The Great Unknown & the Unknown Great

By GREG ROBINSON
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

If one of the joys of this column is being able to bring to light the actions of "the unknown great," ordinary people who made a difference, I am also interested to look at "the great unknown" — new sides to familiar historical figures that makes us look at them in a different way. Sometimes the new side is a curious talent or interest that we would not ordinarily associate with them.

By ALEC YOSHIO MacDONALD
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

PIEDMONT, Calif. — "I'm really excited to be here today and share why I support Barack Obama," declared Michael Lee at the first meeting of Northern California Asians for Obama on Sept. 22.

By BILLIE LEE
Nichi Bei Times Correspondent

SAN JOSE — Anyone who likes manju � the traditional Japanese confections � knows about Shuei-Do, the only shop of its kind in San Jose's Japantown, and the only one in the entire Santa Clara County.

By BILLIE LEE
Nichi Bei Times Correspondent

SAN JOSE � Sunday is a busy time for the Japantown Certified Farmer's Market situated on Jackson Street between 6th and 7th streets.

"About 1,500 people come through the Farmer's Market each Sunday," noted Kathy Sakamoto, executive director of Japantown Business Association,

"The Farmer's Market is meant to be a small neighborhood market," she added. "Their patrons are mostly local people and some who come to attend the churches in Japantown from outside the area or visitors to Japantown."

By BILLIE LEE
Nichi Bei Times Correspondent

SAN JOSE — A long line of people stood waiting to be seated in front of Gombei restaurant, one of the oldest in Japantown. The restaurant seats about 50 to 60 people and is usually quite busy at lunch and dinnertime.

By APRIL ELKJER
Nichi Bei Times

SAN JOSE — "We are the nightlife on the street," asserted Robert "Toqer" Cortese — aka KJ Toqer aka Bobbysan — your friendly neighborhood karaoke disc jockey (KJ) from 7 Bamboo, your friendly neighborhood dive karaoke bar in San Jose"s historic Japantown.

By APRIL ELKJER
Nichi Bei Times

SAN JOSE — One afternoon, customers milled about the Nikkei Traditions store, then a couple of Japanese American women stopped to tease each other and giggle at the sayings on the T-shirts. "Don"t worry, Be Hapa," or the "Japanee 101" tee that pairs rude Japanese sayings with a matching funny face such as yakamashii for noisy or waruboozu for bad boy.

By APRIL ELKJER
Nichi Bei Times

SAN JOSE — Maids. The word conjures up visions of lasses in black and white frilly French maid-styled uniforms moving about with feather dusters and serving china. You imagine yourself as master of the manor, in your smoking jacket, pipe in hand, being waited upon...

By BILLIE LEE
Nichi Bei Times Correspondent

SAN JOSE — "Metamorphosis" brought together six artists to join Jenny Do, owner of Green Rice Gallery, in presenting one of San Jose"s the most unique recent art exhibits.

Do, Grace Angel, Susan Kitazawa, Clarissa Magno-Cua, Julie McNiel, Keiko Nelson, and Mary Souza all had one thing in common. They are either cancer patients, have recovered from the disease, or know family or friends who have the disease or have died from it.

By KENT WONG
Nichi Bei Times Columnist

Lair (PS3)

This game received some spotlight before the launch of the PS3. I have been looking forward to playing this one, but was it worth the wait? You fly on dragons, how bad can it be? The answer…not bad, not bad at all.

Warhawk (PS3)

Warhawk is a strong addition to the PS3 library. This online multiplayer-only title is something that the system needed. This game presents a good-looking and entertaining time. Huge games, fun maps and very fun aerial combat breathes a much needed breath into the PS3 online community.

By CHIZU OMORI
Nichi Bei Times Columnist

By the time this article is published, you may have already seen the documentary, "Most Honorable Son." It was supposed to be broadcast on Sept. 17 nationwide. Here in Seattle, we won"t be seeing it until mid-October, a change which the station made so that it will be part of a larger October roster of programs with many stories about Asian Americans during WW II.

By KAERU KID
Nichi Bei Times Columnist

Recently, my tadpole (granddaughter) came up to me, gave me a big hug, and asked, "Papa, will you take me to the Grand Canyon?"

With a hug like that, I would take her anywhere she wanted to go.

She is only 5 years old and had seen a poster of the Grand Canyon and wanted to see it "for real."

The Grand Canyon is one of the World’s Seven Natural Wonders. In addition, the magazine Budget Travel had a recent article listing places every child should see and the Grand Canyon is on the list. Be sure kids sign up at the Ranger Station to become Junior Rangers. There are fun easy assignments in order to qualify. They may also want to buy a National Park Passport to start collecting stamps to record their visits to this and other parks.