Connection with the Past Rebirth of Powell Street A Little Cheer

America's Wars." On November 10, 1995,the Japanese American National Museumunveiled this exhibit, which highlightsJapanese Americans' accomplishments inU.S. armed conflicts from the SpanishAmerican War to the Vietnam WarThe dis-play features dossiers of Japanese Ameri-can soldiers, a video essay on those whofought in World War II, the Korean Warand the Vietnam War, a KIA (Killed in Ac-tion) and MIA (Missing in Action) book, aJapanese American military database anda resource area. A timeline of militaryevents, along with pictures and quotes, ismounted on the walls.

Connection with the PastThrough a glass display, I become ac-

quainted with Tad Yajima. His portfolio,which is included in the exhibit, once helddocuments, translations and notes whenhe served as an interrogator of Japaneseprisoners of war during their trials for warcrimes. His portfolio is one of many per-sonal items on display. I see the battereddog tags of a soldier, a weathered moneybelt and a uniform that a soldier once worewith pride when he courageously facedthe enemy.Today, the dog tags may just bepart of a display, but they once hungaround the neck of a Japanese Americansoldier.The portfolio is empty now but itwas once filled with important documentsand carried by Japanese American inter-rogator Tad Yajima. Perhaps the key evi-dence in trials for war crimes was held inthat portfolio.The uniform is folded nowbut once, a brave soldier wore it to defendhis country.

I see all of these items before me and feel

a connection with the past. I wonder about

the brave Japanese Americans who wore

these uniforms, these dog tags, this money

"Fighting JO,. Tomorrow:JapaneseAmericans in America'sWars." Atimeline of military events, alongwith pictures and quotes, ismounted on the walls.

belt.And in learning about these people,I'm learning the story of the JapaneseAmer-ican soldiers who risked and gave theirlives for America.

Rebirth of Powell StreetRevival. Celebration. Empowerment.

These words are all linked with the PowellStreet Festival inVancouver.The festival cel-ebrates the arrival of the first Japanese im-migrants in Canada. By 1900, these immi-grants had settled in Vancouver in the areaaround Powell Street. During World War II,however, the Canadian government forced22,000 Japanese Canadians into intern-ment camps in British Columbia.They wereforced to abandon Powell Street, which de-teriorated into a skid rowPowell Street underwent a revival in the

1970s when Sansei joined with new immi-grants to organize care facilities in the areafor Issei. Out of this rebirth grew the PowellStreet Festival which first began in 1977. Fortwo days each summer, Japanese Canadiansparticipate in a celebration of their heritage.Photojournalist Tamio Wakayama, who

was among the founders of the festival,captures the energy, excitement and prideof the participants in his riveting blackand white photographs. His images nowline the walls of the museum's LegacyCenter in "Kikyo: Coming Home to PowellStreet" which will be on display at the mu-seum until August 25."Kikyo" was firstshown at the Vancouver museum in 1992.The show was accompanied by a 100-page catalogue written byWakayama andLinda Uyehara Hoffman.

A Little CheerAmong the rows of tar-papered barracks,

a patch of flowers grows.There are alsocrops of vegetables, adding color to an oth-erwise monotonous picture.Again, I hearmy father's words:"Most of the people incamp planted flowers and vegetables infront of the barracks to bring a little cheerto a very bleak place. Even in this egregiousabuse of human rights, it is impressive thatmany chose not to dwell in despait"Thesewords warm my heart, despite the sadness Ifeel when seeing and hearing about the suf-

Japanese Americans were represented in the Military Intelligence Service and contributed significantly tovictories in the Pacific campaigns ofWWIL

fering that my relatives and manyothers had to endure in intermentcamps.To know that these braveJapanese Americans kept their posi-tive spirit alive even in the darkestof times is truly impressive.The Japanese American NationalMuseum gives people of all ages—and all nationalities—a chance tolearn about Japanese American his-tory through its informative tours,historical and cultural exhibits andlarge collection of Japanese Ameri-can materials.The museum is awonderful place to explore what itmeans to Japanese American.

NISEI WEEK 1996 11 27

Ort[mists

The 17th annual Samurai 5K Run/Walk, sponsored by the JapaneseAmerican Optimist Club of Greater Los Angeles in cooperation with theNisei Week Japanese Festival.The challenging course is attempted by

hundreds of hopeful runners, each year, who face the early uphill climbs in thisTAC-sanctioned race.The winners in each division will be presented their

prizes by Miss Optimist, Grace Morino.The race starts in front of the Japanese American National Museum (First

Street and Central Avenue) at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday,August 11. Early pre-race reg-istration opens at 6 a.m.

The Japanese American Optimist Club has actively supported the youth of

this community since its inception over forty years ago. In the form of athleticprograms as well as academic contests, the club has endeavored to encouragechildren from elementary school through high school age to achieve theirgoals. Membership is open to any and all who are interested in spreading thatenthusiasm for achievement in their community For more information, please

call the Nisei Week office at 213/687-7193.

BEAUTY / HEALTH

Little Tokyo CosmeticsMatsuda Barber & Styling

Naris Beauty CenterShinseido Health

Tawa's Shiatsu Spa

BOOKS/PHOTO/VIDEO

Hikari One-Hour PhotoNippon Books Co.No Reply Video

Asian Busines League

CLOTHING*FASHION

AbAb Sports BoutiqueFootland My Foot Sports

J.P.Sports*Fashion GalleryJeans Pacific Golf

S.K. Uyeda Dept. Store

FOOD SPECIALTY

Enbun MarketFisherman's Co-opLittle Tokyo Yogurt

Mikawaya Sweets ShopYamazaki Bakery

JEWELRY

Da VinciShinyodoTokyo GiftsPlaza GiftsShinsei DoSilver City

28 LI N—ISEI WEEK 1996

JAPANESE VILLAGE PLAZASALUTES THE 56TH ANNUAL

NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL

0

Japanese Village PlazaOn First and Second Streets between San Pedro and Central Avenue

(213) 620-8861

RESTAURANTS / CAFES

Frying FishHama Sushi

Hanako RestaurantKomasa

Korean Kitchen Hibachi BBQMitsuru Cafe

Oiwake Karaoke RestaurantOomasaNaniwaRascal's

Rokudan of KobeSan Remo Night ClubShabu Shabu House

Sushi TeriTeishokuya of Tokyo

Tokyo GardensYagura Ichiban

SERVICES

Seven Star RealtyM.T. Uyehara Travel

Tsuneishi Insurance Agency

SPECIALTY MERCHANDISE

Mob -Gem USAPlaza Gift Center

Tokyo Gifts

OTHERS

Osamu Water ColorsSeven Stars RealtyM.T. Uyehara Travel

Tsuneishi Insurance Agency

:4*Q

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^

Atex,"-. i , •. tik

4 '4,•

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199NISEI WEEK COURT

ecially chosen to represent their community, 7-he 1996 Nsei Week Court brinether women of diverse talent and background. What may have been a childhood

ream will now become reality as these women are given the opportunity to share,preserve and promote understanding of their cultural identity.

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4 Parents: Tadaichi & Miyoko FukumotoSponsor: Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council

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cilge: 23 lieight: 5'7"'Birthplace: Yokosuka, JapanFligh School: West Torrance High SchoolCollege: California State University, Dominguez HillsGoals: My goal is to be happy in raising my own family

who I can love and support1-kbbies: Golf, volleyball, gardening, fishing, singingParents: Tom and Masae AkiyamaSponsor: South Bay JACL

32 NISEI WEEK 1996

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and going shoppingParents: Arthur and Pauline OkutakeSponsor: San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center

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pageants, peer counseling, making arts and crafts, yoga'1 Parents: Kijoon and Akiko ShinSponsor: East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center

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become active in organizations aimed at helping children;establishing a career; getting married and starting a family

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High School: Schurr High SchoolCollege: Mt. San Antonio CollegeGoals: To aim as high as I can achieve to return my appreciation

for my parents1-lobbies: Playing taiko and martial artsParents: Baron and Betty UjiiyeSponsor: Little Tokyo Lions Club

JUDY MIYUKISATO-GILBERTSON

Sho Tokyoc7Ilusume

kittle TokyoCinderellaStoryOne Night Last Summer

the Glass Slipper Fit.

Judy Sato-GilbertsonWas Crowned Queen

of Her Community,

But She'd Been There

All Along.The Beat of

The Taiko in Her Heart...

By DEKE BABAMOTO

he Nsei Week JapaneseFestival evolved dramatically

from somewhat crass beginningsin the 'Depression era to the

massive post-war celebrations that domi-nated the streets of the .(os cAngeles civiccenter each summer from 1949 till the mid-705. Today, in its 56th year, the crowdsmay have thinned out a bit, but many stillconsider the festival a barometer of wherethe Japanese cAmerican community hasbeen and where it is going.cAnd perhaps the most tradition-steeped

rite during the annual month-longfestivi-ties is the crowning of the Nsei WeekQueen. Word of the titleholder's identityand familial ties leapfrogs SouthernCalifornia's Nikkei endaves,from Oxnardto .Caguna Niguel, not unlike prairie fire.Who is she? Where is she from? Who

are her parents? 'These invariably are the'Big 'Three questions. Only when these factsare known can the community's unofficialinvestiture truly be played out.

With her lineage to the throne defined,heads nod their silent approval and onlythen is the queen's coronation complete."Ifail to the Queen!" cAll is well inJapanese cAmerica.

csince she was knee-high toa sweet-bean snowcone,Judy Miyuki Sato-Gilbertson has considered

Little Tokyo home turf. Her crown-ing as 1995 Nisei Week Queen lastAugust, was the culmination of afairytale-like story of a true ShoTokyo musume who literally blos-somed from tomboy to woman inthe heart of Los Angeles' historicJapanesetown.

The reigning queen is the onlychild of ICikue Sato. Although shewas born a few miles west of L.A.'scivic center, Judy's earliest child-hood memories all seem to centeraround E. 1st and San Pedro streets.

HomEGIRL

64-

gth

'm proud to say Iwas one of the first

eight students to attende Ltunbini School at

Higashi Hongwanji," Queen Judy, 22,recalls of her pre-school days. "Someof the fondest memories of mychildhood are of the green- and red-painted rooms at Lumbini and of theteachers and art classes there. It was

a great place to grow up:'Sometimes holding down more

than one job to make ends meet,Judy's mother enrolled her at thehighly-regarded Pilgrim School.Thefuture Nisei Week Queen wouldattend this private institution fromkindergarten through high schoolgraduation. On Saturday's, shewould dutifully attend Japanese lan-guage school at Hollywood Gakuen.She and her shin-Issei mother stillspeak Japanese at home.Summers would often fmd our

Little Tokyo girl in the real Tokyovisiting with relatives and attendingJapanese public school classes forsome intensive exposure to her sec-ond language."When I

was young, Icould under-stand but notspeak," Judyremembersabout thesesummer expe-riences onthe other sideof the Pacific.

NISEI WEEK 1996 W 37

CFrom a rely

• young age,Judy, whoWati aa

admitted"tomboy",excelled inmany areasof academics,athletics andthe arts.

Judy's parmtsencouraged

and sitpportedtier nomeroirs

eildeal,orsschich incholed

notsic, danceand painting.Jody and tiermother KikoeSato remain

1,ety close.

"But by the end of three months, Iwas forgetting my English."

Along with language, Judy's motherencouraged her to explore the worldof music through piano lessons, math-ematics through soroban (abacus)instruction, art through Japanesebrush painting and Japanese dance atthe Hanayagi Rokumie School. But it

was a serendipitous Sunday in Little

Tokyo that would introduce Judy to

the activity that, more than anything

else, would define her youth.

It was Obon season in J-Town, and

11-year-old Judy and her mom were

strolling by Zenshuji Buddhist Temple

on a hot summer evening.The beat of

taiko filled the air. Kikue Sato won-

dered if her little Judy Miyuki mightwant to give the Japanese drums a try.

"At first, I didn't want to play taiko,"confesses Judy."I didn't enjoy it at all. Iwas really skinny—a toothpick—backthen. In the beginning, it was for mymom."As it turned out, young Judy, among

the first to joino taihysicg tai

Zendeko, Sato-Gilbertson received

taiko training from Japan's famedOndekoza troupe. Involvement with

the temple-sponsored drummers alsoafforded her the opportunity to travel

across the country and to Canada andJapan and most likely ensured a life-long relationship with her community.

Highlights of her involvement withZendeko include a 1992 Carnegie Hall

concert, an appearance at the World

Cup soccer finals, performances for

South African freedom fighter Nelson

Mandela and Pope John Paul II and a

command performance before the

Emperor and Empress of Japan. Judy

and Zendeko can also be heard on thesoundtrack of the Siegfried and Roy

show at the Mirage Resorts in Las Vegas.

"Taiko taught me teamwork, con-centration and gave me confidence."explains Sato-Gilbertson. "It's alsotaught me patience and responsibility.It's been a great experience for me."

Nth.er reign on the NiseiWeek throne began withe Nisei Week Parade

through the streets of LittleTokyo the morning after her corona-tion at the Bonaventure Hotel.Thencame a whirlwind zenkoku tour ofJapan, courtesy calls on Nikkei festi-vals in Honolulu and San Franciscoand countless local appearances.Throughout it all, a tireless Sato-Gilbertson maintained a full load ofcourses at the University of SouthernCalifornia, worked part-time at theNew Otani Hotel and continued topractice with Zendeko twice a week.

"It's meant so much to me to beinvolved in Nisei Week," smiles Sato-Gilbertson. "Ever since I was little, IwasathJus

the par* everipie andbet

taiko.pl ta C

ta o r."

CONTROVERSY/IDENTITY/CHUTZPAH

csato-Gilbertson's year asqueen has not been withoutcontroversy. Shortly after shewas crowned, an Asian

American fashion magazine chargedthat the Nisei Week pageant might befavoring mixed-race candidates becauseof racial insecurity and politics.The Nisei Week Committee offered

to respond to the article but at thetime Sato-Gilbertson elected to let

the issue drop. Shortly, after publish-ing the charges, the magazine folded.But the rather mean-spirited allega-tion of favoritism clearly stung thisyear's queen.

If'

38

"None of the other girls mentionedthe article to me but I eventuallyfound out about it," says Judy "I thinkthey were trying to protect me from it."

Asked to comment about the maga-zine piece, Sato-Gilbertson pausedbriefly before carefully replying: "I wasvery disappointed. This was my first

encounter with this kind of thing.

Maybe because I didn't grow up withmy father, even though I was born of

mixed blood, I have always consid-ered myself Japanese. That's how Iwas brought up; that's who I am..."

It was not the first time the raceissue had been raised since the firstmixed-ancestry Nisei Week queen--

Elisa Akemi Cuthbert--was crownedback in 1974. The Japanese American

vernacular for those born of mixedmarriages--hapa--still carries an

underlying negative connotation.Since 1974, five out of 20 women

to hold the Nisei Week title havebeen of mixed parentage, includingSato-Gilbertson's predecessor, Kimi

LTsku a-Ev n ith out-

t ranrates

senting the Japanese American com-

munity and other issues of ethnic

identity will surely come up again, as

both the festival and the community

continue to evolve.

DEBTS TO PAY/PROMISES TO KEEP

CI" his spring Sato-

Gilbertson was graduatedfrom USC with a degree in

business. She had oncetoyed with the idea of becoming anartist but later changed her mind.

"I feel like I've worked all mylife:' Judy smiles, recounting part-time jobs in the sushi department

of Yaohan Market ("I couldn't washthe smell of fish out of my hands.")and as a clerk at a toy store. "Allthrough junior high and highschool I loved art but I chose busi-ness because I know in today's

world it's more practical."Although she is still unsure about

what her career will be, Judy has

made two promises to herself. One

is to show appreciation to her

mother and the other is to give

something back to the community."I know that it was tough for

mom to raise me being here alone

and not speaking English. She was

always strict but also very motherly

to me. It wasn't easy putting me

through Lumbini, private school

and then USC.A lot of the time I

didn't really show my appreciation.

"Now it's all up to me, and I hope

to someday repay her some way."

Judy is today one of the four

remaining original members of

Zendeko, and says she feels a debt

of gratitude for all th doors the -

d Zo4h1rnple

ko,

learned about honoring commit-

ments.We got a wonderful chance

10 years ago. Now it's time to pass

it on. I want give something back to

the younger kids."She also vows never be

a stranger to Little

Tokyo."To me, J-Town is

more than comfort-

able and familiar; it's

home. But with so

many people movingso far away fromhere, Nisei Week ismore important thanever. The festival canbring these vital community

souls back."

ft41 has beenserious' ammdttedto Taiko shice age H.

She tweakpepprmedpr the

Emperor andEmpress tyjapan.. Shereeekes suppnifivmZendeko her Kay)

group members, as well asbred ones and dose filetuts:

9661x3glA13s1N # Ot

fl-431111311-10 'Kt

uopmaToD

I.I

".And the 1995 Nisei Week Queen is.. JudyAkemi Gilbertson!" Theannouncement culminated the evening of competition an d festivities of theCoronation Bag certainly a magical and glamorous night to remember for all inatendance.

Following the momemtous evening Judy and her Court were then offmaking the rounds of thevarious Nisei Week events.

Displaying her royalradiance on the parade float,Judy shined while representingNisei Week touring Japan,Hawaii and San Francisco.

The 1995 Court included.1st Princess, Kristen Mukae,Miss Tomodachi, Aileen Sato,Ryoko Matsui, Alia Sakai,Maki Ichiroku and Alicia Awai.

•

NISEI WEEK 1996 * 41

t- •did" .1..Visiting Japan offered the NiseiWeek tour group an opportunityto participate in cultural rituals

and enjoy well deservedrelazation and recreation.

Whether onstage or ontour, theQueen, JudySato-Gilbertsonand Courtshow theircharm andgracious stylewhile beingwelcomed inHawaii andJapan.

-11

4.htVisiting

Each year, severalrepresentatives fromother courts come toNisei Week for theCoronation Bali Thisyear the Seattle Queen,Kymberly Rae Furuta,and the San FranciscoCherry Blossom Queen,Jill Elizabeth Sugitaexpress their good willby extending a specialgreeting. We salutetheir accomplishmentsand the communitiesthey represent.

Jill Elizabeth Sugita Kymberly Rae Furuta

-4ar

42 N..ISEI WEEK 1996

41\r16e1 Wee 1-e6v7Az Nzeciz6

Dennis MukaiThis prominent illustrator steps forward to involve

himself in the community by supportingthe Nisei Week Festival with his poster designs

Born in Hiroshimajapan and raised in the UnitedStates, Dennis Mukai has combined the influences ofboth cultures to create works woven by his innatesense of aesthetics and design.

Mukai's career has spannedalmost two decades.After gradu-ating with honors from ArtCenter College of Design inPasadena, Californian, in 1978,his artwork has ranged frompaintings and designs for theentertainment industry andnational advertising campaignsto editorial works for magazinesand periodicals. His illustrations

have appeared in Playboy mag-azine for the past ten years. Hefounded his illustration/design

studio Flatland, in 1990 and hasreceived many awards includingthose from the Society of Mus-trators,Art Directors Club of Los

Angeles, Communication Arts

magazine and the CreativeBlack Book.

Mukai is known best for hisportraits of beautiful womenproduced as original paintings

and limited editions. His workhas recently transitioned intoyet another medium for the ver-satile artist, photography.

Long-published by MirageEditions as one of their mostsuccessful programs, Mukai'simages are currently publishedby a new company,VMTU (pronounced ver-too). VIRTU wasformed in 1993 as a collaborative effort between Dennis Mukaiand Mirage's sales director of over 20 years, Carol Cooper.The

"Bridge"

new publishing company has continued to sell out its editionsthrough nationwide distribution and a continued program ofinnovative promotions directed towards an ever-growing fol-lowing of Mukai's art.

In 1994, the Art of DennisMukai was published byTreville Co. Ltd., a book publish-er known for their quality artbooks. Distributed by Trevilleworldwide, a special U.S versionof the book was produced anddistributed exclusively byVIRTU as part of a signed andnumbered limited edition set.Now sold out, this unique ver-sion of the book has quicklybecome a collectable.

In 1995, Mukai was featuredin YOLK magazine, followed bythe release of a limited issueposter produced jointlybetween YOLK and VIRTU topromote the new AsianAmerican magazine. Premieringhis first work depicting Asianbeauty, the poster featuresVietnamese R&B singer, CandicePhi Phi.

The two posters created forthe Nisei Week Festival are enti-tled "Bridge" and "Odori.""Bridge" depicts the cultural andinternational ties between Japanand the U.S., and "Odori" sym-bolizes the Japanese Americanannual celebration of Obon or summer fe

"Odori"

stival.Dennis Mukai will be signing posters at the Street Arts

Festival on August 10-11 and 17-18.

NISEI WEEK 1996 * 43

Congratulations

JALJapan Airlines

A wont° of COMFORT

JAL GROUP IN AMERICA

Avionet (USA) Ltd.

Hotel Nikko at Beverly Hills

JAL Passenger Services America, Inc.

JAL Systems Management, Inc.

JAL Trading Americas, Inc.

Lanovac, Inc.

Nikko Intlight Catering Co., Ltd.

Pacific Fuel Trading Corporation

Pacifico Creative Service, Inc.

Alice Watanabe '35

Sachi Kazunaga '50

Jean Yasui '58

-alf(vvielt( As,[ liVeA

Renko Oyama '36

Aiko Ogomori '51

Faith Higurashi '59

_ .Ruby Kamai '66 Joanne Sono Uehara '67 Clara Nonoshita '68

Af

Clara Suski '37

Emiko Kato '52

Penny Akemi Tani '60

Eliza Akemi Cuthbert '74 Dulcie Ogi '75

Janet Barnes '82

Sandra Posey '90

Margaret Nishikawa '38 Shizue Narahara '39 Shizue Kobayashi '40 Reiko Inouye '41

Judy Sugita '53 June Aochi '54

Dianne Kubota '61 Frances Yanai '62

Toni Sakamoto '69

Sandra Toshiyuki '76 Loris Kurashige '77

Tracy lsawa '83 Tamylin Tomita '84

Mutsuko Sata '91 Andrea Kawamoto '92

Jo Ann Uyemura '70

Stella Nakadata '55 Phillis Ono '56

Helen Funai '63 Sandy Saito '64

Terrie Hokoda '49

Mitzi Miya '57

Carol Kunitsugu '65

Joyce Kikuchi '71 Carol Lynn Matsunaga '72 Cheryl Kawakami '73

Lisa Yamamoto '78 Jeanne Nakagama '79 Hedy Ann Posey '80 Frances Shima '81

Tish Okabe '85 Jennifer Kusumoto-Ahn '86 LeeAnne Sera '87

Naomi Ono '93 Kimi Tokuda-Evans '94 Judy Sato-Gilbertson '95

Karen Uchizono '88 Sandra Fukushima '89

Crowning tilt new Queen

is the highlight of the

Festival. But there is also

a continuing interest in seeing

pictures of former queens andhow styles have changed overthe years.

NISEI WEEK 1996 * 45

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46 ft' NISEI WEEK 1996

"SPLASH OF COLOR" BY CALIF.JAPANESE CERAMIC ARTSGUILDCalf Japanese Ceramic Arts GuildAugust 10-1811 a.m. - 5 p.m.JACCC Doizaki Gallery

100TH/442ND/MIS NISEIVETERANS EXHIBIT100th/442nd MIS Veterans AssociateChapterAugust 10-11,17-1810 a.m.- 5 p.m.Japanese Village Plaza, CommunityRoom 210

CHILDREN'S ART DISPLAYJapanese Community PioneerCenterAugust 12 - 169:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.Sumitomo Bank; Union Bank; Bankof California

IIDA MIYUKI ART FLOWERlida Miyuki Art FlowerAugust 10-119:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.Higashi Honganji, Room 5

IKEBANA-JAPANESE FLOWERARRANGEMENTKado Kyoju KaiAugust 10 - 1110 a.m. -5 p.m.JACCC Doizaki Gallery

JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHYEXHIBITIONBeikoku Shodo KenkyukaiAugust 17-1810 a.m.- 5 p.m.Union Church

JAPANESE COOKINGDEMONSTRATION*Japanese Cooking SchoolAugust 1811 a. m. -12 noon; 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.Zenshuji Temple

JAPANESE SWORD EXHIBITNihon Token Hozon KaiAugust 17-1811 a.m.- 5 p.m.JACCC, Second Floor

ex 1(1 [tsJAPANESE TEA CEREMONYDEMOOmotesenke DomonkaiAugust 10-1111 a.m. -5 p.m.JACCC, 5th Floor Cultural Room

JAPANESE TEXTILE DYEING(AKANTE Km)Akane KaiAugust 17-1810 a.m.- 5 p.m.JACCC Gallery

KAMON (FAMILY CRESTS) ANDSURNAMESJ.A. Kamon KenkyukaiAugust 17 - 1810 a.m. -5 p.m.Higashi Honganji, Room 5

KANESAKA YUKARI-KIMEKOMIDOLLSYukari-kaiAugust 17 - 1810 a.m. -5 p.m.JACCC

KIMEKOMI DOLL EXHIBIT ANDDEMOHirofumi KaiAugust 10-1110 a.m.- 5 p.m.JACCC

KNITTING & HANDCRAFTPioneer CenterAugust 17 - 1810 a.m. -5 p.m.JACCC, 13-4

Los ANGELES/NAGOYA PHOTOEXCHANGE EXHIBITLAJA Photographic Fed.August 10-1110 a.m.- 6 p.m.; 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.Higashi Honganji

MARROW DONORRECRUITMENT DRIVEAsians for Miracle Marrow MatchesAugust 11;August 17 - 18 10 a.m. -5 p.m.Little Tokyo,Arts & Craft Fair

NAMPU-KAI PRESENTSBONSAI '96Nampu-kaiAugust 17-1810 a.m.- 5 p.m.JACCC Doizaki Gallery

PAINTINGS OF N. UYEMURA, P.KANEMITSU, M. KANEMITSUL.A.ArtcoreAugust 3 -3111 a.m. -4 p.m.L.A.Artcore Center

QUILT SHOWLittle Tokyo QuiltersAugust 1712 - 4 p.m.Centenary United MethodistChurch

R'YUSETSU-KAI SUMI-E EXHIBITRyusetsu-kaiAugust 10-1110 a.m. - 5 p.m.JACCC North Gallery

SHIGIN TAIKAISouthern California Shigin RenmeiAugust 1112:30 - 4 p.m.Zenshuji Temple

SUMI-E ARTJapanese Comm. Pioneer CenterAugust 17 - 1810 a.m. -5 p.m.JACCC, B-4

TAISHO CLUB AISEKI ANDBONSAI SHOWTaisho ClubAugust 17 - 1810 a.m. -4 p.m.Higashi Honganji

THE NIKKEI PARENT'S DAYFESTIVALNational Parent's Day CoalitionJuly 282 - 6 p.m.Japan America Theater

U.S. 101 PHOTO ExumaU.S. 101 Photo ClubAugust 17; 1810 a.m.- 5 p.m.; 10 - 3 p.m.Higashi Honganji

SASHIKOSashiko GroupAugust 1112 -4 p.m.JACCC, 13-4

NISEI WEEK 1996 11 47

II)a lice?Sometimes I Wonder WhyI Spend the Lonely NightDreaming of a Song

1 f the music of your youth becomes the soundtrack of your

Life, then it is no wonder why the jitterbugging dance

music, bodacious brass sections and wistful ballads of

America's big band era meant so much to Japanese

American kids who came of age during the 1930s and '40s.

As these second-generation Nisei step into their twilight

years, it has been the music of the Depression and World War II

that has triggered a community-wide Sentimental Journey back

to the bittersweet times in which they lived. Entire collections

of 78-rpm records are turning up on the doorstep of Little

Tokyo's Japanese American National Museum and nostalgic

"Last Hurrah" concerts have been Makin' Whoopee up and

down the West Coast.Although these Nisei are now in their 70s and Don't Get

Around Much Anymore, the musical legacy they have docu-

mented for posterity has rained down like Pennies From

Heaven.It has become clear that music

was a powerful potion in the

everyday lives of these pre-TV hyphenated Americans.Their Issei parents didn'talways understand their needto jive and jitter but even asMitsubishi Zeroes streaked overBattleship Row, their Victorolasand crystal sets were turned onand tuned in to the likes of GlennMiller, Artie Shaw, Les Elgart, Benny

Goodman, Woody Herman and

countless others who suggested Let's

Get Away From It All. Afterall, it really

Ain't Misbehavin'.Besides the 78s and the black-and-white photos, a rich histo-

ry of Nisei musicians and vocalists also has been dusted off and

placed on the community turntable. Names like Haruo

"Foozie" Fujisawa, Mary "The Songbird of Manzanar"

Kageyama and Manzanar's Jivebombers big band are again

crossing our lips but maybe for the last time.

48 El N..ISEI WEEK 1996

BY DEKE BABAMOTO

Drummer Fujisawa, who came charging out of the ImperialValley to pound out the beat for such Nisei big bands like thePoston Music Makers and Tets Bessho's Midnight Sere-naders, laughed recently that "you didn't make it known to your

Isamu Ujiiye doing the splits with Betty Nojiri, Chicago;Chickie lshihara White, left, sang with Koichi Hayashi's Harmonaireswhile interned in Minidoka, and later with the lets Bessho Band andthe Jim Araki Combo, among others.

Issei parents that you wanted to be a musician back then.""Foozie" must have thought "I'll Never Smile Again," as the

FBI confiscated his beloved crystal radio after Pearl Harbor. ButFujisawa and Northern California counterpart, drummer GeorgeYoshida, have opened a treasure trove of Japanese Americanmusical history to Sansei and Yonsei scholars and historians.

For instance, Nisei sax man Jim Araki is credited with intro-ducing jazz to Japan. Trombonist Paul Higaki was a key cog

in the great Lionel Hampton's brass section.And Nisei still won-

der how far the legendary show drummer Hide Kawano, who

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NISEI WEEK 1996 49

kt‘kk kqir

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used to knock 'em dead as a guest performer

with the Tommy Dorsey Band, would have

gone if "things" had been different for the gift-

ed Boyle Heights Nisei. If we are to

believe a bunch of formerbaggy-suited Little To-kyo yogore, today's hip-hop street gangstas, lock-

ers and break dancers

would've been blown

away by the dance floor jit-

terbug genius of Isamu Ujii-ye and Betty Nojiri.Japanese American Na-

tional Museum board member

Bruce Kaji has been a quiet

force behind the drive to docu-

ment Nisei music history. Retired

banking executive, Kaji donated his

substantial collection of old 78s to

the museum and has played a behind-

the-scenes role in the effort to let future

generations of Japanese Americans ,

know that in many ways the Nisei were

nothing but a bunch of jiving Be-Bop

Boogie Woogie Buddhaheads.

Kaji, who played trumpet for the

"Jivebombers" while interned at Manzanar

and who later "blew his head off' for Tets

Bessho's band, today eschews Snoop Doggy

Dog and Metallica."Oh, my favorites are still Charlie Spivak,

Bunny Berrigan and Glenn Miller," smiles Kaji,

now 70. "My Top Five from back then would

have to be...wow, let's see...Without a Song, I'll

Never Smile Again, In the Mood, Tuxedo

Junction and Getting Sentimental (Over You.)

In fact, I've got a cassette in my car right now..:'

It Seems to Me

I've Heard That Song Before;

It's From an Old Familiar Score,

I Know It Well, That Melody,It's Funny How a Theme RecallsA Favorite Dream,A Dream That Brought You Close to Me

50 El NISEI WEEK 1996

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,4 44 11

Poston MusicMakers

Members of the lets Bessho Band, fromleft, front row: George Azuma, Kay Noda,

lets Bessho, Gordon Sato; at piano, Mary Minato andsinger/actor Lane Nakano; second row: Walt Hayami, George

Sumida, and Bruce Kaji; third row: Roy Nakagawa, George Shimizu,bassist Joe Sakai with drummer Foozie Fujisawa at rear.

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George Yoshida, above,has played with several bands,including the Poston MusicMakers, the Nisei MusicMakers in Chicago and theSan Francisco J-TownJan Ensemble.

Mary KageyamaNomura was knownas the "Songbird of

Manzanar,"right and below.

Sue Takimoto Okabe, right andbelow, had classical voice

training before switching to apop/jazz style of singing

in the 1950s.

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NISEI WEEK 1996 51

1996 qs.[Ae ChoYeovffheY:

Bando Mitsusa

Mitsusa Bando began her Japan-

ese dancing lessons at the age

of seven in 1926 in Sacramento,

California under the direction of Yama-

mura Toku of the Yamamura JiutamaiSchool of Osaka. While performing with

the Sacramento All-Girls Kabuki, she wasinvited to join the Los Angeles All-Girls

Kabuki to perform in Hawaii.After completion of high school, in

1938, she was encouraged by noted

Japanese dancer Mme. Mitsumi Bando to

go to Japan for formal schooling in clas-

sical dance under the distinguished Kabuki star Bando

Mitsugoro VII. She was granted the title Misa Bando.

While in Japan, Mme. Bando studied nagauta under Yoshi-

mum Itoju and narimono under Fukuhara Tsurue. In 1940, she

was invited by NHK to perform nagauta in "Southern California

Evening," a first-time live broadcast to the United States from

Japan. She was also chosen to perform in a 10-day production in

the Toho Meijinkai at the Toho Shogekijo in 1939.

Mme. Bando began teaching Japanese classical dance upon

returning to Los Angeles in February 1941. Her first recital was

held in June, 1941 at Yamato Hall in Little Tokyo. During World

War II, she taught oven l 20 interned youth at Tule Lake, where

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POLACOSMETICS

52 E NISEI WEEK 1996

she was relocated.After the end of the war, Mme. Bando returned to Los Angeles

and has since taught Japanese classical dance to Nisei, Sansei,

Yonsei and Gosei. In 1957, Mme. Bando was appointed the offi-

cial U.S. delegate of the Bando School and simultaneouslybestowed her current professional title, Mitsusa Bando.

In addition to classes in Los Angeles, Mme Bando has com-muted twice monthly to San Jose, California since 1972, whereshe instructs Japanese dancing to its large Northern CaliforniaNikkei community. Through the years, Mme. Bando and her stu-dents have performed for countless events.To her credit are herchoreography in the 20th Century Fox production of "TheBarbarian and the Geisha" and Pasadena Playhouse's "Teahouseof the August Moon." Over the last several years, her kimono-clad students have been invited to ride several award-winningfloats in the prestigious Rose Parade.

Mme. Bando has received commendation by the City andCounty of Los Angeles at the Seventh Anniversary of the JACCC;a Cultural Achievement Award in conjunction with the NiseiWeek's 50th Anniversary; and recognition by the KenjinkaiKyogikai for her lifelong devotion to Japanese culture. She will

be recognized in September of this year as a 1996 Cultural Heri-tage Award recipient by the Japanese American Historical Socie-ty of Southern California.

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Head Office: 251 E. Victoria St.. Carson, CA 90746 (310)527-9696Hawaii Office: 2850 Pukoloa Street #302, Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)834-0270New York Office: 666 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10103 (212)765-1133Pola Canada: 2 Thorncliffe Park Dr. #27 Toronto, Ontario, M4H 1H2 Canada (416)367-5115

40m ANNUAL NISEI WEEKKARATE EXITIBMONTOURNAMENTShotokan Karate of AmericaAugust 105 - 7:30 p.m.Nishi Hongwanji Gym

WOFtLD SHORINRYU KARATEKOBUDOAugust 104 p.m.Centenary United MethodistChurch

56m ANNUAL NW AmmoAND SWORDSMANSHIP DEMOAikido Center d Los Angeles.

August 111 p.m.Aikido Center of L.A.

SAMURAI 5-K RUNJapanese American Optimists

August 11, 19966 a.m.First Street

SHOFUNJI KEMPODEMONSTRATIONShorinji KempoAugust 173:15 - 4:15 p.m.JACCC Noguchi Plaza

6rores 11014,41fitte4t Aifi

56m ANNUAL NW AmmoAND SWORDSMANSHIP DEMOAikido Center of L.A.August 17, 1812 -4 p.m.Japanese Village Plaza

KENDO TOURNAMENTS. Calif. Kendo FederationAugust 189 a.m. -6 p.m.Hompa Hongwanji Gym

NW INVITATIONAL COEDVOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENTVolleyball TournamentAugust 3,48:30 a.m. -5 p.m.; 8 a.m. -7 p.m.VariousNisei Week 9-Ball Pool TournamentAugust 10 - 1112 noonMr. Billiards Bar and GrillNikkei GamesOCNCCAugust 188 a.m.-10 p.m.Calif. State Univ., Long Beach

KYOKUSHIN KARATEDEMONSTRATIONKyokushin KarateAugust 113:20 - 5:20 p.m.Japanese Village Plaza

SCNGA GOLF TOURNAMENTSCNGAAugust 186:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.Imperial Golf Course

SCNWGA NISEI WOMEN'SGOLF TOURNAMENTSCNWGAAugust 127 a.m. ShotgunCandlewood Country Club

ANNUAL NISEI WEEKINVITATIONAL TENNISTOURNAMENTJHK AssociatesAugust 3,4,10,118 a.m.- 6 p.m.Long Beach Community College

NISEI WEEK 1996 El 53

Welcome to the 'Hot

Families will be making themselves athome in Little Tokyo, literally, come Oc-tober of this year.Casa Heiwa is the new affordable

housing structure being built at 231 E.Third St., at the corner of Third and LosAngeles Streets, in the heart of L.A.'s his-toric Japantown.The Little Tokyo Ser-vice Center Community DevelopmentCorporation, as the housing and eco-nomic development arm of the non-profit agency, is developing the pro-ject—which many communitymembers are calling the first family-ori-ented housing in the area in many years.To them, Casa Heiwa represents more

than an affordable housing project. It

LTSC CDC Staff: (7 to r) Lisa Sugino, Erick Nakano,

Joanne Tashiro, Ron Barbiero And Minako Shirai

at San Pedro Firm Bldg.

Photo courtesy of Jim Shin, Rafu Shimpo.

also means neighborhood revitalizationand an influx of families into an area lack-ing in a residential population."Casa Heiwa is the first real family

housing in Little Tokyo in a long time,"said Bill Watanabe, executive director ofthe Little Tokyo Service Center."Hope-fully it will bring in new people and fami-lies to the Little Tokyo community"The developers of Casa Heiwa made a

conscious decision to build housingthat seniors, downtown workers andtheir families, single adults who workedin Little Tokyo and disabled personscould reside in.After conducting a sur-vey, LTSC discovered a strong demandby these groups either to live in an eth-nic community or to live near theirwork place, and what has resulted is a

54 El NISEI WEEK 1996

-411Mm.....