受像 George Takei to appear on Celebrity Apprentice

America's best known Nisei George Takei better known for his portrayal of Hikuru Sulu on Star Trek will appear on the 2012 Season of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice. As Takei-san put it:  "Now, the Donald and I don't always see eye to eye, but I'm doing this for charity, playing to raise money and awareness for Japanese American National Museum." Now what is special about his relationship to the Japanese American National Museum is that most people do not know that years before his big break on the set of Star Trek, Takei-san was once a young five year old Nisei in Los Angeles whose family was forced to abandon everything they owned and watch their neighbors loot their belongings while his family boarded buses with only one suitcase per person containing all they were allowed to keep. This of course was the result of President Franklin Roosevelt's shamefully misguided lowpoint in the history of American Civil Liberties, Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced evacuation of some 120,000 Japanese and Japanese-Americans from the West Coast to remote Concentration Camps. Takei-san in previous interviews described being bused to the Santa Anita Race Track and forced with his entire family to live behind barbed wire and guarded by armed soldiers in filthy horse stables for one week before being made to board trains at gun point to be relocated for the next three years to America's Concentration Camps during WWII.

George Takei has always been and continues to be a strong supporter of the JANM to help educate future generations of Americans of the dangers of cultural fear and ignorance and what it could lead to so that what happened to him and his family will not happen again to any ethnic group on US Soil. We at American Mishima support these efforts of the Japanese American National Museum and the efforts of people like George Takei. For a better understanding of this experience we reccomend watching the 1990 film Come See The Paradise starring Tamlyn Tomita & Dennis Quaid. After watching this you will have an idea what people like George Takei went through and why this cause is so important.

The new season of Celebrity Apprentice debuts Feb. 12th, 2012. We would like to wish Takei-San がんばってください! To find out more about the Japanese American National Museum please visit their website @ http://www.janm.org/ or simply visit them at 369 East First Street, Los Angeles California 90012 in the Heart of Little Tokyo. You'll be thankful you did.

新しい年 Happy New Years 2012!

あけまして おめでとう ございます! 2012 - The Year of the Dragon has arrived! As with every new years Emperor Akihito makes his Oshogatsu Address where this year he wished for peace and tranquility of the world and happiness of the people.” Akihito went on to say “It is my hope that the New Year will be a good year for the people of Japan and the people of the world,” he said. The Emperor expressed sympathy for those who suffered from the summer heat and the continuous economic troubles.“I hope that people will cherish their families and community ties and support one another to overcome these challenges they are facing. I also hope that they will work together with the people of the world and do their utmost in pursuit of peace and stability.”

So Meanwhile in Little Tokyo.....

I woke up with a slight hangover asking myself "Kyo wa Shogatsu desu ka? Then why the hell does it feel more like Obon than New Years? The Summer heat was unseasonally on. Normally you would see people in Yukata in 85*+ heat but this is January. Doishta da na?!? Well not to much can be done about the Summer in Winter but a Banzai Cheer Sake' toast at the Koyasan Betsuin to a packed full house will certainly take you elsewhere. As with every year over one thousand visitors descended on the Koyasan Buddhist Temple to both partake in the New Years Day Service and to buy Omori and other New Years amulets much in the same way done throughout Japan only we are doing it here in the City of Angels.

Japanese New Years in Little Tokyo is as festive as ever with Traditional Dance and Martial Arts exhibitions at the Weller Court. Did I mention the food? So many vendors with all the Oiishii delicacies to choose from but what really caught our eyes were the people from the Kimono Club who came decked out in some of the most beautiful Kimono this side of Kyoto. They never fail to impress. Before Mia Naoko gets ready for her first Shichi-Go-San I am sending Tinahime to go talk with them!

A new addition to the Oshogatsu celebrations was the appearence of the newly formed Shingonji Temple. This is headed by former Koyasan Betsuin Shukan Seicho Asahi who had resigned his position at the Koyasan Buddhist Temple to create a learning center for teaching further in depth Shingon Buddhism. It was good to see Asahi Sensei along with Koyanagi Sensei at his side just like old times.

 

Well back at Japanese Village Plaza the taiko had just concluded when Akira Keneda's famed Martial Arts group took to the stage in front of the Nijiya Market. Keneda who is also an accomplished actor, producer, and martial arts instructor dazzled the crowds with their exhibition. I would loved to have stuck around a little longer but the near 90* summer like heat was getting to us so with that we bid our friends あけまして おめでとう ございます, We wish all of you a Happy New Years and ask that you continue to read our American Mishima Blog. ども ありがとう ございます!

Enjoy!

Hatsumiyamairi - Baby's First Shrine Visit

Hatsumiyamairi - Baby's First Shrine Visit for a newborn baby is the first in a series of life cycle ceremonies in the Shinto Religion. This is done for the success, happiness, and overall well being of the newborn child. Being that there are no local Shinto Shrines in Little Tokyo, Tinahime and I decided upon our child's birth that for our little Mia-Naoko that make the trek up north to Granite Falls north of Seattle to The Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America for her very own Hatsumiyamairi.

Traditionally, Hatsumiyamairi is generally done on the 32nd day for boys and the 33rd day for girls. This of course can also be set by the Guji as in our case where the Rev. Koichi Barrish allowed us to have Mia's blessing on the 32nd day.

As no photography is allowed during the ceremony, we were given the oportunity to take this photograph and many others at the ceremony's conclusion. We were quite pleased with the ceremony and our little Mia who was wide awake was quite a receptive little angel earning the adoration of the Guji and Shrine staff.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone including the baby partook in the sacred sake which presented a memorable reaction from Mia. At first she smiled then 30 seconds later squinted her eyes then all four limbs stretched instantly. I guess that sake' got the delayed reaction but all was good.

It was a brisk 35 degrees at the Grand Tsubaki Shrine but absolutely beautiful in the winter weather. This was our second visit to the Shrine and byfar a most pleasureable time up at the shrine. If you have a curiosity about Shinto outside of Japan, please visit The Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America. It is one hour north of Seattle and relatively easy to get to and well worth the experience.

We can not thank enough the Rev. Koichi Barrish & Mrs. Barrish as well as the Tsubaki Shrine staff for their warm hospitality. We look forward to our next visit to The Grand Tsubaki Shrine of America. Please enjoy these photos we took on the Shrine grounds kudasai. We enjoyed Mia-Naoko's Hatsumiyamairi and we are sure from our photos you will enjoy them too. Enjoy!

Kotohajime Date Announced for 2012

No New Years in Little Tokyo is not complete without the annual Kotohajime - First Performance of the year put on by the Japanese-American Cultural & Community Center aka JACCC. Due to continued renovations at the New Aratani Theater, this years Kotohajime will be performed outdoors in the JACCC Plaza. We have gone every year for the last six years and have never been disappointed culminating each years performance with the  ritual shooting of the arrow – a purification ceremony –  performed by IKKYU of the Los Angeles Kyudo Archery Group and the annual Sake toast. So if you have never been to one of these performances, here's your chance to see and take part in one of the best and most culturally unique celebrations taking place in the City of Angels in the heart of Little Tokyo.

Kotohajime will take place Sunday, 01.08.12, 1pm in the JACCC Plaza - Free Admission. 

  See you there!

太平洋の奇跡－フォックスと呼ばれた男－ Oba The Last Samurai

Oba The Last Samurai came out in Japanese theaters in February of this year. It is the true story of Captain Oba and his men who fight on in the island of Saipan after the Emperor had surrendered. It has a large Japanese cast starring Yutaka Takenouchi as Captain Oba, Toshiaki Karasawa as Kesamatsu Horiuchi, Mao Inoue as Chieko Aono. It also has two notable American actors Daniel Baldwin and veteran actor Treat Williams. I have not found a good english subtitled version yet but from what I can see from the available trailers this looks heavy. It has been said this film told from the Japanese side captures the War's end in graphic detail and the deep emotional punch you can expect from Japanese films depecting the War in the Pacific. If anyone comes across a source for a good subtitled copy please let us know. Arigatou!

こんにちは Konnichi-Wa Mia-Chan!

So you are probably wondering why I have not written so much lately. We'll it's all led up to this beautiful moment some nine months in the making. Little Mia-Naoko Rosas was born today on 11.07.2011. Both mom and baby are doing fine after ceasarian section at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica California. This is my third child and the first for Tinahime who I am now spending a life together with. They say three is a charm and with this little girl I have no doubts whatsoever! Arigatou for your continued support!
American Mishima

一日の画像 - Picture of the Day

His Holiness the Dalai Lama looks on as monks from Koyasan chant before his public talk on "The Strength to Overcome Difficulties" held in Osaka, Japan, on October 30, 2011. Photo/Kimimasa Mayama