment
SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Tsuneo Paul Harada, affectionately known as Cappy Harada, passed away on June 5, 2010. The Santa Maria native was 88. He was born Oct. 16, 1921. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Kay Harada. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Alex and Etsuko Harada; his son, […]
‘The Harimaya Bridge’ Tells a Universal Story Characters Come From Different Countries, Races, Generations
April 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
In a new movie, “The Harimaya Bridge,” premiering in San Francisco on April 23, an American journeys to Japan, a country he has long resented, to collect some items that belonged to his estranged son, who died there two years prior. Confronting painful memories and long-held stereotypes — his own and those others hold against […]
NJAHS Awards Celebrate Japanese American Accomplishments and U.S.-Japan Relations
April 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment
On March 27, the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) held its annual awards dinner, with the theme of “New Beginnings, Bold Visions,” honoring leaders who have made great achievements for the Japanese American community. The event, which featured former Governor of Hawai‘i George Ariyoshi as its keynote speaker, also acknowledged the 150th anniversary of […]
Historic Voyage Marked Beginning of 150 Years of U.S.-Japan Relations
March 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Curious Americans gathered in droves to see them. Dressed in robes, their hair in topknots, the Japanese who arrived in San Francisco 150 years ago this month on the Kanrin Maru, the first Japanese ship to visit this country, stunned the Americans they encountered. The fascination was mutual. Members of the Japanese delegation crunched quizzically […]
The Kanrin Maru and JAs
March 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment
As Japanese Americans, we should know where we came from and how we came to be. The more we learn about what happened 150 years ago, the more we find as Japanese Americans that we are inextricably tied to the world events, the personalities and the legacy of this special occasion. The 1860 mission initiated […]
Manjiro’s Role in Pacific Ties
March 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Though the Kanrin Maru’s arrival from Japan represented the first official visit by Japanese, a young fisherman — who would eventually play a pivotal role in U.S.-Japan relations — made the first voyage to this country. A fisherman from a small village, Nakahama Manjiro was shipwrecked at the age of 14 on Torishima Island. Manjiro […]
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