By KENJI G. TAGUMA
Nichi Bei Times

SAN JOSE — A partnership between First Community Housing and Williams & Dame Development, Inc. has been recommended by the Japantown Development Selection Panel to develop the San Jose Japantown Corporation Yard Site, the San Jose Redevelopment Agency announced in a March 7 memorandum to city officials.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

Following months of deliberation and an outcry from the Japanese Canadian community, it was announced last month that a Vancouver government building would not be named after a member of Parliament with a racist past.

The American River Conservancy (ARC), in conjunction with the Sacramento, Placer, and Florin chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), are currently supporting a $4.6 million fundraising campaign titled “The Gold Hill - Wakamatsu Project” to acquire the site of the first Japanese colony in North America.

By ANSHO UCHIMA and MINORU SHINMOTO
Nichi Bei Times Contributors

The long, distinguished naval career of Vice Admiral Robert Kihune, a retired three-star admiral, included several high-profile commands involving large numbers of ships and Navy personnel.

(Bay City News Service) — The search is on for a new director of San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum, following the retirement of museum director Emily J. Sano, the museum announced March 14.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

On a stormy night in the fall of 2005, a 38-foot charter fishing boat, the Sydney Mae II, was hit with two breaker waves in the treacherous waters where Oregon’s Umpqua River runs into the Pacific Ocean. When the second wave descended on the boat, Captain Richard Oba, 58, and his four passengers were thrown into the icy Pacific. Some 45 minutes later, Coast Guard rescuers found Oba and passenger James Parker clinging to Oba’s life jacket.

By ALISON BRADY
Kyodo News

LOS ANGELES — The Japanese agriculture ministry has stirred unease among restaurateurs in Los Angeles with its plan to send food experts to judge the authenticity of Japanese eateries, an idea that has been dubbed “the sushi police.”

By STEPHANIE KIYOMI SATO
Nichi Bei Times Columnist

When I got married, I faced a difficult decision: whether or not to take my husband’s last name, Carbullido. So far, I have not changed my name. But it was not because I made an affirmative decision; it was more that I could not convince myself to change it.

By CHRISTINE TAKISHITA
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

It’s easy to envision the perfect wedding — a stunning white dress, sunlight shining on the bride, pink and white rose petals adorning the edges of the aisle, and guests smiling with delight. The execution of one, on the other hand, is a bit more challenging.

That’s where wedding planners like Reiko Iwanaga of At Your Request come in. They arduously work behind-the-scenes to ensure that brides get their ideal wedding.

By AKIKO MINAGA
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

With the growing trend of registration for weddings, agonizing over the perfect gift is now a thing of the past. And with the added convenience of the Internet, buying a wedding gift is something that can be done in minutes with a credit card and a few clicks of the mouse.

By AKIKO MINAGA
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

Wedding favors can be tricky. What is something mass-produced, yet not insanely expensive, that people will actually enjoy and appreciate receiving while remembering your special day?

By ANGELA KIMI HICKMAN
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

The talk at the Nichi Bei Times has been weddings, weddings, weddings these days. When the trend of Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals getting married in Hawai`i came up, we realized how true it was by just looking around the office. Within the last two years, Japanese edition writer Miyako Tamari More, Kerry Kumabe of the advertising staff, and intern Drew Morita’s sister Shelby Morita Fowler all planned their Hawai`i weddings from the Bay Area, with Kerry getting married in a mere four weeks!