Perhaps, like many, I spend evenings perusing YouTube. Owing to this bad habit, I occasionally come across videos that are well worth watching.
One such film, now available for free viewing (with commercials), is “Minamata” (2020 with actors Johnny Depp and Hiroyuki Sanada, and singer Minami). As it was released in the U.S. in February 2022, its opening was overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The tale reveals how the mercury poisoning of residents in Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan, in the early 1970s came to be known to the world. Many boomers (born 1946-1964) will recall seeing the arresting photographs in the pages of “Life” magazine. But until recently seeing “Minamata,” I did not know how that photograph essay came to be. The story would be of interest to anyone interested in the history of the environmental movement, in the power of photography to change the world, and in the U.S./Japan relationship, especially where “gai-atsu” (foreign pressure) — is the path forward.
Also of interest are the titular YouTube channels “Lost Salaryman in Japan” (102k subscribers, 13 videos) and “Tokyo Rental: Someone’s Girlfriend” (2.99k subscribers, three videos). I like both for the candid darkness they paint of life in present-day Tokyo for young, single working people and the artistic approaches that both anonymous creators have adopted to find their way.
Twenty-two community-led projects across Seattle will receive nearly $1 million from the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods’ Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF). It is meant to help residents bring their ideas to life through neighborhood improvements, cultural celebrations, youth programs, and community-building initiatives.
“When neighbors come together to improve a park, organize a cultural festival, create opportunities for young people, or tackle a challenge in their community, they show what makes Seattle special,” says Mayor Katie B. Wilson. “The Neighborhood Matching Fund turns community ideas into action, proving that meaningful change starts with people who care enough to roll up their sleeves and make a difference together.”
Through the NMF, the city is investing $983,225 to support projects designed and led by people who know their neighborhoods best. Award recipients have committed more than $839,000 in matching contributions through volunteer time, donated materials, local fundraising, and in-kind professional services, demonstrating the power of community-driven investment. This is the first grant cycle of the 2026 fund.
“I’ve seen firsthand how communities can transform neighborhoods when they have the resources and support to bring their ideas to life. The Neighborhood Matching Fund is one of Seattle’s most powerful tools for investing in community leadership because it starts by trusting residents to know what their neighborhoods need,” says Quynh Pham, Director, Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. “These projects reflect the creativity, resilience, and vision that already exists in our communities, and we’re proud to help support that work.”
Together, these investments demonstrate how neighbors and the city can work side-by-side to strengthen communities.
Beginning in 2024, the department re-instituted a community review process. For this round of awards, five community evaluators reviewed, evaluated, and provided recommendations for this round of grants. The department is grateful for their commitment to Seattle and all the communities.
2026 Cycle One Community Partnership Awards in the Seattle Chinatown-International District (C-ID):
$50,000 to Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Areafor the Win Some, Dim Sum C-ID World Record Attempt, a free, public cultural event celebrating the culinary heritage, small businesses, and community identity of Seattle’s C-ID. The project brought together local dim sum restaurants, residents, and visitors for a community-centered competition culminating in an official Guinness World Records-validated attempt. Community match: $36,150.
$50,000 to Theatre Off Jackson (TOJ) to strengthen safety and neighborhood confidence through architect-designed exterior improvements to its historic C-ID building. The full project includes front and rear security gate installations and entry alcove improvements (including signage and artwork representing neighborhood identity). This Phase I request focuses on constructing a new wood-framed entry alcove and custom metal folding gate at the primary (front) public entrance with improved lighting, repaired surfaces, and ADA-compliant egress. The project was developed in response to safety concerns by facility users/visitors. Developed with input from artists, audiences, and neighborhood residents and businesses, the design balances security with openness, signaling active stewardship rather than exclusion. In addressing security concerns, TOJ will create a safer, more welcoming cultural space serving neighborhood communities. Community match: $32,670.
About the Grants:
NMF grants are given to organizations committed to fostering and building community. The grants have two funds: the Community Partnership Fund which is currently offered twice a year with awards of up to $50,000; and the Small Sparks Fund which is offered on a rolling basis January-October with awards of up to $5,000.
Since its creation, more than 5,000 projects have been funded in partnership with the program. This investment in neighborhoods and communities can be seen across the city.
Since its founding in 1991, the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has supported community-led projects and programs such as Neighborhood Matching Fund, P-Patch Gardening Program, Historic Preservation, and more. It strengthens connections, builds trust, and help neighbors shape the future of Seattle together.
Matsumoto wearing a happi coat and handing out samples at the Hachinohe Aomori Japan booth in Hachinohe. Undated. Photo credit:Yasuki Matsumoto.
Surrounded by figures who would become legends of the IT (Information Technology) world, Yasuki Matsumoto joined Microsoft headquarters as its first Japanese employee and played a key role in establishing the company’s Japanese subsidiary. For decades, he helped bring American software companies into the Japanese market through strategic investment and business development. Today, the same frontier spirit is guiding him toward a new mission: introducing outstanding Japanese products to the world. This feature looks back on a career spent building companies, mentoring startups and interns, and continuing to open new paths across borders.
Yasuki Matsumoto was born in 1953 in Mie Prefecture in Japan. He graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Kansai University (Japan) and earned a master’s degree in mathematics from Portland State University (Oregon). In 1982, he joined Microsoft Corporation in the United States as a COBOL (Common Business-Oriented Language) systems engineer and later worked on the establishment of Microsoft’s Japanese subsidiary. Matsumoto also supported the launch of the company’s Korean and Taiwanese subsidiaries and served as a product development manager for the Far East region. He founded DBC Technology in 1991, EnCompass Group in 1995, and Encompass Japan Inc. in 2021. In addition to managing the businesses he founded, he currently serves as a special advisor to transcosmos Inc.
Roots Shaped by His Hometown and His Parents’ Example
Matsumoto grew up freely in the nature-rich city of Tsu, Mie Prefecture. As a child, he spent countless hours fishing in rivers and catching insects with his older brother who was four years his senior. His family ran Matsumoto Shoten, a wholesaler that mainly supplied soybeans to tofu shops. Because of the family business, their dining table was often filled with tofu and aburaage (deep-fried tofu) received from customers.
Matsumoto with his mother, Yoshiko, and his older brother, Hideki. Location and date unknown. Photo credit: Yasuki Matsumoto.
During summer vacations, Matsumoto rose early to help with deliveries, traveling across Mie Prefecture in a two-ton truck known as a Kurogane. Some routes covered roughly 180 kilometers (120 miles) round trip between Tsu and Owase. Watching his parents work from morning to night, carrying burlap sacks filled with soybeans that weighed as much as 60 kilograms (132 lbs.), gave him an early, firsthand understanding of how demanding work could be.
After graduating from high school, Matsumoto followed his father’s advice and entered Kansai University to study mechanical engineering. His older brother studied electrical engineering at the same university. Their father apparently hoped that one day, his two sons would help mechanize tofu production and expand the family business. Matsumoto himself had little interest in that path but during his university years he encountered something that would change the course of his life.
As a sophomore, he traveled to the United States through a program run by the International Youth Exchange Association. While staying in Boston, he lived with a professor who taught computer science at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. That experience sparked his interest in the field. After learning that the West Coast was at the forefront of computer science, Matsumoto persuaded his parents to let him study at Portland State University’s graduate school. Studying abroad was expensive at the time with the exchange rate 360 yen to the dollar. He covered his tuition by teaching at a Japanese school and working as a university teaching assistant. He completed his master’s program with strong academic results, an experience that gave him lasting confidence.
The First Japanese Programmer at Microsoft Headquarters
In 1979, Matsumoto joined a major Japanese electronics manufacturer as a software development engineer. Even then, his mind was occupied by developments in American computing. After learning about Microsoft in a specialized industry magazine, his desire to work in the United States as a programmer grew stronger. After roughly two years, he left the company, used up his savings, received support from his parents, and returned to Portland as an international student to look for work.
Soon after arriving in the United States, Matsumoto visited Microsoft headquarters with a resume in hand. He was unable to meet with anyone that day but a week later he received an invitation for an interview and advanced to a decisive second round. The people who appeared before him were industry figures who would later become legendary: Charles Simonyi, Paul Allen, and Steve Ballmer. Allen gave him a programming problem, which Matsumoto was able to solve thanks to his practical experience. He was later hired at an annual salary of $22,000. Although it meant taking a pay cut, he was filled with hope as the first Japanese employee hired at Microsoft headquarters. Looking back, Matsumoto modestly says he was fortunate.
At the time, Microsoft headquarters had only about 100 employees and was filled with the energy of a student dormitory. Matsumoto remembers occasions when the company rented out a movie theater so the entire staff could watch a film together. Everyone was highly motivated and spent their days absorbed in program development from morning to night. It was an environment where employees could speak openly to their supervisors, try new things, and take risks without fear of failure. Gates, too, was a leader who did not act superior but remained open and willing to debate with employees. Matsumoto threw himself into development every day determined not to fall behind the other programmers.
The Little-Known Story Behind the Founding of Microsoft Japan
Three years after Matsumoto joined Microsoft in December 1985, he was entrusted with the task of establishing Microsoft’s Japanese subsidiary. The mission was daunting with only three months from launch to incorporation. Matsumoto had found satisfaction in program development but he also wanted to seek work that only he could do. As one of three people tasked with leading the creation of the Japan office, he accepted the challenge.
From the mid-1980s into the 1990s, Japan’s personal computer industry was still developing with major electronics manufacturers selling their own proprietary hardware. At the time, Japan was one of Microsoft’s most important overseas markets second only to Germany. The sales channel was handled by ASCII Corporation, a publisher known for introducing and selling overseas software in Japan.
Because Microsoft’s products were often supplied through OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), arrangements under other companies’ brands, the Microsoft name was not yet widely recognized in Japan. Matsumoto and the team struggled to open an account at a major Tokyo bank to secure office space, eventually beginning operations from an office in Sanbancho district in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. One of the greatest challenges was recruiting talent. Matsumoto had been entrusted with creating a development division inside the Japan office, an unusual policy for a foreign company at the time. It reflected Bill Gates’ high regard for Japan’s technical capabilities. In the middle of Japan’s economic boom, however, attracting talented people to a relatively unknown foreign company was extremely difficult. In the end, the team approached 18 employees from ASCII which had been working closely with Microsoft and they agreed to join. Matsumoto remembers feeling deeply grateful that they were willing to step into the unknown challenge of launching Microsoft Japan together.
Matsumoto began by visiting customers every day and listening directly to what was happening in the field. Leading a young team, he often found himself moving between banks and manufacturers as a manager dispatched from headquarters. In the early days, Japan’s share of Microsoft’s overall sales was still small but with the arrival of Windows 95 the subsidiary entered a period of rapid growth. It eventually became the company’s second-largest market after the United States.
Matsumoto later helped establish Microsoft’s Korean and Taiwanese subsidiaries and contributed to the company’s expansion in Asia as a product development manager. Around the same time, Microsoft headquarters completed its IPO (Initial Public Offering) in the United States and began to emerge as a corporate giant.
By 1991, Microsoft had grown to more than 8,000 employees. As the company became larger, it was harder for Matsumoto to see the full picture and to pursue the work he most wanted to do. He even began to feel that he might not be able to compete with local talent in English or programming alone. Instead, Matsumoto wanted to build a company that would specialize in software localization into Japanese and use his strengths as a Japanese professional. It was not an easy decision because he felt indebted to Gates and the company that had helped him obtain permanent residency. Still, he chose to trust himself and became an entrepreneur.
When asked whether he felt anxious about leaving Microsoft, Matsumoto answered immediately, “No.” Confident in his ability to read the future of the industry, he began a new career as an investor and businessman.
A Key Figure in the Spree of Personal Computers in Japan
After leaving Microsoft, Matsumoto founded DBC Technology in Seattle with the goal of translating and selling American software for the Japanese market. His first major project was supporting Compaq, later acquired by Hewlett-Packard, as it brought IBM-compatible personal computers (PC) to Japan.
At the time, Japanese PC manufacturers sold software based on their own proprietary standards. To make products compatible, users often needed specialized knowledge and programming language skills which limited the reach of PCs. The arrival of IBM’s DOS/V operating system and compatible machines made it possible for software to work across PCs from different manufacturers. Compaq was the leading U.S. manufacturer in that field.
Matsumoto spent six months in Houston, where Compaq was headquartered, supporting the company’s entry into the Japanese market. The result was a sharp drop in PC prices across Japanese manufacturers and a surge of opportunities for a wide range of software developers. This development, known as the “Compaq Shock” sent tremors through Japan’s IT industry and helped lay the foundation for widespread PC adoption.
An Investor’s Career Dedicated to a New Business Model
DBC Technology sought to expand but financial constraints eventually led Matsumoto to consider mergers and acquisitions. Around that time, transcosmos, a major Japanese company in business process outsourcing, IT outsourcing, and help desk services approached him with a proposal. They wanted Matsumoto to establish an investment company as a joint venture with an affiliate of Nikko Securities. In July 1995, he founded EnCompass Group and began strategic investments in the U.S. IT companies, venture capital work, and business expansion into Asia. He later served as president of transcosmos USA, now transcosmos Investments & Business Development Inc., and as a vice president of transcosmos before moving more fully into the investment business as a special advisor.
Matsumoto’s venture capital (VC) model differed from the conventional approach which typically prioritizes investment returns above all else. His focus was on helping U.S. startups grow in the Japanese market. He provided end-to-end support including market entry, research, strategy, localization, product development, and partner development. This distinctive business-development-oriented investment model made collaboration with competing VC firms easier. His strong track record in Japan was highly valued, leading to many investment opportunities.
This was the Web 1.0 era, when technologies such as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) lowered the barrier to creating websites. Netscape went public, Amazon was founded in 1995, and Google was established in 1998, marking the dawn of the digital revolution. As development costs fell, it became possible to create convenient new digital services quickly which also increased the possibility of acquisition by major companies. Active investment in the IT industry created opportunities for short-term returns but the low barrier to entry also made competition intense.
Understanding these characteristics, Matsumoto says that the survival path for IT startups is generally either acquisition by a major company or going public. In the past, many companies aimed to go public and become central players in their industry. With the remarkable growth of giant IT companies; however, acquisition by larger firms has become increasingly common. Because acquisition can allow investors and founders to recover capital faster than an IPO, business strategies built around selling the company from the outset have become more mainstream.
Through VC investing, Matsumoto came to understand the importance of a strategy that matches market needs, strong product development, and speed. He also experienced the difficulty of exit strategies but there were successes as well. One was investing in a company that was acquired by a major IT firm for $200 million.
Fran’s Chocolates founder Fran Bigelow with Matsumoto at the Fran’s Chocolates’ Georgetown store in 2015. It is the company’s current headquarters, main production, and retail location in Seattle. Matsumoto held a lacquerware experience event there with Bigelow and a lacquerware artisan from Japan. Photo credit: Yasuki Matsumoto.
Helping Japanese Products Find Their Way into the U.S. Market
After many years of helping American software companies enter Japan, Matsumoto is now applying that experience in the opposite direction. His current mission extends beyond IT by introducing Japanese foods and traditional crafts to the American market. Since founding Encompass Japan, Inc. in 2021, he has supported market development for products such as kumiko woodwork from Aomori and yoga mats made with tatami from Kumamoto, creating unique proposals that combine Japanese tradition with contemporary design.
At a food event held in collaboration with Aomori Prefecture, Matsumoto wore a happi coat printed with “Aomori Prefecture” and handed out samples himself as part of a Hachinohe anko (dessert) project he was developing with student interns. With its strong interest in Japanese culture and residents who are willing to spend on dining, Seattle is an ideal place for test marketing. Despite a distinguished career as an industry pioneer, Matsumoto has never forgotten the importance of standing at the front line with customers. That, more than anything, reflects his business philosophy.
Matsumoto is currently focusing on a project to introduce lacquerware to the United States in partnership with Yamada Heiando, a lacquerware company that serves the Imperial Household Agency. The project struggled to gain traction for more than five years. Through repeated trips around the United States and ongoing negotiations with manufacturers, its sales channels have steadily expanded. The lacquerware is now being used for lipstick containers by a cosmetics manufacturer in New York and is carried by the popular gallery shop KOBO in Seattle. When lacquerware was adopted by Seattle-based luxury chocolatier Fran’s Chocolates, Matsumoto says he was encouraged by the deep understanding and sympathy for Japanese craftsmanship shown by the company’s founder, Fran Bigelow. These experiences taught him that lacquerware may be more readily accepted in the United States not simply as a stand-alone object but as a vessel that enhances what it holds.
Serving as a Bridge to the Next Generation
One distinctive aspect of Matsumoto’s company is its active effort to provide interns with practical business experience. Behind this is his hope that young Japanese people and engineers will gain greater market value and social recognition, and that they will be willing to take the leap into the U.S. market. In the lacquerware project, interns once raised $30,000 through crowdfunding and helped publish an English-language book introducing the history and craftsmanship of urushi (tree sap for making lacquer).
Matsumoto says he wants young people to keep trying until they succeed even if they fail many times along the way. During Japan’s high-growth era and the early days of IT everything was trial and error, and failure was considered part of the process. In today’s mature economy, however young people face a different kind of pressure. Success is treated almost as the minimum requirement. Failure is often seen as unacceptable whether remaining inside a company or taking risks to start something new. They may appear fortunate but their choices can be limited. That is why when students tell him they are glad they had the chance to take on a challenge, Matsumoto feels compelled to create more opportunities for them.
He also expresses deep gratitude to ICC, the Japanese student organization, as well as the University of Washington and Bellevue College, for providing opportunities to support these students.
Matsumoto holds one quote especially close: Eleanor Roosevelt’s words, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” As if embodying that idea, he has continued to take on challenge after challenge with a resilient spirit that bends but does not break. Matsumoto’s story of investment, opportunity, and support for the next generation is still unfolding. That pioneering spirit will no doubt continue to connect with the innovations of the future.
The Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation is delighted to announce five major awards to preserve and share Japanese American history and culture. Listed in alphabetical order, these organizations have been instrumental in the preservation, amplification, and dissemination of Japanese culture and the Japanese American experience:
Densho
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
National Japanese American Historical Society
Nichi Bei Foundation
Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival
These grants, totaling more than $8.5 million, recognize the ambitious and varying approaches of community-rooted organizations to ensure Japanese American history and culture is preserved and maintained, and inspire action in the future.
“Our partnership with the Takahashi Foundation has made it possible for Densho to think bigger about how Japanese American history can be preserved, shared, and connected in the digital age,” said Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, Executive Director of Densho. “Through this support, we are able to launch a first-of-its-kind effort to identify, map, and connect Japanese American archival materials across institutions and communities which will help ensure that these histories remain visible, accessible, and meaningful for generations to come.”
Larger than any of its previous grants, these awards mark a shift in the Takahashi Foundation’s grantmaking. The Takahashi Foundation will pivot from accepting applications for review to making grants directly to select nonprofit groups.
Going forward, the Takahashi Foundation will no longer accept unsolicited letters of inquiry, proposals, or nominations for grants. “The focus during this next phase is to ensure the grants we make will have a lasting impact on the preservation of Japanese and Japanese American history and culture,” said Masako Takahashi, president of the Takahashi Foundation. “It is our hope that these grants, as have many of the activities we have supported in the past, will resonate for generations to come.”
“At a time when sweeping budget cuts threaten our nation’s parks, archives, and public broadcasting networks, these extraordinary grants from the Takahashi Foundation affirm the importance of Japanese American communities interpreting, recording, and safeguarding our own history,” said Nancy Ukai, Board of Directors Chair of the Nichi Bei Foundation and director of the 50 Objects website.
“The Nichi Bei Foundation is deeply grateful for this generous grant, which will help us establish an endowment and continue preserving our community history through digitization.”
“Henri and Tomoye Takahashi and Martha Suzuki established their foundation to celebrate our rich Japanese cultural heritage and support the Japanese American community. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California is grateful for their continued support since 1971,” said Paul Osaki, Executive Director. “The most recent grant honors the legacy of those who paved the way before for us—by supporting programs that promote passing on our cultural heritage and advocate to sustain Japantown’s future and preserve its history.”
About the Takahashi Charitable Foundation
Established in 1986 by Henri and Tomoye Takahashi, together with Tomoye’s sister Martha Masako Suzuki, the Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation is dedicated to honoring Japanese American culture and fostering understanding of Japan.
During World War II, over 125,000 people of Japanese heritage were imprisoned in incarceration camps throughout the country. The Takahashi family was sent to Topaz, Utah, where the current foundation president, Masako Takahashi, was born. The foundation has devoted the last 40 years to the truthful dissemination of that period of history as well as to the support of Japanese and Japanese American culture and traditions.
“We wish we could fund every project, but we cannot,” notes Masako Takahashi. “We thank the Japanese American community for carrying on the traditions and culture of our proud heritage, and we thank all those who support the unique traditions of Japanese culture.” To learn more, see: www.takahashifoundation.org.
Tule Lake Committee at Tule Lake in Newell, CA. Photo credit: Tule Lake Segregation Center.
The U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation unveiled its annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. This year honors the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and the self-evident truth that all people are created equal. To protect these historic places and enable their stories of equality to be shared for generations, all 11 sites will receive a one-time grant of $25,000 from the National Trust.
“Even as the American people prepare to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary, consequential historic places are at risk—some through intentional erasure, others from short-sighted development plans, and still others from deterioration or neglect,” said Carol Quillen, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “This year, we honor our Declaration of Independence and the living power of its aspirations. By highlighting at-risk sites where the fight for equality happened and by recognizing the heroes whose commitment, resilience, and moral courage can inspire us today to continue to build a more perfect union.”
Each site on this year’s list illustrates a different connection to the founding-era principle that all people are created equal. These historic places helped define or redefine the nation’s fundamental values of equal opportunity, religious freedom, self-governance and voting, immigration and citizenship, freedom of expression and assembly, and equal access to justice. Preservation of these sites is key to telling the full American story.
Over the coming year, each of the 11 sites will use the visibility created by this announcement as a catalyst for their own locally driven efforts to raise critical funding, rally public support, advocate for change, and permanently save these historic places. Grant awards from the National Trust will help kickstart this urgent work, supporting preservation-based planning and brick-and-mortar stabilization. Exact plans vary from site to site, but commonly include activities such as building and site repairs, the creation of new interpretive materials, and educational community events.
Since its debut in 1988, the list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places has galvanized support for more than 350 sites located across the country. The annual program has proven to be a highly effective tool for local advocates to raise national awareness and to highlight the threats facing some of the country’s most significant historic places. Through preservation, revitalization, investment, land protection, and activation, these places continue to share their stories, educate the public, and engage communities across the nation.
To learn more about the places on this year’s list and find out what you can do to help preserve and activate them, go to: www.SavingPlaces.org/11Most.
Two of the 2026 America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places are:
Tule Lake Segregation Center (Modoc County, California)
The Tule Lake Segregation Center is a place which honors the brave contributions of Japanese Americans who fought to protect the rights of American citizenship. Once serving as a maximum-security prison for Japanese Americans who protested their unjust, race-based incarceration and deportation, the site is now a National Monument that is sacred to the survivors and descendants of those imprisoned there. Only a token 37 acres of the 1,100-acre site is protected with the major portion at risk of permanent alteration from a proposed airfield fence construction project. Advocacy efforts are needed to ensure Tule Lake can be protected. Its stories of resistance and resilience shared with future generations on this sacred site is where thousands of immigrants and American citizens bravely advocated for their rights.
Angel Island Immigration Station (Tiburon, California)
Angel Island Immigration Station was once the busiest immigration port on the West Coast. Many of those who passed through its doors, particularly immigrants from Asia and the Pacific seeking access to America’s promises of freedom, were instead subjected to unjust, race-based, mistreatment including detention, interrogation, and family separation. Today, Angel Island is endangered by physical, environmental, political, and economic factors. While several buildings have been restored and opened to the public, additional funding is needed for structural repairs, expanded programming, and increased awareness of this site and its significance to the nation.
About the U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation
The U.S. National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities maintain and enhance the power of historic places. Chartered by U.S. Congress in 1949, partners, friends, and champions nationwide help preserve the places and stories that make communities unique. Through the stewardship and revitalization of historic sites, they help communities foster economic growth, create healthier environments, and build a stronger, shared sense of civic duty and belonging. For more information, see: SavingPlaces.org.
Miyuki lives in Hakone, near Mt Fuji, with her parents and brother Kenji. The family is barely getting by selling black eggs as their forebears have done for hundreds of years. The eggs are colored by the hot springs and are reputed to add years to one’s life.
One day, Miyuki deceives her parents by taking a college entrance exam instead of helping with the eggs. Her brother Kenji goes instead and has a horrific accident burning one leg in the boiling water of the hot spring. Miyuki blames herself for not having gone in his stead. Her father, Takashi, appears to blame her as well. Hospital bills that the family can ill-afford begin to mount up.
In the meantime, Miyuki meets Masahiro, the son of a wealthy and well-known Kyoto lawyer. Masahiro buys all her eggs but only takes one, telling her to sell the remaining eggs. Masahiro’s tactics make Takashi very suspicious of him.
Meanwhile, the villagers discover that a mysterious developer is about to take over their village. Fear and dread take over the village. Miyuki and Masahiro are determined to fight the development. In the process of doing so, Masahiro discovers that it is his own father who is behind the development.
I enjoyed reading this book. The author made the characters seem real and the romance between Miyuki and Masahiro authentic. The book is available on Amazon, Abe Books, and Timeless Love Publishing.
Any new NAP subscriber will receive free tickets to the Washington State Fair September 4-27. It will include a parking pass and two adult tickets to indoor/outdoor food, shopping exhibits, rodeos, carnival rides, hobby and artwork displays, “meet the farm animals,” large vegetable crop displays, grandstand concerts, and more! Great for families and those in wheelchairs needing a paved, flat surface.
Inside the Pavilion building and near the Fisher Fair Scones stand, make sure to visit the Remembrance Gallery honoring the 7,500 Japanese Americans unjustly incarcerated on the fairgrounds during World War II in 1942.
Washington State Fair is one of the top 10 fairs in the U.S. and the largest fair in Washington state with a million visitors annually and growing.
The Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO) has been accepted as a Smithsonian Affiliate. The museum joins a network of more than 200 cultural, educational, and research organizations across the United States, Puerto Rico, and Panama. JAMO is one of only four affiliate organizations in the state and the only affiliate in Portland. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, JAMO will collaborate on Smithsonian projects and programs that broaden efforts to preserve and honor the history and culture of Japanese Americans in Oregon.
“We are delighted to welcome JAMO to our network of Smithsonian Affiliate collaborators,” said Kara Blond, Director of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service | Smithsonian Affiliations. “After a rigorous application review, it was clear that our missions align. We are eager to work together to share educational programs and offerings, and collaborate on national initiatives that amplify the voices of all communities.”
Becoming a Smithsonian Affiliate opens the door for JAMO to the vast resources of the Smithsonian Institution. It includes traveling exhibitions, artifact loans, educational materials and research that connect local audiences to national and global perspectives.
“We look forward to strengthening JAMO’s national ties through the Smithsonian Affiliates program,” said Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong, Executive Director of JAMO. “Additional access to educational programming and national collaborations will increase our ability to share the history of Japanese Americans in Oregon with a broader audience.”
By Helen Smith and WA Secretary of State Steve Hobbs NAP Contributors
Left to right: WA Sec. of St. Steve Hobbs presenting WA St. Certificate of Appreciation to U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass with WA St. Reps. Chris Corry and Sharon Tomiko Santos looking on during the ambassador reception for the WA Trade Mission delegation. Photo Credit: WA Secretary of State office.
In mid-May, Washington Secretary of State (SOS) Steve Hobbs led a trade mission to Japan seeking to strengthen existing business ties between both economies and to forge new ones.
Japan is the largest foreign investor in the United States with interests that align with major drivers of growth and economic activity in Washington state. The trade relationship between Japan and Washington alone is worth $11 billion.
Attendees included representatives from the Seattle Seahawks (including retired defensive-end Cliff Avril); representatives of the Washington gaming industry including Indipro Games, iQ Pictures, Lone Shark Games, Dream Compendium, Night Crew Games, Coin Flip Games, Monzee Games, Fun First Productions, and Zac Makes Games; Washington State Representatives Chris Corry (R-Yakima) andSharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle); representatives from the Washington Department of Commerce; Impact Washington; Boeing; Economic Alliance Snohomish County; and the Clallam Economic Development Council.
“As one of only five Japanese American elected members of the state legislature, I am thrilled to represent both the Nikkei community and the state of Washington on this mission to strengthen the bonds between our state and Japan. Washington state is one of the top ten states that depends on thriving trade relationships, so we prize our long-standing commercial ties to Japan—our third largest trading partner. In 2024, nearly 25,000 Washington jobs depended on this two-way trade relationship valued at $11.1 billion,” said WA St. Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos.
The goal at the state SOS office is to elevate local businesses onto the world stage. The success of homegrown businesses translates to the success of the local economy to benefit all Washingtonians.
On this trade mission, the SOS was able to represent a broad range of Washington state’s key industries. In the past, the focus was primarily on the Tokyo Game Market. This time the SOS was also able to make connections and open doors in other sectors, like aerospace and manufacturing, sustainable aviation fuel, agriculture, and sports.Japanese consumers have demonstrated interests in sectors that are major drivers of economic growth in Washington state. This includes wine, shellfish, and tabletop gaming in addition to the existing business relationships that bolster both economies. Boeing has a strong presence in both places and supports an industry of aerospace suppliers that employs more than a hundred thousand people in the state. Several other major companies have significant footprints in both places such as Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo.
The delegation was met with enthusiasm by Japanese investors. Japan committed to investing $550 billion in the U.S. economy in 2025 so the government actively looks for opportunities. The goal was to show that Washington state is the right place to invest. The delegation also met with senior leaders at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Subaru to reinforce the depth of the partnership between Washington’s and Japan’s aerospace industries.
Reinforcing Our Aerospace Ties At each company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Subaru, the critical role in Boeing’s global supply chain, was discussed. Their contributions including wings, engines, and other essential aircraft components are fundamental to Boeing aircraft. The conversations reaffirmed the strength of these longstanding relationships and their continued commitment to Washington state.
Also highlighted was Washington’s leadership in sustainable aviation fuel. Opportunities were explored for collaboration with Japanese industry partners to advance aviation sustainability and innovation. By 2030, Japan aims for at least 1/10th of its aerospace fuel to come from sustainable sources.
Connecting with Washington Sports Fans Across the Globe Representatives with the Seattle Seahawks joined the trip as ambassadors of Washington state sports and to connect with the “12” fans in Japan. The Seahawks and the Japan American Football Association (JAFA) expressed intent to continue their friendship into the future and explore any partnership opportunities that arise. JAFA was excited for the opportunity to collaborate with the Seattle Seahawks. It included opportunities for a future game in Japan and identifying how the Seahawks can support young athletes. This also includes a commitment by the Seahawks to help grow the sport of flag football among Japanese youth.
Elevating Washington’s CreativeEconomy At the Tokyo Game Market, the Washington tabletop game makers were able to showcase their products directly to Japanese fans. It was exciting returning to this market and continuing to build Washington’s reputation as a region with a world-class creative economy. Ten Washington tabletop game makers and distributors made the trip. This was their second time being at the Tokyo Game Market. Washington tabletop game makers are already forming relationships with distributors and game makers in Japan.
Looking Ahead to the Future Looking ahead, there is strong momentum to continue deepening the relationship between Washington State and Japan. A key takeaway from this mission was the clear eagerness and willingness from the Japanese government and business leaders to further explore opportunities in Washington. The 2025 agreement between the U.S. and Japan includes a promise to invest $550 billion in the U.S. economy. That gives confidence this will be an important relationship for the state in the long-term.
It was consistently reiterated during the trip that the success of the relationship is built on trust and sustained engagement with Japanese partners. Every conversation reinforced that positive outcomes on this scale are only possible by continuing to deepen relationships over time.
Going forward, the focus is on translating this goodwill into tangible opportunities. A key priority is to bring more Japanese partners and decision makers to Washington State. This will enable them to see firsthand the opportunities and positive business ecosystem that exist here.
Three chefs making sushi while talking with guests at the Panama Hotel. Photo credit: Dave Asahara.
The Panama Hotel in Nihonmachi (Japantown) in Seattle is a 1910 hotel built by the first Seattle Japanese American architect when Japanese individuals could not own property. It was mainly used for single Japanese men arriving to the U.S. looking for work. A hashidate-yu sento (Japanese-style public bathhouse) was built in the basement and today is the only intact Japanese-style bathhouse in North America.
During World War II, when Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans on the West Coast were forced into incarceration camps by the U.S. government, local families asked the hotel to store their belongings in the basement. After the war, many families did not return to the Seattle area and left their luggage, toys, furniture, clothing, books, etc. in the hotel.
Eighty years later, those items are still there. The current owner, Jan Johnson, is attempting to preserve their history along with the hotel building. All revenues from hotel guests are used for the preservation of the building. Johnson even received the Japan Foreign Minister’s Commendation for her contributions to promote mutual understanding between Japan and the United States. The building was also declared a National Historic Landmark (2006) and a National Treasure (2015) by the National Trust for Historic Preservation—one of only 60 in the U.S.
The Panama Hotel is a great place to meet friends, study, have meetings or simply relax and breathe in its history. It is also an easy place to meet new people or hotel guests. When asked how they found the hotel, many say they were looking for a small hotel or hotels with character and history or to stay near the Chinatown-International District. One such person is Kunihide Nakajima from New York, New York.
Left: Jan Johnson with guests. Photo credit: Barbara Mizoguchi.
Nakajima is an executive chef and partner of Nakaji sushi restaurant in New York which serves 14-course sushi omakase (gourmet dining where the chef decides on the menu with seasonal specialties) along with an assortment of appetizers. He is also a third generation edomae-style sushi chef from the Kanda neighborhood in Tokyo, Japan. When he first came to Seattle in 2025, his disciple Keiji Tsukasaki took him to the Panama Hotel cafe to show him the local Japanese American history. Nakajima now only stays at the Panama Hotel whenever he is in Seattle and helps Tsukasaki who is also an edomae-style sushi chef and restauranteur at Ltd Edition Sushi on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Tsukasaki prepares the most authentic and highest quality omakase. He says it is like “going back to his roots” in the coastal town of Fukui, Japan, where he was born. Today, Ltd Edition Sushi is one of the most coveted restaurants.
After learning about the financial struggles Johnson is having preserving the hotel, Nakajima wanted to do something to help. In January 2026, Nakajima and Tsukasaki held the first fundraiser for the hotel. Nakajima then asked his cousin Naritoshi Oyakata, a sushi chef from Yakko Sushi in Tokyo, to do a pop-up fundraiser with him and Tsukasaki at the hotel in May.
Tickets purchased in advance came with a set of sushi traditionally called Gokan Chanchiki. It consisted of five kinds of sushi and two small rolls–this time using bluefin tuna. Guests could take it home or enjoy the sushi in the hotel’s cafe with sake, cocktails, or a variety of teas. Due to the popularity, three afternoon times were scheduled as arrival times. It was a lively crowd even though guests were coming and going. Those in line were moving through the cafe with their drinks. At the bottom of the stairs to the lower level, the three chefs were quickly making sushi in front of the guests and visiting with them. Many stayed, socialized, and took photographs. Johnson enjoyed how the event brought the community closer and wished for more.
What a deeply kind gesture Nakajima, Tsukasaki, and Oyakata offered to Johnson for the Panama Hotel. Their hearts are certainly in the right place and Johnson has friends for life. She desperately needs funds and helping hands. If you can help, please drop by the hotel cafe or contact her.
Living Traditions, a New Multicultural Art Series Debuts at Bellevue Arts Fair
By Emily Parkhurst NAP Contributor
Inohi Taiko. Photo credit: Bellevue Arts Fair.
The Bellevue Arts Fair (BAF) announces the launch of Living Traditions, a new multicultural exhibition series celebrating the communities and artistic traditions woven into the creative life of the Pacific Northwest. Each iteration brings a single cultural community into focus. The hope is to build lasting connections between the people, history, and creative practices of our region.
The inaugural iteration, Living Traditions:Japanese Art and Resilience in the Pacific Northwest, celebrates Japanese artistic traditions not as artifacts but as living practices made and carried forward by the region’s communities. The online exhibition allows visitors to explore a growing archive of the region’s creative heritage. It features curatorial essays, links to historical archives, and an extensive cultural map. This will come to life with interactive programming throughout the Bellevue Arts Fair Weekend. Over the three days, July 24-26, visitors can encounter calligraphy, woodblock printing, ceramics, ikebana flower arrangement, taiko drumming, haiku poetry, and the Star Festival through demonstrations, workshops, and several live performances.
Living Traditions is guest-curated by Dr. Anna-Marie Moblard Meier, an art historian and printmaker specializing in European modernism, Japonisme, and Meiji-era art history with a doctorate from Bryn Mawr College and a Masters of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The series is co-curated by Shizu Usami, a master calligrapher and script historian. Usami began her U.S. practice in Bellevue and now works throughout Washington state. Her work has been trusted by distinguished Japanese government–affiliated cultural institutions. She is internationally recognized for her mindful brushwork and academic insights into East Asian characters. Her calligraphy has been commissioned for the United Nations and other international conferences as well as cultural institutions around the world.
Japanese mural artwork. Photo credit: Bellevue Arts Fair.
“This inaugural exhibit highlights the arts and traditions brought to Bellevue by the founding Japanese American farming families who cleared the land, grew the strawberries, and influenced the city’s identity. These art forms were carried through the incarceration of those 60 families and passed forward,” said Dr. Moblard Meier. “That is what resilience means in this title, and we are honored to celebrate it.”
Living Traditions reflects Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM)’s evolution as a community-embedded arts organization—bringing exhibitions, artist-led experiences, and cultural programming to audiences across the city. The series is designed to grow through community input and to build lasting connections between the BAF and the diverse communities of the Pacific Northwest.
“Living Traditions is exactly the kind of program that defines what BAM is becoming—collaborating with the expansive Japanese American community, and bringing the arts into spaces and celebrations that belong to everyone,” said Cassandra Johnston, CEO, BAM/BAF. “Japanese art and culture have shaped Bellevue’s identity for generations, and we are honored to celebrate that history and the living traditions that carry it forward.”
Online Exhibition and Curatorial Talk
The online exhibition includes curatorial essays on each artistic tradition and artist, historical context, and links to Nikkei (Japanese American) historical societies and archives. There is also an interactive cultural map of 145 locations representing Japanese and Japanese American art, culture, and community across the greater Seattle metro area. It includes public murals and gardens, taiko groups, chado practitioners, language schools, Hiroshima remembrance sites, and community institutions.
The website launches with a dual-language curatorial talk in English and Japanese. It was presented by curator Dr. Anna-Marie Moblard Meier and co-curator Shizu Usami at the Bellevue Public Library.
Extensive In-Person Programming July 24-26, 2026
The Living Traditions Community Celebration takes place at several downtown locations. Exact locations and programming can be found on the event website: www.bellevueartsfair.com/. Highlights include:
• Inochi Taiko opens the weekend on Friday, July 24 at 11 a.m. with a live performance on NE 6th Street joined by co-curator Shizu Usami in a live calligraphy performance.
• A Mokuhanga woodblock printing workshop by Kathleen Hargrave and Yoshi Nakagawa on Saturday, July 25 followed by a hands-on workshop led by both artists on Sunday July 26.
• Ceramics artists Takako Mollicone and Cameron Yuki will present a live ceramics (Togei) demonstration on Saturday, July 25.
• Ikebana International Seattle presents a live group arrangement on Friday, July 24 with arrangements throughout the weekend at the museum, Avenue Bellevue, and the Westin including a single stem take-away for visitors.
• The Star Festival (Tanabata) installation surrounds the museum and NE 6th Street with hundreds of paper wishes written by students from Bennett Elementary and Japanese Dual Language preschools across Bellevue. Rainier Ginsha Haiku Club and Haiku Northwest poets join co-curator Shizu Usami at the Star Festival table all three days.
• A family tumbling doll (okiagari-koboshi) craft table inside the museum store is hosted by ParentMap. Free and open all three days. The BOOGIEREZ Japan Town galleries at Avenue Bellevue host an arts organization table where visitors can connect with Japanese arts groups and discover classes, workshops, and communities across the Pacific Northwest.
• A Community Hub inside the museum store will host a Japanese community organization information area for guests to learn more about cultural opportunities.
About Bellevue Arts Museum & Bellevue Arts Fair | bellevuearts.org
Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM) is a nonprofit arts organization dedicated to connecting artists and audiences through culture, arts, and educational initiatives. It celebrates the creative vitality of the Bellevue community. BAM is proud to help carry forward this beloved city tradition, celebrating the 80th anniversary of the original Bellevue Arts Fair.
Earlier this year, BAM sold its Bellevue Way facility as part of a broader organizational evolution to strengthen its long-term sustainability and community impact. The organization remains committed to its mission of championing contemporary art, craft, and design. It is expanding partnerships and continues to lead signature programs, exhibitions, and events including Bellevue Arts Fair Weekend. For more info, see: www.bellevuearts.org.
10th Japan Week Public Day –Saturday, October 10. Donate gently used manga (no adult content) and Japanese items—accessories, décor, clothing, or tableware—to be sold at the Japan Market and Manga Swap. Donation drop-off: Aug 22; 10 a.m –2 p.m. & Aug.23; 1–5 p.m., Bellevue College parking lot #10. For more info and map, see: https://bit.ly/JapanWeekWebsite. We’re also seeking 220 volunteers for October. Volunteers receive an event T-shirt, snacks, and a volunteer certificate for service hours.Register at: https://bit.ly/JWBCVolunteer. Questions? JapanWeek@bellevuecollege.edu.
ONGOING
Behind the Shoji: Annual Summer Marketplace –Now-Sep 7; Wed-Mon, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Tue, 12-5:30 p.m. Portland Japanese Garden, Pavilion Gallery, 611 SW Kingston, Portland.Annual show and sale of Japanese and Japanese-inspired wares. Purchase from a variety of curated items that even with a trip to Japan might be difficult to come across. This year, showcasing items from the islands of Okinawa. Collection of unique and handcrafted goods. For more info, see: https://japanesegarden.org/pjg-events/behind.
Woven Light: Washi Sculptures by Yuri Kinoshita –Now-Sep14; Wed-Mon, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Tue, 12-5:30 p.m.Portland Japanese Garden, Tanabe Gallery, 611 SW Kingston, Portland.Seattle-based artist who artfully crafts floating landscapes of light through her sculptural lamps that bridge the art and design world.Carefully hand-woven and sculpted washi (Japanese handmade paper made from plant fibers), and soft light and shadow inspire a magical sense of place evoking the unique environment of the Pacific Northwest. For more info, see: https://japanesegarden.org/pjg-events/woven-light.
JULY
White River Buddhist Temple Bon Odori –Sat, Jul 25; 4-9:30 p.m. White River Buddhist Temple, 3625 Auburn Wy N, Auburn.Join us for the festivities – bon dancing, taiko performances, food and more. Free and open to the public. For details and schedule, see www.wrbt.org./bonodori.
Bon Odori at Nikkei Manor – Sun, Jul 26; 1-4 p.m. Nikkei Manor, 700 6th Ave S, Seattle. Music, dance, food, and community. This year will feature special performances by Seattle Matsuri, Northwest Taiko, and Okinawa Kenjin Kai. Small selection of local vendors, traditional Bon Odori dancing, mahjong station, kid’s activities, and delicious poke available for purchase from the Nikkei Manor kitchen. For more info, contact: communications@keironw.org or 206-726-6460.
Ishigaki Wall and Accessible Pathway Project –Tue, Jul 28; 10 a.m.-7 p.m.Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lk WA Blvd E, Seattle reopening. 15th generation master stone mason Suminori Awata leading a team of artisans from Japan and America in re-building the stone wall. Visitors can witness the unique process throughout the summer. For more info, see: www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/events-calendar/2026/7/28/garden-reopen.
Spirited Away – Studio Ghibli Festival 2026 –Tue, Jul 28; 5:30 p.m. Vashon Theatre, 17723 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon Island. Mukai Farm & Garden presents its 4th annual Studio Ghibli Festival in 2026. 5:30 p.m. Karaoke. 6:00 p.m. Spirited Away film. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at: https://vashontheatre.com/calendar.
AUGUST
Kimono Sale 2026 –Sat, Aug 1; 2-7 p.m. Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 24th Ave, Portland. Vintage and new kimonos, yukatas, obis, happi coats, and kimono accessories. Pre-sale only: Jul 27 & 29, 7-9 p.m. during obon dance practice breaks and 30 minutes before practice. Closed during dancing. For more info, contact:mottainaicraftgroup24@gmail.com.
Obon Fest 2026 –Sat, Aug 1; 2-9 p.m.Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave, Portland. Free, all are welcome.Obon dance, food and beverages, kids activities, entertainment, and so much more!For more info, see: www.oregonuddhisttemple.com.
Tacoma Bon Odori –Wed, Aug 1; 4-8 p.m. Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma. Open to everyone! Dancing in a large oval outside in front of the temple. Taiko drumming and other entertainment interspersed. Food includes teriyaki bowls, unagi bowls, somen noodles, shaved ice, and a beer garden.Candlelight memorial lasting all night.For more info, see: www.tacomabt.org/news-and-events.
KAIDAN: Japanese Ghost Stories –August 1-29 at various locations.KAIDAN (怪談) are traditional Japanese stories of ghosts (yūrei) and supernatural beings (yokai). Spooky tales are shared in the hottest months of the summer during the Obon season. It is believed to help people cool off by sending a shiver down their spine. The Kaidan tradition continues in live story telling, literature, Kabuki theatre, visual art, music, video games, manga and horror films. Recommended for ages 13 and up. Purchase tickets in advance at:ztpproductions.com or at the door.
From Hiroshima to Hope – Thu, Aug 6; 6-9 p.m.Green Lake, northwest shore near Bathhouse Theatre, Seattle. Annual remembrance of Hiroshima & Nagasaki atomic bombings. 1,000 candlelit lanterns floating on the lake. For more info, see: https://fromhiroshimatohope.org/event-2.
2026 Hiroshima and Nagasaki Remembrance Event–Thu, Aug 6; 6-7 p.m. Japanese American Historical Plaza, NW Couch St. & Naito Parkway in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland. This year’s event, From Awareness to Action: Creating a Nuclear Weapons Free World, will feature keynote speaker, poetry, music, taiko, and performance. For more info, see: https://jamo.org/event/hiroshima-day-2026.
Crash Dancers Retirement & Reunion Celebration –Fri, Aug 7; 8-11 p.m. Terry’s Kitchen, 5625 – 119th Ave SE, Bellevue. Live music with The Justified Band. No-host food and beverages available. Suggested donation: $10 at the door (cash only). All current & former volunteers are honored guests – no cover charge; RSVP at: kcrashdance@gmail.com.
34th Annual Olympia Bon Odori Japanese Dance Festival – Sat, Aug 8; 5-9 p.m. New location – South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), Center for Student Success, Bldg 22, 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia.Follow signs for parking. Presented by Olympia Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens’ League. 4 p.m. free dance practice for anyone. For more info, contact: Reiko Callner 360-791-3295 or Bob Nakamura 360-556-7562.
Kagoshima Club Annual Picnic –Sat, Aug 29; 11 a.m. Gene Coulon Park (North Shelter), 1201 Lk WA Blvd N, Renton. Please bring a side dish to share!Main dishes provided by the club. Members: Free. Non-Members: $25. RSVP by Saturday, August 8th. E-mail: krys6268@aol.com OR itashiki.yutaka@gmail.com.
Japanese Woodworking Festival – Sat, Aug 15; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fort Worden State Park, 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend. First festival by Port Townsend School of Woodworking.Featuring Japanese woodworking, carpentry, sharpening, and hand tools.Lectures on techniques, tools, forestry, Japanese hand tool demonstrations, and participants using the tools.Japanese woodworkers guests including Yann Giguère, Jon Billing, Dale Brotherton, Karl Bareis, Brian Lam, Dave Burnard, and many more. For more info, see: www.ptwoodschool.org/japanese-woodworking-festival.
66th Convention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad – Wed-Fri, Oct 7-9. Participate online or in-person.We invite Japanese emigrants, Nikkei (people of Japanese descent), and those interested in Japanese migration, Nikkei people, and Nikkei communities around the world. Conference aims to bring together people of Japanese descent living around the world to Japan. It is meant to deepen mutual friendship, consider challenges facing the Nikkei community, and ways of cooperation among Nikkei communities and Japan. Promotional price until August 15 for in-person participation will be valid for registration. Register for online or in-person at: https://jadesas.or.jp/en/the-convention-knk/ or contact: taikai*jadesas.or.jp (When sending an email, please replace * with @.)
Karaoke Meetup –Thu, Aug 20; 6-8 p.m. Japanese Cultural & Community Center, 1414 S Weller St, Seattle. Welcome all Kenjinkai clubs, Nikkei organizations, and Nikkei community from Fukuoka kenjinkai. It’s a potluck event so please bring your favorite finger food, snacks, and beverages to share. Also, join us the same time & location on Sep 17. Questions? Contact: Christina Swadener at swadener8sea2fuk@yahoo.com.
Bon Odori, Summer Festival – Sat, Aug 22; 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.Portland Japanese Garden, Tateuchi Courtyard, 611 SW Kingston, Portland.Highlight of summer festivals in Japan is bon odori (盆踊り/ Bon dance). Each region in Japan has their own version of the dance as well as different music. In Japanese Buddhist tradition, bon odori is a way to entertain and send off the spirits of our ancestors and celebrate life. Dancers circle the yagura, a high wooden bandstand for musicians and singers. For more info, see: https://japanesegarden.org/pjg-events/bon-odori.
Japan Festival – Sat, Aug 29; 1-5 p.m.Ober Park, 17130 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon Island. in anticipation of construction beginning soon at Mukai Farm & Garden and in collaboration with the Vashon Park District, Japan Festival will be held at Ober Park this year. See taiko drumming and sumo wrestling, local vendors offering unique goods, and hands-on activities including kimono demonstration and crafts. For more info, see: https://mukaifarmandgarden.org/japan-festival.
SEPTEMBER
Guest Speaker Series No. 1: “Picture Book Therapy for Adults” –Sun, Sep 13; lunch 12 p.m.; guest speaker series 12:45-1:30 p.m. 1414 S Weller St, Seattle, (1st floor in JCCCW building).Kisaragi-kaiis launching its Guest Speaker Series.The inaugural, interactive workshop features Yoko Kelleher, a certified picture book therapist with the Japan Ehon Therapist Association. As interest grows in picture books as a tool for emotional well-being, participants will explore their emotions through stories and share their reflections with one another. The workshop will be conducted in Japanese. Pre-registration is required by September 8. Free admission. Bring your own lunch or you can order a Makunouchi bento by Nu-Table for $25. Contact kisaragikaiwa@gmail.com to register. Registration is limited to the first 30 participants.
Ellen and Don Nakata. Location and date unknown. Photo courtesy of Susan Allen.
Bainbridge Island has long been subject to power outages during the winter months. The store purchased a small generator in the 1970s just enough to keep the lights going and run the cash registers. For refrigeration during power outages, store personnel would open the front and back doors of the store to let the cold air in then open the refrigerator doors. During such times, customers would often flee their cold houses to come to the store where they would be provided with free hot coffee, cookies, and water while supplies lasted. But the blizzard in 1990 topped them all. Some islanders were without power for a week! One customer later said, “I want to thank [the store] for going the extra mile when we need it most, for remaining open during storms and power outages, and for providing that warm cup of coffee, a place to gather and nourishment in every sense of the word.”
Meanwhile, Ballard Market in Seattle had hired a new produce manager whose job was to bring in the best produce possible to differentiate the store from others in the neighborhood. The new manager said, “A wholesaler said to me, ‘You just have to work for the Nakatas. They’re the best people on the planet.’” Noting that produce is the “last great commodity that is still exciting.” He went on to explain, “It’s susceptible to supply and demand swings, and is affected by the weather, soil conditions, and sunshine. If you don’t move it, it rots, and every season it’s a bit better or a bit worse.” Of course, what he said then is still true today.
In the early 1990s, two new stores joined the T&C brand: Shoreline Price Chopper and Greenwood Price Chopper in north Seattle. The Greenwood store, in particular, became part of the community as staffers learned to greet customers by name and pitched in to help local schools, churches and Little League teams. But Don had a much bigger plan in mind. He wanted to create a destination store.
In August 1995, Central Market opened in Poulsbo, Washington. Its 69,000 square feet easily made it the largest store in the T&C group. It was the first green commercial building in the state and, most likely, in the nation given its size and scale. The produce, meat, seafood, and natural food departments were larger and more open to interacting with the public. And there was a pizza and hot dog stand.
What happened to Poulsbo Market Place? The original plan had been to close it down once the new store opened. But there were still nine years left on the lease. Many older customers said they would not shop at the new store. So at least for the time being, it was left open.
Central Market eventually became a destination store for Kitsap and Jefferson County residents in Washington. It became known for its special events and promotions. For example, every year, a farmer who had harvested his corn just hours before was invited to sell corn on the cob from his truck. One year, a man showed up with his Volkswagen Beetle and said, “Fill it up with as much as you can.” He did not mean just the trunk.
Fishermen who had left their boats only a few hours before would also show up to sell their catch. The younger set were not left out either. Farmer Jo, a store meat cutter, would wear overalls and a straw hat to teach children about food safety, organic produce, and the food pyramid. He had a tractor to which a hay wagon was attached and would give the kids rides so their parents could shop in peace.
Not all was well in the T&C universe. The Shoreline store had never done well even after it evolved from a discount store into a full-service format. Shoreline was a growing community but the store was quite small. Furthermore, its neighbors in the shopping mall were leaving. Don decided to create another destination store. T&C was able to negotiate deals with the departing businesses to take over their spaces. The goal was not to simply recreate the Poulsbo Central Market. The planning team aimed to capitalize on their new slogan, “Celebrating Fresh.”
In January 2000, the new Central Market Shoreline opened. At 57,500 square feet, it was more than twice as large as the original store. There was a 10,000 square foot produce section, a food court featuring Asian and Mexican food, a 52-ft. long meat counter, demonstration kiosks, sushi bar, pizzeria, and deli. Customers were calling their friends urging them to come to the new store. Although, as with all stores, it took several months for the Shoreline store to find its footing. Don could rest easier knowing they had finally found the winning formula for that location.
Currently, Fletcher Bay Winery on Bainbridge Island, WA. Formerly location of the Nakata Eagle Harbor Market. Undated. Photo credit: Pamela Okano.
Shoreline joined its sister stores in sponsoring charitable and philanthropic activities. For Ellen, Don’s wife, finding a cure for breast cancer was a personal matter. She, Kay Jensen, and three employees assembled a team that walked or ran in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. In September 2000, she and Don won the Komen Foundation’s Community Hero Award. In 2001, T&C’s team of 1,014 was the largest ever to participate in the race.
Don and Ellen’s elder daughter, Susan Allen, had joined T&C in 1993, several months after giving birth to her parents’ first granddaughter, Katy. When Katy was old enough to spend time with her grandfather, Don would babysit taking her to meetings and store visits. He was also beginning to think about retirement. He had had bypass surgery in June 2000 so retirement at the end of that year sounded like a good idea.
In early October 2000, Don and Ellen went on a vacation to Louisiana. On October 2, Don went to bed and never woke up. He had passed away from a massive stroke.
Don’s cousin, Larry Nakata, became T&C president. It was not a good time for the company. The teamwork and collaboration that had been the hallmark of Don’s business style was needed more than ever. Larry and the board of directors (his brother Ron, Susan Allen, Wayne Loverich, and Greg Johnson) provided it. As a result, 2001 turned out to be an excellent year financially.
Left to right: Katie Nakata Allen, Julie Nakata Bowman, Larry Nakata, Ron Nakata, and Susan Nakata Allen at the Middlefield farm with “Nakata” rock at its entrance, 2025. Photo courtesy: Pamela Okano.
In October 2001, T&C Markets purchased the original Nakata farm property from John and Mo’s sons to preserve the land. The company decided to return the farm to its roots—farming and the land was christened “Middlefield Farm.” (Middlefield is the English translation of “Nakata.”) Initially, zucchini, corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, sunflowers, and tomatoes were grown in five greenhouses. The produce was brought to either the Winslow or the Poulsbo store for sale.
Change was in the air. In 2002, T&C brought its long association with the Thriftway marketing program to an end. The corporate name was changed to Town & Country Markets, Inc., to reflect the multiple stores under the T&C umbrella. The Ballard neighborhood had changed from retired Scandinavians to more upscale techies. Consequently, the Ballard store was significantly expanded to emphasize produce, seafood, meat, deli, and food service. The Greenwood store was also remodeled.
It was time to build another Central Market. Larry and the board had their sights set on Mill Creek in Washington. The thought was that the new Central Market could form part of a massive town center on city property. The Mill Creek City Council, however, knew little about T&C, the Nakatas, or the Loveriches. Larry made a presentation to the council. When he finished, an elderly gentleman on the council noted that when he was a boy, he used to go to a butcher shop on Bainbridge Island run by Larry’s uncle, John. The man said that John was one of the finest people he had ever met. He personally knew the Nakata and Loverich families, stating that “they are the best of the best.” It turned out that the gentleman had grown up across the street from the Nakatas.
Central Market Mill Creek opened in September 2004. The store’s special feature was its deli—–-one much larger than in other stores and filled with gourmet goodies.
By this time, the end was near for Poulsbo Market. Not only was the lease going to expire but a Walmart Supercenter was scheduled to open nearby. The North Kitsap Herald noted, “It is a store that gained itself a loyal following, evidenced by the large groups of shoppers and lunch-time gatherings still taking place one week from the final day.” On the last day of business, Susan Allen, Ron Nakata, and Wayne Loverich—T&C’s board, worked as checkers. The very first customer from 1974 showed up, wearing the same outfit she had worn then to share memories.
August 2007 marked the golden anniversary of T&C. Customers in all the stores were given strips of canvas and asked to decorate them as they chose. When returned, the strips were made into chains that were strung up in each store.
On Bainbridge Island, the celebration was even bigger. T&C rented a public park close to the store and served hot dogs, sodas, and cake to the community. The evening ended with fireworks over the harbor.
Big changes, however, were coming. Wayne Loverich retired in 2010 and Greg Johnson, another shareholder, sold his T&C shares to the Nakata family shareholders. Consequently, the Nakata family, alone, now owned the company. In addition, Larry was planning to retire in 2011. Neither Susan nor Ron Nakata, Larry’s younger brother, was interested in becoming the CEO. So Larry went back to Bill Weymer, who had acted as Don’s partner in the purchase of the Ballard and Overlake stores. Bill agreed to become CEO.
Sadly, in 2012, the Greenwood store lost its lease and a large Fred Meyer would end up in its place. After the last merchandise was sold on the store’s final day, 150 customers and employees came to have cake, coffee, and conversation. Ultimately, a significant number of customers switched their allegiance to the Ballard or Shoreline stores.
By 2014, it was clear that the original Bainbridge Island store was again ready for a much-needed remodel. There was some thought to building a new store on property owned by the Nakata family just outside of downtown Winslow. However, it seemed certain that if the store left Winslow, the town would be nothing but a tourist hub and only in good weather months. The company decided to stay. Not only that, but the decision was made to stay open during the massive remodel which lasted 19 months!
Because the remodel essentially meant building a new store on top of the old store, items had to be moved several times. One employee remembered, “One thing that will always stand out in my mind is the fact that our customers were more worried about how we were dealing with the stress of the remodel than they were bothered by things being moved.” In addition, T&C became the first private business in the nation to use a federal bond program for energy upgrades that won the LEED Gold designation from the U.S. Green Building Council. At the grand opening in September 2015, customers enjoyed free food and commemorative shopping bags. In 2024, the name “Central Market” came to an end and all stores became known as “Town & Country Market.”
Today, there are six T&C Markets: the original Bainbridge Island store and one each in Poulsbo, Seattle (Ballard), Bellevue (Lakemont), Mill Creek, and Shoreline. Over the years, approximately 25 Nakata family members have worked at one or more stores and nine are currently serving. The Mill Creek and Lakemont stores boasts an in-house restaurant and the Poulsbo store got one in early 2025.
Middlefield Farm has seen changes as well. In 2024, a new well was dug at Middlefield and zucchini, tomatoes, radishes, romaine, sunflowers and winter squash were grown outside the greenhouses for the first time. For logistical reasons, the fresh vegetables grown on the farm are only available at the Bainbridge and Poulsbo stores. In 2025, the farm expected to grow enough vegetables to supply the restaurants in the Poulsbo, Lakemont, and Mill Creek stores.
Thus, on July 6, 2024 the Nakata family had plenty to celebrate when, after a several-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they gathered for a family reunion at Middlefield Farm. Larry Nakata, Ron Nakata, and Brian McWhorter who has been the farm managers from the beginning of T&C’s ownership, all spoke. There was a slideshow of the history of the family and the farm. There is now a large rock at the entrance to the farm inscribed with the kanji (Japanese script) for “Nakata.”
A month before his unexpected death, Don Nakata penned a mission statement for the family with respect to Middlefield Farm: “To offer a sense of belonging, the pride of association, the comfort of connectedness and the power of idealistic purpose by encouraging and supporting each other in the special values of our family heritage.” Little did he know that 100 years after his grandfather had purchased the property, the family would gather together on the farm to celebrate a centennial of family ownership.
Community Leaders: Don Nakata was not only a business leader but was also a leader in the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community (BIJAC). In the 1970s, he, his cousin Ron Nakata (Larry’s younger brother), longtime friends Frank Kitamoto, Junkoh Harui, and John Sakai urged BIJAC to begin taking oral histories of Bainbridge Island Nisei. Although BIJAC had been formed many years before, primarily as a social club for island Japanese Americans (JAs), it was now well on its way to becoming an important repository for island JA history.
It was also Don’s idea to take the small family mochitsuki (rice-pounding) equipment that originated in the dry cleaning shop of his uncle, Phil Okano, to a higher level. The mochitscelebration had already graduated to a Bainbridge Island Japanese community event with a potluck dinner at the end. It would now be a fundraiser for BIJAC and open to the public. For over 30 years, the mochitsuki festival has been one of the island’s most popular events, drawing people from Seattle, Bellevue and the Kitsap Peninsula. Nowadays, there are two taiko (Japanese drum) performances, an origami (Japanese paper folding) class, Obon (Japanese Buddhist festival honoring ancestors) dance lessons, and historical displays about Bainbridge Island JAs. Everyone is welcome to help pound rice into mochi cakes. Although some of the rice is cooked in rice cookers in the kitchen, much of it is cooked the old-fashioned way—steamed over a fire. Omochi, both plain and filled with anko (sweetened bean paste), is available for sale. The number of visitors can range from 1500-3000 possibly making it the largest mochitsuki festival in the country.Don, Frank, and Junkoh also actively encouraged the Bainbridge Island School District to name a new middle school after an Issei—in this case, Sonoji Sakai, Kay Nakao’s father.
Don felt strongly that the legacy that the Issei left—their hard work and honesty—had rebounded to the benefit of their descendants. The three men were also behind the effort to build the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial located at the very site where in 1942, Bainbridge JAs (including Don and Frank) had walked onto the ferry to be transported to Manzanar Incarceration Camp in California. Over the last 20 years that memorial has gradually taken shape. By 2025, the ground was broken for the final phase, a Visitor Center. Sadly, none of the three lived to see the memorial’s completion.
T&C Values: For many years, T&C’s vision has been “Nourishing the Quality of Life.” The three components of this vision are food, people, and love. The food component embraces the stores’ commitment to quality, value, flavor, local producers, and culture. The people component reflects the friendliness, authenticity, respect, and sense of community shared by T&C staff, suppliers, and customers. Love is shown through these relationships.
Don also incorporated Japanese concepts of gaman, kaizen, and umami into his business philosophy—a philosophy that continues to guide the company to this day. Gaman stands for perseverance and patience. Kaizen means continuous improvement. And umami signifies the peak of perfection. Emblematic of these concepts is the sailboat that is part of the markets’ logo. The sailboat can sail in different seas and conditions requiring gaman and kaizen to bring it safely to shore. Umami reflects the goal of total customer satisfaction.
Follow-Up Story:
NAP readers may recall The Middlefield Farm Story by NAP contributor Pamela Okano in the May and June issues. She would like to extend a special thank you to Wayne and Judy Nakata, and Susan Nakata Allen for proofreading the articles. Also, for providing photographs.
Left to right: Con. Gen. Makoto Iyori; Yuko Iyori; and Allen Nakamoto, former NVC Commander carrying wreath to the Nisei war memorial monument. Photo credit: Christine Kendrickson.
On Memorial Day, the Nisei Veterans Committee (NVC) and NVC Foundation presented the 81st Annual Memorial Day Service bringing together veterans, community leaders and members, clergy, and representatives from various Japanese American organizations to honor those who served in the U.S. military. The event was hosted at Lake View Cemetery in Seattle, Washington.
The ceremony began with a prelude by bagpiper Bruce Corns and opening remarks by Colleen Fukui-Sketchley who has been Master of Ceremonies for the event for over 20 years. The Boy Scout Troop 252 from the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple presented the colors,the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem. Rev. Angeline Lau from the Seattle Japanese Baptist Church gave the invocation. The meditation was delivered by Rimban Katsuya Kusunoki from the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple, and Rev. Ryozen Tateba and Ven. Taijo Imanaka from the Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple. The various prayers created a solemn and reflective atmosphere. The different religions provided a unique and meaningful experience.
The reflection which was presented by Reverend Lisa Ishihara and Reverend Karen Yokota-Love discussed the lasting consequences of the incarceration and the bravery of the Nisei (second generation Japanese American) veterans. They also talked about Ireichō, the project that created a book listing the name of every incarcerated person of Japanese ancestry. The book is styled after the Japanese tradition of Kakochō in which a book of names is placed on a Buddhist temple altar and brought out for memorial services. Viewers are also invited to place a stamp by each name as a way of acknowledging their struggles.
Boy Scouts Troop 252 Color Guard – Theo Kaku, Reese Tanabe, Ansel Ketcherside, Felix Kordich, Jasper Henley, and Rob Ketcherside – Scout Master. Photo credit: Christine Hendrickson.
The program’s welcome and guest speaker presentations highlighted the accomplishments of the Nisei veterans. Their service during World War II helped to redefine Japanese Americans in American society at the time. NVC Commander Dale Watanabe and NVC Foundation Vice President Dean Hoshizaki welcomed attendees. They spoke on the importance of the event and the effort that is put into it. Retired U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott as guest speaker, discussed his friendship with a past incarceree, how it connected him to the Japanese American community, and how he could see the injustice of the incarceration camps. Then Boeing executive Nyle Miyamoto spoke about the stories and experiences of his father who was a veteran and his accomplishments as a soldier in Italy during World War II. He also gave a personal story about his own trip to Italy to see the places where his father fought. Both speakers reflected on the courage and patriotism of the U.S. Army 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service who served bravely even while facing discrimination and the incarceration of their families.
Finally, the flower placement ceremony featured representatives from Gold Star families (spouses of U.S. military who died in the line of duty), veteran organizations, community groups, and cultural institutions. Including, Makoto Iyori, Consul General of Japan in Seattle and his wife Yuko; Josh Ishibashi and Greg Umeki of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington; leaders from the Federation of Buddhist Churches of Seattle; the Japanese American Citizens League; the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington; the Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee; Keiro Northwest; and the American Legion Cathay Post 186. The variety of flowers created a beautiful display at the base of the Nisei War Memorial monument.
Though it did start to rain about halfway through the event, this only added to the solemnity and sincerity of the event. The ceremony concluded with a benediction by Rev. J. P. Kang, who spoke in both Japanese and English, the playing of taps by bugler Dan Roseen, the retiring of colors by Boy Scout Troop 252, and a closing performance of “Amazing Grace” by Bruce Corns. Through remembrance, reflection, and community participation, the NVC Memorial Day event demonstrated its commitment to honoring the legacy of Nisei veterans as well as preserving the history and values that they pass on to future generations.
Comment: A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of seeing and stamping the Ireichō at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, California. It was moving both to have this experience and to hear it discussed at the Memorial Day event. To me, it truly exemplified the deep connections within the Japanese American community, as well as the always-growing movement to remember and document the past.
Walk for Rice, one of Seattle’s beloved community traditions supporting food security and culturally familiar foods, brought together around 700 supporters of the community. The event was held at Seward Park in Seattle, Washington in May for a joyful tcelebration of culture, care and collective action during Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. Now in its 36th year, Walk for Rice raises critical funds for the Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) Food Bank and nutrition programs. It provides culturally familiar food staples like rice, tofu, fresh produce and warm meals to families across King County.
Torii gate at Seward Park with the Seattle Kokon Taiko performing. Photo credit: ACRS.
This year’s fundraiser came at a critical time. Visits to the ACRS Food Bank are up 14 percent. Recent ACRS pop-up food banks in Kent and South King County distributed all available food within hours. At the same time, changes to the supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program (SNAP) and food assistance programs are making it harder for people to access benefits. This adds pressure to food banks and community-based organizations already responding to rising demand. “Today is not only about the steps we take around this park. It is about the stand we take as a community,” said Kendee Yamaguchi, CEO of ACRS, in her remarks. “At a time when too many families are being asked to do more with less, we have a choice. We can look away or we can walk toward one another. Today, we choose to walk toward one another.”
The celebration was co-Master of Ceremonies KING 5’s Christine Pae and ACRS board member Harold Taniguchi featuring cultural performances from Seattle Kokon Taiko, Apex Diabolo, Gia Đình Phật Tử Trúc Lâm Lion Dance Team, South Seattle Nepali School, Seahawks dancers, and fitness instructor Yuping Kuang who led the crowd in a lively warm up before the walk.
Speakers and honored guests included Seattle City Councilmember Eddie Lin who presented a proclamation recognizing AANHPI Heritage Month in Seattle, Matt Wong of the Ed Lee Family Foundation, Matt Mitsui joined by the family of Walk for Rice co-founder Sam Mitsui, Washington State Senator Bob Hasegawa, State Representative Cindy Ryu, Port of Seattle Commissioners Toshiko Hasegawa and Sam Cho, and Esther Handy, City of Seattle Chief of Staff representing Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson. Families of Walk for Rice co-founders Sam Mitsui, and Bertha and Herb Tsuchiya helped kick off the walk. They honored the legacy of a grassroots event that began in 1990 and continues to unite generations around food justice.
ACRS Board of Directors. From left to right: Sean Daniels, Anita Rodgers, Gregg Aoyama, Katie Mooney, Gloria Shin (president), Kaitie Dong, Amy Pak standing in front of W F R singage. Photo credit: ACRS.
The 2026 Walk for Rice campaign continues through June 30 with supporters working toward a $350,000 goal. The community has already raised around $265,000 leaving $85,000 to go. Fundraising and donations are still being accepted at walkforrice.org. Funds raised through Walk for Rice help ACRS purchase and distribute culturally familiar staples such as rice, noodles, tofu, produce and other foods that reflect the communities it serves including AANHPI immigrant and refugee families.
The ACRS Food Bank in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District serves thousands of households each month. It distributes nearly one million pounds of food annually through on-site services and community distribution sites across King County.
Tadaima Exhibit and New Nikkei Memorial Sculpture by Miya Sukune
By Barbara Mizoguchi NAP Editor-in-Chief
Local artist Miya Sukune was busy completing an exhibit for the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI) in Seattle, Washington and a piece of artwork in Ober Park on Vashon Island. Both are a tribute to the Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans (JAs) in the area who were forced into incarceration camps by the U.S. government in 1942. The works are completely different in size, look, and materials. Usually, an artist has a style or works in one medium that is recognizable wherever their pieces are located. Sukune’s work is diverse yet her themes are deeply meaningful.
Left to right: King County Council Teresa Mosqueda; survivor John Okimoto; former Friends of Mukai Board of Directors President, Rita Brogan; and artist Miya Sukune standing in front of new artwork by Sukune at Ober Park, Vashon Island, WA. Photo credit: Barbara Mizoguchi.
Originally from the East Coast of the U.S., Sukune read about the Hinamatsuri Day dolls that were at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in Seattle for Japan’s Girls’ Day. Due to World War II and the U.S. naval station at Pearl Harbor being bombed in 1942, Japanese immigrants and JAs on the West Coast were forced into incarceration camps. They hurriedly sold, got rid of or stored their personal belongings. Many families in the Seattle area had the school store their delicate, handmade, silk hinamatsuri dolls; however, after the war many did not return to the area nor reclaim their dolls. Later, the school entrusted MOHAI to keep the dolls safe.
In 2024, MOHAI’s curator fellow researched the dolls and by 2025, the museum decided to display them in an exhibit. It then commissioned Sukune to do the artwork. She noticed the traditional backdrop for the dolls was missing and painted a new one that became a series of portraits. Later, the project evolved to Sukune becoming the guest curator for “TADAIMA: I’m Home” exhibit. It includes her recent research with incarcerees and descendants.
Family standing behind barbed wire in an incarceration camp, 1942-1945. Oil on wood panel by artist Miya Sukune, 2026. Part of MOHAI’s “Tadaima” exhibition. Photo credit: Eugene Tagawa.
Sukune also included Wing Luke Museum’s handmade dolls and the community’s handmade flowers by having workshops at Mukai Farm & Garden on Vashon Island, the INScape building (former Immigration and Naturalization Service building) in Seattle, and Nikkei Manor in the Chinatown-International District. She wanted to bring people together and connect them to JA history and World War II incarceration. Sukune was influenced by her own experience of Hinamatsuri Day growing up in Japan. Her mother and grandmother would make handmade decorations for the community festival. Her mother’s hometown was known for elaborate displays created by many in the community. The “idea of many hands contributing to a shared celebration became an important throughline for me in this project,” said Sukune. The overall flower display references the Seattle Nihonmachi windows where many JA families lived and worked. It is about everyday life and the history before the camps.
It is poignant that Sukune acknowledges the history of Japanese immigrants and JAs forced into incarceration camps when it was not taught in her school growing up. She did not learn about it until she was an adult. However, she discovered the dichotomy of the dolls representing family life—the symbols of celebration such as hinamatsuri dolls and separation during the incarceration. Sukune found a photograph of a baby sitting in front of her hinamatsuri dolls and another photograph of the same family standing in front of their vandalized garage after the war. It is “the hope and tenderness of a cherished family moment, and the trauma reflected in the aftermath” of the war.
Sukune continued the same theme with her Nikkei memorial sculpture called, “Remember (Day of Exile 1942).” It was unveiled in Ober Park during the annual “Day of Exile” on Vashon Island in May. The program began in front of the Vashon Island Park District office building with Friends of Mukai Farm & Garden Executive Director Jade Agua welcoming approximately 100 guests. She thanked descendants, partners, and volunteers who helped with the project. Former Mukai Board of Directors President Rita Brogan said they wanted to commemorate the site so the injustice would not occur again. Then Abbot Koshin Christopher Cain from the Puget Sound Zen Center on Vashon Island, blessed the ceremony with, “Let us remember today the suffering of the islanders who were taken from their homes because of their ethnicity. May the remembrance of that suffering guide us toward wise choices and compassionate action in our daily lives and in our civic lives; and may this sculpture standing here in front of us carry that remembrance forward to those who come after.”
Individual, handmade flowers made by the Japanese American (JA) community. It forms a Seattle Nihonmachi window where many JA families lived and worked before the incarceration. Photo credit:Eugene Tagawa.
Sukune started with a 1942 photograph of the Sakai family for inspiration. It was taken on the same day that they were forcibly removed from the island due to the incarceration. Sukune says, “This deeply vulnerable image made it possible to create a memorial grounded in personal history and lived experience.”
In a different kind of medium, Sukune created a five-foot tall, circular sculpture that is red with metal cutouts of family scenes from the incarceration. Sukune drew the design and with the help of other professionals, she was able to have it cut, painted, and mounted. In the center is a depiction of Sumi Sakai packing a suitcase with her younger brother having a look of uncertainty. Viewing the artwork clockwise, next is a representation of the 111 Vashon and Maury Island residents walking toward Ober Park. They depart on U.S. Army trucks then a ferry to incarceration camps. Next is a watchtower representing the camps and being watched “ … but also the consequences of fear, racism and the failure to protect civil liberties,” said Sukune. Lastly, is a representation of the women and men who left camp to serve in the military. Mary Matsuda left camp early and joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. Her brother Yoneichi Matsuda enlisted in the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team. It was a segregated JA unit and became the most decorated in history. “Their stories reflect extraordinary resilience during a time of profound injustice,” says Sukune. As the war ended, only 12 families returned to Vashon Island.
The overall artwork is circular due to the story not having an ending. It is meant to be a place of remembrance, conversation, and for future generations. Sukune wants the artwork to remind viewers that the historic event also happened in their own local community. It is a remembrance of the injustice and perseverance of the Japanese immigrants and JA people during that time.
King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda said remembering is a choice and responsibility. We need to stand up and take action for the injustice from the past and today. She gave an example of the Mukai family. They were immigrants who came to Vashon Island and farmed strawberries, built a barreling plant, and helped build an agricultural community despite discriminatory laws barring Japanese immigrants from owning land.
At the end of the program, incarcerated survivor John Okimoto read each family name that was exiled. Abbot Cain struck a Bonshõ (large,bronze, hanging bell usually found in Buddhist temples throughout Japan) once with a wooden mallet between each name.
Last year Sukune created the “Matsuda Family” series, also cut metal designs which were on display near the program site. It consists of several metal, rectangular panels about three feet tall with cutouts of various Japanese immigrants and JA life from before and during World War II. Also, on display were six-foot panels about the history of the Japanese immigrants and JAs from 1900 through 1942 on Vashon Island. Attendees varied from descendants to friends to residents. Mark Hoshi, who is deaf, attended the program with his interpreter Suzanne Greenberg. He said his former family farm was located northeast of the island.
Miya Sukune lives on Vashon Island. However, she has been busy with numerous exhibitions, artist-in-residencies, public art, honors, grants, and publications across the U.S., Japan, and Finland. When asked how she got into the arts, Sukune mentioned she enjoyed watching PBS (Public Broadcasting Service) stations with cultural programs, “documentaries about museums, travel, theater, and performances as well as British dramas and comedies.” It gave her a window into a broader creative world. When asked what is next for her, she wants to first rest from these two projects while working as a research aide on the Acetate Project which is preserving and digitizing 1930s-1950s acetate recordings of the JA community. For her own projects, she is researching ideas such as burial rites, craftwork, and her family’s history in the food industry.
By Nippon Foundation and Barbara Mizoguchi,
NAP Editor-in-Chief
Nippon Foundation provides opportunities for young Japanese descendants to study in Japan. It is meant for those who have definite plans to promote the understanding between Japan, the applicant’s country of residence, and their local communities. The recruitment period is now through July 31.
Individuals applying must be 18 to 35 years old and have recommendations from Japanese descendant organizations. Applicants must know enough Japanese language to understand class lectures and daily life in Japan. (Selected applicants can take Japanese lessons six months to one year during their stay.) They must also be willing to participate in volunteer activities and social-action programs.
Any educational institution chosen in Japan is acceptable. However, applicants must negotiate with them on enrollment formalities. If there is a preference to study at a Japanese-language school then it will be designated by the foundation.
The scholarship pays for round-trip airfare to and from Japan, living and housing expenses, commuter tickets, medical insurance, group workshops, key money, school examination fees, admission charges, tuition, etc. Maximum participation is five years.
After the deadline, there will be an initial selection in late August from all applications received. Then there will be a secondary selection in October for interviews. The final decision will occur in early November with the announcements sent to applicants in writing.
Thirty applicants will be accepted from the North American, Latin American, and Southeast Asian regions.
The Nippon Foundation is a Japan-based grant maker founded in 1962. The work is rooted in the fundamental tenets of humanitarianism and we partner with organizations around the world to accelerate social innovation, leveling the playing field for present and future generations. We provide long-term support for creative and impactful initiatives that tackle society’s most challenging issues.
The foundation supports over 20 different partner organizations, and is guided by its board of trustees, counselors, and auditors; and by its various departments.
The foundation is a social innovation hub that connects people, organizations, and financial resources. We proactively address social issues, pointing the way toward a society where all people support one another.
Trans-America Project – One Wan –July 11-18 in Seattle. Unique cultural project across the U.S., a traveling matcha and Japanese tea experience led by two sisters from Japan. They wish to share the spirit of Japanese tea culture through casual, outdoor-style, matcha gatherings called “Nodate.” Their goal is simply to create meaningful moments of connection through a bowl of tea. Possibly the community, organizations or schools would enjoy hosting a free, small, private tea gathering. Strong emphasis on hospitality & personal interaction—carefully preparing each bowl by hand while engaging in conversation. Guests can watch a live matcha preparation demonstration for about 10-15 mins/demo; approximately 3 hrs total per event. Maximum 30-40 guests/day. For more info, contact: onewan2607@gmail.com.
Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest Exhibition –Now–Aug 2; Wed 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thu 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Fri–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Mon-Tue closed. Seattle Art Museum, 1300 1st Ave, Seattle. Featuring over 150 works by renowned artists including Morris Graves, Mark Tobey, Georgia O’Keeffe, and Salvador Dalí among others who helped to shape a vibrant and distinctive art movement. From Malcolm Roberts to Kenjiro Nomura, George Tsukakawa, Kamekichi Tokita, Paul Horiuchi, and Fay Chong learn how NW artists applied their regional perspective to broader artistic developments to create a new form of American Modernism. See: www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/exhibitions/beyond-mysticism-the-modern-northwest.
Obukan Judo: A 100-Year Portland Legacy –Now-Aug 30; Mon–Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 12 p.m.–5 p.m. Oregon Historical Society, 1200 SW Park Ave, Portland. One of the oldest continuously operating judo schools in the U.S. Founded in 1926 by Portland’s Japanese community, the dojo has served generations as a place to practice judo while fostering discipline, respect, and connection. For more info, see: www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/obukan-judo.cfm.
FREE Waterfront Shuttle – Now-Sep 7; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. King Co. Metro’s shuttle connects riders to major locations throughout downtown Seattle including the Chinatown-International District (CID), 7 days a wk. Shuttles run every 10 mins. during SeattleFWC26™ soccer match days and every 15 minutes on non-match days. Anyone can ride! See: https://newseattlewaterfront.org/free-seattle-waterfront-shuttle.
CID Stop Locations:
Northbound:5th Ave S & S Weller St Southbound:S Jackson St & 5th Ave S
Shadows of a Fleeting World: Pictorial Photography and the Seattle Camera Club Exhibition – Now-Sep 13; Wed–Sun 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Cascadia Art Museum, 190 Sunset Ave #E, Edmonds. Formed in 1924, 39 charter members were Issei, first generation Japanese immigrants. The group was celebrated for their excellence in pictorialism and emerging use of photography as a fine arts medium. It was the first internationally known artists group from WA. Key members included Hiromu Kira (1898–1991), Frank Asakichi Kunishige (1878–1960), Yukio Morinaga (1888–1968), and Dr. Kyo Koike. For more info, see: www.cascadiaartmuseum.org.
Bush Garden Restaurant –Now open Wed-Mon, 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m.714 S King St, Seattle. After a pandemic closure and years of delays, the karaoke institution has finally reopened. Founded in 1953 by the Seko family at the Bush Hotel in the Chinatown-International District in Seattle. Bush Garden became a cornerstone of the Japanese American community. Known for its tatami rooms, its welcoming bar, and a karaoke scene that brought neighbors and regulars together for decades. Happy hour, late night menu and karaoke. For more info, see: bushgardenseattle.
JUNE
Standing for Justice: The Japanese Americans Shaping Oregon exhibition –Jun 27-Oct 25;Wed-Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Japanese American Museum of Oregon at Naito Center, 411 NW Flanders St (entrance on 4th Ave), Portland. Part of Oregon’s America 250th commemoration – celebration of Japanese American contributions to democracy. Featuring Oregonian stories who fought injustice with action. Elisa Dozono, Tiffany Koyama Lane, Lynn Nakamoto, Bill Naito, Minoru Yasui, Mari Watanabe and others featured alongside the causes championed. For more info, see: https://jamo.org/standing-for-justice.
The Concert Truck® – Sat, Jun 27; 12 p.m. Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave S, Seattle. It is a mobile music venue created from a converted box truck, complete with lights, a sound system, and a grand piano. Brings world-class classical music directly to everyday spaces—city streets, schools, parks, neighborhoods, and festivals—making live performances more accessible and engaging for all communities. Free, open to the public, and approx. hr. Perfect for families, first-time listeners, and music lovers. For more info, see: www.seattlechambermusic.org/concert-truck.
Summer at Nippon Kan Theatre –Jul 6 at 4 p.m. & Jul 18 at 1 p.m. Nippon Kan Theatre, 628 S Washington St, Seattle. Watch the FIFA World Cup™ with catered food, beer, wine, refreshments, 19’ screen + pro sound, and music.
Purchase tickets at: kobeparkevents.com/nippon-kan-theatre-upcoming-events. Register by June 30 to take advantage of early bird pricing. Follow the theatre at: @NipponKan.Theatre or #SummeratNipponKan.
Intergenerational Mahjong 101 – Sat, Jun 27; 1-4 p.m. Union Station, 605 5th Ave S, Seattle. The Wing Luke Museum received feedback from the inaugural event and will be offering two Mahjong 101 lessons for beginners (13-tile Hong Kong style) at 1-2 p.m. and 2:30-3:30 p.m. Then join intermediate play tables or open play for all skill levels (until 4 p.m.) Experienced players may form tables to play 1-4 p.m. Kids activity area for ages 3–9 (for registered players) and an area for light snacks and socializing. Special free event. RSVP a seat at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScq_47–tBcFtyiOaJAjIRx0I4GAGO_y1x7o6BslQ6_KeZZRQ/viewform.
Tanabata Tea Ceremony – Sun, Jul 5; 1, 2 & 3 p.m. Mukai Farm & Garden, 18017 107th Ave SW, Vashon. Celebrate Tanabata with traditional tea ceremonies to help support the Noto earthquake recovery efforts. Reservations required through Ayumi Luke at: ayuayusnake@gmail.com. Suggested donation $15. Optional bento $30 each by Nu Table Kitchen. Text Sayaka at 603-583-1858. Bento deadline dueTue, Jun 30. For more info, see: https://mukaifarmandgarden.org/events/tanabata-tea-ceremony.
2026 National APIHiP Forum –Thu-Sun, Sep 10-13. Asian Pacific Islander American Historic Preservation forum will be in Denver and Aurora. Colorado is marking its 150th year and America’s 250th. The forum meets at this moment by centering the communities and places that have too often been left out of those celebrations. Four days of panels, field tours, documentary screenings, and community. Speakers and partners from across the country. A program built around the places and people doing this work right now. Early bird rates end June 30. To register, see: https://apiahip.org/forum-2026.
Placekeepers Fund – Accepting applications until Jun 30. The new community grant program is open with funding available. It is for designation, planning, and preservation of Asian & Pacific Islander American historic sites. If your community has a place worth protecting, this program was built for you. For more info, see: apiahip.org/fund.
JULY
Fire Horse Ladies’ Summer Partyヒノエウマ女子の夏祭り–Tue, Jul 7; 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Avalon Towers Lounge Bellevue, 10349 NE 10th St, Bellevue. For Fire Horse women born in 1966 are welcome regardless of nationality, language or cultural background. $60 or pay what you wish, light refreshments, free-flow drinks, and commemorative Fire Horse gift. It’s a bilingual event (English & Japanese). Learn the history and myths of Fire Horse women in Japan. Advance registration required at: https://forms.gle/tAF9qyUiqzPQERaT6. Hosted by the Fire Horse Ladies Organizing Committee – organizer: Megumi Ijiri Haskin. Next gathering will be in Bellevue on the evening of Tanabata, July 7. For more info, see: https://gofeisty.com/trendings/tanabata2026.
A Dual-Language Introduction to “Living Traditions” –Sun, Jul 12; 2-3:30 p.m. Bellevue Public Library, 1111 – 110th Ave NE, Bellevue. Curatorial talk with Shizu Usami and Dr. Anna-Marie Moblard Meier of the online exhibition and interactive cultural map as part of Bellevue Arts Fair. In Japanese and English language. For more information, contact: Bellevue Downtown Association at info@bellevuedowntown.com or Bellevue Arts Museum at info@bellevuearts.org. Also, see: www.bellevueartsfair.com/arts-activations.
Ikebana Art at the Garden – Sat-Sun, Jul 18-19; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Bellevue Botanical Garden Aaron Education Center, 12001 Main St, Bellevue.Sogetsu School of Ikebana – Seattle Branch presents “Ikebana Art at the Garden,” an exhibition of Japanese floral art. The exhibition celebrates 100 years of the Sogetsu School.Demonstrations will be presented 1-3 p.m. both days. Admission is free.For more information: https://seattlesogetsu.wixsite.com/home or Diane Elliott at: puffin33@earthlink.net or Machiko Faught at: machikofa@gmail.com.
Karaoke Meetup –Thu, Jul 18; 6-8 p.m. Japanese Cultural & Community Center, 1414 S Weller St, Seattle. Fukuoka kenjinkai welcomes all kenjinkai clubs, Nikkei organizations, and Nikkei community. It’s a potluck event so please bring your favorite finger food, snacks, and beverages to share. Also, join us the same time & location on Jul 16, Aug 20, and Sep 17. Questions? Contact: Christina Swadener at swadener8sea2fuk@yahoo.com.
66th Annual Golf Tournament –Mon, Jul 20; 10 a.m.–8 p.m. The Plateau Club, 25625 E. Plateau Drive, Sammamish. Japan-America Society of the St of WA (JASSW) invites you to our largest summer fundraiser and valued community tradition. Friendly competition, networking, contests, and prizes. Join us on the course or at the awards dinner featuring a silent auction, raffle, and celebration of the day’s winners. Proceeds support JASSW’s education, business, and cultural programs including Japan in the Schools program. It brings hands-on Japanese cultural and language experiences to local classrooms. Early registration until June 30. Register at: https://jassw.org/golf-2026.
Japanese Art and Resilience in the Pacific Northwest – Living Traditions (LT), 2026 Bellevue Arts Fair Weekend –Fri-Sun, Jul 24-26. Celebrating Japanese artistic traditions as living practices made and carried forward by the region’s communities. Co-curated by Shizu Usami and Dr. Anna-Marie Moblard Meier. Demonstrations/workshops: calligraphy, mokuhanga woodblock printing, ceramics (Togei), ikebana flower arrangement, taiko drumming, haiku poetry; and the Star Festival installation with community wishes at the Bellevue Arts Museum (BAM), Avenue Bellevue, and The Westin Seattle Bellevue.
Okiagari-koboshi Tumbling Doll Craft Table– Make your own and family-friendly. 400-year-old symbol of resilience. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. inside BAM at 450 110th Ave NE.
Star Festival Tanabata Craft Table + Display – write a wish and hang it on bamboo. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. outside The Westin, 600 Bellevue Wy NE on NE 6th St.
White River Buddhist Temple Bon Odori –Sat, Jul 25; 4-9:30 p.m. White River Buddhist Temple, 3625 Auburn Wy N, Auburn. Join us for the festivities – bon dancing, taiko performances, food and more. Free and open to the public. For details and schedule, see www.wrbt.org./bon odori.
Wandering & Wondering: A Butoh Performance – Sun, Jul 26; 1–4 p.m.Kubota Garden. 9817 55th Ave S, Seattle. Experience butoh performers from DAIPANbutoh Collective. They will be moving through the garden and responding to its landscapes in evocative and poetic interpretive movement. Free! For more info, see: www.kubotagarden.org/event-details/wandering-wondering-a-butoh-performance.
Bon Odori at Nikkei Manor –Sun, Jul 26; 1-4 p.m. Nikkei Manor, 700 6th Ave S, Seattle. Music, dance, food, and community. This year will feature special performances by Seattle Matsuri, Northwest Taiko, and Okinawa Kenjin Kai. Small selection of local vendors, traditional Bon Odori dancing, mahjong station, kid’s activities, and delicious poke available for purchase from the Nikkei Manor kitchen. For more info, contact: communications@keironw.org or 206-726-6460.
Guided Tour of Four Premier Senior Living Communities–Wed, Jul 29; 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Meeting point at Weatherly Inn Renton, 4550 Talbot Rd S, Renton. Join us for a guided tour of four premier senior living communities. Visit each location, sample delicious refreshments, and learn about pricing, amenities, services, and the active lifestyles they offer. Free language support in Japanese is available. Registerby Jul 24. For more info and registration, call Merrill Gardens at 425-235-6400 or Tsuneko Nakatani at 206-290-3086.
For more details, see: www.seattlefwc26.org/news/know-before-you-go-in-10-languages.
Location of All Seattle Matches
Seattle Stadium
800 Occidental Avenue South
Remaining Matches in Seattle
Friday, June 26; 8 p.m. Match 63 – Egypt versus Iran
Wednesday, July 1; 1 p.m. Match 82 – 1G versus 3AEHIJ
Monday, July 6; 5 p.m. Match 94 – W81 versus W82
Seattle Fan Zone Areas
Pacific Place:600 Pine Street
Pier 62: 1951 Alaskan Way Seattle Center:305 Harrison Street Victory Hall: 120 First Ave S
Restrooms Before/After a Match
Public restrooms are located at the Seattle International District/Chinatown Light Rail Station during SeattleFWC26™ June 12–July 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. Additional portable restrooms are available at:
• 6th Ave S & S King St parking lot. • 5th Ave S & S Jackson St parking lot. •With extended evening hours during evening matches.
Washington State Fan Zone Areas
BELLINGHAM
• Kulshan Brewing, Trackside: 298 West Laurel Street, Bellingham Waterfront
• The Den, The Wild Buffalo andoutdoor block party: 1300 block of Commercial Street, downtownBellingham
BREMERTON
• Quincy Square: 253 4th Street, Bremerton
EVERETT
• Boxcar Park: 1200 Millwright LoopWest, Everett
OLYMPIA-LACEY
• Port Plaza: 701 Columbia StreetNW, Olympia
PUYALLUP TRIBE OF INDIANS (Puyallup Tribe in partnership with City of Tacoma and Pierce County)
Street closures will typically begin about four hours before match start times. It will end once the area has been cleaned and can be safely reopened. “No Parking” restrictions start at 2 a.m. before each match.
The Nippon Kan is excited to host these festivities, featuring signature catered cuisine, sports swag and decor, music, beer & wine, and 5 watch party games shown on a 19-foot screen with premium sound. It’s a unique opportunity to enjoy world-class soccer in great company while supporting and celebrating one of Japantown’s treasured landmarks. Admission includes access to all games on the day of the ticket, along with heavy appetizers and drink tickets. Ages 21 and over only.
Date & Time:
Wednesday, June 24, 2:00pm–8:00pm
Thursday, June 25, 3:00pm–9:00pm
Saturday, June 27, 1:00pm–9:00pm
Monday, July 6, 4:00pm–7:00pm
Saturday, July 18, 1:00pm–4:00pm
Location:
Nippon Kan Theatre
628 S. Washington St., Seattle, WA 98104
Cost:
General: $120 VIP: $150 Group ticket: $2,000 for 20 guests, or $100 per person
Taxes and fees may apply.
In 2024, the Nakata family celebrated 100 years of the farm ownership with a big family reunion. This article will tell the story of the family and the farm. Initially, the farm was used primarily to grow strawberries with help from members of the Membrere family, a Filipino family on the island. By the 1930s, Bainbridge Island was known as the strawberry capital of the Pacific Northwest.
One hundred and three years ago, Issei (first generation Japanese immigrants) Jitsuzo Nakata purchased the 15-acre Sumiyoshi strawberry farm on Bainbridge Island in Washington. Well, he did not really buy it. Under the alien land law, he could not because he was not a citizen. Moreover, the law prevented him from becoming a citizen. He also could not put the property in the name of his American-born oldest son Masaaki because he was not old enough. So, the property was put in the name of a Nisei (second generation Japanese American) neighbor, Ione Nakao, until Masaaki was old enough to be the landowner.
Nakata first came to Bainbridge Island from Agenosho, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan in 1892. Initially, he worked at a mill in Port Blakely. Two years later, he was called back to Japan for military service in the Sino-Japanese War in 1894. At the end of that war, he returned to Bainbridge but was again called back to Japan, this time to serve in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904. By 1906, the war was over and Nakata married a girl from his hometown named Shima Akimoto. He returned to Bainbridge Island with his new wife where they lived and operated a barbershop and laundry in Winslow, a small town on the island.
In 1909, Sumiyoshi had constructed a large two-story farmhouse on the farm that included space for preserving strawberries. Subsequently, demand for canned strawberries increased so much that it became impractical to can the berries in the farmhouse so the berries were shipped to Seattle, Washington. By the early 1920s, however, a cannery was constructed just a few blocks away from the farm and by the 1930’s, Bainbridge Island was known as the strawberry capital of the Pacific Northwest.
The family had a large circle of Japanese friends on the island. Nakata and three of his younger sons also struck up a friendship with the Loveriches, an immigrant Croatian family. The Loveriches purchased a grocery store in 1921 delivering ice to Nakata who used it to keep meat fresh. The Loverich-Nakata friendship would later prove to be a pivotal one for both families.
In 1931, facing declining revenues from the barber-laundry business, Nakata suggested that his oldest son might want to inquire about a job at the Eagle Harbor Market, a local meat market. The owner, Charley Bremer, a German immigrant, could not pronounce “Masaaki.” Consequently, he named him “John.” John learned the butcher trade there. His younger brothers Momoichi “Mo” and Gerald (“Jerry”) did odd jobs and learned how to butcher.
Momoichi “Mo” Nakata in the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team. 1943-1946. Photo credit: Densho.
The Nakatas had seven children who lived to adulthood. In 1933, the two eldest, John and Shigeko (Jean), married a sister (Yukiye Pauline) and a brother (Joseph) from the Kawamoto family in a double wedding on the Nakata farm (8/31/23 NAP https://napost.com/2023/voices-0825). After their double honeymoon, John and Pauline began living in the farmhouse, where their first son, Donald Tadashi, was born. John bought Eagle Harbor Market in the 1930s and his family moved into the shop’s living quarters.
By the 1940s, the strawberry market was declining. John tore down the old family barber-laundry house and built a new grocery store. His wife, children, and the rest of the family all moved into the old farmhouse, where they grew vegetables to supply the grocery store.
Then came the bombing of Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval Station in Hawaii during World War II. On March 24, 1942, soldiers posted notices around the island that “all Japanese persons, alien or non-alien” would be “evacuated” just six days later. This would be the first time the U.S. Army had moved whole families of Japanese descent. John and his wife now had three small children, Donald Tadashi (7), Robert Kenji (6) and Wayne Yoshiaki (2). All were American citizens by birth. Apparently, the U.S. government preferred the word “non-alien” to calling them what, by birthright, they really were — American citizens.
John was forced to sell the grocery store in less than a week. When a Bainbridge Review newspaper reporter came to talk with him, he brushed off the difficulties, instead saying, “I want you to write a little piece in the paper about how I appreciate all the island has done for me … Tell them I thank them for their many kindnesses and offers to help …” He could not finish. Later, he wrote a letter that was published in the review:The Loveriches gave John Nakata’s family a private place in which to store their belongings including Jitsuzo Nakata’s truck. During the war, the farmhouse was rented to a Filipino family, the Vadalions, who took care of the farm.
On March 30, all 11 members of the Nakata family, together with 265 people of Japanese descent, boarded a ferry to Seattle. They would catch a train to go to who knew where?
The train went to Manzanar Incarceration Camp. Cultural tensions in Manzanar grew between the California city folk and the Bainbridge Island farmers. Eventually, many Bainbridge incarcerees decided to move to Minidoka Incarceration Camp in Idaho. The Nakatas stayed in Manzanar.
While in the camp, the Nakatas’ U.S. Naval Station second son, Momoichi “Mo”, joined the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team as a radioman and helped rescue the “Lost Battalion” in France. He was wounded by shrapnel, which required a month-long hospital stay in England. He was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. The Bronze Star was because, despite his wounds, Mo refused evacuation and dragged himself along, so that he could continue broadcasting to help his comrades.
The family returned to Bainbridge Island in 1945 but did not resume farming. In 1946, Mo Nakata married Sachiko Koura. Yet, neither he nor his brothers John and Jerry could get jobs. So, they ended up wrapping line guides onto bamboo fishing poles to be sold in Canada.
It was Mo who came up with the idea of starting a grocery store. His friend, Ed Loverich (who had been an All-American basketball star at the University of Washington), decided to go in with him in the now vacant Bainbridge Gardens grocery store. John Nakata declined, because he believed that the store would be too small for three owners. Mo and Loverich opened their store in 1947. Mo cut meat while his brother Ken helped out. Loverich managed the grocery department.
Edward Loverich, one of three partners of Town & Country Market, Bainbridge Island, WA. Date unknown. Photo courtesy: Susan Nakata Allen.
In the meantime, John and Jerry Nakata leased a grocery store on Capitol Hill in Seattle. John was able to save enough cash to buy back the Eagle Harbor Market. Jerry then took over the Capitol Hill grocery.
Shima Nakata passed away in 1949. Jitsuzo Nakata followed her in 1955. Although John had succeeded in paying off the mortgage on the farm several years earlier, the elder Nakatas did not live to see their family’s greatest successes.
John Nakata’s grocery store, as well as Mo Nakata’s and Loverich’s, were quite profitable. However, neighborhood grocery stores were coming to an end. A group of Bainbridge Island residents and businessmen formed Bainbridge Investors, Inc. It was decided that they needed a supermarket with plenty of off-street parking to anchor the business district in Winslow. They approached Mo and Ed Loverich.
One problem was that the site the investors group had chosen for the new business was just a block or two away from John’s market. Ed and Mo said that John had to be part of the enterprise. When John agreed to participate, the three of them were able to capitalize on the island’s first supermarket, Town and Country (T&C) Thriftway.
Town & Country Market, 43 Winslow Way E., Bainbridge Island, WA.Photo credit: Town & Country Market.
John’s oldest son, Don, had graduated from Seattle University with a degree in business administration, the first Nakata college graduate. He helped his father, his uncle, and Ed develop the store.
The grand opening was on August 29, 1957. Bainbridge Island was a very different place then—much more rural, significantly less populous, and less wealthy. Almost everyone knew everybody else. The adults were excited because many people had never seen a supermarket before. Not only that but the great Joe Louis “the Brown Bomber” (world heavyweight boxing champion 1937-1949) and his erstwhile opponent, Max Baer, would be there. Children were excited because Stan Boreson, a local children’s entertainer, was coming. Plus, the store was handing out free ice cream cones! Sadly, Don could not attend the grand opening. At the time, there was a mandatory draft system in place, and he was serving in the Army.
Wonder of wonders! At the new store’s entrance, there were automatic sliding doors, which no one had ever seen before. The 10,416 sq. foot market was the largest in North Kitsap County. Inside, Mo and John were at the open meat counter, assisted by Sam Nakao, whose older brother had helped Jitsuzo buy the farm so many years before. Ed was again in charge of groceries. Ken Nakata, John and Mo’s youngest brother, oversaw the dairy department. Ed’s sister was the bookkeeper, and his father-in-law was the produce manager. Wayne Nakata, John’s second youngest son, was a box boy. Wayne’s mother, Pauline, would have likely been a checker. The previous year, she had given birth to the couple’s youngest son, Vernon. Meanwhile, Mo’s eldest son, Larry, and two of Ed’s brothers worked as “bottle boys” in charge of redeeming returned bottles.
T&C became what Starbucks is today — a place to meet your neighbors and friends. Everyone knew the number 1 and number 2 checkers, Kay Nakao, and Fujiko “Fudge” Sakuma. Out front was a 30-ft cedar sign board that originally advertised sales but since the 1970s, it has been used for community announcements. Since two of the owners were Japanese Americans, there was plenty of Japanese food—rice, shoyu (soy sauce), tofu, etc. It was the only place on the island, and most likely in Kitsap County, where you could ask for “sukiyaki meat” and not have to explain what it was. Interestingly enough, the store sponsored annual sukiyaki dinners at the local elementary school that were popular for years.
John retired in 1971. His son Don purchased his shares in the company. When Mo suffered a severe heart attack in 1971, Don’s responsibilities for the store increased significantly.
In the 1970s, inflation became a big concern for everyone. Accordingly, Don introduced a new discount grocery, Viking Mark-It Foods, in Poulsbo, a small town on the mainland of Kitsap County.His uncle, Jerry, managed the produce department; Don’s wife, Ellen, became the bookkeeper; and cousin Larry (Mo’s eldest son) worked in the grocery department.
Both stores specialized in customer service. When Mo heard that a customer had died, he would deliver ham to the grieving family. Ed would use his own money to buy products that customers requested and the stores would sell them to the customers at cost.
Kay Nakao made it her personal mission to win over a gentleman who had been part of a small but vocal, anti-Japanese American minority on the island, and she succeeded! At Mark-It, the deli would give first-time customers a free half pound of sliced meat and a free half pound of cheese.
With John retired, and Ed and Mo scaling back their involvement in the stores, Wayne Loverich, Ed’s nephew, began to assume a larger role. Wayne introduced specialty foods to the stores such as Bon Maman jams from France, free-range chickens, gourmet mustards, and specialty cheeses. As inflation became a lesser concern in the 1980s, these products became quite attractive to customers and remain so today. Mark-It Foods also evolved from its discount roots to become the Poulsbo Market Place, managed by Larry. One customer wrote, “I drive from Bremerton once a week [approximately 20 miles] to shop at Poulsbo Market Place, bypassing other grocery stores along the way. The journey is worth it. There are things that motivate me to shop at the market—organic produce, the best selection of bulk dried goods I’ve seen anywhere, and environmentally sound paper and cleaning products. Shopping, which is usually a chore, has been an hour of delightful discovery every week.” In 1994, the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce named Larry its “Person of the Year.”
In the meantime, Don continued to explore avenues to expand. In 1986, he and a partner, Bill Weymer, opened the newly remodeled Ballard Market on the site of a previously failed grocery store. Ballard Market became famous for its “Singles Night” where single people could meet and mingle. The second “Singles Night” was so successful that the Seattle Fire Department had to shut it down because of the number of people who showed up. Ballard Market also sponsored a precision drill cart team—a group of employees that marched while pushing grocery carts. This was an idea borrowed from the Bainbridge and Poulsbo stores where teams marched in local celebrations.
By the late 1980s, John and Ed had retired, and Mo had passed away. Don was now completely in charge. He and Mr. Weymer then opened another store in Bellevue, Overlake Market.
By 1988, Don’s accomplishments began to be recognized. Food Dealer magazine named him “Grocer of the Year” in 1988. In 1989, the four T&C stores were included on Progressive Grocer magazine’s Honor Roll of “Outstanding Independent Grocers.”
Nevertheless, back home on Bainbridge Island, a threat was looming — Safeway was coming to town. On the day in 1990 that Safeway opened on the island, the T&C store was undergoing a major remodel that would take months to complete. When the renovations were done, customers discovered many new features to help make their lives easier. There was a full-scale deli with food that had been cooked in-house in consultation with a New York restaurateur, a salad bar, an organic produce section (the first in the state!), a large wine cellar, a housewares shop, and a natural and bulk food department. If that did not cement the emotional bond islanders had with the store, The Great Blizzard of 1990 did.
This graphic novel tells the story of George Takei and his family in the Rohwer, Arkansas and Tule Lake, California incarceration camps. George’s father, Takekuma Norman Takei, was born in Japan but was fluent in both Japanese and English. His mother, Fumiko Emily Nakamura, was born in California but was raised traditionally Japanese. George was the eldest, followed by younger brother Henry, and a baby girl named Nancy Reiko.Takekuma came to the United States as a teenager for his education and later opened a successful dry-cleaning establishment in Los Angeles, California.
The Japanese attack on U.S. Pearl Harbor Naval Station in Hawaii changed the Takei family’s lives. Earl Warren, a politically ambitious man who wanted to run for governor was then the California State Attorney General. He called for the federal government to “lock up the Japs.” For him, the absence of any evidence that Japanese Americans were disloyal simply meant that no one could possibly know what they were doing. The mayor of Los Angeles also testified that Japanese Americans were “non-assimilable.”
On February 19, 1942, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed U.S. Executive Order 9066, thereby sealing the fate of all Japanese American people on the West Coast and Alaska. A curfew was imposed. Financial accounts were frozen.
Finally, it was the Takei family’s turn. First, they went to the Santa Anita Racetrack in California, where they were housed in horse stables still reeking of manure. George started school there, beneath the grandstand.
Eventually, wearing identifying tags, they were herded onto a train that would take them somewhere — they did not know where. Armed guards were stationed in the front and the back of every car driven by the families. They eventually arrived at Rohwer Relocation Center in Arkansas where it was beastly hot. George later said that he would never forget the hot blast of air that poured out of their assigned cabin when his father opened the door.
Fumiko had brought her sewing machine and started making curtains out of government surplus fabric. She also braided rags together for colorful floor mats. Meanwhile, the men in the camp including Takekuma, started building boardwalks so that people would not have to walk in the mud when it rained.
Takekuma was eventually elected block leader to represent their block in meetings with the U.S. government administration.
In the winter, it snowed. The boys had never seen snow before and had a grand time making a snowman and throwing snowballs.
At Christmas, who should arrive but a Japanese Santa Claus! George had seen the real Santa Claus once so he knew immediately that this was a fake Santa. But everyone was having such a good time, he decided to keep the secret to himself.
Then the infamous questionnaire arrived. Fumiko and Takekuma decided to answer questions 27 and 28 with a “no.” As a Japanese citizen who could not apply for U.S. citizenship, Takekuma would have been rendered stateless if he had answered “yes.” Fumiko had been born a U.S. citizen, but now her country was asking her to put her country first and her family second. That she could not do.
Soon, word came that the Takeis would be moved to Tule Lake because of the parents’ answers to questions 27 and 28. Tule Lake California turned into a hotbed of conflict between the radicals and the more moderate dissenters. It was not a pleasant time.
In the meantime, U.S. Congress had enacted a law that gave Japanese Americans who were U.S. citizens the right to give up their citizenship and be repatriated to Japan. Thousands of Japanese American citizens decided to take advantage of this law including Fumiko. Her ship was to depart on November 15, 1945.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court had decided Mitsuo Endo’s case, ruling that loyal Nisei could not be held in the incarceration camps. The U.S. government, in a preemptive move, had already revoked U.S. Executive Order 9066. All those in the camps could return home, assuming they had a home to return to.
Two days before Fumiko’s ship was to sail, Wayne Collins, with the help of his associate, Theodore Tamba, filed habeas corpus (review of the unlawful detention or imprisonment of an individual) suits representing 968 plaintiffs including Fumiko. Fumiko was not going to be deported. After many years of hard work by Collins and his team, her U.S. citizenship was reinstated.
I highly recommend this graphic novel. The illustrations are very evocative. The book is also balanced. Takei gives the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team its due but notes that the “No-No Boys” were also brave in their own way. Perhaps most interesting, he notes that on the same day that U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts stated that United States v. Korematsu “has no place in law under the Constitution,” the US Supreme Court also upheld U.S. President Trump’s ban on immigration from Muslim countries.
Takei would go on to act in the 1960s science fiction television series, Star Trek. In an ironic twist of fate, he was invited to speak at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Museum and Presidential Library in 2017. He became a leading advocate for social justice and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer) rights and marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., on the streets of Los Angeles. Emperor Akihito of Japan bestowed on him the Order of the Rising Sun and the Gold Rays with Rosette for his contribution to U.S.-Japan relations.
Greedy, the second novel by Japanese-British author Callie Kazumi, centers around Ed Cook, an unemployed British expatriate in Japan hoping to provide for his wife and young daughter. Desperate to escape his massive gambling debt and the looming presence of yakuza (Japanese mafia), he applies for a private chef job (despite being underqualified). He finds himself in the employment of a mysterious socialite who lives deep in the mountains. As the story unfolds, she orders him to cook increasingly complex meals with ingredients priced at billions of yen for high-society guests. He is finally confronted with the question of whether his growing desires have outpaced his morality.
Greedy is a novel with a lot to say. It is confident and intentional in its usage of the characters as mouthpieces through which to speak. The character of Hazeline Yamamoto –-— a mixed-race Japanese and British billionaire and the dissolute benefactor to Cook’s indigent beneficiary — acts as a vehicle to discuss not just the growing class divide under capitalism but also the struggles of multiracial Japanese citizens in a monoethnic society. Like the other characters that populate the world which Cook has stumbled into, her character is multifaceted, understandable, and compelling while leaving just enough to the imagination to raise intrigue and propel the narrative forward. Cook himself is flawed but ultimately likeable. He and his interactions with the other characters, his conversations with oft-overlooked wife Sayuri and Yamamoto’s private driver Nakamura are both standouts — expand further on both the new place in society that he has found himself in and the one that he is trying to leave behind.
As a thriller, Greedy is suspenseful and immersive. It does not inspire outright fear and is not trying to, rather it has a slower undercurrent of dread. Established from the first chapters, it intensifies as the plot unfolds. Instead of being driven by twists, it creates an uneasy feeling by trusting the reader to understand the clues being given. If the reader unravels the mystery before the protagonist does, it enhances the experience of picking up on the smaller details and nuances of the story. If they discover it along with him, it allows for total immersion in his emotions. Either way, the story is captivating and well-developed. Thanks to the amount of detail provided, it shines both in an initial reading and in subsequent re-reads.
Greedy handles themes of classism, complicity, and morality in impossible situations with care and grace. Though the general direction of the narrative and its eventual climax may not be particularly distinctive to readers familiar with the genre. The striking visuals of the food and the opulent world surrounding it. The unique perspective of the foreigner Cook in high-class society, and the atmospheric settings of both urban Tokyo and rural, mountainous Yamanashi all set the novel apart from others in its genre. By creating a deeply immersive world and making the most of a solid, original concept, Kazumi creates a well-executed and memorable story. It is easy to digest and will stay with the reader long after it is finished.
It is an honor to have my artwork, “Emerging Radiance” on the cover of Neiwert’s book. I drew inspiration for “Emerging Radiance” from “Strawberry Days,” which is the most comprehensive publication on the history of the Bellevue Nikkei (Japanese American) farmers in Washington. It is a collaboration with Tani Ikeda on the “Emerging Radiance” multimedia art installation which is on display at Bellevue Library through February 2027. Many thanks to Ikeda, City of Bellevue and Bellevue Library/KCLS (King County Library System) and Neiwert!
Also nearby are several beautiful public artwork which memorialize the contributions of Bellevue Nikkei at the Wilburton Eastrail Station in downtown Bellevue. The works were created by local Nikkei artists Aki Sogabe, Lauren Iida, Erin Shigaki and Mari Shibuya. See:www.isanbellevue.org/eastrailcrossing
Isan Bellevue headed this project. Their mission is to honor Bellevue’s Japanese American heritage through a permanent, publicly accessible, and emotionally impactful commemoration that educates, engages, and unifies the community. For more information, see: www.isanbellevue.org.
By International Community Health Services NAP Contributor
ICHS staff with visiting nursing students from Kobe, Japan in March 2026. Photo credit:ICHS.
In March, nursing students from Kobe City College of Nursing in Japan visited the International Community Health Services (ICHS) in Seattle, Washington. Kobe is also Seattle’s sister city in Japan and ICHS was honored to facilitate the cultural exchange opportunity.
The nurses toured the International District Medical & Dental clinic and met with ICHS nursing team. For the past three years, in collaboration with Pacific Language and Cultural Exchange of Seattle, ICHS has facilitated tours of its clinics for nursing students from Japan. If you are interested in touring the clinic or other opportunities to learn more about ICHS care model and services, please feel free to reach out to at: foundation@ichs.com or see: www.ichs.com.
Organized by Tsuru’s Healing Arts Collective, community members came together at The Fishbowl Art Gallery in Seattle, Washington to join hands.They created paper dolls to be used in advocacy efforts with elected officials locally and nationally. Participants got creative with each paper doll, bonded over arts and crafts-making, and noted the importance of using our hands and artmaking during these times. Shoutout to the Nikkei Student Union at the University of Washington who also contributed a set of paper dolls with messages calling for freedom and safety for migrants.
Get ready, Seattle! The world is about to descend on our fair city this summer. From June 15 to July 6, Seattle will host six FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)World Cup 2026™ matches at Lumen Field which has been renamed Seattle Stadium for the tourney.
Seattle, city of 800,000-plus, braces for 750,000 people to visit the region during the games. Visit Seattle, a nonprofit destination marketing organization, expects the games to bring a whopping $929 million in economic activity to King County and add almost 21,000 jobs. Of course, how much of that money stays in Seattle and does not get hoovered up by FIFA officials, is an open question. Revenue raised by ticket sales, for example, all goes to FIFA. Prices are typically several hundred dollars a seat.
Lumen Field will be called Seattle Stadium during the tournament.
Commuters who work in downtown Seattle will need to check road closures as Pioneer Square and Pike Place Market will be pedestrianized during the games, and large areas will be dedicated to fan zones. Expect commuting delays or work from home, if you can.
The local games start with Group Stage matches. Belgium plays Egypt on June 15. Four days later, on June 19, the Americans take on the Australians. On June 24, Boznia-Herzegovina plays Qatar and on June 26, Egypt squares off against Iran. Seattle will host one Round of 32 match on July 1 and a Round of 16 match on July 6 with teams to be determined.
Tickets are still available for some matches (go to fifa.com to get started) but even if you do not have a ticket, you can join in the fun all around the city. Viewing parties will be held at Seattle Center, Pacific Place, and Victory Hall across from the Mariners baseball stadium. There will also be events and displays at Waterfront Park. All these spaces will be free and open to the public.
The message board for the U.S. national team players at the Seattle Stadium is densely filled with messages by soccer fans.
Pacific Place in downtown Seattle has installed a four-story, high-resolution, LED screen to broadcast the games. The Seattle Center will feature large screens to watch the matches, beer gardens and live music. Victory Hall in SODO (South Of Downtown) will have a 23-foot screen for game viewing just minutes away from the actual matches across the street in the Seattle Stadium. In other words, for six weeks, Seattle will be soccer crazy.
That soccer-crazy mindset is likely to last well after the final Seattle match. Watch parties will follow the action as the number of competing teams drops to eight, four, two and finally one. If you are in the Chinatown-International District, for example, you can watch the quarterfinals in Hing Hay Park on July 10 and the finals at Theatre Off Jackson on July 19. After that, we can all go back to our regularly scheduled summer.
U.S. Representative Grace Meng (New York), Chair of the U.S. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion on the constitutionality of the U.S. Department of Education’s Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Program. Pursuant to the opinion, the Education Department will no longer operate such programs.
“Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) have helped millions of students including roughly one-third of all undergraduates, achieve a higher education. It is one of the most reliable pathways to join the middle class and secure economic mobility. Their impact is magnified in our community with Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) enrolling nearly half of all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander undergraduate students, the majority of whom are low-income and first-generation.
“By terminating funding for MSIs, the U.S. president’s administration is denying countless students a fair shot at the American Dream. It is a slap in the face to our parents, grandparents, and the generations before them who sacrificed so much to create better opportunities for their children. CAPAC will not give up the fight to ensure that high-quality public education remains affordable and accessible to students from every background.”
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of Education will no longer operate the following programs after the U.S. Department of Justice issued an opinion that they are unconstitutional: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program, Predominantly Black Institutions formula grants, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program, Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions, Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans, Hispanic Serving Institutions–STEM Programs, and Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions.
The chairs of the U.S. Congressional Tri-Caucus—U.S. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (NY), Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair and U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY), and Congressional Black CaucusChair and U.S.Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY)—released a joint statement in response to the U.S. presidents administration’s termination of grants for hundreds of colleges and universities that serve large minority student populations.
CAPAC Chair Meng, along with U.S. Chair Emerita Judy Chu (CA), U.S. First Vice Chair Mark Takano (CA), and U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (HI), also introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing AANAPISI Week in 2025.
Minidoka on Our Minds, is on view at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon through June 14. It celebrates the community advocacy and resilience that led to the establishment of the Minidoka National Historic Site in Idaho 25 years ago. Created in partnership with the National Park Service, the exhibition will feature artwork by survivors, descendants and Japanese American youth that explores the park’s history and its importance as a site of memory.
Over 13,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated at Minidoka between August 1942 and October 1945, mostly from the Pacific Northwest. Decades after it closed, a coalition of Japanese American communities across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska united to save this historic site which was added as the 385th unit of the National Park Service in 2001.
“Minidoka on Our Minds” presents this history alongside visual arts which have consistently been used by survivors and descendants. It documents what happened at Minidoka and promotes healing across generations. One such piece on display is a collection of sculptures by Mira Nakashima that are made from wood gathered by Ed Abe, who died collecting it during a snowstorm at Minidoka in 1942. The Abe family saved the wood after leaving camp. Its journey was made whole when it was returned in the form of this art piece and exhibited at the National Historic Site’s visitor center.
“We celebrate the Japanese American community’s tireless and successful efforts to advocate for the preservation of this history,” said Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong, Executive Director of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon. “Achieving protected status for Minidoka as a national historic site was a multigenerational and interdisciplinary effort. Minidoka on Our Minds promotes a deeper understanding of what it means to document and steward this history for future generations.” Exhibition event details can be found at: jamo.org/minidoka.
About the Japanese American Museum of Oregon
The Japanese American Museum of Oregon preserves and honors the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest. It educates the public about the Japanese American experience during World War II and advocates for the protection of civil rights for all Americans. Formerly the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, the museum is a venue for culture and research. It is also an invaluable resource for exploring Nikkei experiences and their role in Oregon’s multicultural community.
Location: 411 Northwest Flanders Street, Portland, OR 97209
Admissions/General Museum Contact: 503-224-1458 or jamo.org.
Meet Yuki Takahashi. She is a 27-year-old professional dancer. A few months after her parents moved from Japan to Dallas, Texas for her father’s job, Takahashi’s mother asked if she would be interested in ballet classes. At three years old, Takahashi studied at the Ballet Academy of Texas and performed in The Nutcracker. As a teenager, Takahashi was a recipient of the 2014 Kittie La Pointe Memorial Scholarship provided by the Dance Council of North Texas. It was clear she was on a fast track even from such a young age.
Yuki Takahashi. Unknown date.Photo credit: Dan Lao.
Because of work, Takahashi’s father then moved the family to New York City. Takahashi was 16 years old, ready to pursue more rigorous training, and wanting to work toward a professional career. In 2016, she studied at the Ballet Academy East in New York City and took summer courses at the American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City and Pacific Northwest Ballet (PNB) in Seattle.
Later, Takahashi’s teacher, Peter Frame, (and her brother who is now a soloist at New York City Ballet) encouraged her to audition for the PNB School Scholarship. In 2019, she received a full scholarship and continued her training as a professional division student. After two years, she became an apprentice with PNB. Later that year, she was promoted to the corps de ballet (ensemble of dancers). PNB Artistic Director Peter Boal said, “Her clarity of line and clean technique suit any role — classical or contemporary — from the bravura turn of Square Dance to the romanticism of Emeralds.”
Then COVID-19 happened. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee announced that all non-essential activities including live performances would be cancelled. But PNB survives on ticket sales and patrons want to see live performances. Also, One Thousand Pieces was set to open at McCaw Hall in Seattle. Instead, dancers continued practicing in the studios in pods of five dancers for a filmed, dress rehearsal. The film would then be available to the public online. Takahashi said, “I remember that week was really devastating because we all had worked so hard on it . . . and it all came down to this one dress rehearsal that we barely made it to.” That was when PNB decided to go online for the duration of the pandemic by providing digital seasons. The public would be able to purchase tickets online and stream the performances. The first digital season consisted of six new archived works. It also included a behind-the-scenes look with Five Minutes Call, an introduction to each piece’s background called Ballet Talk, and conversations between Boal and featured dancers called Meet the Artist (which continues today).
In November 2025, Boal made an announcement of promotions, one of them being Takahashi becoming a soloist. Boal said, “Her talent and experience demand a stronger spotlight. It’s Yuki’s time to shine.” Takahashi said, “I always dreamed of becoming a soloist but also understood that I need to become a dancer that is worthy of a title like that. . . I definitely focused a lot on refining my technique and building the confidence to trust myself on stage.” That is what makes Takahashi unique from other dancers. She is known for her legs slicing the air like darts. She can perform nonstop with exact timing and precision. Her ease draws the audience in.
Although Takahashi is incredibly proud and grateful for the promotion, she would be interested in becoming a principal dancer someday. However, if it is not in the cards, Takahashi said she is at peace with it. “The
work doesn’t change regardless.” Takahashi loves the way ballet makes her feel and the constant challenges to overcome. She finds it almost addicting to be precise “but as a child I remember constantly feeling like there was little room for error.”
Takahashi’s connection with her Japanese heritage is unique. She was recently the illustrator for the set design of Momotaro. It was a ballet performance in Seattle about the Japanese children’s folktale which Takahashi grew up with. During the performance dates in the lobby of McCaw Hall, there were a variety of booths from the local community displaying their Japanese and Japanese American organizations.
When Takahashi is not performing, she teaches summer courses, private classes and/or performs as a guest for other dance companies. She loves to travel, ski, be outdoors, attend live music shows, and enjoy wine. She even attempts to crochet.
If you have not seen Takahashi perform, attend one of PNB’s productions. One does not need to know ballet or dance techniques.Come and see the athleticism, talent, and precision of the male and female dancers. PNB is one of the top-ranked and highly regarded ballet companies in the U.S. It is also one of the top three professional ballet schools in America known for its rigorous curriculum and exceptional faculty. Like the prestigious School of American Ballet, PNB maintains the same professional standards and classical foundation. It has also gained a superb reputation as the company tours globally. See pnb.org for more information and tickets. You will be in awe of these dancers.
White River Buddhist Temple Bon Odori –
Kimono Sale 2026 – 
Tacoma Bon Odori – 
Standing for Justice: The Japanese 
Intergenerational Mahjong 101 – 
Fire Horse Ladies’ Summer Party
66th Annual Golf Tournament – 
White River Buddhist Temple Bon Odori –
Wandering & Wondering: A Butoh Performance –
The Loveriches gave John Nakata’s family a private place in which to store their belongings including Jitsuzo Nakata’s truck. During the war, the farmhouse was rented to a Filipino family, the Vadalions, who took care of the farm.
