Nichi Bei Times Report

SAN JOSE -- Given a second chance after a previously selected developer could not come up a financially sound plan, four development teams made their pitch on Feb. 3 for their vision of a huge chunk of San Jose's Japantown.

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers on Jan. 31 submitted a draft resolution denouncing Japan for forcing women of other Asian countries to provide sex for the Japanese military during World War II.

By ALEC YOSHIO MacDONALD
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

ALBANY, Calif. -- Family first, school second, basketball third.

This list of priorities is Doug Kagawa's mantra, which he has constantly preached during his thirty years at the helm of Albany High School’s boys basketball team.

Watada a Coward and Disgrace

Let's put this in perspective. Like most adults, Lt. Watada is free to make his make his own decisions whether they are good, bad or indifferent. There are rewards that can come with the good and consequences with the bad. Lt. Watada’s decision for refusing deployment to Iraq was a very bad decision.

Nominations are being accepted for the first annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Awards, to be presented at the mayor's APA Heritage Month proclamation ceremony in May.

By AYA OIKAWA
Nichi Bei Times

Thirty-five children, from 1-year-old infants to 2 and a half-year-old toddlers, are currently enrolled in Bambi, a children's playgroup which focuses on Japanese speaking parents' concerns. A JCCCNC-sponsored program, Bambi holds two-hour sessions on Tuesday mornings in the JCCCNC gym.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

In the opening of “Green Mind Metal Bats,” the protagonist is beaned in the head with a baseball so hard that his helmet shatters. Director Kazuyoshi Kumakiri is sending a clear message to the audience: “you are not safe.”

SACRAMENTO -- The Northern California premiere of “The Cats of Mirikitani,” winner of the Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, is the featured event during the Northern California Time of Remembrance program on Sunday, March 18, at the Crest Theater, 1013 K St. in Downtown Sacramento. Doors open at noon for a Special Reception and at 1:15 p.m. for the 2 p.m. screening.

By HIROKI NODA
Kyodo News

TOKYO -- New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman wants Japanese baseball fans to be proud of their best players grabbing the headlines in the major leagues, rather than getting upset about losing them.

NEWPORT BEACH, California (Kyodo) -- Relieved that he is able to fill up on good fish and vegetables, hard-throwing right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka says he is settling in nicely in the United States and is looking forward to spring training with the Boston Red Sox.