By KORI-KAI YOSHIDA
Nichi Bei Times

The San Francisco Board of Education’s Jan. 19 vote to merge the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program (JBBP) West with Rosa Parks Elementary, which Commissioner Eric Mar called “one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made,” has left community members in disagreement and the future of the program uncertain.

By KENJI G. TAGUMA
Nichi Bei Times

In the face of mounting debt, the owners of an assisted living facility in San Francisco’s Japantown plan to have a new operator take over the cherished community institution.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

Almost overnight, the San Francisco Japanese Tea Garden has become the subject of controversy. Caught between a community trying to restore its authenticity, a manager trying to hold onto his concessionary, and a Recreation and Park Commission with a restrictive budget, the fate of the Tea Garden is less certain than it has been in decades.

Takumi “Tak” Matsuba and Richard “Rich” Hashimoto have been named co-chairs of the 39^th annual Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival.

Sansei Bruce Kanegai will be the first Japanese American contestant on the popular “Survivor” television show. The Simi Valley resident also has another distinction: at 58, he is the oldest contestant on this season’s show.

To celebrate Kimochi, Inc.’s 35^th anniversary in 2006 and in honor of the 100^th year of San Francisco’s Japantown in the Western Addition, Kimochi, Inc. is seeking to identify those of Japanese descent who will be 100 years old or older in 2006 or a descendent of those who had reached 100 years old prior to their deaths.

By Ben Hamamoto
Nichi Bei Times

Television viewers will have an opportunity to watch the “Asian Excellence Awards” on the AZN Network, this Sunday, Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. Comedian Bobby Lee and actress Kelly Hu host the event.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

Asian Americans have always debated whether or not it’s possible to know “what someone is,” just by looking at them. There are plenty of people who claim to posses such an ability, thus, it’s only natural that there is a Website to put people’s claims to the test. Alllooksame.com allows you to take a quiz that shows you a series of 18 people of Asian descent and then has you decide whether you think they are Japanese, Chinese, or Korean. Clothing and hairstyles are to be taken into account along with facial features.