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!

Sushi Poppers

Well,  I have to say, I have not seen anything like this before.  Sushi Poppers.  Looks like you can order them frozen as well.  Not sure how good it would taste after being defrosted.  I am used to eating Sushi freshly made, but gotta love the fact that anyone can market their own idea.
 

Who Inspires You?

I have recently been thru a series of tragic experiences in a very short amount of time.  As I sometimes get into the "woe is me" state of mind, I think about a person who truly inspires me.  My cousin was recently diagnosed with a very serious illness. I have always thought of my cousin as a religious person, but only now do I really see what true faith is.  She has faced her situation with total faith in God and His plan for her and her family and with a sense of humor!  Not only is she an inspiration to me, but to her friends and family as well.  In an interesting way, she has inspired thousands with her faith and trust in God.  It's as if God is working thru her, to show what true faith is.  I often wondered what type of person, thru all adversity, would continue to honor God like Job did and now I know.

Cute Panda Sneezing

I have always found Pandas to be so cute!

Pepsi Commercial - Check It Out

Maneki Neko

Whenever my friends start a new business, I give them as a present a Maneki Neko.  This is a ceramic or wooden or  papier-mâché cat with its paw raised. There doesn't seem to be a clear explanation on what it means when the left paw is raised versus the right paw.  Mostly it seems though, the left paw raised will bring in customers to a business, that is the Maneki Neko that I give to my friends.  The right paw is just in general for good luck.  However, I have heard some people think it is the other way around.  Not sure when I learned about these cats.  They were always in Japanese stores I went to but I never really thought about it until I got older and then learned why they were in the stores.

Daruma

I don't remember when I learned about "Daruma" but I think it is an interesting concept.  When you first buy the Daruma, both eyes are blank.  The Daruma is very light weight and is made of papier-mâché and is hollow.  You make a wish and color in the "left eye" as you face the doll.  When the wish comes true, then you color in the other eye.  I have one little Daruma that I have colored in both eyes and a bigger one, still waiting for that wish to come true!  There are also Daruma festivals that are meant to celebrate good luck and they sell Daruma all over the place.  I think having the one eye colored in  is to remind you of the wish or goal.

OIOI

One of my favorite department stores in Japan has a big sign that looks like "OIOI".  I thought the name of the store was pronounced "Oh E, Oh E".  I mentioned that one day to a Japanese friend and she thought it was the funniest thing she had ever heard!  The store's name is Marui which means circle, so the "O" s are to represent the circles.  Well live and learn...