Celebrate Japanese Culture at the 8th Annual Japan Week at Bellevue College
By Ansh Chavda, Tommy Wang Bellevue College Japan Week Student Leaders
Bellevue College is excited to host its 8th Annual Japan Week from September 30 to October 5, 2024. Presented by the BC Japanese Culture Exchange Club with support from the Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, this week-long event promises a rich exploration of Japanese culture for both students and the general public.
Enjoy unlimited karaoke with 30,000 songs for free! Let’s have a great time together!
The festivities kick off with educational lectures and demonstrations for Bellevue College students during the weekdays. These sessions will delve into various aspects of Japanese culture, from history and art to modern cultural phenomena.
This year’s event T-shirt features the kanji for “sincerity” (誠、 makoto) printed on the back ▶︎
The highlight of Japan Week is the Matsuri (festival) day on Saturday, October 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is open to everyone and includes a variety of lectures, exhibits and performances of traditional and modern Japanese arts, crafts, games, music, dance and food. This year’s festival will introduce several exciting new elements, including an Anime Cafe, Manga Swap, Language Exchange and a Self-Shiatsu Massage experience.
Attendees can also learn to play Taiko drums or enjoy a Shakuhachi workshop, where they can hear and learn about the traditional bamboo flute. A special Dorayaki making workshop, led by Japanese students, will offer a hands-on experience with these sweet pancakes filled with azuki beans.
◀︎ Budo demonstration. This year, there will also be a Gundam vs. Godzilla arm wrestling competition!
In celebration of several Japanese pop culture icons, the festival will feature a screening of the original 1954 Godzilla movie with English subtitles, shown twice throughout the day. This is a unique opportunity to witness the pioneering special effects of this classic film. Additionally, visitors can take photos with Hello Kitty and Godzilla and enjoy a Gundam vs. Godzilla arm wrestling demonstration by professional wrestlers, who will also demonstrate proper techniques to avoid injuries.
The Japanese Business Association of Seattle will present a seminar on Japanese business manners, providing valuable insights for professionals interested in Japanese business etiquette.
Admission to the festival is free, making it an accessible event for all. Parking at the Saturday event is free inside the BC Parking Garage (only), other lots are available for $3/day.
Volunteers are being sought for the festival day. If you’re interested in helping out, please sign up at https://bit.ly/JWvolunteers
For more information about Japan Week, including the full schedule of activities, visit the Japan Week website at https://bit.ly/2024JW. Japan Week is set to again be a vibrant celebration of Japanese culture. Join us for a day of entertainment, learning and cultural exploration!
Seattle Keiro Nursing Home Donor Plaques Available, Sept 1st – Oct 31st. Back in the late 80s through early 90s, Nikkei Concerns received many generous contributions towards the construction of Seattle Keiro skilled nursing facility. That support made an invaluable impact on our community in the care of our elders. Although evolving community needs and circumstances led to the closure of the skilled nursing facility in 2019, the support for Nikkei Concerns at that time played a crucial role in making that endeavor possible. We would like to offer you the opportunity to have your/your loved one’s donor plaque from Seattle Keiro returned to you as a memento of your legacy contribution. Please contact the Board’s assistant, Karlee Hicks, at khicks@keironw.org or 206-571-2550 to arrange pick-up at Nikkei Manor, 700 6th Ave S, Seattle
■Dancing with Our Ancestors exhibit – now through Oct 13, W-SU, 12-4 p.m. Free. White River Valley Museum, 9f18 “H” St SE, Auburn. Created in partnership with the White River Buddhist Temple. See loans from temple members of kimonos, happi coats, yukatas, fans, taiko, historic photographs, and more. Learn about the history of the temple and obon traditions. Even learn some dances with an instructional video. See: https://www.wrvmuseum.org/.
■Bon Odori Family Day – SU, Sep 29, 1-3 p.m. Free. White River Valley Museum, 9f18 “H” St SE, Auburn.
■Honoring Our Connection event – Fri, Sep 27, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. Suggested donation $10. Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room, 600 Fourth Ave, Seattle. Join Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association in celebrating Qwaisius-Shaun Peterson who carved the replacement story pole in Kobe, Japan. Moderated conversation with Shaun and Dan Friday (great-grandson of Joseph Hillaire who carved the original pole. Members of the Lummi Nation and Puyallup Tribe will also share.
RSVP: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/c8b995805c60417691e102896895e71f. Special $6 parking at SeaPark Garage,6th Ave between Cherry and James. Questions? E-mail: Karin Zaugg Black at karinzaugg@yahoo.com.
See: https://www.seattlekobe.org/upcoming-events/.
OCOTOBER
Japan Week at Bellevue College! – Sat, Oct 5th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Bellevue College, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue. BC parking garage free on Saturday. Other parking lots $3/day. (Sep 30 – Oct 4th for Bellevue College students.) Oct. 5 is Matsuri (festival) Day open to the general public. Showing original Godzilla movie (with English subtitles) from 1954, anime cafe, manga swap, and flea market. Traditional Japanese musical performances, Japanese dance, martial arts demonstrations, self-shiatsu massage, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy, origami, yukata photo booth, karaoke, Doraemon TV show, contests, etc.
2 contests: origami and character bento (kyaraben) – submissions due Sep 27th. Need 200 volunteers to help. See: https://bit.ly/2024JW.
■Blaine Bazaar – Sat, Oct 5, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church, 3001 24th Ave S, Seattle. Take-out only with limited seating inside. BBQ salmon, BBQ chicken, vegetarian yakisoba, curry, suno dogs, and pie. Also farmer’s market, bake sale, and ohagi. Portions of the proceeds benefit Mission Guatemala. See: www.blaineonline.org.
■Matsutake Mushroom Hunting Lecture – Sat, Oct 5, 1-2 p.m. 220 PDX, 220 NW Second Ave., Portland, OR. Free. Amy Peterson, who leads the Japanese American Museum of Oregon’s annual matsutake hunt, will give a talk on mushroom hunting in Oregon, how to identify mushrooms, equipment needed, and where to find mushrooms. Registration required: https://jamo.org/matsutake-lecture/.
■Unearthing History: Planting the Seeds for Densho’s Legacy Unearthing History – Thu, Oct 10th, 5:30-7:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET. Densho’s 2024 virtual fundraiser. A celebration of collective impact and expression of ongoing commitment to stewarding for future generations. Register at: www.densho.org/unearthing-history.
■Philip Woo’s 50th High School Reunion Party! – Fri, Oct 11th, 7-10 p.m., Terry’s Kitchen, 5625 119th Ave SE, Bellevue. Live music. Franklin High, Garfield High, Cleveland High, Rainier Beach High, Seattle. All are welcome. Featuring: Philip Woo (via Tokyo) – keyboard and Harmonica, Leonard Berman – guitar, Danny Benson – bass, and Ben Smith – drums. Special Guest: Detroit’s own Ashton Moore – vocal and Swinky – vocal. Philip Woo’s Habanero Hot Sauce available for $10. Tickets: $35 (Includes sales tax).
■64th Convention of Japanese People Abroad – Tue-Thu, Oct 15-17th, Tokyo, Japan and online. Register at: https://jadesas.or.jp/jp/taikai01/ by Sep 17th. Any and every Nikkei and Japanese abroad are welcome to participate. We also welcome non- descendants who have an interest in Nikkeis and Nikkei communities, and are active members of Nikkei organizations.
■The Life, Art, and Faith of Sadao Watanabe trailer: Watanabe Yoshio video screening and art exhibition – Sun, Oct 20th; 30 min. screening: 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Japanese subtitles. Seattle Japanese Baptist Church, 160 Broadway, Seattle. Printmaking program for children and refreshments provided. For more information, see: www.jbcseattle.org
MISCELLANEOUS
■2026 Seattle FIFA World Cup Host City Poster Contest due Oct 20. Winning design will be featured as the official poster gaining national and international recognition. See details at: https://seattlefwc26.org/poster-contest.
■Omoide Project – seeking submissions for upcoming book, Omoide VII. No writing experience needed – just a desire to share and preserve stories of Japanese Americans. It will feature stories about small but significant acts of kindness and compassion. Expressed by Nikkei and non-Nikkei during World War II in 1942-45 when Japanese Americans were faced with great fear and uncertainty. If you’re interested in joining the Omoide Writing Group, contributing stories or a speaking presentation, contact: deegoto@gmail.com.
The Seattle Mariners major league baseball team played two games benefitting local Japanese American organizations in Seattle, Washington.
On Japanese Heritage Night, every ticket sold in its reserved seating sections donated $5 to the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW). Ticket holders received a free and exclusive T-shirt with the yellow Mariners logo on the front and the word “Mariners” written in Japanese. In addition, Uwajimaya, an Asian grocery store, donated nori maki arare (rice crackers with seaweed) snacks and custom-made coupons to each ticketholder.
Crowd in the reserved section of Japanese Heritage Night showing t-shirts given out at the Seattle Mariners game. Photo credit: Japanese Cultural and Community Center.
Every ticket sold in its designated seating sections also donated $5 to the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple for its arson restoration and building fund. (For more information, see: https://seattlebetsuin.com/fire/.)
Enormous crowds entered the stadium, walked up and down the hallways, and attempted to find their aisle entrance. Of course, there was food, (even a few Asian restaurants) and a silent auction of Mariners memorabilia . Once seated, the Jumbotron readerboard had automatic video games to play between innings, a television camera panning the audience, the famous seventh inning stretch and song, the famous “wave” moving amongst the crowd and more. There was even the Mascot Race (running race of various mascots such as the Moose, the Clam [from Ivar’s restaurants], the Sockeye Salmon, Pelican Pete, etc.)
◀︎ Rev. Kusunoki winds up for the ceremonial first pitch at the Seattle Mariners game.
Photo credit: Alex Sakamoto.
JCCCW had an outdoor booth with its vertical banner at the Victory Hall at the Boxyard across the street from the T-Mobile stadium. Massive crowds were eating and drinking outdoors prior to the baseball game with some guests saying they indeed saw the JCCCW booth after they walked in from the entrance. JCCCW offered raffle tickets for purchase and information about the organization. Inside the stadium, there were lots of multi-generational fans seated in the JCCCW reserved section with one person purchasing 20 tickets just for their family. Even the Jumbotron featured Japanese Heritage Night and panned across the JCCCW crowd. After the Mariners won the game, fireworks boomed with a variety of festive colors. In the end, 785 tickets equaling $3,925 were sold to help with JCCCW’s cultural and language programs.
The Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple sold the minimum 600 tickets for Reverend Katsuya Kusunoki to throw out the first pitch of the game and raised $3,000. Temple members came together to attend — even those from the Northwest District temples and beyond. Many are aware of Kusunoki’s love of baseball that began in the second grade as a student in Nagasaki, Japan, playing as a catcher and shortstop. By the sixth grade, Kusunoki became captain of his baseball team. In middle school, his team made it to the Kyushu (Island in Japan) District Tournament quarterfinals. Kusunoki was also captain of his baseball team in high school and college. By age 22, he travelled to Africa, volunteering, and teaching and coaching baseball to school students and teachers. He was then asked to coach the Zimbabwe national team.
After returning home, Kusunoki needed to choose baseball or ministry for his future (due to his father being a Japanese Buddhist minister).
His decision brought him to the U.S. as a minister and to further his studies in English. He also played as baseball catcher for the local Japanese American Citizens League, which won the AA Nisei Baseball Tournament.
Rev. Kusunoki, son Yuiya, and wife Ayano inside the baseball field at home base before the Seattle Mariners game on August 25th. Photo credit: Alex Sakamoto.
After Kusunoki’s appointment to Seattle, he met the Tacoma Betsuin Buddhist Temple’s reverend who was a colleague from college. They re-started the annual baseball game that originally began in the 1930s between Tacoma and Seattle. The Seattle team reclaimed the trophy this year.
Kusunoki signed up his son for Little League and volunteered to be an assistant team coach. Needless to say, Kusunoki, his son and wife are big fans of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. The Mariners also won the game that day.
One day I received a message from an NAP reader about Judy Kusakabe. What she wrote was of such accomplishments that I had to get in touch with Kusakabe.
◀︎ Judy Kusakabe giving her speech as she accepts the Garfield Golden Grad Hall of Fame award. Photo credit: Michael MacLeod.
Kusakabe recently received the Garfield Golden Grads Hall of Fame award from her alma mater Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington, for her volunteer work for the past 34 years. It was for the “unsung hero” work she does on her own educating children and adults about the incarceration of the Japanese and Japanese American community during World War II in 1942. (U.S. Executive Order 9066 cited that all Japanese and Japanese Americans on the West Coast be moved inland due to the potential threat that they were enemies and communicating with Japan.)
Kusakabe said she had always been involved in volunteering whether it was her children’s and grandchildren’s activities or with the Mercer Island community. She even took her children to meetings about the signing of the U.S. Civil Liberties Act. When it was enacted, Kusakabe said she became “… more aware of what happened. I began to ask questions, read books, and view filmed accounts” about the incarceration.
Judy Kusakabe amongst past Garfield Golden Grads Hall of Famers. Photo credit: Garfield Golden Grads.
Kusakabe was born while her parents were being wrongfully incarcerated during the war. Her parents were sent to the Puyallup “Assembly Center” located on the fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington. As an infant, Kusakabe later joined her parents as they were being moved to a permanent incarceration camp called Minidoka in Jerome County, Idaho. The family was allowed to move from the Minidoka incarceration camp and live with relatives in Utah who were not incarcerated. After World War II, the family moved to Seattle, Washington and lived across from Garfield High School.
Kusakabe has been collecting stories from others for years. Her first talk was at a high school in 1990 then every year afterward. She has spoken to pre-school children through colleges and adult organizations. Kusakabe says, “I have been asked if this subject is too heavy for little children. I have not found this to be true. They ’get it.’ It is never too early to give children a chance to understand the importance of caring about others. I find children and even adults feel more engaged when they hear from a person who experienced the incarceration.” Kusakabe said, “I recently was told by a lady at one of my presentations, ‘I did not know that it was that bad.’ Yes, when you lose your homes, businesses, farms, possessions … but worse your freedom and liberties, it is bad. The stories have been internalized for many, many years because we did not learn about them from our families nor from schools. I also find that when people hear our stories, they are more ready to open up and tell me their stories … and this is so important. People/children need to learn to be compassionate, kind and caring about others. As I said before, it only took bad leadership in government and a signature on a piece of paper for 120,000 Japanese and Japanese Americans to be sent to a prison camp.”
Kusakabe maintains that “we are all different because we are all unique and special, and we are all also very much the same. I give each person who comes to my presentations a chance to choose one or two origami cranes that I make. One is for them to keep and remember what I have told them, and the other to give to someone that they would like to be kind to or to thank.”
Kusakabe does not charge a fee and requests are by word of mouth. This past year, Kusakabe spoke to approximately 3,400 people. (Last year, it was almost 1,500 people.) During her vacation, she also spoke at the Kamehameha School on Oahu in Hawaii.
Kusakabe says, “I do this for my parents and everyone who experienced having their liberties and freedom taken away. They survived and have worked hard to “rise up” from it … and succeeded. They have given me the life I am enjoying today.”
Kusakabe graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science and Institution Management degrees. She was a dietetic intern at the University of Oregon and worked as a dietician in Seattle. She later worked as a school cook, registered dietitian, office manager, human resources director, food service manager, and running coffee shops before retiring.
On Saturday, August 17, the documentary “The Tengu Club” was premiered at Nisei Veteran’s Committee Memorial Hall. The film drew 115 people, including members of the Tengu Fishing Club; YETI Inc., the company that created the documentary; and Hilary Hutcheson, a person featured in the movie. All those gathered for the screening enjoyed chatting about it at a buffet dinner.
Hilary Hutcheson, an outdoor guide and avid fly fisher from Montana, was inspired by a book about the Tengu Club to look into her own Japanese ancestry. She eventually pulled the team together for the documentary.
What is the Tengu Club?
Local Japanese Americans were well known for their excellent fishing skills. They were so good, in fact, that they were openly shut out from the salmon derbies by the white community.
In November 1937, the Japanese Americans established a fishing club and started fishing competitions. They intentionally chose the time of the year, winter, when nobody else was fishing in those days. Also some of the 22 or so boathouses that lined Elliott Bay in those days gave the Nikkei (Japanese American) fishermen and women access to their rental boats because nobody else would make use of the boats in winter. Membership was about 250 in those days and opened to anyone who loved fishing. However, this version of Tengu Club ended on December 7, 1941.
The Tengu Club awarded winners of its annual winter fishing derby by engraving their names on this plaque. ▶︎
The Nikkei anglers invented and perfected the fishing method called “mooching.” This technique requires a simple weight and hooks baited with herring. Fishers dropped it to the depth most likely to find fish, then slowly moved the bait up and down to entice them. The Tengu Club still adhere to this fishing method to this day.
The Tengu Club was re-established in November 1946 when the former members, returning from various incarceration camps, reclaimed their once-lost favorite outdoor activity.
Masaru Tahara, who was a member of the Tengu Club for more than 50 years and worked to make sure the club continued, wrote a book called “Tengu — Tales Told by Fishermen and Women of The Tengu Club of Seattle” in 2015 that described the history of the club. The book contains much information on the members, some historic events, photos and a list of notable accomplishments by the club. The book was published with funding by The Kawabe Memorial Foundation and assistance from members of the community.
Tahara said that the 14 notebooks recorded by Jukichi (B.J.) Yoshida were of great help in obtaining valuable information on the members and the results of the derbies. It is quite interesting to note that so many Japanese businesses provided prizes for the derbies, indicating the whole Nikkei community was involved in the Tengu Club’s activities.
Tahara gave all 200 copies of the book to club members and those who helped him in his publishing efforts.
Hilary Hutcheson, who lives in Montana and is Tahara’s cousin’s granddaughter, was inspired by the book. She runs an outdoor guide business, is an accomplished fly fisher and has some experience in producing documentary films. Hutcheson approached Farm League film production company to produce the documentary and YETI to put together the funding.
The theme of the film is that Hilary, as a fourth-generation Japanese American and a mother of two, wanted to know more about her heritage. Tahara’s book somehow triggered her desire to find her identity. In the process of researching, she found out what her family and many Japanese Americans had gone through.
The film took about two years to complete.
This documentary will be shown at the Camden International Film Festival in Camden and Rockland, Maine, in September and at the Flagship Festival in Carbondale, Colorado, in April 2025. It will also be launched on YETI’s YouTube channel at the end of September/early October 2024. The team hopes it can set up a few more in-person screenings of the film.
What is Tengu?
Tengu is a supernatural spirit in Japanese folklore. The club named itself after the long-nosed spirit because of their propensity to tell tall tales about the size of the fish they caught.
Con. Gen. Iyori (left) presenting the Foreign Minister’s commendation to Yoshi Minegishi (right) during the reception at the Con. Gen.’s official residence in Seattle, WA. Photo credit: Devin Michaelis.
On August 28, 2024, Consul General of Japan Makoto Iyori and Mrs. Yuko Iyori hosted a reception for Yoshiaki Minegishi at their official Seattle residence. In a formal presentation amongst friends and colleagues, Minegishi received one of the 2024 Foreign Minister’s Commendations. It was for being the founder of Celebrate Asia, an annual concert program of the Seattle Symphony in Washington.
Chikiri and the School of Taiko performing during the Con. Gen.’s reception for Minegishi. Photo credit: Devin Michaelis.
In 1940, Minegishi was born in Fukuoka prefecture in Japan and grew up in Hyogo prefecture and Tokyo. In 1956, he travelled solo to California to improve his tennis skills and learn English. Minegishi eventually attended Stanford University and earned an Industrial Engineering degree. After working 39 years for IBM, Minegishi retired then worked briefly in Japan. He finally retired in Seattle with his wife Naomi.
The next year, Minegishi served on Seattle Symphony’s Board of Directors. In 2006, he initiated a new program to improve the image of Asia with respect and music. It consisted of European classical music with new, up and coming Asian musicians, conductors, and compositions. This enabled the symphony to reach out to those in the community who did not know much about classical music. For example, they might not be aware of an orchestra of 100 musicians playing in harmony in an acoustic hall with 2,400 seats, performing several times a week, and on different compositions.
Julie Pham gives a sake toast during Minegishi’s reception at the Con. Gen.’s reception for Minegishi. Photo credit: Devin Michalelis. ▶︎
In the beginning, Minegishi received support from only one person — the symphony board of directors chair. She suggested meeting with a local Chinese newspaper person. Minegishi also recruited his own acquaintances. He literally spoke with each friend or colleague personally to help sell tickets, attend, and spread the word. Every year the program grew. It included 20 women dressed in kimonos descending the stairs together before the concert and a taiko performance after the concert. One year koto (Japanese zither instrument) and shakuhachi (bamboo flute) players from Japan performed a new composition about the tsunami in Tohoku, Japan and the spirit of recovery. Today it is in its 16th year, drawing approximately 2,000 attendees, including those of Asian descent and considered the only such program in the world.
Minegishi also served on the board of the Seattle Youth Symphony, was founding member of Washin Kai (Friends of Classical Japanese Club) in Seattle, and is currently on the board of Japan-America Society of the State of Washington. His service to these organizations has made an impact on promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the U.S.
Guests enjoying the food buffet at the Con. Gen.’s reception for Minegishi. Photo credit: Barbara Mizoguchi.
Now the symphony is looking to discontinue the program citing lack of funding, despite stating, “Celebrate Asia has become an annual signature event in Seattle.” There appears to be a lack of the symphony’s commitment and interest. The symphony once stated that it was part of its “New Music WORKS initiative” rather than being one of its major programs. It also said the Asian “… communities wanted to find a way to strengthen bonds with the broader community …” whereas the symphony seems less interested in connecting with the Asian community.
The concerts have brought in an expanded audience such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, East Indian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and many more ethnicities. It has broadened the scope of visiting Asian conductors, musicians, and instruments not usually seen or heard by the audience. More importantly, all of Minegishi’s volunteer work helped address the symphony’s diversity statement and commitment before there was even such a statement.
You can help support the continuation of Celebrate Asia by contacting the Seattle Symphony. Let them know the importance of keeping the program in their budget and cite the improvements it has made for them and the communities. They can be reached at:
The North American Post (NAP) turned 122 years old this year. That is a pretty amazing run for a community newspaper. During its long history, NAP has delivered relevant news for the Japanese American community and funded its efforts through a combination of subscriptions (thank you!) and advertisements (thank you again!). While these are and will remain integral parts of our business, we also realize that the 21st century poses unique challenges for our industry, and those sources alone may not be enough to keep us going.
That is why the paper is looking to hire someone who can help with grant writing and fundraising in general. We are looking for someone with experience raising money for worthy causes and with desire to brainstorm ideas and approaches with us. Knowledge of the Japanese American community in the Pacific Northwes is a plus.
If you would like to help on a full, part-time or even volunteer basis, please reach out to me at bruce@napost.com. Please include a resume , a good number and time for a callback.
Seattle Samurai: A Daughter’s Love Letter to Her Father
By Bruce Rutledge
NAP General Manager
Kelly Goto’s new book about her late father, Sam Goto, and his popular comic strips that ran in this newspaper from 2012 to 2018 will be unveiled at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington’s (JCCCW) annual Tomodachi Gala on September 19.
Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist’s Perspective of the Japanese American Experience is a lovely tribute to Sam and his humorous and wise comic strips that depicted the lives and stories of early Japanese settlers and their American-born offspring. Through his work, he captured elements of culture, nostalgia and history, while infusing his characters — Shigeru Tomo and his alter ego Samurai Shigeru — with the samurai values of courage, respect and continuous improvement and compassion.
The hardback book comes in regular ($39.95) and limited-edition ($199) versions, and proceeds go to the JCCCW. National launch of the book starts on Oct. 22 with events in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Bellingham. For more information on the book and events, go to https://www.seattlesamurai.com.
The JCCCW’s Virtual Tomodachi Gala will be streamed live on YouTube from 6:15 on September 19. Join the fun at www.youtube.com/c/JCCCWA/.
Kelly Goto’s new book celebrates her father Sam Goto’s legacy. His comic strips ran in The North American Post from 2012 to 2018.
Goto is a design researcher, educator and author of industry classic, Web Redesign 2.0: Workflow That Works. She lives on Mercer Island, Washington, with her family.
On August 15, 2024, survivors of any incarceration camp during World War II in 1942 and their descendants were invited to an exclusive ribbon cutting ceremony for the Remembrance Gallery at the Washington State fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington. After several years from an idea to completion, the gallery is now open to the public. Located under the grandstand, the gallery is situated in the former area of the horse stalls where many incarcerated Japanese and Japanese Americans were wrongfully forced to live for several months. A replica of one of the stalls is featured inside the gallery with sounds that anyone would hear without closed off ceilings. At the other end of the gallery is an interactive area to learn more about the incarceration across the U.S. Visitors can touch large, lighted, electronic screens of their choice and dig deeper into the oral stories, photographs, and documents that might not have been previously known or available to the public.
Ribbon cutting ceremony. Left to right: Bill Weyerhaeuser, committee co-chair; Penny and Frank Fukui, committee co-chairs; Alice Hikido, Alaskan survivor; Mary Abo, Alaskan survivor; Cho Shimizu, survivor; Elsie Taniguchi, survivor; Jim Yamaguchi, committee advisor; Renee McClain, fair CEO; Barbara Mizoguchi, committee design consultant; Liz Dunbar, committee finance and PV-JACL board officer; Sharon Sobie Seymour, committee project manager and PV-JACL member; Eileen Yamada Lamphere, PV-JACL board president. Photo credit: Dave Asahara.
The main feature is the long monument in the center of the gallery. Against the wall is a large flat stone with raised lettering creating a wavy shape that symbolizes water that is important to Japanese culture (the flow of life). The vertical columns of stone consist of 7,600 names of each person incarcerated there. It is a poignant, emotional, and quiet sight to see the number of people who were incarcerated at the fairgrounds. It is more moving to see one’s own family or friends’ names in the monument and be able to touch it. The U.S. government called it an “assembly center” to initially gather individuals and families in the region for several months and then move them to a permanent camp, inland in the middle of nowhere.
Outside the gallery in the grandstand hallway are replicas of two partial barracks showing the bleak living conditions of the incarcerees. Windows in the barracks feature rotating images of the incarcerees, the government’s process, life within the camp and more.
Above, where the gallery signage is located are gold cracks along the horizontal beam. The cracks are replicas of kintsugi – the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery. Kintsugi represents the healing process and unites the past with the future. It teaches that the mended object can be more valuable and beautiful than the original, emphasizing the strength that comes from overcoming challenges.
The gallery is a partnership between the Washington State Fair and the Puyallup Valley – Japanese American Citizens League. Appreciation goes to the numerous donors who made the permanent gallery possible. (https://pvjacl.yamasakidesign.com/gallery/donors/) They were invited to an exclusive event prior to the opening day. Because of their contributions, the public can now learn about the discrimination in U.S. history not found in school books. The gallery also describes the emotional pain of being uprooted from daily life and losing everything. Even after the war, life was not normal.
The gallery is authentic, respectful, and thought-provoking, giving visitors a look at the Japanese community before, during, and after the war. It also reflects the hysteria, racism, and profiling – something that is still occurring today. Across the U.S. there is a common saying in the Japanese American community, “Nidoto Nai Yoni” – Let It Not Happen Again.
▪️Passage by Christopher Chen, Sep 12-15th, 18-19th, 21-22nd, 26-28th, weekdays and Sat 7:30 p.m., and Sun 2:00 p.m. 12th Ave Arts Studio Theatre, 1620 – 12th Ave, #101, Seattle. $25-$50. A local country doctor, teacher, and an expat forge a friendship that is challenged after a fateful trip to a local attraction. The play is a meditation on how power imbalances affect personal and interpersonal dynamics across a spectrum of situations. See: www.yun-theatre.com.
▪️Pollinator Safari for Children Ages 7-12, Sat, Sep 14th, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meet at the Entry Plaza. Kubota Garden, 10915 51st Ave S, Seattle. Registration is required. Free. Limited to 20 children. An adult will need to accompany participants at check-in to sign consent forms.
See: https://kubotagarden.org/.
▪️Overtime Uncovered: Best Practices for Employees and Employers presentation – Tue, Sep 17th, 6-7p.m., PDT. Nisei Veterans Committee Memorial Hall, 1212 S King St, Seattle. For employees and employers to gain understanding of overtime laws, best practices, and how to navigate complexities of extra work hours. Speaker from WA St. Dept. of Labor & Industries Maggie Hammond, Assistant Small Business Liaison. Discussion, advice, Q&A session. Register at: https://jassw.info/event-5852609. Hosted by Small Business Program of Japan-America Society of the State of WA in partnership with the St. Dept. of Labor & Industries.
▪️Virtual Tomodachi Gala – Thu, Sep 19th, 6:15 p.m. Tomodachi Awardees -actor/producer Yuji Okumoto and his wife, restaurateur Angie Okumoto of Kona Kitchen fame. Performance by Seattle Kokon Taiko and a preview of “Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist’s Perspective of the Japanese American Experience” by author Kelly Goto. See: www.jcccw.org/donate; https://www.youtube.com/c/JCCCWA.
▪️Community Voice Awards Dinner – Fri, Sep. 27th, 6 p.m. Ding Feng Restaurant, 6030 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle. Celebrating 50 years of the International Examiner. Family-style dinner will be served along with community speakers, performances, and the celebration of this year’s awardees. Register at: https://iexaminer.org/community-voice-awards/.
▪️Art in the Garden: A Sculpture Walk Sat, Sep 28th, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Terrace Overlook, Kubota Garden, 10915 51st Ave S, Seattle. Soapstone carving workshops for youth ages 8-17. See: https://kubotagarden.org/.
▪️White House Initiative Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island Policy Summit: Washington, D.C. – Thu, Sep 26th, Check-in and registration: 8 a.m. local time. Free, day-long, in-person event in Washington, D.C. Highlights of the Biden-Harris administration’s leadership, accomplishments, and continued commitment to advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for AA and NHPI communities. Speakers: senior White House and federal agency officials, policy experts, and community leaders from across the country. Network and dialogue on key AA and NHPI issues. Contact WHIAANHPI@HHS.GOV with questions.
▪️2024 Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of Washington Democracy Summit – Fri, Sep 27th; 11a.m.–2 p.m. Tacoma Dome Expo Hall, 2726 E. “D” St, Tacoma. Free. Every 4 yrs. APIC hosts statewide event. Includes a gubernatorial candidate forum, keynote speakers, and cultural performances. Engage in the political process and collectivize around the issues that matter most to us. Register and learn more: tinyurl.com/2024demsummit.
▪️The Martini Night Project Live Music – Sep 28th, 8:30-11p.m. Terry’s Kitchen, 119th Ave SE, Bellevue. $15 (incl. sales tax) Purchase online at: https://www.terryskitchenbellevue.com/. Funk, soul, jazz and R&B along with special guests. Featuring: Leonard Berman – guitar, Norm Santarin – keys and vocals, Danny Benson – bass, Dave Austin – drums; Harvey Leonard – brasswinds; Jeff Chin – saxophones and electronic wind instruments.
▪️Prayer Service for Academic Success Sun, Sep 29th, 10 a.m. Jingoji Buddhist Temple, 502 Redmond-Fall City Rd. SE, Redmond. Prayers offered for those studying academically, planning to take exams and children hoping for good grades. Kobo Daishi, founder of Shingon Buddhism, will offer a special prayer. After service, each visitor will be given a specially made talisman. Applications can be made by telephone by Sep 25th at: (425)-222-4710 Donations for this service start from $50 per family. Donations for believers start from $40.
OCOTOBER
▪️Japan Week at Bellevue College! – Sat, Oct 5th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Bellevue College, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue. BC parking garage free on Saturday. Other parking lots $3/day. (Sep 30 – Oct 4th for Bellevue College students.) Oct. 5 is Matsuri (festival) Day open to the general public. Showing original Godzilla movie (with English subtitles) from 1954, anime cafe, manga swap, and flea market. Traditional Japanese musical performances, Japanese dance, martial arts demonstrations, self-shiatsu massage, tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy, origami, yukata photo booth, karaoke, Doraemon TV show, contests, etc. 2 contests: origami and character bento (kyaraben) – submissions due Sep 27th. Need 200 volunteers to help. See: studentweb.bellevuecollege.edu/Japan-week/.
▪️Unearthing History: Planting the Seeds for Densho’s Legacy Unearthing History – Thu, Oct 10th, 5:30-7:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET. Densho’s 2024 virtual fundraiser. A celebration of collective impact and expression of ongoing commitment to stewarding for future generations. Register at: www.densho.org/uneathing-history.
▪️Philip Woo’s 50th High School Reunion Party! – Fri, Oct 11th, 7-10 p.m., Terry’s Kitchen, 5625 119th Ave SE, Bellevue. Live music. Franklin High, Garfield High, Cleveland High, Rainier Beach High, Seattle. All are welcome. Featuring: Philip Woo (via Tokyo) – keyboard and harmonica, Leonard Berman – guitar, Danny Benson – bass, and Ben Smith – drums. Special Guest: Detroit’s own Ashton Moore – vocal and Swinky vocal. Philip Woo’s Habanero Hot Sauce available for $10. Tickets: $35 (incl. sales tax). Reservations at https://www.terryskitchenbellevue.com/. Also, see: https://www.facebook.com/philipwoomusic/.
Gourmet Food from Hachinohe Wows Bite of Seattle Fans
By Ryoko Kato NAP Contributor Translated by Bruce Rutledge NAP General Manager
The Bite of Seattle attendees with a hankering for Japanese food were not disappointed this year. Secret Fort, the popular yakitori restaurant in Wallingford, collaborated with a group from Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, to deliver a special regional menu at its booth.
The Secret Fort and Hachinohe food booth featured two lines — one to place an order and one to pick up food. People constantly lined up to try the Hachinohe products. Photo credit: Emilie Sheng.
Everything the group brought to the Bite proved to be a hit. A seafood processing company from Hachinohe prepped 350 bentos featuring Aomori’s delicious mackerel and sardines. By day three, they were sold out.
Seattle loves its seafood. The booth’s scallop tasting was very popular. Photo credit: Emilie Sheng. ▶︎
For dessert, the Hakkoda cheesecake from confectioner Arpajon sold out by noon of the second day. Churros topped with whipped cream and anko (sweet bean paste) from Hachinohe’s long-established Kanego Seian were gobbled up. And attendees washed
all that good stuff down with a rich and satisfying drinkable yogurt from the Shingo
Village Hometown Revitalization Corp.
Our reporter caught up with Kanego Seian President and CEO Tatsuya Nakaibayashi and Yasuki Matsumoto, CEO of Encompass Japan, the Kirkland-based company behind the Hachinohe/Bite of Seattle promotion, as they spent some time at the event.
Bite of Seattle was named Best Food Festival in the U.S. in 2016 and 2017. Photo credit: Emilie Sheng.
Matsumoto said the most important thing when providing business support is “to listen to customers’ voices and opinions, and to always make changes. Bite of Seattle was the perfect place for us to test market Japanese food because we could see the reactions of our customers and learn alot from their discoveries.”
Nakaibayashi said he was heartened by how many attendees at the Bite mentioned that the sweet red beans used to make anko sounded healthy. He has patented a sugar-free anko in a joint research project with Iwate University, and he thinks it might be something that would do well in the American market. “I don’t think the anko sold here needs to be the same as in Japan,” he said. “It would be good to have anko that is unique to the United States. Someday, people will learn more about azuki beans, and anko will appear in their daily lives, which will be kind of cool.”
Nakaibayashi said that just by being at the Bite in Seattle, meeting different people and watching them sample the products from Japan, new business ideas began to percolate for him. “I would like to learn more about Seattle, gather information and think about what kind of products I can supply,” he said.
Like many a native Seattleite, I have driven past the Lewis Army Museum for years. On the right shoulder of southbound Interstate-5 between Tacoma and Olympia, Washington, it beckoned me, mainly because my late father (Kay Yamaguchi) did his post World War II army service there (1945-1946). I felt that visiting the museum might help me understand more about this chapter of his life.
More broadly, Fort Lewis played a role in the lives of Northwest Japanese-American soldiers returning from the Pacific not only from WWII but also from Korea, Vietnam, and later conflicts. What comes across from the museum’s exhibits is that they present the perspectives of common soldiers – those fighting for and against the U.S.
Museum docent Thomas Morgan aided my visit. His father had been a commander on a train from the Northwest carrying “Japanese women and children to Arkansas”. These would have been people destined for the Rohwer or Jerome incarceration camps. Morgan’s father remembered them as “the best behaved people.”
Significantly, the career-soldier son Thomas recognized the whole Japanese American incarceration decision as a U.S. government mistake.
Accessing the Museum
Getting to the museum is “more difficult than it used to be,” according to Morgan. “It used to be accessible directly from I-5.” The key point is NOT to enter any Joint Base Lewis-McChord guarded gates but instead take I-5 exit 119 onto DuPont-Steilacoom Road. From there, one turns right again onto an unsigned paved road which takes you to the locked gate leading to the museum.
Accessing Lewis Army Museum: Without entering Joint Base Lewis-McChord by car, one approaches the museum by foot from the west side. When arriving at a locked gate (above), telephone the museum and a soldier will arrive to escort you further (bottom).
Lewis Army Museum
Open 10 AM – 5 PM
Closed Sundays and Tuesdays
Admission free (donations accepted).
Article and Photo By Geraldine Shu NAP Contributor
Karen and Grandma enjoying lunch together., 1980.
Mount Rainier is a majestic presence in Washington State. It became a national park in 1899. With more than 236,00 acres, it is America’s fifth oldest park. From Seattle, Washington, it is 82 miles (2.5 hours) to Sunrise Visitor Center or 107 miles (1.66 hours) to Paradise (an area in the park). It boasts an average of 2 million visitors per year and sits at 14,410 feet above sea level.
Diane and UncleJohnny working the grill, 1985. ▶︎
Our family pilgrimages to Mount Rainier go back more than 50 years. There is a photo of the family sitting at a picnic table in the early 1950s. I do not think Grandpa ever went because he was never in any of the pictures. He preferred to stay home, listening to the Seattle Rainier baseball games on the radio in his living room chair. Grandma and the aunts would plan what day to go, where and what time to meet, and who would bring what. There were also items thrown in at the last minute such as tablecloths, blankets, snacks, newspapers and anything else that might be needed or added to the day’s enjoyment.
Whenever we went, it was exciting because each family would take their own car, meet at Grandma’s or the Matsudairas’ house then proceed in a caravan up to the mountain. I remember looking out the back window of our car often to make sure all four or five cars were still together and that no one missed a turn or a stoplight. Just before the park entrance, we stopped briefly to rearrange our passengers so that each car held one senior citizen with a National Park Service Senior Lifetime Pass. The pass allowed the driver and passengers in the car free entrance to the park. At the park entrance, we checked in, visited the restrooms, picked up some maps, and got a snack before continuing the drive to the picnic area.
◀︎Family kids in origami hats while visiting Mount Rainier, 1965.
In 1965, our Ogino cousins from Ohio came to visit. It was decided that a trip to Mount Rainier was in order. It was quite hot that year. Someone got the bright idea of folding origami hats for the kids out of the Sunday newspaper to keep us cool. After lunch, we hiked along the trails. Some family members dropped out along the way because they were too hot or too tired. We climbed up high enough to reach the snow level in our sneakers. We were able to slide down a small patch of snow on an abandoned piece of plastic.
Most often, we would make sukiyaki (simmered beef with vegetables and tofu in a seasoning sauce) on a gas grill for lunch. It always tasted so good. One year, we forgot to bring the shoyu (soy sauce)! But everyone just laughed about that.
In 1989, my friends came to visit from Sacramento, California which prompted a visit to the mountain. We met at Grandma’s house because she lived in the south end of town, the direction in which we were headed. Grandma showed Scotty, my friend’s five-year-old son, the special rocks in her yard and gave him one or two. Laughing, they washed them off together in the kitchen sink and dried them with a paper towel. A new friendship began.
Grandma’s last tribute to Mount Rainier, 1989.
When we got to Paradise, it was cloudy, and we disappointingly could not see Mount Rainier. However, it was refreshing just to be out in the clean mountain air. We looked around the visitor’s center. Grandma came with us but just wanted to sit by the entrance. We made our traditional sukiyaki for lunch which my friends thought was tasty because it had an outdoorsy, smoky flavor. It was a pleasant outing with friends and family.
After the long drive home, Grandma cordially invited all of us inside her house for leftovers. We started unloading everything. Suddenly, Grandma collapsed and Auntie Fran cried out to me, “Get your mother!” My mom (Dr. Ruby Inouye) heard the urgency in my voice and hurried to the kitchen where Grandma was. Unfortunately, Grandma was gone. We were stunned. She was 89. She was laid carefully on the sofa. Scotty needed to see her to say goodbye. I remember thinking how sad it was that our family trips to Mount Rainier would be darkened by this episode. However, my mom later commented, “Wasn’t it nice that Grandma spent her last day with her family?” Over the next many years, my mom and aunts would always say that was the best way to go. That was exactly how they wanted to go.
Cousins Chie and Yumi from Japan visiting Mount Rainier 1993.
We made the drive again in 1993 when our cousins from Japan came to visit. It was a beautiful day with a full view of the mountain. We continued to go on occasion whenever we had special visitors. We also went a few times to initiate the younger generation. Our cousins sometimes drove the 138 miles from Portland, Oregon and met us there.
Eventually, we stopped going when our Nisei parents had a harder time breathing at the higher elevations. The first time I realized that Uncle Johnny was not going. I asked him, “Who’s going to take care of the grill??” It did not feel the same without him. That was what he always did when we were there. Our traditions were fading.
These traditions, experiences, and stories make us who we are. Life is about the things that happen to us and how we react to them. But that reaction is determined by how we were brought up, where we have been, what stories we have heard, and most importantly, who the people were who instilled them in us. So, one of these days we will probably go again.
▪️TEN no TSUBU Fair – Wed-Tue, Aug 28 – Sep 10, all Uwajimaya stores. New, original, premium rice developed in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Special pricing during the fair. Tasting event Aug 31 and Sep 1 with special gift while supplies last. https://uwajimaya.com.
▪️Volunteer Opportunity – Sat, Aug 24. Come lend a hand at our work party where we will be cleaning up in and around the campus. All ages welcome! Contact: admin@jcccw.org or 206-568-7114. See: https://www.jcccw.org.
▪️Summerfest – Sun, Aug 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Kawabe Memorial
House, 221 – 18 th Ave S, Seattle. https://kawabehouse.org/
▪️“Puyallup Assembly Center” Remembrance Gallery Grand Opening – Fri, Aug. 30, beginning at 10:30 a.m. The permanent gallery lists the 7,600 names of those temporarily incarcerated on the fairgrounds during World War II in 1942 (later moved to permanent concentration camps). Experience interactive histories and view a replica horse stall where families were forced to live in. For more information, see: https://puyallupvalleyjacl.org/gallery/.
▪️Japan Week Origami and Character Bento Contests, Japan Week @ Bellevue College is now accepting photo submissions for our Origami Contest and our Character Bento Contest. Submission deadline is 11:59pm, Sept. 27th (Fri). You can submit more than one photos! Winners will receive gift cards, so send in your created works!
Behind the Shoji Annual Summer Marketplace
Brings the Art of Craft to Portland from Kanazawa, Tokyo and More
By Will Learner NAP Contributor
▲Outside view of the Pavilion at the Portland Japanese Garden. Courtesy of Portland Japanese Garden.
For more than a decade, Behind the Shoji has been one of Portland Japanese Garden’s most anticipated summer traditions in Oregon. This is an annual show and sale of Japanese and Japanese-inspired wares that visitors can peruse and purchase from a variety of curated items which might be difficult to come across even on a trip to Japan. What makes this elevated and distinctive shopping experience stand out is the amount of time that goes into establishing relationships with craftspeople and vendors in communities across Japan. Careful research goes into making sure visitors to the garden are indeed perusing goods that are authentically Japanese in their makeup and design
Behind the Shoji is a shopping experience but the motivation behind it ties directly into the garden’s goals of introducing authentic aspects of Japan to unfamiliar audiences. “I think it speaks to how we’re more than a garden,” Portland Japanese Garden Director of Buying & Merchandising Ashley McQuade shares. “We’re also a cultural organization, and this marketplace offers a tangible connection to Japanese culture.”
▲Behind the Shoji in 2023. Courtesy of the Portland Japanese Garden. Photo credit: Nina Johnson.
McQuade is particularly excited to share goods featuring kinpaku, or gold leaf, from Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture on Honshu Island, Japan. Gold leaf has been an art form practiced in the coastal city since as early as the 16th century. Kanazawa literally translates to “marsh of gold.” Today, the vast majority of Japan’s kinpaku comes from here. It has been used for things as small as hand-fans and as massive as Kinkaku-ji, Kyoto’s famous Golden Pavilion. Among the items available for sale will be incense holders, jewelry and glass vases that showcase this stunning aesthetic.
For those interested in adding a bright pop of color to their home, a new item available this year will be temari, or handballs. Temari were introduced to Japan from China around the seventh century. They are cotton balls intricately hand wrapped in threads. These delightful and lesser-known Japanese crafts are from Kaga Temari Mariya in Kanazawa. They are reflective of a style that originated in Japan’s Edo era (1603-1868) and are customarily given to daughters ahead of their wedding to wish them a long and happy marriage.
How the unique wares of Behind the Shoji are curated.
“I make annual visits to Japan,” notes McQuade. “I always attend the Tokyo International Gift Show, which is a large trade show that gathers thousands of gifts and home décor vendors. It has been gratifying and humbling to learn that Portland Japanese Garden is becoming a well-known and admired organization by Japan’s community of craftspeople at this show to the point that our arrival is anticipated every year. I think it is due to the many years we have put into building relationships with people there. It helps encourage some artists who might be reluctant to partner with an American institution to work with us. Knowing that we are fostering friendships makes us want to work even harder to maintain this mutual trust and admiration.”
◀︎ Gold leaf incense container. Photo credit: Courtesy of the Portland Japanese Garden.
“In addition to the gift show, I also make sure to visit new regions each year to meet with craftspeople and the galleries and shops that offer their wares so that every Behind the Shoji can be a fresh experience,” McQuade continues. “Including Tokyo, I spent about 10 days visiting dozens of shops and artist studios in Toyama, Takaoka and Kanazawa. Kanazawa, in particular, is an important arts destination in Japan, joining Kyoto as a must-visit destination for those interested in the nation’s craftsmanship and design. It is incredibly rewarding to connect with independent craftspeople in Toyama and Kanazawa and throughout Japan. We help keep interest in their work alive and support their livelihoods and simultaneously can offer our guests another avenue into understanding Japanese culture through art and design.”
▲Behind the Shoji in 2023. Courtesy of the Portland Japanese Garden. Photo credit: Nina Johnson.
What does “Japanese-Inspired” mean?
While some of the items at Behind the Shoji can claim Japanese provenance, others are referred to as “Japanese-inspired.” This is because while they are made in the United States or elsewhere, they are items that reflect Japanese aesthetics and culture. McQuade uses her decade-plus of work for the garden plus her earlier history as an architect to incorporate knowledge of Japanese design principles and make sure the items for sale do not run askew of the garden’s standards of authenticity.
Where is this event happening?
The Pavilion Gallery at the Portland Japanese Garden is used for exhibitions and special events. Architectural features include shoji (translucent paper panels) and verandas that connote the integration of house and garden. The overlook offers a spectacular view of Mount Hood to the east.
In the May 10, 2024, issue of The North American Post (NAP), the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League’s (Seattle JACL) Legacy Project “100 Years of Advocacy and Activism,” was featured. The creation of a nine-panel display, a collection of oral history recordings and eight decades of newsletters details the history of the Nikkei (Japanese American) community and contains literally hundreds of individual stories. NAP will occasionally feature occasional accounts from the Legacy Project.
Injustice and Reparations: The 1942 race-based firing of 27 Nisei school office workers.
In a small conference room in the Seattle Public School district offices in Washington State, a commemorative plaque graces one of the walls. It features several photographs of Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) women and is titled, “When Justice Prevails, Everyone Benefits.” A closer examination reveals an almost-forgotten but gripping history of injustice and reparation spanning more than four decades.
A sad chapter in Seattle’s Japanese American history.
February 1942. Several months earlier, Imperial Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and the U.S. was now at war. Newspapers and radio broadcasts, in covering the attack, were full of accounts of how the Japanese American community in Hawaii and the West Coast had aided the Japanese attackers and were helping to prepare for an invasion. It was only later revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence had found that not one of the reports of espionage or sabotage were true. Nevertheless, editorial voices called for the wholesale removal or deportation of the dangerous Japanese population.
Among the February news reports was the revelation that 27 young Nisei women worked in Seattle school offices as clerks. This, by itself, would be newsworthy because in the pre-civil rights era, Japanese Americans, or for that matter, any people of color were never hired to work for the school district. War industries were gearing up even before the December 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, and white women left school district positions for more lucrative jobs. The labor shortage caused the school district to begin hiring young Nisei women, all educated in Seattle Public Schools, for office jobs — paying them less than the white workers they replaced.
One of the displays of the Nikkei clerks’ story. Photo credit: Kyle Kinoshita. ▶︎
The news reports centered on a group of West Seattle mothers who began a citywide petition campaign to fire all Nisei women clerks. The leaders of the campaign were quoted as saying that the Nisei women clerks were a danger to school children as they might poison school lunches or interfere with safety drills.
In the atmosphere of anti-Japanese war hysteria, this seemed perfectly credible, and the petition campaign spread like wildfire. Patriotic rallies were held to encourage signing of the petition. Very few publicly spoke up in defense of the young Nisei women. School districts and other community leaders were silent. One exception was a counter-petition started at the University of Washington, which garnered 1,000 signatures. School district leaders were concerned about doing anything to anger the public due to an upcoming levy election. The Seattle Public School assistant superintendent, who was left in charge when the superintendent left town on business, called a Seattle JACL leader to pressure him to intervene. In a move consistent with JACL’s controversial cooperative stance at the time, the JACL leader pulled together a meeting with the 27 Nisei clerks and told them if they did not resign, they would be fired anyway. A resignation letter had been prepared that all 27 Nisei women reluctantly signed. The signing of the letter made the news, and when interviewed, the West Seattle mother who led the petition campaign praised the women, saying that it was “very white of them” to resign instead of being fired.
Several months later, the U.S. presidential directive Executive Order 9066 forcibly incarcerated the Nisei women along with 7,000 of Seattle’s Nikkei community. It was a portion of community. It was a portion of the 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry removed from the West Coast and placed into concentration camps.
A discovery — was justice possible?
▲Nisei clerks in the lobby of the old Seattle Public School headquarters. Bottom left : Cherry Kinoshita, Seattle JACL; Bottom right: Toyo Okuda Cary, office clerk; Middle left: Mako Nakagawa, Seattle JACL; Middle right: May Daty Namba, office clerk; Top left: Alice Kawanishi, office clerk; Top middle: Ai Takizawa Koshi, office clerk; Top right: T.J. Vassar, Seattle School Board member. Photo credit: Seattle Public Schools.
It was 1984. The Japanese American community was in the middle of the campaign for what became the redress for the Japanese American incarceration. TJ Vassar, Seattle School Board member, and Eleanor Toews, Seattle School District archivist, had discovered articles and documents about the disgraceful and forgotten chapter of the district’s history.
Vassar excitedly contacted Cherry Kinoshita and Mako Nakagawa of the Seattle JACL. Cherry and Mako located 10 of the 27 women clerks, all now in their 60s. They called a meeting at the home of one of the clerks to discuss the possibility of obtaining a redress.
The former school clerks initially offered their experiences with hesitation. However, it did not take long for the stories to become longer and increasingly emotional with clear recollections even after 42 years. The women recalled being stunned by the attacks reported in the press. They had been in their late teens and early 20s. For many, it was the first paid job that helped to support their families. A former clerk slowly shook her head and wondered aloud, “How do you prove you have no intention of poisoning school lunches?”
Kinoshita and Nakagawa outlined the process of making their case with the Seattle School board. At first, the former women clerks were receptive. However, they indignantly recoiled when told it would be necessary to make a public statement before the Seattle School board. To do so was asking them to go against their traditional, culturally defined roles. It also brought up the painful trauma from the vicious bigotry they had experienced in 1942. One of the women cried out, “We weren’t the ones who did wrong. Why should we have to be the ones who need to talk in public?” Many heads nodded and voices expressed agreement.
But as the group continued discussing their experiences — they had all experienced the incarceration — they were moved to tears, including Kinoshita and Nakagawa. Finally, one of the former clerks, May Namba, hesitantly volunteered to be a speaker but only if the Seattle JACL helped her write her statement and if she were joined by others. One by one, the women agreed to help with the effort. The meeting ended with all of them agreeing to write down their memories.
A showdown at a school board meeting.
Board member Vassar prepared a motion to be introduced at the Seattle school board meeting on April 11, 1984. Kinoshita and the Seattle JACL put together a presentation, inviting Washington State and Seattle City officials to describe how they had won the redress for former Japanese American employees who had been forced to resign in 1942. They were followed by the former Japanese American school clerks. The women walked to the podium with dignity and self-assurance. They spoke calmly and clearly but with passion and compelling conviction. By procedure, the motion would be voted on two weeks later by the board at the April 25, 1984, meeting.
On that day, the Seattle school board meeting room was packed. Newspaper articles had generated public interest. Numerous individuals of the Japanese American community attended to support the resolution with the Nisei clerks in attendance. But this time, a group of white people also came out to show their opposition. They were fueled by the racist narrative that Japanese Americans were the enemy in World War II and deserved the treatment given to them. When the redress presentation began, the opposing audience heckled and shouted at the speakers. Some tried to force their way to the podium out of turn. The school board repeatedly had to call for order. The Japanese American attendees were taken aback by the outburst and clenched their teeth in silence.
The roll call vote came — four yes, two no and one abstention. The motion passed with an apology to the school clerks. A small amount of compensation acknowledged they had been paid less than the white women they had replaced. The heckling of the opposition continued with one man shouting, “We should have lynched you in Puyallup when we had the chance!” referring to the temporary prison camp at the Puyallup fairgrounds where Seattle Japanese Americans were held in 1942. Later, in the foyer, a Nisei veteran confronted the man, who towered over him. The veteran forcefully reproved the heckler and stressed the loyalty of Japanese Americans who had given their lives for America in World War II despite being incarcerated.
The women walked out of the meeting smiling with the dignity that came with winning a small measure of justice after 42 years. May Namba, one of the first clerks who agreed to speak at the fateful first meeting, immediately showed up at the district Human Resources office, She applied for and obtained a job in a Seattle school office. May went on to work as school office staff until her retirement and became a staunch member of Seattle JACL. All of the Nisei women involved wrote one more chapter of Seattle JACL’s “100 Years of Advocacy and Activism.”
Presidential Proclamations and Videos Help Open Mineta-Simpson Institute
By Ray Locker NAP Contributor
▲Former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson tours the new exhibit about his and the late Norman Mineta’s life and public careers. Photo credit: Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation.
A proclamation from U.S. President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and video tributes from former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and William J. Clinton helped open the new Mineta-Simpson Institute near Powell, Wyoming, during the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation’s annual pilgrimage on July 25-27, 2024.
▲Left to right: Maggie Simpson-Drabaugh, Vanessa Yuille, Mika Dyo, and Tamlyn Tomita leading the cast in the play, “Question 27, Question 28”. Photo credit: Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation.
The institute, created to spread the ideals of public service demonstrated by the late U.S. Secretary Norman Mineta and former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson, features a 250-seat conference center, production studio and new archival and artifact storage.
Visiting speakers at the pilgrimage included Shelly Lowe, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities; former U.S. Representative Mike Honda, D-California; Anthea Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History; Debra Kawahara, president-elect of the American Psychological Association; and Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum.
Left: Eric Muller receives the LaDonna Zall Compassionate Witness Award from Shirley Ann Higuchi, chair of the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. Photo credit: Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation.▼
Simpson and Deni Mineta, wife of the late U.S. Secretary of Commerce and Transportation , spoke on Saturday, July 27, about the importance of working with people from different backgrounds and with different political beliefs. Mineta and Simpson first met as Boy Scouts at the Heart Mountain camp near Powell in 1943. Mineta was incarcerated at the camp that held 14,000 Japanese Americans, while Simpson lived in nearby Cody, Wyoming.Mineta and Simpson each received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. presidents of the opposite political party. They were known for their ability to bridge partisan differences and get things done.
The foundation presented its LaDonna Zall Compassionate Witness Award to Eric Muller, a University of North Carolina law professor who developed Heart Mountain’s permanent museum exhibit. He has also written four books about the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
During the pilgrimage’s session, participants watched a presentation of the play, Question 27, Question 28, featuring actor Tamlyn Tomita, a Heart Mountain descendant who starred in The Karate Kid II and The Joy Luck Club, among dozens of other film and television credits.
The pilgrimage drew 440 participants, including 180 first-time visitors. Forty-five former incarcerees, who are in their 80s and 90s, attended the event.
The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, a Smithsonian Affiliate, preserves the site where some 14,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated in Wyoming from 1942 through 1945. Their stories are told within the foundation’s museum, Heart Mountain Interpretive Center, located between Cody and Powell. For more information, call the center at (307) 754-8000 or email info@heartmountain.org.
On July 23, 2024, the Consul General of Japan in Seattle Makoto Iyori and his wife Yuko hosted a tomodachi (friendship) reception at their official residence in Seattle for the U.S. Army. These soldiers, currently stationed at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM), are individuals who served in Japan, have a connection to Japan, and/or participated in the annual Yama Sakura (command post exercise involving the U.S. military and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force).
◀︎ Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, group serving four different sake samplings to U.S. Army guests during the U.S. Army-Japan Alliance reception. Located in the garden of the Consul General of Japan in Seattle’s official residence.
More importantly, the term, “tomodachi” gained famed as “Operation Tomodachi” during the Great East Japan earthquake on March 11, 2011. After the earthquake, 24,000 U.S. troops, 189 aircraft, and 24 ships were deployed in the largest bilateral operation between Japan and the U.S. according to the U.S. Pentagon. As Con. Gen. Iyori stated, “The U.S. Army played a pivotal role in search and rescue efforts, debris clearance, and the restoration of vital services.” In three days, U.S. soldiers from Camp Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture (southwest of Tokyo), Japan, arrived assisting in relief and humanitarian operations including logistics for supplies.
U.S. Army Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson speaking at the U.S. Army-Japan Alliance reception. ▼
U.S. Army Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson spoke about his appreciation of Con. Gen. and Mrs. Iyori’s welcome and of the continued U.S.-Japan relations. Dale Watanabe, current Nisei (second-generation Japanese American) Veterans Committee Commander, spoke about Lt. Gen. Brunson’s commitment to building cultural understanding. His leadership inspires confidence, unity, resilience and readiness. Watanabe also gave the toast to guests, saying, “May our partnership endure, transcending borders and generations.”
▼ Kyoko Matsuda demonstrating the tea ceremony for U.S. Army guests at the Consul General of Japan in Seattle’s official residence. Photo credit: Devin Michaels.
During the reception, guests had the opportunity to not only enjoy Con. Gen.’s chef’s food but also to step into the warm, sunny garden for barbecued chicken and beef. In addition, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (Washington State’s sister state), provided samplings of their sake such as Ozeki Karatamba, Kenbishi Kuomatsu, Sakari No. 11, and Sakari No. 21.
▲Consul General Makoto Iyori speaking during the U.S. Army-Japan Alliance reception at his official residence in the garden. Photo credit: Devin Michaels.
▲U.S. Army guests toasting during the U.S. Army-Japan Alliance reception. Photo credit: Devin Michaels.
Guests were also treated to two tea ceremonies provided by Kyoko Matsuda of Chanoyu Seattle Omotesenke, Ichigo Ichie Foundation. Ed Kashiba narrated each ceremony by first explaining Matsuda’s background. Although born in Japan and practicing the ceremony at a young age, Matsuda further studied for 15 years after moving to Florida. When she moved to Seattle, Washington, she began teaching and offering presentations in the community for the next ten years. Matsuda then founded the non-profit organization, Ichigo Ichie Foundation. It promotes Japanese culture and specifically tea ceremonies. Today, Matsuda continues studying and practicing at the Omotensenke Tea School in Kyoto, Japan with the 15th generation grandmaster. She then returns each time to share her passion.
Kashiba continued the narration by explaining the history of Chanoyu, its traditions, the background of tea, and its production while the guests were first served sweets. It was then completed with matcha tea that was later served to each guest. Guests learned the ceremony represents harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility in addition ichigo ichie – once in a lifetime or small moments.
While mingling with guests, it was noticed that the traditional stripes on the left sleeve of Army Combat Uniforms (formerly called fatigues and currently called ACU) are now replaced with one patch signifying the base/post where one is currently located. On the right sleeve, under the American flag patch, is a patch of past deployment. There is a star or a bar patch in the middle of the chest signifying their rank and above the U.S. Army patch on one side of the chest is the completion of training patch. One had a flag of Japan patch on his arm. He is LTC Hiroki Kitamura on loan from Japan for six months.The soldiers came from New Jersey, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, California with some born in Germany or Japan. Most had never been to the Con. Gen.’s official residence and felt it was a treat for them.
Initially, JBLM had announced the reception for the soldiers. Each person could submit their name to attend if they had/have relations with Japan, i.e., have relatives in Japan, any family member who is/was Japanese, stationed in Japan or lived/born in Japan. Then there was a selection process, beginning with the top ranked soldiers and in descending order. The individual had to be a good representative of the army, have good people skills, be socially experienced, and be at ease speaking with the community. As a result, there were some who were part Japanese American, some proud their ancestor was Japanese, and many who want to be more involved with the local community. It is a great opportunity to reach out to these soldiers where the next generation can continue representing the Japanese American community.
Because of Bill:
An Intimate Look at One of the City’s Greatest Champions
By Erin Schmith & Lucy Capehart NAP Contributors
Almost everyone in Portland, Oregon, has heard of Bill Naito. The street along the downtown waterfront bears his name but many do not realize the extent of his influence on the city we know today. A new exhibition, “Because of Bill: William Sumio Naito’s Legacy in Portland,” at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon offers visitors an in-depth look at all that he built in Portland and the personal motivations that drove his success. The exhibition is open to the public through September 1, 2024.
Bill Naito was a force of nature whose infinite imagination, unbridled determination and limitless persistence transformed Portland during the second half of the 20th century. Starting in the 1960s, when the Naito family bought their first building in Portland, Naito took an interest in downtown particularly in transforming it into a livable city center with green space, and places to live, work, shop and play. An influential civic leader, he was often the only person of color amongst any given group of businesspeople or politicians.
Earlier in 2024, Erica Naito-Campbell, Naito’s grandchild, published “Portland’s Audacious Champion.” The biography explores how the extreme racism and xenophobia of World War II in 1942 traumatized her grandfather. He confronted that trauma by becoming a successful businessman who sought to make Portland better than the city that had expelled him and his family. Using the book as a foundational document, the new exhibition explores intimate details of Naito’s life alongside the origin stories of many iconic Portland structures and even a replica of his famously cluttered desk.
Naito had his hand in the Japanese American Historical Plaza, preservation of Old Town, Portland Saturday Market, downtown transit mall, Portland Galleria and Governor Tom McCall Waterfront Park among many other development, revitalization and quality of life projects in the city. He championed the 1972 downtown plan after noticing that many worthwhile historic buildings were being replaced by parking lots and a lack of life in the city after offices closed for the day. “People with pride in where they live, that’s what makes a city work,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer in1995. Visitors will come away inspired by his civic-mindedness and how much of the Portland we know and love today is because of Naito.
Bill Naito not only fought for the livability of Portland for its citizens; he also saw the value and importance of preserving crucial historic buildings,” said Hanako Wakatsuki-Chong, executive director of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon. “The Japanese American Historical Plaza would not be here today if it weren’t for his advocacy with the city. We look forward to celebrating all Bill Naito did for Portland.”
“We invite you to learn more about Bill Naito and what he did to help create much of what we love about the city of Portland,” said Anne Naito-Campbell, Naito’s daughter. “We hope that you will find inspiration and a new civic pride in our great city after reading his new biography. We all can do more to help with Portland’s revitalization after COVID. The first step in recovery is to come back downtown and support the businesses here. This is something that my father did after World War II. He came back to Portland, and for that we are forever grateful.”
This exhibition is generously supported in loving memory of Bill and Micki Naito.
Bill Naito and the Remaking of Portland Through Its Buildings Talk and Walking Tour
Saturday, August 17, 1-3 p.m.
220 PDX
220 Northwest Second Avenue, Portland
Erica Naito-Campbell, author of Portland’s Audacious Champion, will give this presentation about Bill Naito’s historic and architectural preservation work in Portland. After the talk, she will give a walking tour of some of the buildings he saved in Old Town. The walking tour portion of the event is optional and will be limited in size, so be sure to register at: jamo.org.
About the presenter
Erica Naito-Campbell was born in Portland, Oregon, and grew up next door to her Grandma and Grandpa Naito. They instilled in her progressive values of social justice and equality for all, as well as a profound personal connection with nature. She followed in her grandfather’s footsteps and attended Reed College in Oregon, where she cemented a passion for learning, history, and the well-crafted word. Recently, she worked on Oregon Rises Above Hate, an annual event highlighting Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander issues and community. Her recent book, Portland’s Audacious Champion, tells the story of her grandfather, Bill Naito, and how he became an influential civic leader in Portland. The book is the foundation for the exhibition, Because of Bill: William Sumio Naito’s Legacy in Portland, on view through September 1, 2024, at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon.
About the Japanese American Museum of Oregon
The mission of the Japanese American Museum of Oregon is to preserve and honor the history and culture of Japanese Americans in the Pacific Northwest. It educates the public about the Japanese American experience during WWII in 1942 and advocates for the protection of civil rights for all Americans. Formerly known as the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, the museum is a venue for culture and research. It is also an invaluable resource for exploring Nikkei (Japanese American) experiences and their role in Oregon’s multicultural community. https://jamo.org/
Museum Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Location: 411 Northwest Flanders Street, Portland, OR 97232 Admission: Free for Friends of JAMO
$8 Adults
$6 Seniors
$5 Students
Free for Children 11 and under
The City of Beaverton, Oregon is thrilled to bring back the Beaverton Night Market for a special evening of food, fun and more! The market, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will take shape on Saturday, August 17, 2024, from 5-10 p.m. at The Round, 12600 Southwest Crescent Street in downtown Beaverton. This free, family-friendly event welcomes about 14,000 people each year. It features dozens of unique vendors, activities, and entertainers representing worldwide cultures including specialty booths offering food, clothing, jewelry, art, and other specialty products.
The Beaverton Night Market typically features representation from across the globe: Asia and the Pacific Islands, Latin America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, United States, Native American, Russia, and Eastern and Western Europe. This year, vendors representing Japanese culture include Kay White Crafts, Lunarcat Studios, and Takumi Japan.
The market exists to create a vibrant, intercultural space reminiscent of night markets internationally for families of all backgrounds in Beaverton. The event originated by the city’s Diversity Advisory Board, a group of appointed community volunteers. It provides insight on equity and inclusion strategies that strengthen connections between diverse communities and city government.
“Beaverton Night Market began as the dream and vision of volunteer board members more than a decade ago,” said Mayor Lacey Beaty. “This annual celebration and
expression of our deepest values is one of my favorite things we do as a city.”
Getting to the event: Area parking is limited. Alternate transportation is strongly encouraged including carpool and rideshare. The market is located just off the TriMet MAX blue line at the Beaverton Central stop.
About Beaverton: Located in the heart of the Tualatin Valley in Oregon, the City of Beaverton combines the best of a big city and the peaceful surroundings of a small town. Just seven miles west of downtown Portland, Beaverton is the state’s seventh largest city and the second-largest city in Washington County. Home to more than 100,000 people of all ages and backgrounds, Beaverton is a vibrant city filled with eclectic charm and opportunities for fun in everything the city has to offer.
▪️Bon Odori – a free, outdoor Japanese dance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Along with food and activities, the festival can be found at several locations:
⚫︎Sat, Aug 10, 5-9 p.m. by the Olympia Chapter, Japanese American Citizens
League. Newlocation — South Puget Sound Community College, Center for Student Success (Bldg 22), 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia. For more info: Reiko Callner (360) 791-3295. https://www.facebook.com/share/tTAS1j9tuDVCyMEX/? mibextid=9l3rBW.
⚫︎Sat, Aug 31, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.Portland Japanese Garden with paid admission, 611 SW Kingston Ave., Portland. https://japanesegarden.org/events/bon-odori-summer-festival-2024/.▪️Artisans of Edo, Japanese Prints & Garments– now through Aug 31. Seattle Japanese Garden, Tateuchi Community Room. Artisans of Edo is an exhibit that portrays the livelihood of the artisans from the Edo period. The prints come from a series of reproductions created in the 1920s by publisher Nippon Gasui-sha. See: https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/events.
▪️“Puyallup Assembly Center” Remembrance Gallery Community Opening – Sat, Aug.17, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. See the new gallery before it opens to the public. The permanent gallery lists the 7,600 names of those temporarily incarcerated on the fairgrounds during World War II in 1942 (later moved to permanent concentration camps). Experience interactive histories and view a replica horse stall where families were forced to live. Must RSVP at: https://forms.gle/fVsGbPLwCGD1x4 8. For more information, see: https://puyallupvalleyjacl.org/gallery/.
▪️Bellevue International Festival – Sat, Aug 17, 12:30-4:30 p.m. at Crossroads Park, Bellevue. Family-friendly activities, performances, food trucks and a fire engine tour. For more information, contact: Eric Mercado, emercado@bellevuewa.gov.
▪️Silent Fallout film (2003,81 mins.) – Mon, Aug 19, 12 p.m., free. University of Washington, Quaternary Research Center, Johnson Hall, Room 377A. Director Hideaki Ito will review Americans’ radiation exposure from the atomic bomb testing in the 1950s.
▪️Princess Mononoke film — Tue, Aug 20, 7 p.m. at Vashon Theatre, 17723 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon. Last film for the Mukai Studio Ghibli Festival. For more information,see: mukaifarmandgarden.org.
▪️Arson Restoration and Building Fund — Sun, Aug 25, 1:10 p.m., Seattle Mariners v. San Francisco Giants baseball game. $5 of every ticket sold for this game will be contributed to the Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple. Order tickets at: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/Seattlebetsuinxn7qzdxxjh.
Over the past several years, my family and I have been going to the Washington coast to dig for razor clams. My wife Stacy and I have been doing this ever since our daughters were very young and we would turn it into a weekend trip to the ocean. Normally, the family would spend a few nights in the resort area of Seabrook, a town developed about 20 years ago near Moclips and Pacific Beach. It was great because the housing was new, there was a swimming pool, and a few stores. This was perfect for us.If we timed it right we would be able to get two razor clam digs in. My girls will tell you that I brought them there only because it would allow us two more limits on clams. (The limit is 15 clams per person so for the family, it represented 30 more clams!)
Eric with his razor clam and digging gun. Photo credit: Stacy Uyeji. ▶︎
Those days are past now but Stacy and I can still get 30 clams which is plenty. Digs are usually in the fall and spring months. Last fall, I was unable to dig so Stacy and I skipped clamming in 2023. This year, the weather has begun to improve so this April seemed to be a great opportunity for us to slip out to the coast on a Saturday morning, dig for clams, have lunch, then return home.
The day was absolutely perfect with the sun and blue skies. The beach was full of people digging and enjoying the weather! I started to dig and look for the clam “shows” (dimples in the sand). In a few minutes, I found three smaller clams and then an hour later, I still had only three clams. I also noticed others with empty nets and buckets. Usually, I can find 30 clams in less than half an hour so I became frustrated. One digger mentioned the new moon affecting the clams.
Every time I found a clam “show”, I used my clam gun (a cylinder, metal tube pushed into the sand) to dig as deep as possible. I even laid on the beach with my entire arm under the sand and did not find any clams. It was such a long drive for only three clams. Good thing it was a nice day. Stacy and I did go to Seabrook for lunch and could not believe how much it had changed–more people, newer stores and restaurants. Not quite like the earlier days.
We headed home with three clams and looked forward to our next opportunity. I also did some research afterwards. Possibly, the size and frequency of the surf can cause the clams to go deeper in the sand. Something to consider for the next time!
Members of Tsuru for Solidarity playing taiko drums for Day of Remembrance 2024, outside the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington. Photo credit: Kiku Hughes.
On March 7, 2024, Charles Leo Daniel died inside Tacoma, Washington’s Northwest Detention Center (NWDC). The news of Daniel’s passing was first reported by La Resistencia, an immigrant justice organization that works closely with detainees inside the facility. One of them alerted the death after witnessing the emergency response. La Resistencia mobilized quickly to put pressure on NWDC and GEO Group, the private corporation contracted to run NWDC, to ensure that they were not able to cover up the death. Within days, they had established a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week encampment outside NWDC, which included a small altar set up in Daniel’s memory. The altar was decorated with marigolds, candles, signs of support and dozens of origami cranes.
The altar dedicated to Charles Leo Daniel outside the Northwest Detention Center. ▶︎
The cranes were left by members of Tsuru for Solidarity, a Japanese American direct action group that fights to close down immigrant detention centers throughout the country. It is made up of survivors and descendants of the American concentration camps that held over 120,000 people of Japanese descent during World War II in 1942. Tsuru for Solidarity has worked closely with La Resistencia over the last year, strategizing how to shut down the NWDC and put an end to Washington’s only for-profit prison. The death of Mr. Daniel launched both groups into an even closer collaboration as they worked together to ensure that NWDC and GEO could not bury the story, and that Washington legislators felt the pressure to act.
◀︎ Tsuru for Solidarity organizer Becca Asaki speaking outside the detention center. Photo credit: Kiku Hughes.
Since March 2024, La Resistencia, Tsuru for Solidarity and other organizations have continued to maintain a presence outside the detention center. They demanded an independent investigation into the death of Mr. Daniel. Though four months have passed, very little information has been provided by NWDC and GEO, which were allowed to conduct their own internal investigation. What we do know, thanks in large part to investigative work done by the University of Washington Center for Human Rights, is that Charles Leo Daniel was held in solitary confinement for nearly the entire duration of his four years inside NWDC. U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell have yet to condemn NWDC or GEO for their extreme use of solitary confinement which is regarded as torture by the United Nations. They have shown a lack of transparency in the investigation into Daniel’s death. With little to no action from Washington State and U.S. legislators, it is incumbent upon Washington residents to demand justice and keep Charles Leo Daniel’s memory alive.
With this responsibility in mind, Tsuru for Solidarity will host a Liberation Obon on September 1st at 1 pm, outside the Northwest Detention Center. Like any Obon, there will be food, taiko and dancing. There will also be speeches from local immigrant justice leaders, and people who have faced state violence based solely on race and immigration status.
“To me, Obon is a time for honor, celebration, and community. It’s a way to honor our ancestors and celebrate their lives,” said KC Mukai, a Tsuru for Solidarity organizer. “The practice of Obon is a political act in itself, as a Buddhist cultural festival in America, a nation built on white supremacy and Christian hegemony.By holding space at NWDC, we hope to honor those that have passed inside the detention center with love and celebration, and be in solidarity with those directly impacted.”
The Obon will be an opportunity to bring the community directly to the site of NWDC where they can witness firsthand the barbed wire fences, armed guards and ever-present threat of violence – the same conditions Japanese Americans faced in camp. With taiko drums and music, it will also serve to let people inside know that they are not alone or forgotten. Tsuru for Solidarity invites all to join the celebration, make noise, and learn how to fight for the rights of our most vulnerable neighbors as immigration policy continues to lurch rightward.
“Fighting to shut down NWDC and fighting against carceral systems can feel daunting at times,” Mukai continued, “but it’s in beautiful moments of cross-cultural solidarity like these that we push back against the systems that seek to break us apart and are inspired to keep
The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration Edited
by Frank Abe and Floyd Cheung
By Pamela Okano
NAP Contributor
they never asked suspicious or not— just put us away
Sen Taro
This senryu (a 3-line Japanese poem typically about human nature and its foibles) sums up the Japanese American experience on the West Coast after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii during World War II in 1942. The senryu is contained in a new anthology, The Literature of Japanese American Incarceration, edited by Frank Abe and Floyd Cheung. Consisting of a compilation of poems, short stories, essays, and excerpts from memoirs, announcements, and official documents, this volume should be part of any library about Japanese American history.
Arranged chronologically, from before the bombing of Pearl Harbor through more recent protests against the Muslim ban and the incarceration of immigrants at the border, each section of the book — before the incarceration camp, the camps, and after camp — starts with a historical explanation to set the scene for what follows. Some of the contents have never been published before or if they have, not in English. There are also short biographies of most of the authors as well as a list of resources to delve more into Japanese American incarceration.
I found it particularly valuable that the anthology presents different points of view. Here you will find Mike Masaoka’s explanation of the Japanese American Citizens League’s decision to collaborate with the U.S. government next to Gordon Hirabayashi’s essay about why he decided to resist. Articles about a Nisei (second generation Japanese American) who decided to become part of the U.S. Army 442nd Regimental Combat Team is followed by articles about the Fair Play Committee and its adherents, who advocated restoration of civil rights as a condition to the military draft. Although the editors have stated that “[t]he selections favor writing that is pointed rather than poignant,” there is much that is poignant. For example, Nao Akutsu, was an Issei (first generation Japanese immigrant) who ran a Seattle shoe repair store with her husband. She wrote a letter in Japanese to Eleanor Roosevelt, begging her to get the U.S. government to release her husband. The White House appears to have translated it but the book does not indicate that Mrs. Roosevelt replied. Sadly, after the war Mrs. Akutsu committed suicide because the women in her church ostracized her for having two sons who resisted being drafted.
Gordon Hirabayashi, a Quaker, was grilled by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation officials upon turning himself in. One of the officers wrote in his report, “It is the principle of the Society of Friends [the Quakers] that each person should follow the will of God according to his own convictions….[Mr. Hirabayashi] could not reconcile the will of God, a part of which was expressed in the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, with the order discriminating against Japanese aliens and American citizens of Japanese ancestry.”
Discussing more recent injustices perpetrated by the U.S. government, Brandon Shimoda writes, “I am led to believe that Japanese American incarceration, as one example, one blueprint, in an unremitting and interminable system, has not ended. It has entered a new phase.”
The book contains expressions of despair yet it contains expressions of hope. It has expressions of anger, sadness, and defiance. Occasionally, there are expressions of joy. Regardless of whether the reader agrees with some of the authors’ sentiments, they are definitely thought-provoking. This anthology will be a valuable resource for years to come.
Penny and Frank Fukui — Nikkei Community’s Legacy Couple
By Elaine Ikoma Ko
NAP Contributor
Woodburn Company received Supplier of the Year 2018 by the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council. Left to right: business partner Ben Johnson, Frank and Penny Fukui, and employee Dan Beary.
Frank and Penny Fukui are household names in the local Nikkei (Japanese American) community in Seattle. This is not only because of their successful business, Woodburn Company but also due to their extraordinary generosity in giving. Here is their story as they enter a well-deserved retirement.
Frank and Penny enjoy each other’s company. They will celebrate 57 years of marriage this year.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about both family histories?
Hitsuji Beppu (Penny’s grandfather), Sawa Beppu (Penny’s grandmother) and baby Taft Beppu (Penny’s father), 1910 in Seattle, WA. Photo credit: unknown. ▼
Penny: My grandfather was Hitsuji Beppu born in 1871, and my grandmother was Sawa Beppu born in 1885. Both were born in Japan. After coming to Seattle, my grandmother was a mid wife. I was told that she delivered over 1,000 babies. It was April 1942 when she delivered Frank Fukui, little knowing he would eventually marry me, her yet unborn granddaughter. She drove a Model-T Ford from place to place delivering babies while her husband remained at home as the “househusband.” She was definitely ahead of her time! My dad, Taft Beppu, was the oldest of four brothers and had one sister, Hiroko. My dad worked at Linc’s Tackle located on Rainier Avenue South with my uncle Linc Beppu. My dad also raised me from the time I was nine years old after my mother passed away from stomach cancer.
Right: Penny Fukui, Pre-school teacher at Jefferson Community Center, Seattle, WA, 1977. Photo credit: unknown.
Left: Frank Fukui, senior class photo. Garfield High School, Seattle, WA, 1960. Photo credit: unknown.
Frank: My grandparents came from Shizuoka, Japan. My grandmother and grandfather had a farm in Port Orchard where my mother was one of 9 children. They raised vegetables and sold them at the Pike Place Market. My father, Yoshizo Fukui, and his brother came to Seattle in 1917 when he was 19 years old. They worked in the Pike Place Market selling produce.My mother, Mae Imamoto, married my father in 1941, and I was born in Seattle in April, 1942. My family was sent to the Puyallup fairgrounds, which was the temporary incarceration location for Japanese Americans during World War II. We were then transferred to Minidoka in Hunt, Idaho and stayed there until the war ended. As a very young child, I enjoyed my time there because there were many kids; we played every day. The adults made sure we were enjoying life even during this difficult time of the incarceration.They even called this place “camp.”
Q: Where did you both grow up and could you tell us about your early family life?
Penny: I was born in Minidoka incarceration camp and Frank’s family was sent there after his birth in Seattle. We both have no brothers or sisters. When World War II ended, our families were sent back to Seattle with the two suitcases they were allowed to take to Minidoka.Like most families, my family returned with nothing. As young children, we did not know we were poor because our families raised us with extraordinary love and care. I only witnessed one overt act of discrimination after we returned to Seattle. Someone threw a rock at my dad. I asked him why someone would do that. He said not a word but I knew from the look on his face that it was not something I wanted to pursue. After WWII in 1945, we lived in the Central Area at the St. George Apartments at 14th and Yesler Way. Then we moved to 18th and Spruce Street through high school. Since I was a cheerleader in my senior year, I was allowed to stay at Garfield High School after moving to Beacon Hill. My father dutifully drove me to school every day.
Frank: I lived one block from Collins Playfield at 15th and Yesler Way in the Central Area of Seattle. I attended Bailey Gatzert Elementary School and later Washington Junior High and Garfield High School. Most of my classes consisted of Japanese Americans who came back to Seattle after the war. Back then, there was no bussing and we did not change classes during the day so I saw the same students. Even to this day, I remain closely connected to my former classmates and know their families well. Growing up, my friends and I started the first baseball team at the City of Seattle Parks and Recreation when I was eight years old. It was the first year that Little League baseball became available in the International District. Roy Sakamoto was the coach and his knowledge of baseball helped make this team very competitive. I really enjoyed my time playing baseball and getting to know the other players who later became my good friends even to this day. At age 13, I joined the Skyliner band (see the recently published book by Kay Hirai and Randy Tada) and played alto saxophone from eighth grade through high school.
Q: How did you meet?
Penny:Frank and I first met in kindergarten when we both waited after school at the Seattle Glove Factory across the street from Bailey Gatzert Elementary School! Both of our mothers worked at the glove factory and we waited for them until they got off work. I am certain we did not pay attention to each other at that time. However, our moms were very good friends.Today, our good friend, Kenny Wakazuru, says he was the “matchmaker” for us. He still tells the story of how he drove Frank to my house and dropped him off on our porch one day. Frank waited until I let him in and then “he never left.” At least that is how Kenny tells it. My cousin, George Beppu, also claims that he brought us together. George and Frank were good friends at Washington Junior High. I guess both he and Kenny might be correct about introducing us to each other!
On our first date, we took a bus to a movie at the Coliseum Theatre in Seattle. Frank got his foot caught in the chair in front of him when someone sat in front and his foot was crushed badly! He was embarrassed and in so much pain. This year, we will celebrate our 57th anniversary!
▲Penny and Frank Fukui’s wedding with parents, (L) Taft and Amy Beppu (R) Mae and Yoshizo Fukui, 1967 at Beacon Hill Presbyterian Church. Photo credit: unknown.
Q:What did you each do prior to starting Woodburn?
Penny: Both Frank and I graduated from the University of Washington (UW). I received my masters degree in educational administration and Frank’s degree is in business administration and finance. I taught first, second and third grades in Seattle Public Schools; preschool at Jefferson Community Center; and later coordinated programs for the UW College of Engineering. I was also Executive Director of the Japanese American Chamber of Commerce from 1995 to 1997.
Frank spent three years in the U.S. Army after high school. Previously, he was enrolled at UW but had the worst grades – 0.7 GPA. He abruptly left school without withdrawing properly when he joined the Army. So, the low GPA stayed with Frank. Together we had to work hard to get him enrolled again at UW and eventually he graduated with decent grades!
Q: What was your initial vision for the business and where it is today?
Frank and Penny Fukui at Woodburn Company, 2010. Photo credit: unknown. ▶︎
Frank:My interest in buying Woodburn Company was when our oldest daughter, Shelley, entered UW. Our family lived in Portland at the time and she was living in the dormitory at UW. I had an interest in moving back to the Seattle area. When Jack Woodburn called me, I investigated the situation and decided to take a chance to buy the business and move back to Seattle in 1989.After taking over the Woodburn Company, we started as an A.B. Dick (printing products retailer) and RICOH (printers and products) dealer in Everett, Washington, with small accounts. After years of hard work, we secured two big accounts – Nordstrom and Puget Sound Energy! Both companies were searching for new business dealers. We put in a bid against intense competition and we were shocked to win. At the time, we were a small business with nine employees so those accounts really catapulted our business. It was the turning point! Currently, the business has grown to 50 employees. We are the only minority dealership to have multiple large copier and printer contracts with the State of Washington. We have been blessed to receive many awards over the years. These are not only corporate business awards such as Supplier of the Year, but also awards from our own community such as Commendation Award from the Japanese Consul General, National Asian Entrepreneur of the Year, Northwest Asian Weekly Community Award, and Nikkei Concerns.
Q: Tell us about your community involvement. What motivates you to give generously of your time and resources to the community?
Penny:My greatest mentor was my father who taught me the value and importance of education. He always said, “It is not only important to work hard, you have to ‘work smart’.” We stand on the shoulders of the Issei (first generation Japanese Americans) and Nisei (second generation Japanese Americans) generations and their extraordinary sacrifices and examples. We continue to serve our community churches, nonprofits, and small business enterprises, as well as large corporations and government agencies so that our grandkids can have the same opportunities we had while growing up. Our business has grown beyond our wildest dreams. For this, we are truly grateful. We look ahead to “giving back and paying forward” wherever we are able. We have been blessed to be able to support many community groups throughout the years.
Today, we are honored to serve as honorary co-chairs with Bill Weyerhaeuser for the Remembrance Gallery. This is where 7,600 names will be permanently placed on the walls at the Puyallup fairgrounds where Japanese Americans were held until the incarceration camps were built.
Frank:I look back on the history of my parents’ lives and compare it to my life. They both experienced the harsh economic times of the 1929 Depression and again in the 1942 incarceration camps. To lose everything twice in your lifetime is very sad but to overcome these times and prosper is amazing. I give them a lot of credit and thanks for everything they both did for me.
Q: What’s in your future now that retirement is here?
◀︎ Frank and Penny Fukui receiving Supplier of the Year 2015, Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Council. Photo credit: Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Council.
Penny and Frank:We just completed the sale of our business to our business partner! We are confident that it is in great hands. Our family means everything to us. Our two daughters are Shelley and Colleen, their husbands are Curt Kolar and Chris Sketchley respectively, and our grandkids are Kai, Akemi, and Jackson. They all make us proud!
While we do not have a bucket list per se, we did have a dream to take our whole family to Japan. That dream came true last February when we took all nine members of our family to Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kyoto. They got to meet family and friends, and take in the sites. We are looking forward to downsizing in our retirement and moving into a condominium in Seattle which has been four years in the making. Located on the top two floors, we will have an unobstructed panoramic view of downtown Seattle, the Space Needle, and Lake Union. It was always my dream to see the sunset every night. That dream will come true!
Left: Frank and Penny Fukui enjoying summer in Hawaii with family and friends, 2017. Photo credit: Shelley Fukui Koler.
Right: Left to right: Remembrance Gallery Project Manager Sharon Sobie Seymour with Remembrance Gallery Honorary Co-Chairs Penny and Frank Fukui, April, 2023. Photo credit: Vincent Konkel.
Right: Accepting the Consul General Hisao Inagaki’s Commendation Award in recognition of Frank and Penny’s outstanding achievements and contributions to mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States, June 2023. Photo credit: Shelley Fukui Koler.
Left: Fukui family waving goodbye to friends and family at Haneda Airport in Japan, February 2024. Photo credit: unknown.
Japan Week – The 8th JAPAN WEEK @ Bellevue College is collecting recycled Manga, in any language, for its Manga Swap to be held on Saturday, Oct. 5th (but no adult content, please). We’re also collecting ‘nicer’ Japanese items and ‘less ‘expensive’ items for the Flea Markets.
Donation drop-offs:
・ Aug. 16 (Fri) 2pm – 6pm
・ Aug. 17 (Sat) 11am – 6pm
▪️Dancing with Our Ancestors – Wed-Sun, 12-4 p.m., free. White River Valley Museum, 918 “H” St SE, Auburn. Exhibit created with White River Buddhist Temple and its members. Learn the history of Bon Odori and the temple with instructional video on the dances. See kimonos, happi coats, yukatas, fans, taiko, photos and more. On display through Oct 13. https://www.wrvmuseum.org/exhibits-entry/2024/5/31/dancing-with-our-ancestors-june-19-october-13-2024.
JULY
▪️Wakamusha film, Fri, Jul 26, 7 p.m.; Sat, Jul 27, 4 & 7 p.m.; Sun Jul 28, 4 & 7 p.m. NW Film Forum, 1515 – 12th Ave, Seattle. Written and directed by Ryutaro Ninomiya. Lives of three young men who contemplate their meaningless lives, viewing the world through dull eyes.
Tickets at: https://nwfilmforum.org/films/wakamusha.▪️Legendary Makers Market, Fri-Sat, Jul 26-27, 3-10 p.m. and Sun, Jul 28, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Round, 12600 SW Crescent St., Beaverton, OR. Four unique vendor pods with elements of film, wellness, and interactive art. www.BeavertonOregon.gov/Events.▪️Brave Mrs. Sato Reading – book author Lori Matsukawa, Sat, Jul 27, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Japanese American Museum of Oregon, 411 NW Flanders St STE 100, Portland. Free with admission.https://jamo.org/event/brave-mrs-sato-a-reading-with-author-lori-matsukawa/.
▪️Wandering & Wondering, Butoh dance performance, Sun, Jul 28, 12-3 p.m. Kubota Garden, 110915 – 51st Ave S, Seattle. Visitors will encounter dancers and musicians dispersed in surprising locations as performers engage in a response to the scents, sounds, sights and sensations of the garden. https://kubotagarden.org.
▪️Tea Ceremony: Introduction to Chanoyu, Sun, Jul 28, 1–3:40 p.m., Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd E, Seattle. https://www.seattlejapanesegarden.org/▪️Garden Tour, Sun, Jul 28, 10 a.m.Kubota Garden, 9817 55th Ave S, Seattle. Tour with volunteer guides. If registration is full, sign up on the waitlist.
▪️Annual Kimono Sale – Tue, Jul 30 & Thu, Aug 1, 7-9 p.m. Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave, Portland. Also, Sat, Aug 3, 2-7 p.m. at Obon Fest.
For more info: mottainaicraftgroup24@gmail.com. Kimono-related donations are appreciated.
▪️Bon Odori – a free, outdoor Japanese dance honoring the spirits of ancestors. Along with food and activities, the festival can be found at several locations:
⚫Sat, Jul 27, 4-9 p.m. White River Buddhist Temple, 3625 Auburn Way N, Auburn. https://www.wrbt.org/.
⚫Sun, Jul 28, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nikkei Manor, 700 Sixth Ave S, Seattle. https://www.keironw.org.
⚫Sat, Aug 3, 2-9 p.m. Oregon Buddhist Temple, 3720 SE 34th Ave, Portland. https://www.oregonbuddhisttemple.com/obon-festival.
⚫Sat, Aug 3, 4-8 p.m. Tacoma Buddhist Temple, 1717 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma. https://www.tacomabt.org.
⚫Sat, Aug 10, 5-9 p.m. by the Olympia Chapter, Japanese American Citizens League. New location — South Puget Sound Community College, Center for Student Success (Bldg 22), 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia. For more info: Reiko Callner (360) 791-3295.
⚫Sat, Aug 31, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Portland Japanese Garden with paid admission, 611 SW Kingston Ave., Portland. https://japanesegarden.org/events/bon-odori-summer-festival-2024/.
AUGUST
▪️Mukai Studio Ghibli Festival at Vashon Theatre, 17723 Vashon Hwy SW, Vashon, featuring:
⚫My Neighbor Totoro, Tue, Aug. 6th, 7 p.m.
⚫Princess Mononoke, Tue, Aug 20th, 7 p.m.
For more information, see: mukaifarmandgarden.org.
▪️Japanese Heritage Night with the Seattle Mariners baseball! $5 of every ticket sold will be contributed to the beneficiary nonprofit organizations:
⚫Fri, Aug 9, 7:10 p.m. New York Mets. Beneficiary: Japanese Cultural & Community Center of WA. https://wwwjcccw.org/.
⚫Sun, Aug 25, 1:10 p.m. New York Giants. Beneficiary: Seattle Betsuin Buddhist Temple fire. https://seattlebetsuin.com/.
▪️“FROM HIROSHIMA TO HOPE” Lanterns light at Green Lake for hope and peace. Tue, Aug 6, at 6pm at Green Lake, Northwest shore, near Seattle Public Theater at the Bathhouse, 7312 West Green Lake Dr. N, Seattle, WA 98103.
More info: http://fromhiroshimatohope.org/event-2
The mission of From Hiroshima to Hope is to commemorate the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and all victims of war and violence. We educate for peace, non-violent conflict resolution and nuclear disarmament through a public outdoor event on August 6th featuring music, speakers, and a lantern-floating ceremony.
A fund-raising event for reconstruction of the Sadako Sasaki statue which was stolen from Peace Park in University District on July 12th is also planned. The Sadako Sasaki statue was conceived and erected by Floyd Schmoe, a Quaker activist and professor in 1990.
▪️Jazz in the Garden – Wed, Aug 14, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Free, no reservations needed. Kubota Garden, Terrace Outlook, 9817 55th Ave S, Seattle. Featuring award-winning singer songwriter Eugenie Jones. Bring your lawn chair, picnic, and favorite non-alcoholic beverage. If you have limited mobility and would like to use KGF’s shuttle from the parking lot to the Terrace Overlook, send an email to: volunteers@kubotagarden.org. Seattle Parks & Recreation does not allow alcohol or drug use on the premises. https://kubotagarden.org/.
▪️What is Bon? Wed, Aug 21, 2-3 p.m. White River Valley Museum, 918 “H” St SE, Auburn. Gallery talk coinciding with Dancing with Our Ancestors exhibit. https://www.wrvmuseum.org.
▪️Summerfest, Sun, Aug 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Kawabe Memorial House, 221 – 18th Ave S, Seattle. https://kawabehouse.org/
▪️Bon Odori Mini Documentary Screening – Thu, Aug 29, 2 p.m. White River Valley Museum, 918 “H” St SE, Auburn. Screening coincides with Dancing with Our Ancestors
In the January 26, 2024 NAP issue, an update was provided regarding a new Remembrance Gallery being planned at the Washington State fairgrounds in Puyallup, Washington. The construction is now underway to build a permanent monument listing the more than 7,600 individual names of those incarcerated at the Puyallup fairgrounds in 1942 during World War II. The monument will be inside a gallery featuring a life-size horse stall similar to those where individuals and families were forced to live, and an interactive space for those wanting to search more in-depth about the incarceration.
▲Some of the Remembrance Gallery Committee reviewing the images/text with contractor Imagine Visual Service, LLC staff and Belle & Wissell staff. Photo caption: Jill Randerson.
The Remembrance Gallery Committee is currently working with several local companies to build the new gallery. The companies are: Blackmouth Design managing the interior construction; Imagine Visual Service, LLC managing the graphics and monument; Integrity Networks Incorporated managing the technology; Washington State Fair managing the deconstruction of the former space, Belle & Wissell managing the overall design, and Jill Randerson, consultant ensuring the completion of the project.
▲Hard Hat event at the Remembrance Gallery, Puyallup, WA. Left to right: Liz Dunbar, PV-JACL Bd. of Dir. and Finance Chair; Eileen Yamada Lamphere, PV-JACL Bd. of Dir. President; Sharon Sobie Seymour, PV-JACL Bd. member and Project Manager; Barbara Mizoguchi-Asahara, design consultant; Barbara Doyle, volunteer; Renee McClain, WA St. Fair CEO; and Andrea Thayer, WA St. Fair Chief Experience Officer. Photo credit: Vincent Konkel.
All the contractors are in regular contact with the committee on any updates. The gallery team consists of: Puyallup Valley – Japanese American Citizen League (PV-JACL) Board of Directors President Eileen Yamada Lamphere; PV-JACL board member and finance chair Liz Begert Dunbar; PV-JACL board member and project manager Sharon Sobie Seymour; and volunteer design consultant Barbara Mizoguchi; who all still meet regularly. The team will announce the official opening of the gallery to be August 30, 2024 – the same day as opening day of the annual Washington State Fair.
Kazuhiro Kawasaki, Professor Emeritus The Evergreen State College
By Keiko Miyako Schlegel NAP Contributor Translated by Bruce Rutledge NAP General Manager
▲These are two paintings created during his university years. The one on the right is from his first year, and the one on the left is from his final year of university. Photo credit: Kazuhiro Kawasaki.
Shortly after changing his major in California, he dressed in the fashion of the time (1970). Photo credit: Kazuhiro Kawasaki. ▶︎
It is has been 60 years since he crossed the ocean at the age of 22 to become a painter. Once drawn to avant-garde (experimental genre) art, the young man became an art historian. Now, 20 years after leaving teaching, he has found a new way to enjoy life. Kazuhiro Kawasaki speaks with an insatiable passion for beauty, peppering his speech with the occasional English word. His gentle smile belies his deep passion for art.
Kawasaki’s home is neatly lined with paintings he has collected over the past 40 years. The artwork, which vary in period and style, include powerful abstract paintings, delicate lithographs by French artists, pop art (traditions in fine art challenged by including imagery from popular and mass culture), works by friends and former students, ukiyo-e prints (woodblock prints from 17-18th century), and even a bamboo vase made by a Japanese artist in the U.S. which is his favorite. The living room is a great place for reading and relaxing. While reading in the living room, he has a conversation with an abstract painting that hangs in front of the sofa.
Kawasaki was diagnosed with color blindness at age five. For therapy, a student from the art department of Miyazaki University Japan was hired to play with Kawasaki to familiarize him with colors. Kawasaki’s gift upon entering elementary school was a set of crayons. At lunchtime, instead of going to the schoolyard with other kids, Kawaski stayed in the classroom drawing pictures of trees and rivers with crayons. In the sixth grade, Kawasaki was one of five children throughout Japan whose art was featured at exhibitions in Okinawa and Hong Kong.
Kawasaki’s first encounter with avant-garde art was in 1961 when Tokyo was preparing to host the Olympics Games. “There was something exciting about the free and futuristic expression,“ he says. He entered Kyushu University School of Medicine in Japan but dropped out within three months. In an anatomy class, he took a scalpel to an anesthetized rabbit and fainted when he saw it twitch. Kawasaki felt too ashamed to face his parents so he headed to Tokyo. He befriended a group that was living in a converted warehouse in Fukagawa in downtown Tokyo and moved in with them. These new friends were avant-garde art devotees. Kawasaki was inspired. Tokyo was an interesting place at the time. Even in Japan, the avant-garde art movements known as neo-Dada (playfulness after the controversial assemblage of the Dada movement) and Fluxus (experimental art performances) were flourishing. At a solo exhibition held in a room rented at the Imperial Hotel in Japan, copies of Japanese money were pasted all over the room. Although it is illegal to copy bills, “that is the nature of avant-garde art,“ Kawasaki said with a smile.
During his time in Tokyo, Kawasaki lived a poor but fulfilling life working at various jobs and as an illustrator for a clothing designer. One day, he received a letter from his father. “I suppose you are not doing much in Tokyo,” his father wrote. “An American friend of mine from long ago is visiting Japan for a business meeting and I want you to go with him.” “It was an order from my father,” Kawasaki said. “I had no reason to refuse since I would be paid for my services.” When Kawasaki told the American business man that he really wanted to become a painter, the man told him he could study painting in Seattle. In 1965, Kawasaki boarded a British cruise ship and left for Seattle via Vancouver, British Columbia at the age of 22.
After one year of study at Shoreline Community College in Seattle, Kawasaki transferred to the University of Washington in Seattle. He decided to become an oil painter. He painted diligently and his skills improved considerably but something was missing. In his fourth year of college, Kawasaki put down his paintbrush. He found it unbearable to even smell the paint anymore.
Once again, Kawaski was disappointed and lost. He headed to San Francisco, California, to heal his heart. The day after his arrival, he met two women at a coffee shop who offered him a place in their attic in exchange for cleaning and cooking services. In his spare time, Kawasaki returned to painting again but this time he painted whatever he liked. He had no regard for deadlines or what others thought of him. “I was never happier,” he says. After three months, Kawasaki returned to the university and changed his major to Art History. From there, he worked as an art historian focusing on literati paintings. At the age of 34, he took a job at The Evergreen State College and devoted himself to teaching.
When Kawasaki taught art to his students, he was most concerned about making them understand the essence of “ambiguity.” “It is difficult to translate into Japanese but ambiguity is not the same as leaving something vague. Ambiguity is the exact opposite. It is something that is reached as a result of pursuing phenomena that do not have clear answers. “I want my students to find out for themselves why they are drawn to particular paintings. Art reflects religion, politics, economics, and everything else of its time,” he says. The world in which the artist lived and the artist’s own humanity are reflected in the work and it is from this perspective that we look at ourselves through the paintings. ”Look at yourself as you are at that moment. That is the answer and the essence of art,” Kawaski says. The confrontation between the painting and the viewer also continues. Why is the Mona Lisa a masterpiece? In Kawasaki’s view, over the course of 500 years many people have been moved by the painting, and their feelings have been absorbed into the painting and become a part of it.
▲Christmas at home with Bill (2018). Photo credit: Kazuhiro Kawasaki.
On the other hand, Kawasaki, in his 20s, gave up his career as a painter because he could not stand the evaluations and stares of others. “When I was young, I was very critical of myself. Even after becoming a scholar, I was always concerned about the impact I had on others,“ he says. Kawasaki, now in his 80s, is free from such inner conflict. He paints what he likes without worrying about what anyone else thinks. A few years ago, he also began learning botanical art.
▲Boasting about his cooking skills during a stay in Hawaii (2022). Photo credit: Kazuhiro Kawasaki.
Kawasaki lived an independent life. He met a bank employee in his mid-30s named Bill and spent the rest of his life with him. They loved the arts and traveled the world. Forty years have elapsed and in 2021, Bill passed away after a battle with an illness. Bill’s adult sons invited Kawasaki to an online botanical art class to cheer him up. In the past, his abstract paintings expressed his individuality but botanical art was a stricter medium. Kawasaki’s rebellious spirit emerged and he was chastised by the instructor for emphasizing shadows that were not really there. “I would like to understand where my sense of beauty comes from,“ he says. There are still many things he would like to do. Kawasaki’s eyes are still filled with the spirit of a young boy.
Kazuhiro Kawasaki was born in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan in 1942. After dropping out of medical school at Kyushu University in Japan and moving to Tokyo, he worked in various jobs for four years. Through his father’s introduction, he accompanied an American businessman on a trip across Japan. He settled in Seattle, attended Shoreline Community College and transferred to the University of Washington to become an oil painter but switched to Art History. In 1972 he received a Masters of Fine Arts and became a teaching assistant at Montana State University. He then received his Doctor of Philosophy in 1975. In 1976, he began teaching Art History at The Evergreen State College. Since retiring in 2004, he has spent his days traveling the world; and enjoying his hobbies of cooking, art, and vegetable growing.
By Rick Takeuchi and Barbara Mizoguchi, NAP Editor
Congratulations to Emiko Mizuki, Executive Director of Kawabe Memorial House in Seattle, Washington for receiving LeadingAge Washington’s 2024 Award of Excellence in Cultural Diversity. The awards ceremony was held at the Davenport Grand Hotel in Spokane, Washington in June 2024.
LeadingAge Washington is a national, not-for-profit organization located in Tacoma, Washington with 37 state partners serving 2 million aging elderly. It provides low-income senior care, housing, and quality improvement. Members are organizations that have access to up-to-date education in clinical care, changing regulations, and innovative solutions. There are also member programs such as help using resources efficiently and insuring against worker injuries to mention a few.
◀︎ Emi Mizuki’s 2024 LeadingAge Washington award. Photo credit: Rick Takeuchi.
The LeadingAge Washington Awards and Recognition Program honors individuals within the membership who make a difference in the lives they serve by putting quality first, providing excellence, and inspiring others to do the same. More specifically, the Cultural Diversity Award recognizes individuals who demonstrate significant achievement in cultural diversity and inclusion.
Mizuki was nominated by Kawabe Memorial House Deputy Director Rick Takeuchi. He said she demonstrates her passion and commitment to a diverse organization in making it a better place to live, work, and support. Takeuchi understood the nominee is to be someone dedicated to developing strong teams, exceptional quality service, and can lead change within their organization or local community that can be quantified or measured.
In particular, Takeuchi said, “Emiko ensures that the daily meal program caters to a wide range of cultural preferences, respecting and celebrating the rich diversity of the community.” Since the house consists of mostly immigrants, Mizuki ensures there is culturally familiar food for them. It has improved their health, reduced isolation with communal meals, and created a sense of belonging. Mizuki also understands that 91 percent of the residents are people of color with 50 percent qualifying for the U.S.
Housing and Urban Development housing assistance. She has created a safe and supportive environment for those who would otherwise suffer from housing insecurity. As for the current staff, 87 percent of them are people of color. Mizuki also ensures they are well-equipped in helping a multi-cultural resident population.
Mizuki’s leadership has transformed Kawabe Memorial House into a culturally inclusive environment and has enhanced the quality of life for the residents and staff. A well-deserved award.
A Granddaughter’s Journey to Her Grandfather’s Art at the Smithsonian
By Kara Jei Tokita
NAP Contributor
My grandfather, Kamekichi Tokita, died at age of 51 before I was born and could ever meet him. Born and raised in Shizuoka, Japan, he ventured across the Pacific Ocean to Seattle, Washington in 1919. He defied his father’s wishes for him to settle in Chicago, Illinois, a twist of fate that changed everything. It was in Seattle that he fell in love with my grandmother Haruko Suzuki. Without this serendipitous detour our family would never have existed.
▲Aaron Tokita, great grand son of Kamekichi Tokita; Stephanie Stebich, director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum; Melissa Ho, curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum; and Kara Jei Tokita, granddaughter. Photo credit: Vincent Konkel.
I know my grandfather had eight children, was co-owner of a sign painting business, survived the Japanese incarceration camps, owned a hotel business, was a writer and intriguingly, was a descendant of a samurai family. I have always yearned to know more — he is the cornerstone of our family. Through cherished stories, photographs, his artwork and writings, I have come to appreciate the discipline and structure he instilled in our family.
▲Untitled (Still Life), 1935-1938, watercolor on paper with pencil by Kamekichi Tokita. Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
▲Inside the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eisenstein Family Gallery. Left side: The Farm, 1934, oil on canvas by Kenjiro Nomura. Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Right side: Self-Portrait, 1935, oil on canvas by Kamekichi Tokita. Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. All photo credits: Vincent Konkel.
My grandfather’s primary source of income was as a sign painter but it was his oil paintings of scenic Seattle that showcased his talent. He was considered a painter of contemporary American life. These masterpieces earned him regular shows in annual exhibitions across Seattle; Portland, Oregon; California; and at the First National Exhibition of American Art at the Rockefeller Center Gallery in New York, New York to name a few. Of his 41 known paintings, many have been lost or stolen over the years. However, several remain protected in permanent collections at various museums throughout the U.S.
I am grateful to my grandmother who carefully preserved my grandfather’s artwork under her bed for safekeeping for so many years. What we did not know until after her passing was that she had also kept a diary my grandfather had written. It told about the day Pearl Harbor in Hawaii was bombed along with his daily recollections from the Japanese incarceration camps during World War II. Our family spent years working on these pieces – translating them from old Japanese to modern Japanese and then eventually to English, thanks to Naomi Kusunoki Martin, a translator. The effort eventually culminated in the book published in 2021, “The Signs of Home: The Paintings and Wartime Diary of Kamekichi Tokita,” by Barbara Johns, Ph.D. My grandfather would be proud to know that readers can now relive his experiences during that difficult time.
Words cannot express my excitement when I discovered my grandfather’s artwork was on display in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian American Art Museum! It worked out I had a business event in Virginia Beach, Virginia just an hour airplane flight to D.C. I was determined to see my grandfather’s artwork in person. With some pre-coordination with contacts at the Smithsonian, I set out with my nephew Aaron Tokita and significant other Vincent Konkel on this exciting journey.
We met with Melissa Ho, a curator of 20th-century art at the Smithsonian. She worked tirelessly to bring my grandfather’s work to this exhibit alongside other renowned artists. At her suggestion, we began our visit at the Archives of American Art building where we viewd a couple of my grandfather’s watercolor paintings. I recalled my family’s stories about one of the pieces which depicted a collection of everyday items on the dining room table — a jar, paper, safety pin, candle, and other miscellaneous objects. The piece was stunning. I adored his use of shapes, symmetry, and his choice and use of saturated watercolors. It stood out from his other artwork and I deeply appreciated seeing this unique facet of his talent.
▲From left: Aaron Tokita, Kara Jei Tokita, Melissa Ho. Photo by Vincent Konkel
For our next stop, we were thrilled to hear that Stephanie Stebich, Director of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, played a crucial role in recognizing and acquiring my grandfather’s work for the museum’s collection. She wanted to meet with us in her office. We had a wonderful time discussing the exhibition.
The highlight was Melissa escorting us to the main Smithsonian building to view my grandfather’s piece displayed alongside his business partner Kenjiro Nomura’s painting. We were pleasantly surprised to see my grandfather’s self-portrait painting prominently placed on the museum’s main floor in a central location. Melissa explained that their frame designer suggested changing the frame because the original was starting to damage the artwork. They executed it well as the new frame closely resembles the original from the 1930s.
They also decided to “float” (raised from the background) the piece which I truly appreciated. This piece was part of a 1938 exhibition organized by the Group of 12, an association of progressive painters in Seattle. The assignment required all participants to create self-portraits which was a departure from my grandfather’s style. Having seen this painting hundreds of times at my father Shokichi Tokita’s house, I now know the meaning behind the piece. I cherish the artwork even more because it offers a deeper glimpse into who he was and makes me feel closer to him. Even more exciting was when Melissa mentioned that she might keep the display up longer, as it ties into one of her other projects.
Thank you, Grandfather, for creating timeless masterpieces that allow us to see the world through your eyes, and for capturing your thoughts and experiences in profound writings that are forever preserved.
The current exhibition is called Artist to Artist. It is in the Einstein Family Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. There are pairs of artwork representing two artists whose work intersected creatively. The exhibition is ongoing until May 18, 2025.