Local

‘The Place to Be’ Now on CD

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:30:36 -0800

LOS ANGELES — The Grateful Crane Ensemble has announced the completion of the “Nihonmachi: The Place to Be” original cast album CD featuring all 19 songs from the popular touring musical show about California’s historic Japantowns.

Since its world premiere in 2006, “Nihonmachi” has played to thousands of people across California, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Jose, Long Beach, and Torrance, as well as Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ukulele Source Opens Its Doors in San Jose Japantown

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:23:12 -0800

by BARBARA HIURA
Hokubei Mainichi

SAN JOSE— The musical stylings of renowned ukulele player Herb Ohta Jr. and slack key guitarist Keoki Kahumoku made the Ukulele Source grand opening in San Jose’s Japantown the place to be on the sunny Sunday afternoon of Oct. 5.

What could be better then listening to great Hawaiian music, eating Hawaiian food, and celebrating the one and only ukulele retail shop in the Bay Area, located right in the heart of Japantown?

San Mateo Kabuki Group Meets Dec. 7

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:15:46 -0800

SAN MATEO — Every first Sunday of the month, San Mateo Kabuki Group watches kabuki videos at the Japanese American Community Center, 415 S. Claremont St.

On Dec. 7 at 1:30 p.m., the group will watch “Tatatoki,” written by Kawatake Mokuami in 1884.

The 9th Hojo Takatoki (played by Nakamura Hashinosuke) is utterly infatuated with drinking and women. His political power is unreasonably outraged. His vassals are perplexed.

One day his mansion is plunged into darkness and a fierce storm breaks out. A number of long-nosed goblins then appear one by one before the pensive Takatoki.

Sachiko to Hold Thanksgiving Weekend Sale

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:13:28 -0800

EMERYVILLE — A safe haven for East Bay ladies to shop Thanksgiving weekend, without the usual crowd crunch, will be at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel at 601 Powell St. in Emeryville, just one block east of Interstate 80.

Sachiko Fashion will be showing over 500 garments and some specialty take-home holiday gifts. Joining Sachiko in the Marina Ballroom will be Maryann Lyons of San Francisco, who will sell her unique Asian-influenced jewelry.

Hours are Friday, Nov. 28, from 1 to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

‘Cinema Japan’ Continues at PFA

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:41:57 -0800

BERKELEY — “Cinema Japan: A Wreath for Madame Kawakita” continues at the Pacific Film Archive through Dec. 17.

The 24-film series, which opened Nov. 1, marks the centennial of the birth of Kashiko Kawakita, who was a major force in bringing Japanese cinema to international attention and in introducing many Western films to the Japanese public.

A Shift Toward a Truer Democracy in Japan?

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:15:11 -0800

by YOKO MORIHIRO
Hokubei Mainichi

BERKELEY — Associate Professor Masaki Taniguchi, a political scientist from Tokyo University, gave a lecture at UC Berkeley on Oct. 23 in which he explained recent trends in Japanese politics.

Bowling: Nisei Invitational League

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:50:44 -0800

DALY CITY — The Nisei Invitational League posted the following results for games played on Oct. 2, at Serra Bowl:

Team Standings

Standings were unavailable due to the fact that not all teams played.

High Series - Men
David Nguyen 692
Mike Leong 686
Ceejay Godizano 684
Greg Wong 677
Art Dyogi 647
Andrew Gil 640
Ed Pecson 637
Scott Higa 634
Albert Chan 629
Mark Gyotoku 620
Jonathan Ng 618
Ted Balanay 612
Joe Goldstein Sr. 611
Robert Hiraoka Jr. 602
Jimmy Sakamoto 601

High Series - Women
Tamlyn Murata 678
Dar Masamori 554

High Game - Men

Bowling: Nikkei Ladies League

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:50:44 -0800

DALY CITY — The Nikkei Ladies League played on Oct. 8 at Classic Bowling Center. Results are as follows:

Team Standings
Pearl 17.5 6.5
Aquamarine 15 9
Sapphire 15 9
Ruby 13.5 10.5
Opal 12 12
Garnet 11 12.5
Diamond 10 14

Individual High Scratch Series
Michiko Shibano 563
Sanae Tanaka 512
Lupe Loughlin 510
Jean Howard 504
Reiko Negishi 476
Mila Balcita 474

Individual High Scratch Games
Michiko Shibano 199
Jean Howard 197
Sanae Tanaka 191
Lup Loughlin 189
Sandi Murai 180
Mary Amador 178

Kendo/Iaido Tournament to Be Held at USF

rie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:14:07 -0800

Th San Francisco Kendo and Iaido Dojo will host its 50th anniversary Invitational (Taikai) Tournament on Sunday, Nov. 16, at the University of San Francisco War Memorial Gymnasium, located at 2335 Golden Gate Ave.

The tournament will commence at 9 a.m. and conclude at roughly 4 p.m. Spectator admission is free.

Kendo is commonly thought of as the Japanese contribution to the world of fencing, but it is more accurately Japan’s oldest martial art, having developed from its samurai past.

‘Cats’ With Subtitles

rie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:40:11 -0800

BERKELEY — The documentary “The Cats of Mirikitani,” including Japanese subtitles, will be shown as a fundraiser for the Tule Lake Preservation Committee on Saturday, Nov. 22, from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave.

The film tells the story of Jimmy Mirikitani, a former Tule Lake internee who became a homeless artist in New York. He was befriended by the filmmaker, Linda Hattendorf, and reconnected with his past and his community by attending the Tule Lake Pilgrimage.