A few days ago the New York Times featured an article about a monument in Palisades Park, New Jersey, an area populated largely by Korean Americans, dedicated to comfort women.  The amount is disputed, but “comfort women” (慰安婦 or ianfu) refers to the at least tens of thousands of women and girls, many Korean, who were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese soldiers before and during World War II (Some counts put their numbers as high as 410,000).

The Palisades Park monument, built in 2010, is the only known tribute in the United States to the comfort women (Last year one was erected in Seoul, South Korea, in front of the Japanese Embassy).  This picture shows three Korean Congressman who placed bouquets of white chrysanthemums at the stone monu­ment last week.

According to the article, a delegation of  four officials from Japan’s Liberal Democratic Par­ty recently visited Palisades Park Mayor James Rotundo in order to urge him to get rid of the memorial.  During this meeting they disputed the number of comfort women and claimed that they willingly served the soldiers.  This was following a visit from Shigeyuki Hiroki, Consul-General of Japan in New York, who proposed donating cherry blossom trees and making other contributions to the town if the memorial was removed.  However, this was later denied by the Consulate, despite the fact that Rotundo and two others confirmed that this offer had been made at the meeting.

In 1993, the Japanese government accepted its military’s role in setting up brothels, and apologized with a declaration from then chief cabinet secretary Yohei Kono. But many, including the surviving comfort women, didn’t accept the statement because it hadn’t been issued by the Diet.  Similarly, in 1995 a $1 billion fund for victims was set up, but surviving comfort women rejected it because it would be financed by private money and they are seeking reparations from the Japanese government.

During a recent International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)  trip to Dallas, our group had the chance to meet the head of the Human Rights Program at Southern Methodist University, one of only five schools in the country with such a major.  According to Professor Rick Halperin, Program Director, Japan is on the list of worldwide human rights violators.  Thinking domestically, I thought he might be talking about violations against minority groups like the Burakumin or Ainu.  However, upon confirmation it turned out he was talking about comfort women and the Japanese government’s persistent attempts to whitewash this part of its history.  As one advocate in the NYT article commented, let’s hope that this debate over the monument leads to increased awareness of this pertinent issue.

I’m here in Seattle wrapping up the last leg of my ACYPL interpreting trip.  After recently reading Jamie Ford’s “Hotel On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet”, I was compelled to visit the Panama Hotel which plays a pivotal role in the book.  Located in the International District close to the Japanese supermarket Uwajima and bookstore Kinokuniya, this hotel with a rich history is still operating today.

It contains the only remaining Japanese public bathhouse (sento) intact in the U.S.  In addition, the basement where the baths are located also houses the possessions of Japanese-Americans who were imprisoned in internment camps during WWII.  The owner of the hotel offers tours of this basement, but they are limited so I was unfortunately unable to join one without a reservation.  Instead I enjoyed catching up with a college friend in the tea house, whose walls are decorated with artifacts from pre/post WWII that tell the stories of Japantown at the time.

The Panama Hotel is a must visit for anyone looking to learn about Japanese American history, and I look forward to staying the night the next time I’m in town.  The beautifully decorated rooms with an Asian flair are reasonably priced and come complete with yukata to sleep in!

I am currently in DC interpreting for a six-person delegation that is here on a two-week program with the American Council for Young Political Leaders (ACYPL).  Group members represent both the DPJ and LDP, as well as one participant from the New Komeito Party.  Our other destinations are Tennessee and Washington State, so despite their short stay my group will have the opportunity to experience different parts of the U.S.

Speaking of young politicians, last week the New York Times profiled Japan’s youngest mayor, 31-year old Naomichi Suzuki of Yubari, Hokkaido.  Yubari is known for its expensive melons, as well as being Japan’s only bankrupt city and also its most elderly.  So far during our trip the declining birth rate and increasing aging population are two of the main domestic issues the delegates keep highlighting, and Yubari is facing the same challenges.  It will be interested to see if the injection of Suzuki’s youthful energy and innovation can turn things around in this northern town.

Today’s New York Times features two article regarding Japan’s economic doldrums.  The one from Martin Fackler talks about Japan’s decline as a manufacturer, and what direction the new course the country should take will be.  The other by Hiroko Tabuchi discusses the fate of one of the manufacturers mentioned in Fackler’s article, Sony.  Kazuo Hirai joined as the new CEO at the beginning of this month, and it remains to be seen what path he is planning to take the company on.  Many commentators throughout say that Sony has failed to differentiate itself, and the article closes with the quote, “The tarnish on their brand has definitely begun.”  Happy reading!

Today is the big parade to celebrate the centennial sakura matsuri, but unfortunately all the blooms are long gone.  However, the festival goes through the end of the month, so for those who find themselves in DC there are plenty of Japan-related activities to keep you entertained.  I had a chance to sample many of them this week, the first of which I’d recommend being the National Geographic Museum’s samurai exhibit running through early September.

It shares the history of how the now legendary cherry trees made their way to DC, as well as displays unique items such as swords and armor that were gifted from Japan to American presidents such as Ulysses Grant and Teddy Roosevelt.  My favorite section was the black and white photos of samurai in a photo studio run by a Westerner.  It captures them in their garb during behind-the-scenes moments, giving you insight into the people they were behind the armor.

Some other exhibits not to be missed are the National Gallery of Art’s Colorful Realm: Japanese Bird and Flower Paintings by Ito Jakuchu (1716-1800), on display until April 29.  This collection of 30 scrolls is amazingly vivid in color, depicting not only birds and flowers but in some cases fish, insects and palm trees.  Jakuchu seems to be obsessed with roosters (some in “kabuki-like poses”), and according to one description I learned that “In Zen Buddhism, images of the rooster’s piercing cry were associated with spiritual awakening.” (Go figure!  I could have used this information when I was in Kauai earlier this year, being woken up an at ungodly hour each morning by these enlightened roosters.)

After that make sure to check out the Hokusai Japanese screens at the Freer Gallery (through July 29), followed by the 36 Views of Mount Fuji from Hokusai at the nearby Sackler Gallery (through June 17).  The latter also features a display called Kano Kazunobu’s Masters of Mercy: Buddha’s Amazing Disciples, fantastical paintings which share the lives of Buddha’s 500 disciples, making their debut outside of Japan for the first time (as do the Jakuchu scrolls).

And if all this consumption of Japanese culture has you wanting to consume some Japanese food along with your art, look no further than the cherry blossom roll ( 桜巻き?) at Fujimar.  At $17.60 it costs a bit more than your standard roll, but it is definitely worth it.  It combines cherry-flavored rice, avocado, tamago, cucumber and crab in a pink soy bean wrapper, with three cherries on top and leaf-shaped avocado slices on the side.  Its sweetness is just the right amount, and the flavors were powerful enough for it to be eaten with or without soy sauce.

For those whose sweet tooth is not satisfied by the cherry blossom roll, many local restaurants are featuring special cherry themed desserts during the duration of the festival (through the 27th of this month).  My one regret is not having had time to try the cherry-chocolate bread pudding at one of my favorite DC restaurants, Founding Farmers, but there’s always next year!

I’m down in DC to begin a new business trip, and was thrilled when I found out my assignment would coincide with the famous Sakura Matsuri.  This year is extra special as it marks the 100th anniversary since the 3000+ trees were gifted from Japan to the U.S.  Even the Metro gets into the spirit, as you can see with their turnstile decorations.  Due to the warm weather it is doubtful that the blossoms will last until the conclusion of the festival at the end of the month, but I’m hoping to do some hanami while I’m here.

On another Japan-related note, today I went to see an interesting exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery entitled “Asian American Portraits of Encounter.”  It features several different Asian American artists, including three Japanese.  One is Satomi Shirai based in New York, the second is Shizu Saldamando based in California, and the last is Roger Shimomura based in Kansas.  I was especially taken with the work of Shimoura, who as a child was relocated to an internment camp in Idaho along with his family during World War II.  His displayed works are all self-portraits, and according to Shimomura through them he strove to battle “oriental” stereotypes or conversely become them.  As an example of the latter I particularly liked the two works shown here side by side, American Pikachu and American Hello Kitty, where the artist takes the form of these iconic images.

The non-Japanese artists also share some really thought-provoking work, so this exhibit is definitely worth checking out.  It runs through October 14, admission is free and it is open daily from 11:30-7.

This weekend I finally had the chance to see the much-hyped documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi.  It made a splash at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival and had been on my radar ever since, so I was happy to see it playing at local theaters (currently at IFC Center, Lincoln Plaza Cinema and Kew Gardens Cinema).   Director David Gelb is a New Yorker who has loved sushi since he was a kid, and his film faithfully follows 85-year-old sushi chef Jiro Ono, proprietor of the renowned restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro.  Its humble location inside the Ginza subway station belies the exquisiteness of the sushi produced within.  Ono’s work is extremely simple, yet it possesses complexity of taste as well as aesthetic beauty.  As the title indicates, this shokunin (or craftsman) eats,  sleeps and breathes sushi, and even after all his years of mastering this art form he believes there is still room to grow.

I liked how Gelb incorporates different aspects of the sushi world, such as Ono’s exclusive rice seller, fish handlers at the Tsukiji Fish Market, and the incredibly devoted apprentices at the restaurant, all with distinctive personalities that add an additional layer to the story.  However, it is the family dynamics at the heart of this doc that will capture viewers’ interest.  Ono has two sons, older Yoshikazu who works alongside his father, and younger Takashi who works as the sushi chef at Sukiyabashi Jiro’s spin-off branch at Roppongi Hills.  I wanted to learn more about Takashi and his separate path, but the movie mainly focuses on Ono’s relationship with Yoshizaku, the apparent successor to his father.  Considering that Ono is a living legend, this is a prospect that Yoshikazu regards with a combination of resignation and trepidation.

Not that Ono is considering stepping down anytime soon.  He is still working full time at the restaurant, though he admits that all the hard work is done in the kitchen, allowing the fish to be “95% ready” by the time it comes to him.  Considering that Ono has been honing his craft since childhood, it only seems fair that he gets all the glory.

Last night I had fun rocking out at the concert of L’Arc en Ciel, one of Japan’s most popular bands.  They were the first Japanese group to perform at Madison Square Garden, and they put on an amazing show!  For me it was largely natsukashii, as I discovered L’Arc (or ラルク) as an exchange student in Kyoto my first time in Japan.  During the weekly karaoke outings that I used to work on my kanji, ラルク soon became a regular part of my repertoire and for a while their song Honey was my #18 (specialty or favorite).

So I was super excited when I heard ラルク front man Hyde belt out the first  「ずっと」 that begins the song, and was happy to find that I still remembered most of the lyrics.   I enjoyed other old favorites like Stay Away and Caress of Venus, but was disappointed that Heaven’s Drive didn’t make it into the playlist.  With blonde dreadlocks and heavy eye makeup Hyde was androgynously beautiful, and the other band members offered humorous greetings in English.  Bananas and lollipops (along with colorful commentary) were randomly thrown out to the crowd throughout the show, and the graphics and pyrotechnics accompanying the music were absolutely amazing.

In Hyde’s goodbye to the audience he said, “It took us 20 years to get here!”  Definitely worth the wait, and certainly not the last we will see of this “biggest band you’ve never heard of.”

I am wrapping up a business trip here in Seattle, where the Japanese influence is huge.  Not only do they have great Japanese shopping centers like Uwajimaya, located in the International District area, but they have Ichiro!  The man himself is not here at the moment, having headed to Japan with the Mariners to play two exhibition games against Japanese teams before opening up the Major League season in two games against the Oakland A’s.  All four games will be played in Tokyo.  Today’s Seattle Times features an article highlighting the Ichiro Museum that his parents run in his hometown outside Nagoya.  Featuring items such as his high school bike and pictures from growing up, it sounds like a must-see for any Ichiro fan.

Speaking of Japanese famous sports figures, in the midst of Linsanity the name of a Japanese-American predecessor has repeatedly come up.  This would be Utah-born 2nd generation Japanese-American Wat Misaka, the first person of color to be drafted into the NBA.  He played for the Knicks in the 1940′s, amidst the extreme prejudice that Japanese-Americans were forced to endure (Misaka was not put in an internment camp, but he had friends who were sent to Topaz).  You can read more about his amazing story as well as purchase the documentary which tells his story on his website.

I am heading home after spending two glorious weeks in Japan enjoying delicious food, soaking in multiple onsens, meeting up with natsukashii friends and running two marathons!  Needless to say I feel a bit sabishii about leaving, but I am already looking forward to my annual visit next year.

One thing I noticed more than before was an increase in advertising that utilizes the concept of “New York” to appeal to customers.  In many cases this seemed to be a very loose correlation, but nonetheless effective.  I first spotted the “Big America” burger being advertised at McDonalds.  Pictured here, you can see that in katakana it says “Broadway Burger.”  I’m not sure what qualifies it as such, but the size is definitely larger than your standard Japanese burger.

My next sighting was at Burger King, which is offering the NY Sundae (BK New York Style Sweets).  This sundae, which comes in regular and raspberry, features crunchy French toast with ice cream on top.  I don’t know what about this sundae makes it “New York Style” and didn’t have a chance to sample it, but I could see that being a delicious combination.  I love how they put a mini Statue of Liberty in the middle of the product name to enhance its authenticity. 

However, I will take Japanese style sweets over New York ones any day, and certainly enjoyed my share of wagashi on a daily basis during this trip.  I am always sure to leave Japan with some of its various KitKat flavors, and this time I found both green tea and cherry blossom green tea (limited edition for sakura season) at the airport.  I also searched for azuki which is one of my favorites, but didn’t have any luck.   I saw wasabi but opted to pass on that one…

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Tomorrow I head to Kumamoto, my home for three years during JET, to participate in the inaugural Kumamoto Marathon which will be held next weekend.  The following weekend I will go up to Tokyo to participate for the fifth time in their amazing marathon.  I’m looking forward to not only the running, but catching up with natsukashii friends, eating oishii food and most of all onsen!!!

Speaking of oishii food, I recently enjoyed the Hawaiian version of wagashi at my favorite shop in Honolulu, Kansai Yamato.  This small stall in the food court of the fantastic Ala Moana mall sells handmade mochi in funky flavors like Kona coffee, mango and Oreo as well as more traditional offerings like kinako mochi.  Pictured above are some of my purchases, the creative flavors of chocolate and peanut butter (aka Reeses) and Okinawan sweet potato mochi.  The former was good but I prefer a larger amount of peanut butter, so I went back and got the peanut butter (crunchy) mochi which did the trick…

I also found a booth selling goods to benefit Tohoku’s recovery effort via 赤い羽根 (Akai Hane or Red Feather) fundraising.  The kanji initially caught my eye, so I stopped by to see what was being offered.  The deal was a tee and tote bag for $26, all of which would be donated to the fund.  They had cool designs and a Hope for Japan trademarked logo, and though the booth was abandoned when I was there the saleswoman said that sales have been brisk.  Glad to see that fundraising efforts have not lost steam as we approach the disaster’s one-year anniversary.

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Kudos to 22-year old tennis pro Kei Nishikori for being the first Japanese man in 80 years to reach the quarterfinals of the Australian Open!  Unfortunately, once there he was vanquished in straight sets by Scot Andy Murray, but his impressive showing in his previous five-set win over France’s Jo-Wilfred Tsonga bumps his world ranking up to 20 from 26.

Nishikori, who currently lives and trains in Florida, is known as “Air Kei” for his leaping groundstrokes.  I can attest to the fact that watching his play is thrilling.  A few years ago I caught a match of his at the US Open that turned into a nail-biting five-setter, and was hooked.

Here’s hoping he can build on this impressive showing in Australia and have further success in 2012!

I recently received an email newsletter from acclaimed Japanese food writer Elizabeth Andoh regarding her newest book project, 希望 (Kibo or “Brimming With Hope”).  It will be released on February 28th and features recipes and stories from the Tohoku area, where last year’s earthquake and tsunami hit.  Andoh wanted to do her part to help the region recover, and the creation of this book is what she came up with (click on the link below for purchase information).  This March, she also plans to launch a new website called Kibo cooking which will be dedicated to Tohoku cookery.  See below for a description of Andoh’s project in her own words.

It is HOPE… fused with, and fueled by, resolve.

Dogged determination.

It is a BOOK… a culinary tribute to Japan’s Tohoku.

Recipes and stories: to comfort, to share.

On the afternoon of March 11, 2011, triple disaster – earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident – assaulted Japan’s northeastern corridor, the Tohoku region, and to a lesser extent the Kanto Plains area that includes Tokyo and its environs. In the hours, days, and weeks that followed, the enormity of the toll became painfully clear. There was unprecedented loss of life, personal injury and property damage, entire communities and industries had been wiped out. Surreal.

Like many Tokyo residents who had been personally spared serious loss, I wondered what I could do. In the post-disaster barrage of media coverage, I found the plight of evacuees particularly poignant. Uprooted and transplanted to shelters far removed from their home, I wondered how traditional Tohoku culture could be preserved in the Diaspora.

I wanted to soothe survivors with comfort foods, help Tohoku residents prepare familiar dishes in unfamiliar places. By writing a book that celebrated the Tohoku’s culinary culture I thought to help preserve the region’s rich heritage while nourish the morale of displaced residents. By writing in English I could reach a wide, global readership enabling them to share in the pleasures of the Tohoku table while supporting recovery efforts through the purchase of KIBŌ. My publisher, Ten Speed Press, has pledged with me, to donate a portion of proceeds to Japan’s rebuilding and renewal efforts.

希望を持って、頑張ります

KIBŌ wo motte, gambarimasu

Brimming with hope, pushing forward…

ちょっと遅くなりましたが、明けましておめでとうございます！ I hope that your 2012 has gotten off to a good start, and that the year of the dragon is a fortuitous one for everyone.

I’m down in DC with a new group of International Visitors invited by the State Department to study U.S. energy policy.  In light of the Fukushima accident nuclear is obviously a big focus, but we are also looking at renewable energy options like solar and wind (as well as geothermal which will take us to a plant on the Big Island of Hawaii!).  As part of our cultural activities outside of the professional program, the other night we attended Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center where a Japanese artist was featured.

Her name is Yoko K. and she hails from Nagano, and she is an electronic musician, producer, engineer and vocalist.  I was not very familiar with that genre of music, but her performance kept me entertained throughout.  She incorporates various tools in her sound creation, and you can see the basis of her classical training in piano from the age of 3.  I particularly liked her bilingual and often humorous lyrics, especially from the song “Laptop on Top of Your Lap” (“I want to be a laptop on top of your lap”).

This song was from her 2nd album “Heaven’s Library”, which is available on iTunes and worth a listen if you are a fan of electronic music or looking to be introduced to it.  We got to chat with Yoko after the concert, and she was super personable and eager to discuss her music.  I look forward to following her continued success!

This week I attended the Japan Society’s member screening of Norwegian Wood, the film version of this Haruki Murakami novel.  I haven’t read the book, but the movie was quite moving.  It takes place in the late 1960′s with student riots as a backdrop.  It is a love story centering on the university student Toru Watanabe, who is torn between his first love from his hometown, Naoko, and a new women he meets at school, Midori.  His relationship with Naoko is complicated as their mutual best friend (and Naoko’s boyfriend) committed suicide when they were in high school.  They share this bond, but it is also the source of Naoko’s mental instability.  Midori is a bit of a brighter character, though her life has been overshadowed by family members’ untimely deaths.  The film is quite tender in its exploration of these relationships and the direction Toru’s future will take.

The movie was made in 2010 by the French-Vietnamese director Anh Hung Tran, who was on hand at the screening along with Rinko Kikuchi who plays Naoko (pictured above with Kenichi Matsuyama who plays Toru).  They offered some behind the scenes stories, such as how Tran didn’t see Kikuchi as being right for the role but was overcome by her persuasion and powerful audition.  One poignant anecdote he shared was of a night when Kikuchi asked him, “Why is it that when I cry during a scene, it feels more real than when I cry in real life?” to which he answered, “Because you are an artist.  And to an artist, expression is more real than experience.”  This exchange captures Kikuchi’s artistic process and offers insight into her poetic performance.  I had the opportunity to interview her the following day, and found her to be both down to earth and impressive in her approach to the craft.

Norwegian Wood will be coming to the IFC Center on January 6, and my Kikuchi article will be in the February issue of Chopsticks magazine so keep your eyes peeled!

At Kyoto’s Kiyomizu Temple, 今年の漢字 (kotoshi no kanji), or the kanji of the year was just announced to be 絆 (kizuna) or bonds between people.  According to the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society, the rationale behind its selection by the based on ideas from the public was that in a disaster-ridden year that brought a nation closer together, kizuna best reflects the events of 2011.  These bonds include those among family members, friends and neighbors, as well as refers to support from abroad.  It was chosen with the hope that the world will continue to coalesce to help restore Japan.

As for how this year’s お正月 (oshougatsu) nine months after the disaster will be spent, it seems as if most people are being low-key and staying close to home due to 3-11.  Many are still in mourning for the lives that were lost, and this probably will continue until the one-year anniversary next year.  People aren’t even sure what to write on their new year’s cards, as the typical 新年おめでとう (shinnen omedetou) or “Happy New Year!” may not be appropriate.  Below are some suggestions (in Japanese) for what to write on 年賀状 (nengajou) to those in the disaster area.

祝いの語を使わない例

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Time truly flies, as I can’t believe it has been so long since I’ve been here.  At any rate, tadaima!

Although almost nine months have passed since the earthquake/tsunami in Fukushima, and I am glad to say that the recoverｙ effort is still on people’s minds.  Last night I went to the Artist Showcase and Fundraiser for Japan held at Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki’s Residence. The event featured a reception honoring a visiting Fukushima prefectural government delegation to New York, along with artwork (some from JET alumni!) available for silent auction purchase.

Ambassador Hiroki offered his comments, and a representative of the Fukushima prefectural governor read a letter from him on his behalf.  On display were Fukushima goods, and guests partook of Fukushima sake as well as local culinary offerings such as delicious rice and peaches.  The filled to capacity crowd seemed to enjoy themselves and were glad to be able to contribute, even in a small way, to the ongoing struggle to restore normalcy in Fukushima.

For those who weren’t able to attend last night but feel like they want to do something to help the cause, there is an event tonight in Union Square being held by the Blue Sky Project, a group of young Fukushima enterpreneurs, with backing from the New York Fukushima Prefectural Association.  For details, please see the press release below and hope to see you all there!

New York, NY – November 25, 2011 – Members of Young Entrepreneurs Group in various regions of Fukushima, Japan formed and established a group called “Blue Sky Project” and will be in New York to raise their spirit of rebuilding their hometown after experiencing the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami followed by ill-fated Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear disaster. New York is the aspiration for Fukushima that the city also has experienced September 11th, and has been recovering financially and mentally from the tragedy. Fukushima has been suffering from financial damages and harmful reputation from radiation scare even after 8 ½ months later. In order to overcome the negative images and views towards Fukushima, the members of “Blue Sky Project” and its supporters of New Yorkers will conduct the event: Support Fukushima Candle Night.

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

This weekend’s NYT featured two interesting Japan articles in the magazine and Sunday Styles section.  The former features the country’s living cultural treasure novelist Haruki Murakami, whom the article’s author spends time with in Tokyo to dissect his newest book 1Q84 as well as his older works.

The latter article discusses the popularity of 八重歯 (yaeba), or double teeth that look that fangs (aka “snaggleteeth”).  Apparently this fashion calls not for perfect smiles, but unstraight teeth.  Women are asking dentists to affix plastic fronts to their real teeth to create artificial yaeba, as shown here in the picture.

Upon asking two young Japanese women who were visiting the city about yaeba, they said it was the first they had heard of it.  I’ll see what further informal surveys reveal about whether this is a real trend, or just something being sensationalized by the media.

WIT Life is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

Last night I had the chance to attend an event at the Modern sponsored by the Japanese beverage company Suntory, for the unveiling of their newest whiskey here in the States, Hakushu.  We first enjoyed a tasting of this offering, along with samples of favorites Yamazki and Hibiki.  Chef Gabriel Kreuther prepared an amazing menu to pair with these whiskeys, featuring such treats as foie gras and caviar.

However, for me the best part of the meal was the amazing dessert pictured here.  It may look like a bonsai creation, but down to the roots every part of it was edible.  The leaves were white chocolate, the branches a dark chocolate, and the soil a bitter chocolate.  The brown sweets on the side were gold-flecked macaroons flavored with pistachio and whiskey.  Talk about artisanship!

If this image has you missing Japanese craftsmanship, the London branch of the Japan National Tourist Organization might have the solution for you.  As this press release indicates, the Japan Tourism Agency has proposed giving away 10,000 free flights to Japan next year.  This is part of efforts to revive the domestic  tourism industry, which has taken a huge hit in the wake of March’s earthquake and tsunami.  This initiative is still subject to Japanese government approval, but if it passes hopeful travelers can apply by submitting an essay about why they deserve the free trip.  Start thinking about your pitch today!

WITLife is a periodic series written by professional Writer/Interpreter/Translator Stacy Smith (Kumamoto-ken CIR, 2000-03). She starts her day by watching Fujisankei’s newscast in Japanese, and here she shares some of the interesting tidbits and trends together with her own observations.

My latest International Visitor Leadership Program travels bring me to Riverside, California for the first time, host of the recent Sister Cities International conference highlighted here in JetWit.  My group and I are staying in the lovely Mission Inn (referenced in the Sister City write-up), a national historical landmark established in 1876.  Today we took part in a tour of the facility, and I was surprised to find out about its Japan connection!

Founder Frank Miller wanted to create a resort hotel for Riverside, which by the 1890s was the richest city per capita in the country due to its profitable citrus culture (the streets surrounding the inn bear names such as orange, lime and lemon, and can cause confusion if you are not clear about your citrus types!).  Miller was devoted to world peace, and assembled an annual meeting at his property in pursuit of this lofty goal.

He also traveled the world as part of this endeavor, and collected treasures from his various destinations including Japan.  The Buddha pictured here is seated in the Ho-O-kan Room, located inside the Court of the Orient which has an Eastern flair.  Story has it that Miller acquired it after the temple in Japan in which it was housed burned down.  As part of a seven-month world tour in 1934, the Japanese Prince and Princess Kaya paid a visit to this Buddha.  Photographs of this event and others commemorating the inn’s rich history adorn the walls, creating a tangible connection with the past.

On a sillier note, check out this hilarious Onion article from last month about Obama plugging Pretz.