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Japanese Words in the U.S.

"Tokyo" becomes Toh-kee-yoh, but it's really "Toh-kyoh", two syllables.

"Karaoke" becomes "carry-oh-kee", but it's really "kah-rah-oh-keh".

Japanese vowels are the same as Spanish vowels, this helps me with both languages, for sure. For vowels, typically you have to pronounce them separately when they are next to each other. Meaning "ao" doesn't get merged into an "oww" sound, each vowel keeps its own sound so it's really "ah-oh". In the case of "karaoke", it becomes "kah-rah-oh-keh".

There are exceptions. My Grandpa's name has an "ao that sounds like oww" in it when you say it fast. I remember thinking, "if saying 'kyo' is too hard, then they'll never be able to say my Grandpa's name..."

Tsutao.

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Where's Waldo?

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Fujima Kansei Odori Kai

All female Japanese dance group, formed by my Aunt, Etsuko Linda Harada (formerly Tanabe).

Photo taken at the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center.

West Covina, California

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Grandma and Grandpa's wedding day in Japan. Grandma was so beautiful. Always. Prettiest "old lady" I ever did see. She was gorgeous until the end. I gave her a pedicure right before she died. I didn't know she was going to die. I can't think about it. I'm not healed yet. I'll never be healed. It will go down as the worst week, worst month, worst year of my life.

“That one time my best friend died.”

It changes you. It changes your desires. Your wants. Your needs. If anything wakes you up, it's losing someone you need.

I'm not the same anymore.

[japanese-american-woman]

happy birthday Yuri Kochiyama ❤

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“Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for students. Consciousness-raising is pertinent for power, and be sure that power will not be abusively used, but used for building trust and goodwill domestically and internationally. Tomorrow’s world is yours to build.” - Yuri Kochiyama, Japanese-American activist (May 19, 1921 - June 1, 2014)

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Happy Birthday, Yuri Kochiyama!

Yuri Kochiyama is one of the most renowned Asian American activists of all time. She dedicated her life to fighting for racial justice and human rights.

Born on May 19th 1921, today would have been her 98th birthday. We’re celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by sharing her historic contributions to Asian Americans and the racial justice movement!   

Yuri is widely known for her friendship with Malcolm X and her commitment to Black liberation. When the police and FBI targeted Black activists during the 1950s and 60s, Yuri led letter writing campaigns, prison visits, and demonstrations. She connected her support for incarcerated activists with her own experiences as a Japanese American who was unjustly incarcerated during WWII.

Her work for Black liberation inspired her contributions to the Asian American Movement in the late 1960s and on, when she fought to end U.S. militarism and imperialism in Asia and in Puerto Rico. In the 1980s, she and her husband, Bill Kochiyama, helped organize to win reparations for the over 120,000 Japanese Americans who had lost their homes and livelihoods during their wartime incarceration. The Kochiyamas and the wider Japanese American community fought to get the federal government to apologize and provide compensation to survivors.

Yuri used this victory to call for reparations for slavery. She also spoke out against the post-9/11 criminalization of Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans in the U.S.

Yuri Kochiyama believed in sending mail for political outreach and education. She wrote hundreds of letters to political prisoners, students, and friends every month. On holidays, she asked for gifts of stamps so that she could continue to send out flyers for the causes she championed.

We want to honor Yuri’s letter writing and activism by putting her on a U.S. postage stamp.

Tell the United States Postal Service: Honor Yuri Kochiyama’s legacy with a postage stamp!

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““Each generation must, out of its relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it. And I think today part of the mission would be to fight against racism and polarization, learn from each other’s struggle, but also understand national liberation struggle. There are enough issues that we could all work together on.””

— Yuri Kochiyama

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““First and foremost, you do not have to live up to or emulate the lives of any of your predecessors. But at the very least, you should know about them. You will have your own life, interests, and ideas of what you want or do not want in life. Do what you enjoy doing. Be honest with yourself and others. Don’t think of satisfying anyone: your elders, peers, government, religion, or children who will come after you. Develop meaningful ideals, and become conscious of others, their existence, and their lives.””

— Yuri Kochiyama

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Once upon a time, my family did this every New Year before an unnecessary, life-altering argument broke out after my Grandpa's Funeral.

Mochitsuki: A Japanese New Year's Tradition. Around the start of the New Year, many Japanese households will take part in the annual tradition of mochitsuki (餅つき), the pounding of rice to make mochi. Mochi, also called a rice cake, is pounded sweet rice that can be eaten in a sweet or savory dish.

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Tsutao Jackson Tanabe born in Los Angeles, CA, survived American Internment/Relocation/Concentration Camp in Manzanar -- raised in Terminal Island, CA -- rebuilt in Los Angeles, CA -- purchased first home successfully in Whittier, CA.

Kazuko Yamamoto Tanabe born in Kobe, Japan, survived WWII American Fire Bombings -- rebuilt in Los Angeles, CA -- purchased first home successfully in Whittier, CA.

Rest in Peace, my beautiful Grandparents.