Today’s News
So-Phis Continue to Dream as Fashions Take the Stage
ANAHEIM.–Sporty, colorful clothes, many of them worn by homegrown celebrities from the Japanese American community, were featured during the 64th annual So-Phis Fashion Show on April 27 at the Anaheim Hilton. Guided by the theme, “Continue to Dream,” the event was dedicated in memory of So-Phis members Ellyn Iwata and Joan Kawase and marked the…
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Downtown LA
Exhibition of Works by Matsumi Kanemitsu
“Matsumi Kanemitsu: Traction Avenue” will be on view from May 18 to June 29 at Louis Stern Fine Arts, 9002 Melrose Ave., West Hol-lywood. Opening reception will be held on…
The Legacy of Lumbini
First and foremost, Lumbini Child Development Center would like to take this opportunity to thank Rafu Shimpo again for their generosity and continued support. Lumbini was fortunate to…
THROUGH THE FIRE: Superstar!
By Bill Watanabe Did you know that one of the biggest superstars of the silent screen era in Hollywood was a Japanese guy named Sessue Hayakawa? He was…
Let’s Make Little Tokyo ‘Sparkle’
Little Tokyo Sparkle is set for Saturday, May 18, starting at 9 a.m. at the JACCC Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St. LT Sparkle is also known as…
South Bay
Kennedy Hayashi Selected as Cooke Foundation Semifinalist
Kennedy Hayashi is among four students from El Camino College who have been selected as semifinalists for the highly selective Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship program. ECC students…
Gardena Craft Fair Highlights Okinawa-Themed Items on April 27
The Okinawa Association of America will host their fifth Annual Okinawan Craft Fair on Saturday, April 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the OAA Center’s parking…
Furbaby Social to Benefit Infinite Love Animal Rescue
“Furbaby Social,” a free event benefiting Infinite Love Animal Rescue, will be held Saturday, April 20, from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach, 3635…
Off-Duty Deputy Okamoto Killed in Torrance Collision
A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy was killed on April 12 in an off-duty traffic collision in Torrance. Deputy Daniel Okamoto joined the department in 2017 and…
West LA
Tritia Toyota’s ‘Intimate Strangers’ and Our Contemporary Nikkei Community
The social hall of the West Los Angeles Buddhist Church was filled to capacity on March 3rd for a panel presentation on Tritia Toyota’s newly published work “Intimate Strangers: Shin…
THROUGH THE FIRE: Tritia Toyota’s ‘Intimate Strangers’ and Our Contemporary Nikkei Community
By Mary Uyematsu Kao The social hall of the West Los Angeles Buddhist Church was filled to capacity on March 3rd for a panel presentation on Tritia Toyota’s…
Toyota: Women Lead Recent Wave of Japanese Migration to U.S.
By GWEN MURANAKA, RAFU SENIOR EDITOR A bustling Japanese Institute of Sawtelle is an example of the ways the Japanese American community has evolved with the migration of…
Book Talk on ‘Shin Issei Women and Contemporary JA Community’
A book talk and signing with Tritia Toyota, author of “Intimate Strangers: Shin Issei Women and Contemporary Japanese American Community, 1980-2020” (Temple University Press), will be held on…
Obituary
Russel Fujii
Services for Russel Fujii, 65, resident of Los Angeles who passed away at the White Memorial Hospital on April 5, will be held on…
Yoshiko Matsuda
Yoshiko Matsuda, 90-year-old, Kauai, Hawaii-born, resident of Sherman Oaks, Calif., passed away peacefully on April 26, 2024. She was preceded in death by her…
Barbara Rich
Barbara Rich, a 100-year-old, Los Angeles, Calif.-born, resident of Bellflower, passed away on April 30, 2024. Per her request, no service will be held.…
Susumu Ioki
Susumu Ioki, 95, resident of Culver City, passed away peacefully on April 16, 2024. Susumu was born on May 24, 1928, in San Leandro,…
Carole Tomoye Hirata
A private graveside funeral service for Carole Tomoye Hirata, 100-year-old, Elk Grove, Calif.-born Nisei, who passed away on April 4, 2024, in Gardena, was…