一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

 

Mia Naoko Rosas presented with her very first Yukata just in time for Obon by her namesake Naoko "Nikki" Ikeda in front of the Blooming Art Gallery in the Japanese Plaza. What a generous gift!

ありがとう ございます!

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

A rare hat shaped cloud was seen over Mount Fuji sometimes called "tsurushi-gumo," or hanging cloud. This phenomena occurs after a Typhoon swirls winds around the volcano. This image was photographed and circulated across the internet on Wednesday morning.

Personal Reflections: A Time of Mourning and Living.

It's been over a week since the untimely death of one of the most vibrant enigmatic personalities I have ever known. Suzanne DeSha was so full of life and tragically lost at the age of 44. Understated, but never underrated she was a timeless beauty that embraced nature and the natural wonders around her. And what a loss it was for so many of us that knew her to end up on a stretch of Highway 33 in the full bloom of life. It didn't matter if one had lost touch or was not close with her, she had that mark about her that with one glance of her entrancing eyes that one could not forget her beauty and subtle grace. For me, her death has made me take a hard look at my own life and what I've not been doing right. She lived for the outdoors and brought a smile wherever she went.
 

Suzanne had a zest for life unequaled by those who knew her. Her life lesson learned has not been lost on yours truly. It is with such great sense of void and sadness one reaches within and ponders what we can take from this tragedy and learn from. As with all American Mishima stories the central theme centers around the "Fragility of Life" and the consequences of failing to recognize that in time. In all due honestly, I could not have written a better character than the one I knew in Suzanne DeSha. Always composed, and noble in dignity. She was one of those rare beings of light that could brighten any darkened room or saddened occasion. As a practicing Buddhist and believer in the state of Nirvana she possessed, her spirit will continue on in her photos, our hearts, and in our memories. 40 years from now those of us who will have survived by then will still remember those beautiful haunting eyes of hers and the happiness she shared with the people around her from her sister Diane, parents, friends, classmates, coworkers, and her loving boyfriend Tom who she had blissfully spent her last six months on Earth with. And for those of us left behind, those who were close and those who admired her from afar, her timeless beauty and lust for life should not be lost on us. Not a chance.

So I say make an effort everyday to appreciate the life and world around you. See beyond the endless bills, politics, and hardships life throws at us and appreciate the light those bright beings have given us. Go outside, see the parks, walk in the sand, feel the ocean at your feet and smile at the sky and when possible see the world. A beautiful life has left us but not in our hearts nor our consciousness. Even if you did not know Suzanne, from reading her accolades one could appreciate her uniqueness and how fortunate we were to have known such a wonderful human being. One in a million one could say. Everyone at some point in their life if they are lucky as we were will come across one of these unique beings that without any effort will light up a room and make the world in one small subtle way or another a better place. Appreciate the life lessons they bestow among us and cherish these moments for you never know when they might slip past you or come to an end. For Suzanne, this is not the end. In Buddhist terms the Enlightened will have safely crossed the sea of birth and death and have reached the shore of liberation. Suzanne had found her Nirvana and lived life to the fullest as we should while we still can. I am sure somewhere out there she is smiling down on us. In one form or another we shall see her once again.

In Deep Reflection and Memourium

Suzanne DeSha

April 2nd, 1968  -  June 12th, 2012

A Noteworthy Passing: Suzanne DeSha 1968-2012

American Mishima is sad to announce the passing of an old dear friend from school who was tragically killed in a car accident yesterday in Ventura County. Suzanne DeSha was an adventurous spirit, independent, and a true original from Camarillo California. She had just turned 44 in April. She is survived by her parents, sisters, and her boyfriend Tom Baughman. She loved hiking and music. She was friendly to everyone she met and will be terribly missed by those who knew her and those who loved her. 

Rest in Peace. 

Suzanne DeSha 

1968-2012

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

Vintage Photo of LA's most famous Nisei and Star Trek Icon actor/activist George Takei visiting Boy Scout Troop 379 based out of the Los Angeles Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo. (Say, that's where we go!) As it turns out, Takei was once a proud member of Troop 379 and played the bass bugle in the troop’s drum and bugle corps. Who would have known!

神道の合気道, Rare Look at the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America

The video featured here is of the Kannagara Aikido Aiki Taisai, filmed by Alex Williams on April 27-29 2012 with Rev. Koichi Barish at Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America in Granite Falls, Washington. As a one time member of the Shinkendo Honbu, I have had the distinct pleasure of being a guest of the Aikido group and Barraish Sensei up there. The Tsubaki Grand Shrine of America has to be one of the most awesome places to train in martial arts I have ever experienced. The spiritual side to Bushido can not be understated particularly in regards to Aikido whose founder 植芝 盛平, Ueshiba Morihei himself was a devout Shinto practitioner. We at American Mishima love to feature this shrine for it has special meaning for us. The beauty and power of the place is both unmistakable and quite awe inspiring for the site itself was chosen by the direction of the Kami. The river ceremony depicted here is the Shinto morning purification rite known as Misogi. Traditionally performed in Japan under a waterfall, it is done there in the Pilchuck River. Yours truly has participated in this purification at this very Shrine during the summer of 2010. Much like Shinto itself, photographs can only show you so much. Video on the other hand gives you the next closest thing to being there. However, it's better experienced than explained. If you have an interest in Shinto or Aikido, we highly reccomend a visit to The Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America. You'll be glad you did.

For more information about Kannagara Aikido, please contact Kannushi@Tsubakishrine.org. This year Kannagara celebrates it's 20th year.

三島, 英語を話す Rare English Interview with Yukio Mishima

The legendary Japanese author & playwright Yukio Mishima is featured here on American Mishima in a rare english interview where he speaks on a variety of subjects including his thoughts on Bushido, Kendo, Hagakure, Noh, Kabuki, his own private army, and Death itself. It is a fascinating look in this snapshot of time back to 1970 and the state of mind of the celibrated and most controversial author. It should be noted that his peculiar accent stems from the post war era where American English supplanted if not replaced Kings English of the prewar era. This combination of the two schools are evident in his voice. It should also be noted that in this interview he spoke of dying like the author of the Hagakure in a state of old age on some tatami mat. It's most ironic given that the Hagakure and Mishima himself espoused ideals of how a Samurai should end his life that he himself envisioned living to old age. But ultimately, this would not be how Mishima would end. With his four most trusted members of his own private army, he would stage an elaborate stunt if you will that would gurantee him no other option than to commit Seppeku on the world stage, an event that 42 years later is still a subject of controversy and with some of the baby boomer generation a delicate subject to this day. In that quest to shock and awaken the ways of old Yukio Mishima had succeeded.