Welcome to my blog. I document my adventures in travel, style, and food. Hope you have a nice stay!
All in Heritage
The Japanese American National Museum has had an exhibit open for the past couple of years, Irei: National Monument for the WWII Japanese American Incarceration which includes three elements: a website (Ireizō), light sculptures (Ireihi), and a book of names (Ireichō). Tynor, Mallory, and I were in Southern California before Melody, Kellen, and Noël before my dad’s memorial service, so we took the opportunity to go to the JANM to stamp names in the Ireichō.
It's been 75 years since FDR signed Executive Order 9066, so I went through to see what photos I had of my mom's family while they were in Jerome, Arkansas. I don't have any photos of my dad's family in Gila River, Arizona.
We made our annual trip to the Southern California area. Mochi was made and miles were walked.
Kokeshi (こけし, which literally translates as "limbless wooden doll") is a kind of Japanese doll collected by many. The one I have has been around for quite a while, and I haven't seen another one like it.
Whenever my family gathers is special, but this past week has been more so as we fondly remembered my Aunt Toshi, who passed away earlier in the month. To say Auntie was a force of nature wouldn't come close to the impact she's had on family, friends, and community.
The latest set of blooms we're getting in the Seattle area is wisteria, which has unmistakable blossom clusters and a penchant to climb. There are several specimens on the walk between work and the house.
Yet another article appeared in last Saturday's Seattle Times about the Japanese American internment during WWII. This time, Kimiko Nagaoka Mukai received her degree from Seattle Pacific University, over 65 years after she was forced to leave the west coast. She was awarded the degree during her 90th birthday party. SPU has identified seven other Japanese American students who were also forced to leave and has been reaching out to their families.
This past weekend the Seattle Times had an article about how the Iraqi-bound 34th Division honored Japanese-American members of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. The 442nd was a Japanese-American unit of the US Army during WWII which highly decorated, while many of the soldiers had families in internment camps at the time.
Melody and I had Shabu Shabu for dinner last night. It's a little like fondue since everyone can put whatever kind of food they want into the pot, but instead of cheese (or chocolate) the liquid is a sort of broth (my mom used to do a fish stock, but I did a chicken stock last night). This picture is from 1987, and shows my dad getting ready. You can see several kinds of food on the trays and if you look closely, you can see a second pot on the near side of the table (there were several people at dinner that day).
