By JANICE TANG
Kyodo News

TOKYO — After only a year in office, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his intention Wednesday to resign to take responsibility for causing political confusion, saying it would be difficult for him to regain public trust and secure an extension of Japan’s refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

BERKELEY — The Hapa Issues Forum (HIF) held its "Last Hurrah" on Sept. 8, marking the official "retirement" of an organization that provided a voice for young multiracials. The event served as a chance for old friends to reunite through the organization that brought many of them together in the first place as well as a place for dialogue about the past and future of multiracial organizing.

NEW YORK — Actress Miyoshi Umeki, who in 1957 became the first Japanese actress to win an Oscar, died of cancer Aug. 28 at the Licking Park Manor nursing home in Licking, Missouri, the Associated Press reported Sept. 5. She was 78.

Japanese dance instructor Shigeko Arii, who was known by her stage name Rokushige Fujima, passed away Sept. 1, 2007 from pneumonia at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco. She was 83.

POWELL, Wyo. � The Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation (HMWF) has launched a campaign to raise funds for a $5.4 million Interpretive Learning Center to be placed on original Heart Mountain Relocation Center land purchased by HMWF.

WASHINGTON (Kyodo) — The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution Sept. 5 lauding Japan as a vital U.S. ally and thanking Tokyo for its role in the global fight against terrorism.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

Filmmaker Ken Burns strolls into the lobby of the Stanford Court in San Francisco wearing jeans and a blazer, looking quite youthful at 53. His appearance gives no hint of a more than 20-year contribution to the medium of documentary film.

By BEN HAMAMOTO
Nichi Bei Times

"The War" has increasingly become a source of controversy within the Latino community since it became known that the original cut of the film made no mention of the contributions of Latinos, up to half a million of whom are estimated to have participated in World War II.

Reviewed By APRIL ELKJER
Nichi Bei Times

A Japanese coal miner's daughter's version of the "Bad News Bears" or "The Full Monty," Sang-il Lee's film "Hula Girls" is a heartwarming, fun and familiar comedy/drama of underdogs saving the day. It is a tried and true story plot but Korean Japanese film director and screenwriter Lee imbues the film with a lot of heart.