National

Obama's Transition Team Includes Asian Americans

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:41:07 -0800

WASHINGTON — APIAVote congratulated President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, and commended the naming of Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to the Obama-Biden transition team.

One of them is former APIAVote board member Sonal Shah of the Google Foundation.

NJAHS/Park Service Event to Focus on MIS Learning Center

rie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 03:04:38 -0800

On Sept. 30, legislation was signed into law by President Bush that provides $1 million for the support of a Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Historic Learning Center in the Presidio of San Francisco.

The provision was included in an omnibus bill to continue funding for the federal government until next spring at the request of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) and Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose). Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) was also credited with supporting the funding.

Takei: Election Outcome Was ‘Bittersweet’

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:48:40 -0800

LOS ANGELES — Actor and activist George Takei on Nov. 5 expressing joy over the election of Barack Obama as president and disappointment over the passage of Proposition 8, which bans gay marriages in California.

Following the California Supreme Court’s ruling that legalized same-sex marriages, Takei married his long-time partner. The legal status of such marriages is now up in the air.

“Last night, I was filled with pride to be an American,” Takei said. “It was an exhilarating night of celebration. Barack Obama’s victory was a miraculous moment in our history.

U.S. Nuclear Sub Calls Unannounced at Okinawa

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:16:57 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine made a port call in Okinawa on Nov. 10 without giving the agreed prior notice to Japanese authorities, prompting Japan to lodge a protest and demand the U.S. Navy take measures to prevent any recurrence of such an incident, the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s top diplomat said.

National JACL Congratulates Obama

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 10:09:33 -0800

WASHINGTON — The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, congratulates Sen. Barack Obama on his successful election to become the nation’s 44th president.

The JACL said in a statement. “The election of Sen. Obama brings ethnic minorities a step closer to the time when all people can be looked upon as equals.

Dennis Hayashi Wins Race for Judgeship

rie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:51:02 -0800

OAKLAND — Public interest attorney Dennis Hayashi won the Alameda County Superior Court judge race on Nov. 4.

He obtained 280,384 votes (61.78 percent) to Deputy District Attorney Phil Daly’s 169,310 (37.31 percent).

The two were the top finishers among four candidates in the June election, but a runoff was needed as neither surpassed the 50-percent mark.

Veterans Day Ceremony in Washington

rie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:33:19 -0800

WASHINGTON — The National Japanese American Memorial Foundation (NJAMF) and the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) are co-sponsoring the annual Veterans Day ceremony at the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism.

The event will take place on Nov. 11 at 2 p.m. The memorial is located at the intersection of Louisiana and New Jersey avenues and D Street, NW, in Washington, D.C.

Nikkei Members of Congress Re-elected

rie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:33:19 -0800

Although the outcome was never in doubt, the three Japanese American members of the U.S. House of Representatives celebrated their victories in the Nov. 4 elections.

In District 15, Rep. Mike Honda (D-San Jose), who has served in Congress since 2001, received 145,411 votes or 71.7 percent of the total.

His Republican opponent, business owner Joyce Cordi, received 47,445 votes (23.3 percent) and Green Party candidate Peter Charles Myers, a computer teacher, received 10,185 (5.0 percent).

Aso, Obama Discuss Enhancing Bilateral Ties

rie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:33:19 -0800

TOKYO (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and U.S. President-elect Barack Obama on Nov. 7 confirmed that the two countries will strengthen their alliance to tackle issues such as the ongoing financial crisis, Afghanistan and North Korea, a Japanese government official said.

During a 10-minute telephone conversation, Aso informed Obama of his willingness to meet in the U.S. as he travels to or from such international gatherings as the Nov. 22-23 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Lima, according to government sources.

On the Road With ‘SYTYCD’

james — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:56:20 -0800

Katee Taira Shean, who finished third on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance,” is currently on a national tour with 10 of the other top dancers from the show.

The California leg of the tour included stops at HP Pavilion in her hometown of San Jose on Sept. 25; the Honda Center in Anaheim on Sept. 27; the San Diego Sports Arena on Sept. 28; Oracle Arena in Oakland on Sept. 30; Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Oct. 1; ARCO Arena in Sacramento on Oct. 2; and SaveMart Center in Fresno on Oct. 5.