An Japanese Zero Fighter in Washington D.C.

Last week, we flew to Washington D.C. to induct our father in the Vietnam Veterans Memory Day Ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial Wall. As you may imagine, this was an emotional journey that would require some decompression. So to do that we went top go fulfill a life long ambition of visiting the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum. And to our surprise, we found our favorite fighter plane swooping down on us from suspended cables of the ceiling a real Japanese A6M Zero Fighter!

While she was not lit up so well, we could see remarkable details on this plane that once prowled the skies over the South Pacific.

 With such low lighting you can not see the radio antenna so well but it's there!

As you can see with such static display's that dust robs some of this plane's beauty. But for Zero lovers and WWII Aviation buffs alike this still draws a smile.

This well preserved A6M is in good condition. It's a shame she's not dusted off or buffed but we're just happy to see her there among such an amazing collection of airplanes in what could be best surmised as one of the greatest Air and Space Museums in the World.

The Smithsonian does sell a t-shirt with the Zero on it. If you get an opportunity to visit our nation's capital, we at American Mishima highly recommend visiting the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

If you would like to learn more, please visit: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum

American Naval Might

Seen here is at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego is a rare gathering of American Naval Power in one place: Three United States Navy Nimitz Class Carriers the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), and the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). While some people have used this photo and a similar one at Norfolk Virginia as a call for alarm with fears of another Pearl Harbor, such fears are made without facts. In this case, The USS Carl Vinson has just returned from a ten month deployment. The USS Ronald Reagan is preparing to move to Japan. And the USS John C. Stennis was simply making a scheduled port of call before heading to her home port in Bremerton Washington. So for those worry-wort's out there who question the judgment of our naval leadership we say to you enjoy this photo and just relax. The U.S. Navy is on watch 24/7 365 days a year.

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

Seen here is Nicolas Sensei and Shinkendo Kaiso (Founder) and our former Sensei Toshishiro Obata with yours truly at the Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo Los Angeles. While it has been five years since we have studied under Obata Kaiso, we still hold him in admiration as a master swordsman and martial arts instructor.