Readings

BERKELEY — Hiroshi Kashiwagi, author of the recently published “Shoe Box Plays,” will conduct a play reading and book signing at Berkeley Buddhist Temple, 2121 Channing Way, on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. following the morning services.

Haruko Nagaishi and Yuki Kawaguchi, both formerly with the Center Players of San Francisco, will be featured in the reading from Kashiwagi’s play “The Betrayed.” After the reading, a reception and book signing will be held in the Social Hall.

The San Francisco Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) will present a talk by author Greg Robinson about “Miné Okubo: Following Her Own Road” (University of Washington Press), which he co-edited, on Saturday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m. at JACL National Headquarteres, 1765 Sutter St. in San Francisco’s Japantown.

The Japan Society of Northern California will present “The Six Faces of Genji: Manga Versions of The Tale of Genji” on Thursday, Sept. 25, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (registration at 6 p.m.) at the Mechanics’ Institute, 57 Post St. in San Francisco.

This is part of a series of events commemorating the millennium anniversary of Murasaki Shikibu’s literary classic, “The Tale of Genji” (Genji Monogatari).

LIVERMORE — Bilingual storyteller Megumi will share “Japanese American Internment Stories of Strength and Hope,” followed by a Q&A session with former internees, on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the English Department at Las Positas College, the event takes place in the Student Center, Building 1700, 3033 Collier Canyon Rd. in Livermore. It is free and open to the public.

For more information call (925) 424-1000, or visit www.megumitales.com.

“The Women of The Tale of Genji” will be presented by the Japan Society of Northern California on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (registration at 6 p.m.) at San Francisco State University’s Downtown Campus, 835 Market St., sixth floor, Room 607.

To commemorate the millennium anniversary of Murasaki Shikibu’s literary classic, “The Tale of Genji,” the Japan Society will host a series of events that celebrate this historic novel.

ALBANY — A speech presentation by Debito Arudou, who challenged the “Japanese Only/No Foreigners Allowed” practices at many Japanese businesses and garnered international support for confronting Japan’s xenophobia, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the University Village Community Center Gym, 1123 Jackson St. in Albany.

The entrance is at the intersection of San Pablo Avenue and Monroe Avenue, one block south of Marin Avenue.

BERKELEY — Haruki Murakami, internationally recognized as Japan’s leading novelist, writer and translator, and winner of the Yomiuri Prize for his critically acclaimed “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle,” will give a reading and talk Saturday, Oct. 11, at 8 p.m. at Zellerbach Hall.

A conversation with Roland Kelts, Tokyo University lecturer and author of “Japanamerica,” will be followed by a Q&A with the audience. This event is presented in association with the Center for Japanese Studies at UC Berkeley.

Bilingual storyteller Megumi will present “Japanese Folk Tales” at the following venues:

Saturday, June 21, at 3:50 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural Fair in Mission Plaza Park, 103 Emmett St. in Santa Cruz. Info: www.jcfsc.org.

Wednesday, June 25 — 1 p.m. at Marina Library, 190 Seaside Circle in Marina. Info: (831) 883-7507. 3:30 p.m. at Castroville Library, 11160 Speegle St. in Castroville. Info: (831) 769-8724.

BERKELEY — Renowned Northwest region author Paul Gerhards, publisher and author of “Mapping the Dharma,” will be at the BCA Bookstore, 2140 Durant Ave. (at Fulton) in Berkeley, on Saturday, June 14, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Gerhards has been studying and practicing Buddhism for more than 10 years. His principal course of study is Theravada, the school of Buddhism also known as Southern Transmission, which has its roots in Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Mystery writer Naomi Hirahara will speak on Saturday, June 14, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St. (between Valencia and Mission) in San Francisco. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Hirahara and arts writer Sheerly Avni of Salon.com will appear as part of Writers With Drinks, a monthly “spoken-word variety show” hosted by Charlie Anders, author of “Choir Boy.” The event features a variety of guests, including authors, poets, comedians, cartoonists and radio hosts.