A Yearly Clean Sweep in Little Tokyo
The annual Little Tokyo Sparkle, also known as Nancy Kikuchi Volunteer Day, was held May 20 with more than 400 participants of all ages. The program…
‘Grease’ Is Still the Word for Yonsei Actress/Singer Tricia Fukuhara
By J.K. YAMAMOTO, Rafu Staff Writer Tricia Fukuhara wasn’t around in the 1950s, or even when the movie “Grease” came out in 1978, but she is…
OBITUARY: Ronald Lew, Trailblazing Federal Judge
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California announces the passing of Senior District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew on May 19. He was 81.…
JANM to Present Pop-Up Exhibition at Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) will bring three innovative exhibitions to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa as part of a one-day…
Sadao Munemori Post 321 Presents Scholarship
The American Legion Sadao Munemori Post 321 presented its 23rd scholarship in the name of Sadao Munemori to graduating senior Yingyin Tan on April 26 at…
Terminal Islanders’ Annual Picnic Set for June 11
The Terminal Islanders Club will host its annual picnic on Sunday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at George Bellis Park (West Shelter), located…
JA Community Memorial Day Service in San Diego
SAN DIEGO — The Japanese American Community Memorial Day Service will be held on Monday, May 29, at 9:30 a.m. at Mt. Hope Cemetery, 3751 Market…
Bay Cities Joint Memorial Day Service in Santa Monica
SANTA MONICA — The Bay Cities Joint Memorial Day Service will be held on Monday, May 29, at 9 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, 1847 14th St., Santa…
KSCA Adds Tea Ceremony to May 28 Bazaar
PASADENA—A rare opportunity to experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony will be offered on Sunday, May 28, during the second fundraising bazaar presented by Koreisha Senior…
San Gabriel Nursery Celebrates 100 Years
By MARIKO LOCHRIDGE, Rafu Contributor SAN GABRIEL — San Gabriel Nursery & Florist turns 100 years old this year. It’s a milestone that most American businesses can…
LTHS Meeting to Focus on Artist Matsumi Kanemitsu
The Little Tokyo Historical Society’s monthly general meeting will be held on Saturday, June 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Tokyo Villa Community Room…
Vintage Kimono Sale at Valley JCC
Ahead of the summer Japanese matsuri and Bon Odori season, a vintage kimono and accessory sale is coming to Valley Japanese Community Center, 8850 Lankershim Blvd.…
Vehicle Crashes Into Sushi Restaurant in Studio City
Rafu Wire Service and Staff Reports A vehicle crashed into a commercial building and came to a stop inside a sushi restaurant in Studio City on…
James Holzhauer Wins ‘Jeopardy! Masters’
CULVER CITY — It’s official: James Holzhauer of Las Vegas is the first-ever “Jeopardy! Masters” champion. The self-described “game show villain” won the three-week-long competition on Wednesday,…
RAMBLINGS FROM THE SON OF A PAPER SON: On Writing …
By BILL YEE As a part of retirement or semi-retirement, one of my goals was to write a column. The focus of the column would be…
IT PAYS TO KNOW: Hiring In-home Caregivers
By JUDD MATSUNAGA, Esq. Have you ever tried to convince an elderly Japanese American man to do (or not to do) something they really didn’t want…
OBITUARY: Kikuko Tanamachi’s Journey — From Terminal Island to Texas
Kikuko Nakao Tanamachi passed away peacefully with family by her side on May 16 in Harlingen, Texas at 102½ years old. Born on Sept. 30, 1920…
Segerstrom to Stage Nisei Soldiers’ Story ‘Defining Courage’
By GWEN MURANAKA, Rafu Senior Editor For one night only, the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on June 7 will be showcasing the heroics of…
Pop-Up Cha-kaiseki Event May 28 at Shibumi DTLA
Culinary Curation, which hosted a Japanese green tea event in 2021 and a tea shaved ice in 2022, will bring a series of Japanese tea pop-ups…
Franklin Heads to City Championship
Franklin High School in Los Angeles has earned a berth in the CIF L.A. City Section Div. II championship, to be played this Friday at Glendale…
Ninth Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Tule Lake Committee v. FAA
By BARBARA TAKEI Earlier this month, the Tule Lake Committee lost its appeal in Tule Lake Committee v. FAA, et al. The U.S. Ninth Circuit in…
Asian Woman Attacked on Train; Hahn Calls for Review of Metro Protocols
Rafu Wire Service and Staff Reports LONG BEACH — Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn is calling for a review of Metro protocols after a woman was…
LTCC Fundraising Dance, ‘J-Town, Keeping It Our Town,’ Set for June 17
The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC), a nonprofit community coalition of neighborhood stakeholders that advocates for the best interests of one of the last Japantowns in…
Little Tokyo Sparkle Uncovers Hidden Pup
Hiding alone in the bushes near 2nd Street and Central Avenue, this small female pup was discovered during the Little Tokyo Sparkle cleanup event on Saturday.…
‘Alternative Facts’ to Be Broadcast on PBS
To celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, “Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066” is scheduled to be broadcast nationally on PBS on Thursday,…
Actors Supporting Writers
Many actors are supporting the Writers Guild of America strike by joining members on the picket line. Pictured on May 11 at Netflix in Hollywood are…
MOVIE REVIEW: ‘We Said, No, No!’ Takes Viewer Inside Tule Lake
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo In “We Said, ‘No, No,’” director Brian Tadashi Maeda cinematically takes the audience inside the largest and most tightly secured of…
Memorial Day Services of L.A. Buddhist Temple Federation
Los Angeles Buddhist Temple Federation (ロサンゼルス仏教連合会), consisting of eight local temples (Higashi Honganji, Jodo Shu, Koyasan, Long Beach Buddhist Church, Nichiren Shu, Nishi Hongwanji, Senshin Buddhist…
The Right Steps to Healing
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS, Rafu Staff Writer ALHAMBRA – In a glittering gold dress, Kanon Iwata twirled in a corner of the dance floor, delighting the…
Free Admission at USC PAM
PASADENA — Thanks to a generous donation from Wescom Credit Union, USC Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Los Robles Ave. in Pasadena, is offering free admission during…
Maryknoll Karate Club June Bingo and Lunch
The Maryknoll Karate Club invites all to bingo and lunch on Sunday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Francis Xavier Chapel, Japanese…
Little Tokyo Braces for Regional Connector Opening
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo It began as an idea floated by Metro executives in 2012 during a meeting with Little Tokyo leadership. What followed was…
JANM to Present ‘The Oath of the Sword’ at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) will present the premiere screening of the recently restored 1914 silent film“The Oath of the Sword”at the Academy Museum of…
Honor on Parade
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi and his wife, Hiroko Higuchi, participated in the 61st annual Armed Forces Day Parade, which was held on Saturday in Torrance after being…
JANM Gala Unveils Bold Museum Future
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo The Japanese American National Museum, the nation’s largest and most venerable steward of Nikkei history, shined a spotlight on emerging leaders…
2023 Women of the Year Honored
By GWEN MURANAKA, Rafu Senior Editor MONTEBELLO — The Sunday before Mother’s Day, a tradition of recognizing outstanding women continued at a moving ceremony at the Quiet…
Diabetic Man Who Went Missing in Rosemead Is Found
ROSEMEAD — Roger Yamashiro, an at-risk man who went missing in Rosemead, has been found. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said on Sunday, “Thank you to…
Ohtani Hits 10th HR, Flashes Speed in Angels’ Win
Rafu Staff and Wire Service Reports BALTIMORE – Shohei Ohtani reached 10 home runs for the third straight season Thursday and beat out a late infield…
Zelenskyy, G7 Leaders Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
HIROSHIMA — On May 21, Fumio Kishida, prime minister of Japan, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, who is visiting Japan to attend some of the sessions…
THROUGH THE FIRE: Passing It On — Celebrating Historical Interactions as Told by Yuri Kochiyama
By MARY UYEMATSU KAO This May 19, we again celebrate the shared birthdays of Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X. Their friendship has become a symbolic bridge…
Performer/Activist Kristina Wong to Deliver UCLA Arts Commencement Address
Award-winning actor, playwright, performance artist, and activist Kristina Wong will deliver the keynote address at the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture’s 2023 commencement on…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Our Histories and Communities Overlap
Dear Editor: The letter published on May 13, 2023 titled “Questioning J-Town Support for Third Street Boundaries” contained some factual inaccuracies, and as a directly named…
Justin Terao Named Kazuo Masuda VFW Post 3670 Scout of the Year
Justin Terao of Boy Scout Troop 242 has received the Kazuo Masuda VFW Post 3670 Scout of the Year Award. Justin has been an active member…
SCAG, SOSN to Host ‘Our Elders in 2040’ Workshop
TORRANCE — A workshop on “Our Elders in 2040” will be held on Tuesday, May 23, from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. at Van Deene Avenue Elementary School,…
Community Celebration at Lai Lai Ballroom
ALHAMBRA — Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) will co-host a community dance celebrating unity on Saturday, May 20, at 3:30 p.m. at Lai Lai Balroom…
From ‘Joy Luck’ to ‘Joy Ride’
On May 6, the cast of “Joy Ride” (Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu) presented the “Joy Luck Club” cast (Janet Yang, Ming-Na Wen,…
JACCC Announces 42nd Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center will hold its 42nd Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 22, in Little Tokyo. Guests are invited…
Biden, Kishida Discuss Security Issues During Meeting in Hiroshima
HIROSHIMA — President Joe Biden met with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan in Hiroshima on May 18 to advance cooperation on a range of security,…
Lively Launch for ‘Wings on a Silk Veil’
GARDENA — A book launch was held April 29 for Genie Nakano’s latest poetry collection, “Wings on a Silk Veil,” at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute.…
Okinawa Association Craft Fair Draws a Crowd
GARDENA — The Okinawa Association of America (OAA) held its fourth annual Craft Fair on April 29 at the OAA Center’s parking lot in Gardena, drawing approximately…
Parkinson’s Support Group to Hold Meeting on May 27
The Little Tokyo Parkinson’s Support Group at Union Church will hold a meeting on Saturday, May 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Union Church…
PASSINGS: Renowned Martial Arts Instructor Fumio Demura Gained International Fame Through Work for ‘Karate Kid’
Shihan Fumio Demura, the internationally revered martial arts instructor whose work earned widespread acclaim via the “Karate Kid” movies, passed away on April 24, surrounded by…
Taiko Taikai at Terasaki Budokan on Saturday
The North American Taiko Taikai will be held on Saturday, May 20, at Terasaki Budokan, 249 S. Los Angeles St. in Little Tokyo. The event is…
‘Righteousness and Bravery: A Concert for Sugihara’ at UCLA
The Lowell Milken Center for Music of American Jewish Experience presents Part 2 of its 2023 Music and Justice Series, “Righteousness and Bravery: A Concert for…
AAPI Veterans Invited to Share Their Stories
SANTA MONICA — The Library of Congress Veterans History Project is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by collecting stories of AAPI veterans so that…
Book-Signing for Arthur Hansen’s ‘Manzanar Mosaic’ at GVJCI
GARDENA — Dr. Arthur A. Hansen, author of “Manzanar Mosaic: Essays and Oral Histories from America’s First Concentration Camp,” will read passages from and sign copies of…
Baseball Fills Mother’s Day with Tributes, Surprises
Rafu Staff and Wire Service Reports Major League Baseball again teamed up with Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, on Mother’s Day to…
Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai Picnic on June 11
The Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, June 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at a new location, Garvey Ranch Park,…
JACL Calls for Congress to Reinstate Assault Weapons Ban
WASHINGTON — The Japanese American Citizens League issued the following statement on May 11. =*= 210. That is the number of mass shootings that have occurred…
LANSCA Back in Action at Spring Luncheon
For over 60 years, the Los Angeles-Nagoya Sister City Affiliation (LANSCA) has helped to bolster L.A.’s relationship with Nagoya by conducting exchange programs for teachers and…
Molina Sought to Protect Little Tokyo’s Small Businesses
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo As the daughter of working-class parents, former Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina understood the daily struggles faced by small mom-and-pop…
Screening of ‘Grandpa Cherry Blossom’ at Hermosa Beach Museum
HERMOSA BEACH — The Hermosa Beach Museum, 710 Pier Ave. in Hermosa Beach, in partnership with Manhattan Beach United, will present a screening of “Grandpa Cherry Blossom”…
U.S. Sumo Open This Saturday at CSULB Pyramid
LONG BEACH — The 23rd annual U.S. Sumo Open will be held on Saturday, May 20, at the Walter Pyramid on the Cal State Long Beach campus.…
CAPAC Members and House Democratic Leader Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month
WASHINGTON — May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a celebration of the history, the immeasurable contributions, and achievements of the Asian…
Las Vegas Man Charged with Federal Hate Crimes in Connection with OC Church Shooting
SANTA ANA – A Nevada man has been charged with 98 counts of federal hate crimes and weapons and explosives offenses, including the murder of one…
Chinese Real Estate Developer’s L.A. Company Fined $4 Million for Providing Benefits to City Councilman
A Downtown Los Angeles-based company was sentenced May 12 to five years of probation and was fined $4 million – the maximum penalty under the law…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Questioning J-Town Support for Third Street Boundaries
Dear Editor, I have attended some meetings in Little Tokyo where Grant Sunoo presented recommendations of the Little Tokyo Service Center and Central City United on…
JANM Benefit In-person at InterContinental L.A. Downtown, Livestreamed on YouTube
“Across Generations” is the theme of the Japanese American National Museum’s 2023 benefit, which will be held Saturday, May 13, at 6 p.m. at the InterContinental…
The CW Cancels ‘Kung Fu’ After 3 Seasons
Rafu Staff Report The CW announced on May 11 that it will not renew “Kung Fu” for another season. The reboot of the classic ABC series…
CCA, CCU Find Middle Ground in DTLA 2040 Plan
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo Two rival Downtown Los Angeles advocacy organizations — Central City Association (CCA) and Central City United (CCU) — are both declaring…
Tule Lake Documentary ‘We Said No! No!’ Set for Theatrical Release
“We Said No! No!” is a story of civil disobedience set against the backdrop of World War II and the controversial incarceration of thousands of “disloyal”…
Manzanar National Historic Site Recruiting Youth Conservation Corps Members
INDEPENDENCE — Manzanar National Historic Site will sponsor a five-week Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program this summer. Youths 15 to 18 are encouraged to apply, provided…
Little Tokyo Sparkle Set for May 20
Little Tokyo Sparkle, also known as Nancy Kikuchi Volunteer Day, will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers will gather…
Dept. of Transportation HQ Named in Honor of Former Secretaries Mineta, Coleman
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and U.S. General Services Administrator Robin Carnahan on May 9 formally announced the naming of the U.S. DOT headquarters…
IT PAYS TO KNOW: A Longer, Healthier Life for Mom
By JUDD MATSUNAGA, Esq. Whether you’re Issei, Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei, or Gosei, every one of us, without exception, shares one thing in common: we all have…
Director’s Cut of Okazaki’s ‘Living on Tokyo Time’ Available
Academy Award-winning director Steven Okazaki made the following announcement about a new version of his romantic comedy “Living on Tokyo Time”: “I’m pleased to announce that…
Gajin Fujita’s ‘True Colors’ Closes Saturday at L.A. Louver
L.A. Louver, 45 N. Venice Blvd. in Venice, presents “True Colors,” a new, transformational body of work by Gajin Fujita, through Saturday, May 13. Created between…
Kishida Meets with Virginia Gov. Youngkin
TOKYO — The Prime Minister’s Office of Japan released the following statement on an April 27 meeting between Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Virginia Gov. Glenn…
Bunka-Sai Marks 50th Year of Sister-City Program
TORRANCE — The 48th annual Bunka-Sai (Japanese Cultural Festival), presented by the Torrance Sister City Association (TSCA), was held April 15 and 16 at the Ken…
World Premiere of ‘On This Side of the World’ at East West Players
East West Players, the nation’s premier Asian American theatre, presents the world premiere of “On This Side of the World,” created with and directed by Noam…
Celebration of Life for Rev. Tsuyuki
A celebration of life for Rev. Alfred Yoshihisa Tsuyuki, head minister of Konko Church of Los Angeles, will be held on Saturday, June 24, at 12…
2023 Memorial Day Service at Gardena Valley JCI
GARDENA — The Gardena Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961 will hold its annual Memorial Day service honoring all deceased post members who served in defense of our…
Amache National Historic Site Invites Public Input on Development of Foundation Document
GRANADA, Colo. – The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a foundation document to guide future planning and management of the Amache National Historic Site and is seeking…
OAA Accepting Applicants for High School Scholarship
Every year, the Okinawa Association of America, Inc. (OAA) in Gardena recognizes and rewards graduating high school seniors of Okinawan descent (OAA members only). The selection…
Imagine Little Tokyo Celebrates 10 Years
By MIYA IWATAKI Join friends and fun at the Imagine Little Tokyo Short Story Contest 10th Anniversary Celebration and Awards Program on Saturday, May 20, at…
Japanese American Museum of Oregon Names New Executive Director
PORTLAND — The Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO) is excited to announce that after a prolonged, extensive search, Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong will be joining the organization…
Last Chance to See ‘The King and I’ in La Mirada
Rafu Staff Report LA MIRADA — The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “The King and I” ends its run at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts,…
Strengthening Memory Through Rhythm
On April 30, the Memory in Rhythm workshop was held in the Event Center at the headquarters of Bridge USA magazine in Torrance. The organizer was…
Nootbaar a Bright Spot for Floundering Cardinals
Rafu Staff and Wire Service Reports Lars Nootbaar continued his productive streak at the plate last weekend, providing a bright spot for the St. Louis Cardinals,…
Korean American Family Among Victims of Texas Mass Shooting
ALLEN, Texas — Three members of a Korean American family and an immigrant from India are among the victims of one of the nation’s latest mass…
Screening of Kore-eda’s ‘Maborosi’ at Faith UMC
TORRANCE — Japanese Movie Night will be presented by Faith United Methodist Church, 2113 W. 182nd St., Torrance, on Sunday, May 21, at 3 p.m. This…
AAPI Heritage Month Short Film Screening at GVJCI
GARDENA — In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, five diverse short films will be shown on Saturday, May 20, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Gardena…
UTLA Reaches Labor Agreement with LAUSD
Rafu Wire Service and Staff Reports Members of the union representing Los Angeles Unified School District teachers last week overwhelmingly approved a labor agreement that includes…
Just Kidding Around at JACCC
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo hosted its annual Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) celebration on April 29. Activities included crafts, emoji…
Manzanar Pilgrimage Returns to In-Person
By JONATHAN VAN HARMELEN, Rafu Contributor On April 29, hundreds gathered at the Ireito monument at Manzanar to celebrate the first in-person Manzanar pilgrimage since 2019.…
Griffith Park Dedicates Sign on Site of Internment Camp
By GWEN MURANAKA, Rafu Senior Editor On April 1, 1942, Katsuo Nagai was a typesetter working at The Rafu Shimpo, when he was arrested and sent…
JA Centennial Businesses Celebrated in San Gabriel
RAFU STAFF REPORT SAN GABRIEL — The San Gabriel City Council celebrated two local Japanese American legacy businesses at their meeting on Tuesday. San Gabriel Nursery and…
Finalist Team Announced for Memorial to Victims of 1871 Chinese Massacre
The Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument on Friday announced the finalist team for the Memorial to…
Remembering Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki
By BRIAN NIIYA A familiar presence at Manzanar Pilgrimages and many other community events for decades, Rev. Alfred Tsuyuki led the Konko Church of Los Angeles…
‘A Boy Who Went for Broke: The Story of Pvt. 1st Class Ted Fujioka’
TORRANCE — The Greater L.A. Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League will present a free in-person program, “A Boy Who Went for Broke: The Story of…
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