photo courtesy of Asian Art Museum

Nichi Bei Times Report

The Japanese government announced April 29 that Dr. Emily Joy Sano, the former director of the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, will receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon in recognition of her contribution to the introduction of Japanese art and promotion of cultural exchange between Japan and the United States.

"I was just astonished,” said Sano, who is currently on holiday in Italy and will receive her kunsho, or medal of honor from the Japanese government, after she returns to the U.S. in June. "I’m just thrilled and deeply honored.”

photo by Akito Yoshikane

By AKITO YOSHIKANE
Nichi Bei Times

At 87 years old, clutching his cane at his side, Lucio Dimaano remembers fighting in the Philippine Army alongside the United States against Japanese forces in World War II. Dimaano recalled joining the army in 1941, moving up the ranks from a trainee to corporal, until he was promoted to sergeant in his seven years of service.

As a soldier who fought in Bataan and survived the Death March, in which more than 10,000 of the 70,000 Filipino and American soldiers died marching to a prison camp at the hands of the Japanese military, he is one of more than 250,000 Filipino soldiers that fought in World War II when the Philippines was a commonwealth of the United States.

Kyodo News photo

By LEANNE TSURUDA
Kyodo News

LOS ANGELES — Every year, hundreds of people make the four-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles to the desolate, sun-scorched location of Manzanar, California, in order to pay tribute to the over 10,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated there during World War II.

A missing persons report was filed on April 23 for Keisuke Koizumi, a Japanese student attending language school in San Francisco.

According to the missing persons report Koizumi may have been depressed and taking anti-depression medication. He left all his belongings in a hotel room he was sharing with another student. He has not been seen since.

For more than a decade, KQED and Union Bank of California have partnered each May to celebrate the history of the Asian Pacific American experience through the Local Hero awards program. The special evening of recognition, hosted by KQED and Union Bank, will take place on Wednesday, May 7, from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at the KQED Public Broadcasting Center in San Francisco.

SACRAMENTO — Five outstanding individuals from the Central Valley will be recognized for their volunteer contributions in the areas of business, education, social services and community activism at the "2008 Asian Pacific American Heritage Local Hero Awards."

photo by Kristen Sato

By KRISTEN SATO
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

SAN JOSE — John Nakashima, president of Nakashima Golf, seized an opportunity to open a golf shop in San Jose's Japantown after a friend, Hiro Funatsu of Hiro's Golf Shop, decided to retire after 20 years of successful business.

Nakashima, a Sansei born in Stockton, Calif., currently has three golf studios open in the cities of Wichita (Kansas), Stockton and now in San Jose.

photo courtesy of Joey Carmelo

By APRIL ELKJER
Nichi Bei Times

For a super shot of culture times two, "Ghosts and Girls: The Legend of the Morning Glory" by husband/wife team Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu is the play to see. Its modern storytelling of a traditional kabuki love story makes it accessible to today's audiences, young and old.

Kyodo file photo

ARLINGTON, Texas (Kyodo) — Kansas City Royals pitcher Hideo Nomo, who had been designated for assignment and put on waivers, was released April 29.

The Yokohama BayStars earlier expressed interest in possibly acquiring the services of the 39-year-old Nomo, but Yokohama team president Kuniyuki Sasaki said April 30 such a move appeared highly unlikely.

photo by Kathy Aoki/Nichi Bei Times

By KATHY AOKI
Nichi Bei Times

If you are looking for an elegant restaurant that offers fine cuisine, great ambiance and good service, bushi-tei is the place to eat in San Francisco's Japantown.

Described on the restaurant's Website as serving "French-California cuisine with a touch of Japanese flair presented to you by Executive Chef Seiji 'Waka' Wakabayashi," bushi-tei offers diners something different than the Japanese, Chinese, Korean or Hawaiian cuisines found in this area.