APA Leaders React to Overturning of Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday announced their decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning Roe v. Wade — which has been law…
Historic Japanese House in Philly Vandalized
By GWEN MURANAKA, Rafu Senior Editor With fewer than 3,000 Japanese Americans in Philadelphia, the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden in Fairmont Park has been an…
JANM Statement on Rejection of WWII JA Incarceration Historical Fiction Novel by Wisconsin School District
The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is gravely concerned by the Muskego-Norway school board’s rejection of “When the Emperor Was Divine” for use in a tenth-grade…
Metro Board OKs Mineta Station Naming
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo The Little Tokyo/Arts District Regional Connector station, scheduled to open later this year, will be dedicated in honor of the late…
CELEBRATIONS: George Kikuta’s 80th Birthday
George Kikuta recently celebrated his 80th birthday with a party with family and friends at the Riviera Country Club on May 26. George and his wife,…
Virtual WWII Battle of Okinawa Lecture Hosted by OAA
GARDENA — On Friday, July 1, at 7 p.m. Pacific Time, the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) in Gardena will host their annual “Irei no Hi: Remembering…
THROUGH THE FIRE: America — the Greatest Nation on Earth
By BILL WATANABE When I was a young schoolboy, I believed that America was the greatest nation on Earth. There were many things that reinforced this…
Reps. Steel, Porter Introduce Bill to Posthumously Honor Church Shooting Hero
WASHINGTON — Reps. Michelle Steel (R-Huntington Beach) and Katie Porter (D-Irvine) on June 22 introduced bipartisan legislation to commission a Congressional Gold Medal for Dr. John…
Hearing Delayed in Hate-Motivated Attack; Victims Criticize D.A.
Rafu Wire and Staff Reports VAN NUYS — Arraignment for a Sylmar man accused of rear-ending a Filipino American family at a North Hollywood drive-thru, then…
Ohtani Has Two Dazzling Days to Remember for Angels
By GREG BEACHAM, Associated Press ANAHEIM — On back-to-back nights during an otherwise ordinary June homestand for the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani accomplished two feats…
Next on ‘Asian Pacific America’: Zogo,10,000 Degrees
SAN JOSE — This Sunday, June 26, on “Asian Pacific America” with Robert Handa: Personal finance on your mind a lot more these days? Bolun Li (pictured)…
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: A Woman’s Right to Self-Determination
Dear Editor: While I understand those who feel the life of a fetus is sacred, I disagree with those who would place a higher value on…
Senator Spends a Day on Muranaka Farm
By GWEN MURANAKA, Rafu Senior Editor MOORPARK — On a cool June gloom morning, Sen. Alex Padilla wasn’t in his usual coat and tie, but a blue…
Kim Miyori Among ‘St. Elsewhere’ Cast Members at The Hollywood Show
Kim Miyori is among the cast members of “St. Elsewhere” who will appear at The Hollywood Show at the Burbank Marriott, 2400 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank,…
Recipient of Hoshide Distinguished Teaching Prize Announced
Dr. Kelly Fong, a continuing lecturer for the UCLA Asian American Studies Department, is the 2021-2022 recipient of the C. Doris and Toshio Hoshide Distinguished Teaching…
Honolulu Prosecutor Indicted on Bribery Charges
By AUDREY McAVOY, Associated Press HONOLULU — A U.S. grand jury has indicted Honolulu’s former top prosecutor and four others, alleging that employees of an engineering…
Suspect in Hate-Motivated Attack at NoHo Drive-Thru Taken Into Custody
Rafu Wire and Staff Reports VAN NUYS — A Sylmar man accused of rear-ending a Filipino American family at a North Hollywood drive-thru, then uttering racial slurs…
Crunchyroll to Distribute ‘One Piece Film Red’
CULVER CITY — Crunchyroll and Toei Animation Inc. have announced their agreement for the theatrical distribution of “One Piece Film Red” in the U.S., Canada, Australia,…
Vincent Chin Anniversary to Be Observed in L.A.
Join the County of Los Angeles Commission on Human Relations and the Chinese American Museum on Thursday, June 23, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for the…
Kitsu Mineshizu Remembered for Serving JA Community Through Minyo
By TOMOKO NAGAI, Rafu Staff Writer TORRANCE — Kitsu Mineshizu (Shizuko Uyemura) was involved in minyo, Japanese folk songs, throughout her life and played a major role…
Topaz Museum Announces Community Outreach for Wakasa Monument
DELTA, Utah — The Topaz Museum Board is pleased to announce the launch of an online community survey to submit ideas and opinions on the future of…
Parkinson’s Support Group to Hold Meeting on Saturday
The Parkinson’s Support Group at Union Church of Los Angeles will hold a meeting on Saturday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Union…
Fitzpatrick Wins U.S. Open; Morikawa Finishes in Tie for 5th
ASSOCIATED PRESS BROOKLINE, Mass.–A playoff was looming Sunday in the U.S. Open, just like it always does at The Country Club, when Matt Fitzpatrick sized up…
Naomi Osaka, LeBron James Team Up for Entertainment Venture
ASSOCIATED PRESS LeBron James and Naomi Osaka are becoming teammates in the entertainment world. Tennis star Osaka and her agent and business partner, Stuart Duguid, are…
This Date in History: 1937
A tattoo artist traces delicate multi-colored figures on a Japanese woman, June 22, 1937. It often took up to three years to complete a tattoo as…
Honors in Osaka
Rie Nakano, who trains at Kyokushin Los Angeles, had some hefty hardware to hoist, winning the third-place trophy in her division at the 2022 All Japan…
Trout Homers, Ohtani Pitches Angels Past Mariners 4-1
By TIM BOOTH, Associated Press SEATTLE — Mike Trout doesn’t have — or perhaps doesn’t want to share — the reason for why he has hit…
California Trout to Be Euthanized After Bacteria Outbreak
ASSOCIATED PRESS INDEPENDENCE, Calif. — Nearly 350,000 rainbow trout must be euthanized as California wildlife officials battle bacteria outbreaks at two fish hatcheries in the eastern…
Japan Court Says Ban on Same-sex Marriage Constitutional
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press TOKYO — A Japanese court ruled Monday that the country’s ban on same-sex marriage does not violate the constitution, and rejected…
Family Asks for Full Prosecution in North Hollywood Hate Attack
Rafu Wire and Staff Reports VAN NUYS — Local immigrant rights groups rallied in Van Nuys on June 17 in support of a Filipino American family…
Encore Presentation of Documentary ‘Who Killed Vincent Chin?’
NEW YORK — “POV,” now in its 35th year as America’s longest-running independent documentary series, presents a special encore presentation of the gripping 1988 Academy Award-nominated…
Next on ‘Asian Pacific America’: ‘A Rebel’s Outcry,’ AAPI-Owned Small Businesses
SAN JOSE — This Sunday, June 19, on “Asian Pacific America” with Robert Hands: The story of one of the unsung heroes of the AAPI community…
Morikawa, Rahm, McIlroy Bring Buzz to Brookline in U.S. Open
By DOUG FERGUSON, Associated Press BROOKLINE, Mass. — For every Collin Morikawa and his back-to-back years winning a major is a Joel Dahmen, who only four…
Picnic Time for Terminal Islanders
Terminal Islanders gathered on June 12 at George Bellis Park in Buena Park for their first picnic since 2020. Three hundred attended and enjoyed a day…
Detroit Honors Vincent Chin, Asian American Killed in 1982
By COREY WILLIAMS, Associated Press DETROIT — Decades before Chinese immigrant Yao Pan Ma was attacked while collecting cans in New York and Thai American Vicha…
Community, Celebrity and a Brush with History
The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled out all the stops for their annual Japanese Heritage Night on Wednesday, with plenty of activities ahead of the evening’s game…
Results for AAPI Candidates in L.A., Orange County Elections
RAFU STAFF REPORT Several AAPI candidates were on the June 7 ballot in Los Angeles County and Orange County. Following are some of the latest results.…
IT PAYS TO KNOW: How to Deal with ‘Crazy’ Loved Ones
By JUDD MATSUNAGA, Esq.Have you ever forgotten where you parked your car? As you walk up and down the aisles searching for your vehicle, do you…
Concert for the Future of Japanese American Music at JACCC
By SCOTT OSHIMA On Sunday, June 26, Little Tokyo will hear the future of Japanese American music on the historic JACCC Aratani Theatre stage. The free…
New $1 Million Fulbright-Glen S. Fukushima Fund to Expand U.S.-Japan Study and Research
TOKYO — On May 22, during President Biden’s trip to Tokyo, Glen S. Fukushima, vice chairman of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation and former president of the…
OAA to Host Info Session About Grand Homecoming in Okinawa
GARDENA — On Saturday, June 25, at 10:30 a.m. Pacific Time, the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) will host their first information session for the 7th…
JACL Remembers Vincent Chin 40 Years Later
This Sunday marks 40 years since Vincent Chin was brutally beaten in Detroit at his bachelor party by two autoworkers who mistook him for being Japanese.…
Gathering Memories, Revisiting Friendships: JA Basketball Reunion Will Welcome Generations to Terasaki Budokan
A recent event at the new Terasaki Budokan prompted Alan Kosaka to ask why there hasn’t been a basketball reunion for old and not-so-old folks who…
Biden Signs AAPI Museum Study Bill Into Law
RAFU STAFF REPORT WASHINGTON — On June 13 at the White House, President Joe Biden, accompanied by members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, signed Rep.…
Reception Held to Celebrate First Irene Hirano Inouye Memorial Award
On June 3, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles and UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies held a reception to celebrate the Irene Hirano…
JACCC Announces 41st Anniversary Celebration and Awards Dinner
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center will hold its 41st Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 23, in Little Tokyo. Guests are invited…
Monterey Park JA Senior Citizens Club Resumes Monthly Meetings
After a more than two-year hiatus, the Monterey Park Japanese American Senior Citizen Club was able to resume its general meetings. Apparently, the members were eager…
Results for AAPI Candidates in State Senate, Assembly Races
RAFU STAFF REPORT Several AAPI candidates from both major parties, both incumbents and challengers, ran in the June 7 California legislative races. In each race, the…
A Happy Return to the Links: Nanka Kenjinkai Council Golf Tournament
MONTEBELLO — The Nanka Kenjinkai Council held its 18th annual golf tournament on May 27, with dozens of golfers and dignitaries taking part at Montebello Golf Course.…
Creator Shares Nearly Two Decades of the Evolution of ‘Manzanar Fishing Club’
Saturday, June 18, marks the 16th year of the Manzanar Fishing Club seminar and walking tour leading to the creation of the acclaimed documentary “The Manzanar…
Uyeda Nomination to SEC Moves to Full Senate
WASHINGTON — The Senate Banking Committee on June 8 approved by voice vote the nomination of Mark Uyeda to serve as a commissioner at the Securities…
Japan & Black L.A. Initiative: A Conversation with Sen. Bradford
On May 14, California State University Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) and the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles co-sponsored an event featuring California State Sen. Steven…
Remembering a Resister
Takashi Hoshizaki (right), a Heart Mountain draft resister, responds to a question during a discussion of the late Yoshito Kuromiya’s memoir, “Beyond the Betrayal: the Memoir…
AAPI Incumbents Re-elected in Statewide Races
RAFU STAFF REPORT In statewide elections on June 7, two AAPI incumbents were re-elected while another AAPI candidate finished first in a race for an open…
CRFT by Maki Celebrating Suehiro’s 50th Anniversary
CRFT by Maki is celebrating Suehiro Cafe’s 50 years serving the Little Tokyo community. Pre-order available now until June 13. The anniversary package includes: 50th anniversary…
JCCF Recognizes Kunsho Recipients David Ono, Bryan Takeda
David Ono and Bryan Takeda were honored at the 2022 Jokun Recognition Community Luncheon held on June 5 at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, sponsored by the…
Sakaki Resigns as President of Sonoma State University
ROHNERT PARK — Judy K. Sakaki, Ph.D. announced June 6 that she will resign as president of Sonoma State University (SSU) effective July 31. The CSU Board…
Several AAPI Candidates in California Congressional Races
RAFU STAFF REPORT In the June 7 primary in California, several AAPI candidates were on the ballot for the U.S. House of Representatives, both as incumbents…
THROUGH THE FIRE: Ripple Effects of the Black Lives Matter Movement — Pasadena Unveils Its Past
By MARY UYEMATSU KAO Whenever historic movements take to the streets, we can find changes that have been waiting to be made finally get some attention.…
Successful Start
Leiton Hashimoto has kicked off the tuna season in fine fashion, scoring well on a three-day excursion aboard the Royal Star out of San Diego. His…
Dodgers to Host Japanese Heritage Night on June 15
The Los Angeles Dodgers will once again host Japanese Heritage Night at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, June 15, when they take on the Angels at 7:10…
Ohtani Carries Angels Past Boston, Ending L.A.’s 14-Game Skid
By GREG BEACHAM, Associated Press ANAHEIM — Shohei Ohtani presented the game ball to Phil Nevin during the cathartic clubhouse celebrations after the Los Angeles Angels…
Anime Expo Reinstates Vaccination Requirement After Backlash
By Hiraku Ito Anime Expo, “the largest anime convention in North America,” has reinstated their proof of vaccination or negative test requirement after significant backlash online.…
Angels Lose 13th Straight After Firing Maddon
By JOE REEDY, Associated Press ANAHEIM — Swapping out their manager didn’t change the Los Angeles Angels’ fortunes Tuesday night. The Halos matched a franchise record…
Running to a Draw
Angel City FC forward Jun Endo drives ahead of Elizabeth Eddy of the Houston Dash, during Tuesday’s scoreless draw at Banc of California Stadium. ACFC’s best…
Popular Boy Band to Headline Weekend Rising Japan MusicFest
Plenty of pop excitement is on tap this weekend, when the inaugural Rising Japan MusicFest takes place at the sprawling Silverlakes Sports Complex in Norco. Organized…
TaikoProject Returns to Little Tokyo June 25 for ‘Rhythmic Relations 2022’
TaikoProject returns to the Aratani Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo, on Saturday, June 25, at 7:30 p.m. with its exuberant blend of…
Preparations Under Way for Dancing at Nisei Week
The Nisei Week Japanese Festival is coming back after missing two summers due to the pandemic.
GLA JACL Virtual Program: ‘My Life in a Concentration Camp’
The Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League will present a virtual program, “My Life in a Concentration Camp, Manzanar,” on Sunday, June…
Cultural Festival and Ondo at SEJSCC
NORWALK — Southeast Japanese School and Community Center will hold its 59th annual Cultural Festival and Ondo on Saturday, June 11, from 3 to 9 p.m. and…
Bay Cities Joint Memorial Service Held at Woodlawn Cemetery
Rafu Staff Report SANTA MONICA — The Bay Cities Japanese Community 63rd Anniversary Joint Memorial Service ws held May 30 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica. The…
Bill Clinton to Speak at Mineta Memorial Service in San Jose
SAN JOSE — Former President Bill Clinton is among the scheduled speakers at Norman Mineta’s public memorial service, according to The San Jose Mercury News. The…
Kaji, Tanaka Among Winners in Local Elections
Rafu Staff Report In the June 7 election, businessman Jon Kaji finished first in the race for the District 1 City Council seat in Torrance. Results…
Perry Goes to Runoff; de Leon Out of Contention
Rafu Wire and Staff Reports Candidates in the June 7 elections in Los Angeles included two with ties to Little Tokyo. In the 37th Congressional District,…
7th Annual Delicious Little Tokyo Kicks Off June 25
Delicious Little Tokyo is back! Go Little Tokyo’s 7th annual Delicious Little Tokyo kicks off Saturday, June 25, for a weekend of foodie festivities. Attendees can…
Phillies Rally Late to Hand Angels 11th Straight Loss
By AARON BRACY, Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper knows Bryson Stott as well as anybody. So the Phillies star wasn’t surprised when a big swing…
UCLA Ousted One Game Short of College World Series Finals
ASSOCIATED PRESS OKLAHOMA CITY – Jocelyn Alo hit two homers, including a grand slam, and No. 1 seed Oklahoma beat No. 5 UCLA 15-0 in the…
Frosh Runs to Another State Title
Santa Rosa’s Hanne Thomsen has added yet another impressive title to her running resume, after placing first in the girls’ 3200 meters at the CIF State…
Gascón Recall Supporters Gather in J-Town
A group gathered at Far Bar in Little Tokyo on May 27 to support recalling L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón. Standing, from left: Peter Kwong,…
Man, 25, to Face Murder Charges After Mother’s Body Found in Dumpster
CAMARILLO — A 25-year-old Camarillo man, identified by authorities as David Hoetzlein, was arrested for killing his mother and disposing of her body in a dumpster…
JABA Endorses Landmark Slave Reparations Report
The Japanese American Bar Association (JABA) announced its endorsement of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans, and the Task…
CG Muto Delivers Unity Message as Heritage Month Ends
By ELLEN ENDO, Rafu Shimpo Consul General of Japan Akira Muto addressed a gathering of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities on May 31 as AAPI…
GVJCI Online Meditation Workshop
GARDENA — Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute is holding an “Online Meditation for Sleeplessness” workshop on Thursday, July 7, from 7 to 7:40 p.m. Fee: $5. This…
Inoue Stops Donaire in 2nd Round, Unifies 3 Bantamweight Belts
ASSOCIATED PRESS SAITAMA, Japan — Naoya Inoue stopped Nonito Donaire midway through the second round Tuesday night, emphatically winning their rematch and unifying three bantamweight world…
Murai Running as Write-in Candidate for L.A. School Board
Attorney Miho Murai is running in the June 7 election as a write-in candidate for the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education, District 2.…
Google Doodle Pays Tribute to LGBTQ Rights Activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya
By KYLE BRADSHAW Continuing the company’s celebration of Pride Month, the latest Google Doodle honors Kiyoshi Kuromiya, a Japanese American activist for civil rights and gay…
FILM REVIEW: Decades Later, Cruise and ‘Top Gun’ Are Fit as Ever
By IZUMI HASEGAWA, Special to The Rafu The 1986 movie “Top Gun” soared to the top of both the box office and the music charts for…
At 83, Japanese Becomes Oldest to Sail Solo Across Pacific
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press TOKYO — An 83-year-old Japanese adventurer returned home Saturday after successfully completing his solo, nonstop voyage across the Pacific, becoming the…
Joint Service Held at JA War Memorial Court
RAFU STAFF REPORT The Japanese American 2022 Joint Memorial Service was held May 28 outside the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo. The…
Care Taken for Memorial Day Observance in Gardena
With COVID-related precautions still in place, Gardena Nisei Memorial Post 1961, Veterans of Foreign Wars, commanded by Steve Moriyama, held a Memorial Day drive-through on May…
IT PAYS TO KNOW: Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning
By JUDD MATSUNAGA, Esq. California’s COVID-19 death toll is on the cusp of 90,000, a tally that comes as the U.S. is nearing its own milestone…
JA Candidates on Ballot in L.A. County and Statewide
RAFU STAFF REPORT The June 7 ballot in Los Angeles County includes a number of Nikkei names. Candidates for Superior Court of Los Angeles County include:…
THROUGH THE FIRE: Food for Thought — TikTok & Tamagoyaki
By KYRA KARATSU Like any good Gen Z-er, I’ve made my fair share of TikToks since I first downloaded the app two years ago. Most are…
JANM to Host Celebration of Mineta’s Life
The Japanese American National Museum invites you to celebrate the extraordinary life of Norman Y. Mineta, chairman of the Board of Trustees, on Saturday, June 25,…
Jon Hatamiya Big Band Returns for June 16 Show
The Jon Hatamiya Big Band is back in full swing with a slate of appearances this month, highlighted by a full concert at Second Home Hollywood…
Gurriel’s 5 RBIs Best Ohtani’s 2 HRs in Jays’ Win Over Halos
By GREG BEACHAM, Associated Press ANAHEIM — Shohei Ohtani crushed two early homers, but they didn’t stand up. Not against the all-day relentlessness of the Toronto…
Two Receive Ryo and Jean Komae Scholarships
On May 6 at Fuller School of Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy in Pasadena, the 2022 Ryo and Jean Komae Scholarships were awarded during a…
Girl Scouts Volunteer on Memorial Day
Taking a moment to realize that freedom isn’t free, Girl Scout Troop 4345 (Brownies through Ambassadors) spent part of their Memorial Day weekend by assisting Boy…
Flag-Signing in San Fernando Valley
From left: Emily Kumagai, Jaclyn Tomita, Ariel Imamoto and Kendra Motoyasu display an American flag, with 48 stars, signed by Japanese American incarcerees at a Memorial…
Go For Broke Monument Anniversary to Be Celebrated Virtually
The 23rd Go For Broke Monument Anniversary Virtual Tribute will be held on Saturday, June 4, at 2 p.m. Pre-show at 1:45 p.m. will feature “Honor…
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