Entertaining Way to Explain Airline Safety Instructions

Check out Cebu Pacific Airlines unique way of explaining airline safety instructions.

Japanese American Museum of San Jose is OPENING!

The Japanese American Museum of San Jose is opening October 16, 2010.  There will be a ceremony at 1pm and then the museum will open at 2pm.  Just for Saturday they request people to sign up if they want to see the museum.   There is no fee for admission the opening weekend.

Memorial wall honors displaced Japanese-Americans

In Seattle, Washington, a Memorial wall is being created to honor displaced Japanese-Americans due to the internment.  In Los Angeles, California at the Japanese-American National Museum on the steps as you enter the museum, there are engraved names.  Many of my relatives children's names are now engraved on those steps.  I think it is a cool legacy.  At the time the steps were being built the children were babies, but now the older ones are in high school.  I think one day when they get older, they will realize the signaficance.

Nisei Week Japanese Festival - August 14-22, 2010

In Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, the annual Nisei Week Festival is going on.   It's the 70th year of the festival. My mom grew up in LA and Nisei week was always a really fun festival to go to when I was growing up. We went sometimes if we were in LA for vacation. Tons of Japanese food, music, games, dancing. One of the highlights, is the selection of the Nisei week Queen. My mom told me my Aunt, her younger sister, was asked to run for Nisei week Queen years ago, but my Grandfather wouldn't allow it. My sisters and I would tease my mom, that she wasn't asked, and she would just laugh and laugh. I have such fond memories of going to that festival.

Green Tea Lattes

My sister told me one of her favorite drinks now is a Green Tea Latte.  Check out how to make one.

Green Tea Kit Kat Bars!

Whenever my cousin comes to visit me once a year, I always try to have a new fun food to share with her.  She always knows the latest on candy.  I consider her a candy connoisseur. So this year, I found this bag of mini Kit Kat Candy bars that came in regular Milk Chocolate, but also Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate.  I really liked the White Chocolate ones so when my cousin came to my house, I was excited to show her my new finding.  Alas, she had already seen the candy and then she told me about Green Tea Kit Kat Bars that I didn't even know existed.  So now I have got to try those!

US joins Hiroshima A-bomb memorial for 1st time

On Saturday, the San Jose Mercury News, reported that a US representative attended the Hiroshima A-bomb Memorial for the 1st time.  When I lived in Japan, many of the Japanese people I met felt the bombing made them pacifists.  Surprisingly, there didn't seem to be a lot of anger, just deep sadness for the horror that the war and bombing brought to Japan. When I went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, it was very sad to see what had happened.  There were parts of the museum, that I honestly couldn't bear to look at.

San Jose's Japantown Bucks the Recession

Today in the San Jose Mercury News cool article on San Jose Japantown bucking the recession with nice slide show.  Grew up going there all the time and especially love the tofu featured in the slide show.

Possible Movie about the 442nd Regiment directed by Ken Watanabe!

I remember my parents telling me about the 442nd when I was in elementary school and I was fascinated to learn about the 442nd as this was never covered in my regular schooling.  The 442nd Regiment was comprised of Japanese Americans who fought in Europe during World War II.  The families of many of its soldiers were in internment camps in America. The motto of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was “go for broke.” The 442nd Regimental Combat Team was the most decorated unit for its size and length of service, in the entire history of the U.S. Military!  In total, about 14,000 men served, earning 9,486 Purple Hearts , 21 Medals of Honor and eight Presidential Unit Citations.

I have such admiration for the 442nd. They suffered huge casualties fighting in a war for a country that had interned their families.  They brought honor to their families.

There is buzz that Ken Watanabe, the actor, may be directing his first movie about the 442nd.  I think this story would be a great movie.

Picture: Go For Broke National Education Center

Asian American - Too Broad A Term?

There was an interesting story in the Sacramento Bee Newspaper about the term "Asian American" now fading since more and more people want to be more closely identified with their ethnicity.  For example, instead of Asian American, specifically Japanese American.  On forms now, there are more choices to declare your ethnicity.  For me personally, I have always felt it weird to have to list my ethnicity.  I did find it somewhat humorous when I traveled in Asia, wherever I went, people seemed to think I was a native of that country, in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia etc.  I also get asked for directions when I go to Hawaii and I am not from Hawaii!