THE APPA Newsletter

September 14, 2004

See This Weekend

 

MISSION STATEMENT:

Promote full utilization of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and culture and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.

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ed. by Douglas Ikemi

(dkikemi@pacbell.net)

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The internet site is at:

www.apa-pro.org    

Our own domain name, apa-pro.org, stands for Asian Pacific American Professionals. www.apa-pro.org/ gives you a menu of AP organization websites.

Back issues of the newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003 are available on the website if you want to look up some past event.

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APPA Board Meeting Schedule for 2004:

Wednesday evening meetings open to the public will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2100 Mariposa Ave.(corner of Nash) at 6PM.

 

October 13

December 15

 

Detailed, updated calendar is available on the internet at www.apa-pro.org in Acrobat and Excel formats [I'll update it someday when I have some more time] . Please send in information on cultural events and news items. Thanks to those who have.

 

Long range calendar items:

 

Chinatown Farmers Market Every Thursday, 3:00pm to 7:00pm Chinatown Business Improvement District http://www.ChinatownLA.com/  For Information (213)_ 680-0243 

 

June 18 - September 20, Chinese Art from the Permanent Collection at the Norton Simon Museum. Revealing the breadth of the Museum's Asian holdings, this intimate exhibition showcases a selection of Chinese works of art, the majority of which are on view at the Museum for the first time. Buddhist artworks in the exhibition include a limestone Stele with Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Donors, dated 478, from the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), a marble Torso of the Buddha, c. 577, from the Northern Qi Dynasty (550-577); and two seventh- to eighth-century marbles, Meditating Buddha and Bodhisattva, from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). The exhibition also presents a number of gilt bronze and lacquered wood sculptures dating to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), a period when Tibetan Buddhism played an important role in China. The wrathful female deity Simhavaktra is represented, as is the couple Chakrasamvara and Vajravarahi, locked in a sensual embrace (yab-yum).The museum is open 12-6PM, closed Tuesdays, 12-9 Friday only. The Museum is located at 411 W. Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena on the corner of Orange Grove and Colorado Boulevard at the intersection of the Foothill (210) and Ventura (134) freeway. http://www.nortonsimon.org/

 

 

JUNE 5 - OCTOBER 3 Beyond the Floating World: Japanese Woodblock Prints. "Blue Bird," Sozan Ito, Date unknown, Japan. More than 40 original Japanese woodblock prints from the Los Angeles Public Library's collection, featuring notable masters Hiroshige (1797-1858), Ukiyo-e master Utamaro (1750-1806) and Shin-hanga master Shoson (1877-1945), are on display in the exhibition "Beyond Floating World: Japanese Woodblock Prints" from June 5 to October 3 at the Los Angeles Public Library's Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., downtown. Japanese woodblock prints are among the most collected and appreciated types of Japanese art. The Los Angeles Public Library houses a collection of these prints dating from the 17th century. In response to rapid changes in Japanese society, Ukiyo-e artists of the late 18th and 19th centuries created work that was intensely imaginative and innovative. These prints provided the Japanese urban middle class with a source of artistic pleasure. Many prints portrayed famous kabuki actors costumed for particular roles and renown beauties attired in high fashion. Other popular subjects were scenes from classic Japanese literature, landscapes, townscapes, birds, animals and flowers. Many fine examples of the Shin-hanga or the "new print" movement of the early-to-mid-20th century are also in the Library's collection. During the Shin-hanga movement, artists broadened the range of traditional Ukiyo-e subject matter, reflecting their new-found appreciation for Western art without abandoning the beauty and poetry that was inherent in Ukiyo-e. Throughout this period, the artists continued to embrace the influence from the feudalistic period while incorporating modern sensibilities. Traditionally dismissed as decadent, the artists featured in this exhibition are now being re-evaluated and receiving acclaim for their skill and innovation. This exhibition is sponsored by Farmer's Insurance and presented by the Library Foundation.

Central Library First Floor Galleries 630 West Fifth St. Downtown Los Angeles. The exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday: 1 - 5 p.m. The library is closed holidays. For more information, call (213) 228-7500. Parking is available at 524 S. Flower St. Garage. $6.60 maximum/weekdays after 4 p.m. $1 with library validation.

 

July 17, 2004 through October 17, 2004 The Occupations of Sh™wa Japan in Pictures: The Woodblock Prints of Wada Sanz™ at the Pacific Asia Museum. Modern Japanese society and culture is often imagined in dramatic conflict between western-style modernity and enduring tradition. This tension emerged in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and continues today, but was most pronounced during the early Sh™wa period (1926-1989). This was a time when the nation rejected European values as part of war ideology, then enthusiastically re-embraced western culture during the Allied Occupation of 1945-52. www.pacificasiamuseum.org

 

July 14, 2004 through October 3, 2004Depicting the Royal and Divine: Indian Paintings and Sculptures at the Pacific Asia Museum. In anticipation of the MuseumÕs 2004 Festival of the Autumn Moon, which will celebrate the wonders of IndiaÕs Bollywood, Pacific Asia Museum is presenting an exhibition of rarely seen Indian art works from its permanent collection. The exhibition will include finely executed miniature paintings of Hindu gods and goddesses and portraits of important kings and their courtiers. A number of these paintings were recent gifts to the collection from the Nancy King Collection and have never been shown before. Several folk paintings of popular deities were recently bequeathed to the museum by Colonel William F. Johnston and will provide an interesting contrast to the delicate miniature paintings. A number of important stone and bronze sculptures of Hindu deities will also be featured. www.pacificasiamuseum.org

 

Sept 12- Jan 2, 2005 George Nakashima: Nature, Form & Spirit at the JANM. This exhibition will feature a range of George NakashimaÕs designs from the immediate post-World War II period until his death in 1990. Photographs, ephemera, and other archival materials pertaining to Nakashima will also be on display. Most of the objects come from the collection of the Nakashima family and will be supplemented with local loans. A video piece by John Terry Nakashima, a media producer and nephew of George, will be on view in the Terasaki Orientation Theater. George Nakashima: Nature, Form & Spirit is based on an exhibition organized by the Mingei International Museum in San Diego with Mira Nakashima, curatorial consultant. http://www.janm.org/exhibits/nakashima/

 

 

ÒChanoma Film Festival 2004Ó presents nine various  Japanese heart-warming films from KurosawaÕs masterpiece  to modern animation. The festival will be held at LaemmleÕs  Fairfax Cinema in West Hollywood, LaemmleÕs One Colorado  Cinema in Pasadena, and Laguna Hills Mall Cinemas in Orange County.  These films were depicted from the familyÕs view point and  give us a chance to re-think what a family is to us. Audiences  can enjoy the films regardless of their age. Our goal was to deliver  a further cultural exchange and mutual understanding of the Japanese  culture to the American and Japanese audience living in Los Angeles. Chanoma Film Festival 2004Ó will  present Japanese films from September through December one week  per month at West Hollywood. In addition, Japanese films will be  presented in Pasadena and Orange County for one week in October.

http://www.chanoma.org

Laemmle's Fairfax  Cinemas, Los Angeles

7907 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 Tel: 323-655-4010

 Website: http://www.laemmle.com/theatres/fairfax/fairfax.html

 Delightful and Touching Movies September 10 - September 16,  2004

 Go Rascals! 1:00pm / 5:25pm / 9:50pm

 Junkers Come Here 3:10pm / 7:35pm

Classics by Director Akira Kurosawa October 8 - October 14,  2004

 Ikiru 1:00pm / 7:30pm

 Red Beard 3:55pm

Revival of Chanoma Film Festival 2003 November 12 - November 18,  2004

Remembering the Cosmos Flower 1:00pm / 7:35 pm

 Sand Castle -Model Home Family- 3:15pm / 9:50pm

 Sukiyaki 5:30pm

Japanese Animations December 10 - December 16, 2004

 Catnapped! 1:00pm / 4:30pm / 8:00 pm

 The Day the Earth Moved 2:45 pm / 6:15pm / 9:45pm

Laemmle's  One Colorado Cinemas, Pasadena

42 Miller Alley, Pasadena, CA 91103 Tel: 626-744-1224

 Website: http://www.laemmle.com/theatres/onecolorado/onecolorado.html

 Featuring Director Junichi Suzuki October 22 - October 28

 Go Rascals! 1:00pm / 9:45pm

 Sukiyaki 3:10pm

 Sand Castle -Model Home Family- 5:25pm

 Remembering the Cosmos Flower 7:40pm

Laguna  Hills Mall Cinemas, Orange County

24155 Laguna Hills Mall, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 TEL:(949) 768-6611

Featuring Director Junichi Suzuki October 1 - October 7

 Go Rascals! 12:30pm / 9:15pm

 Sukiyaki 2:40pm

 Sand Castle -Model Home Family- 4:55pm

 Remembering the Cosmos Flower 7:10pm

 

Sept 23 Lecture/Demonstration: The Japanese Biwa. Two day program begins with The History of the Biwa and its Repertoires. Musicologist, Musashino Academia Musicae

Prof. Haruko Komoda

Mr. Thomas Ranjo (aka Charlie Marshall)

Reception to follow.

 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

East Asia (Stoops) Library, USC, Los Angeles, CA 90095. For more information please contact: Joan Piggott Tel: 213 821-5872

 

Sept 24 "YAOBIKUNI The Immortal Legend" at UCLA Royce Hall, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM, UCLA, Royce Hall, Los Angeles, CA 90095, 310-825-2101

Website: www.uclalive.org/Event.asp?Event_ID=218. This year is the 150th anniversary for cultural exchange between Japan and the USA. The Japan Cultural Bureau has made it possible for the Midori Nishizaki Dance Group, ÒYaobikuniÓ to perform in the USA as part of their 2004 international cultural projects. The dance group has toured all over the world including Europe and Asia and has received a great response. In addition to introducing a great Japanese dance performance to citizens of the USA, this event will contribute to friendship and goodwill between Japan and the USA. Balcony free for UCLA students, faculty & staff. Go to UCLA Central Ticket Office windows with UCLA ID to get free tickets. Cost: $35 General Admission / $20 Students & Seniors 65+ Sponsored by: The Consulate General of Japan, Aurora Foundation, UCLA Performing Arts, and the Japan America Society

 

Sept 24-25 LOS ANGELES KOREAN INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL at the Egyptian Theatre. The news from the Cannes Film  Festival this year that Asian, and in particular Korean, cinema has arrived in full force  on the world film scene should come as no surprise to anyone watching the incredible  explosion of filmmaking talent in South Korea over the past few years. Break-out directors  like enfant terrible Chan-wook Park (whose new film OLDBOY won the Grand  Prize at Cannes from the Quentin Tarantino-led jury, and whose previous film SYMPATHY FOR  MR. VENGEANCE premieres in our Fest), Kim Ki-duk (SAMARITAN GIRL; SPRING, SUMMER,  FALL, WINTER É AND SPRING; THE ISLE), and Hong Sang-soo (WOMAN IS THE FUTURE  OF MAN; TURNING GATE) are pushing Korean cinema into wonderfully strange and unsettling  territory, while crowd-pleasing hits like the Korean War epic TAEGUKGI (which will be released in the U.S. in early September) have packed theatres across Asia. This year, the American Cinematheque is pleased to partner with the  Los Angeles Korean International Film Festival (LA-KIFF), one of the largest events  dedicated to Korean and Korean-American cinema in North America, to bring a greater  knowledge and appreciation of the cultural richness and artistic diversity of the Korean  and Korean-American experience to L.A. audiences. LA-KIFF emphasizes individual creativity, cultural exchange and global communication during its multi-part Festival events. [For more information on the other LA-KIFF screenings, please check www.lakiff.com.] http://egyptiantheatre.com/archive1999/2004/korean2004.htm

 

September 25 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

 Los Angeles Chinatown

 

Sept 25  Festival - Volvo Harvest Moon Festival 2004 At the Arcadia County Park

Volvo presents the Harvest Moon Festival 2004. The Harvest Moon Festival is a holiday celebrated by many of Southern California's Asian communities.  Much like Thanksgiving, the Harvest Moon celebrations revolve around families, bountiful food, and the full moon.  Enjoy a day of fun activities for children of all ages, entertainment, cultural performances, good food and shopping.  At the festival enter to win a brand new VOLVO, (some restrictions may apply). For more information, please call (310) 442-2712 or visit www.kscitv.com.11:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Arcadia County Park, 405 S. Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006 Cost: Free. Special Instructions:

Free parking and a shuttle service will be available across from the park at Santa Anita Racetrack

 

Sept 25, 26 15th Anniversary  Celebration Okinawan Traditional Dance and Music, Location: Aratani/Japan America  Theatre. A showcase of the rich traditions of  Okinawan dance, music and theatre. The 2005 U.S. tour celebrates the 15th  Anniversary of the Okinawa Culture Association, established to introduce Okinawan culture including music, dance and martial arts the world. This 20 member ensemble presents a showcase of the rich traditions of Okinawan music and song which reflect the warmth and optimism of the people of this spectacular chain of islands. The program features traditional court dance created in the 17th century, zo-odori (semi  classical dance) developed in the Meiji era, and folk dance of the common people  which demonstrates the hope, joy and sorrow experienced in their daily  lives. Highlighting the program will be "Nido Tekiuchi,"  a theatrical piece or Kumiodori. The musical ensemble includes shamisen,  koto, flute, kokyuo and drums. Tickets $25, $23 JACCC Members, $30 orchestra, $25 balcony More info: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700. 7PM Sept 25, 2PM Sept 26 http://www.jaccc.org/event_%20related/jaccc_calendar.html#anchor866600

 

September 26 Japanese Pop Culture Screening  + Seminar [FREE EVENT] Ð 3:00 PM. Co-presented with The Consulate General  of Japan and The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles. The past few years have seen an explosion of interest in Japanese  pop culture in the U.S. not seen since the days of Godzilla and Kimba the White Lion in  the 1960s. From the phenomenal popularity of anime TV shows and features (everything from  "Yu-gi-oh" and "Cowboy Bebop" to SPIRITED AWAY and METROPOLIS), to  dark, subversive live-action films (AUDITION, JU-ON), from pop music groups like Pizzicato Five to the acclaimed Super Flat art movement to cross-cultural magazines like "Giant  Robot," Japanese art, fashion and entertainment are providing an amazingly fertile  stream of influences for American pop culture (and of course, responding in kind by  incorporating elements from our culture). Please join us for a wide-ranging discussion  that will touch on all areas of the cross-cultural exchange between Japan and America, leading off with a screening of:

METROPOLIS, 2001, Toho/Columbia Pictures, 107 min. Dir. Rintaro (aka Shigeyuki Hayashi). Based on a classic manga by the  late, great Osamu Tezuka (with whom Rintaro worked on such 1960s classics as  "Astro-Boy" and "Kimba"), METROPOLIS is not a remake of the legendary  Fritz Lang silent Ð although itÕs not without similarities. In an enormous,  retro-future city where robots and androids do most of the work, there is nonetheless  great unrest. The government is really a tool of the evil billionaire Duke Red, and the  seeds of rebellion grow underground. Stir into this crucible of turbulence a young man,  his detective uncle, a youthful assassin, and an angelic blonde who doesnÕt realize just what she really is, and the result is as compelling as it is eye-popping, and as  unusual as the Swing-era music on the soundtrack. Do not miss this rare opportunity to see  and hear the original Japanese version with subtitles! "METROPOLIS is the new  milestone in anime, a spectacular fusion of c.g. background with traditional character animation. It has beauty, power, mystery and above all ... heart. Images from this film  will stay with you forever. My congratulations to Rintaro-san for his masterpiece."  Ð James Cameron

The screening will be followed by a 90 minute round-table panel  discussion with participants including Eric Nakamura, co-editor of "Giant Robot" magazine; Roy Lee, producer of the U.S. remake of THE RING; Yaz Noya of Tofu Records;  Rhona Medina of Tokyo Pop; Teresa Watanabe, journalist for the L.A. Times; Chris D.,  American Cinematheque programmer and author of the book Outlaw Masters of Japanese Film;  and Dr. Ronald Morse, Tokyo Foundation Professor of Japan Studies at the Univ. of Nevada  Ð moderated by Cinematheque Programming Manager Dennis Bartok. [Please note: There is no admission charge for this  event; tickets available at the box office on a first-come, first-served basis.] http://egyptiantheatre.com/archive1999/2004/specialeventssept.htm#Japanese%20Pop%20Culture

 

 

Oct. 2 35th Anniversary  Recital Bando Mitsuhiro Kai Japanese Classical Dance, 12:30pm & 5:30pm. Location: Aratani/Japan America Theatre. The Bando Mitsuhiro Japanese Classical dance school of Los Angeles celebrates it 35th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Madame Mitsuhiro's award of her natori,  dance title. Two different programs will feature classical dances, which have their origins in the centuries-old Kabuki drama and will  be characterized by beautiful costumes, elaborate make-up and wigs.

Joined by special guest artists from Japan, Madame Hanayagi Sumi,  Master Bando Mitsujiro and Madame Bando Hideko, daughter of the Grandmaster of the Bando school in Japan and renowned Kabuki  Actor,  Bando Mitsugoro X. The newest natori and shihan  students awarded their professional stage names will be presented in a formal  debut  and the talents of local students will be showcased. Tickets: $30 General Admission More info: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700

 

Oct 10 From Eastern  Europe to East LA:  Boyle Heights - the Original Fusion Neighborhood. The Yiddishkayt  Los Angeles Family Festival 11am ­ 5pm. Location: JACCC Plaza. A full day of music and entertainment celebrating  the rich traditions and continuing vitality of Yiddish Los Angeles includes storytelling,  hands-on workshops for kids of all ages. Hear the fusion sounds of klezmer  mixed with gospel, taiko, hip hop and even mariachi! Chow down on sushi or blintzes, tamales and pickles! Admission Free. http://www.jaccc.org/event_%20related/jaccc_calendar.html#anchor866600

 

Oct 10 KATSUDO SHASHIN  (Moving Pictures): Japanese Classic Films Return to Little Tokyo. Location: Aratani/Japan America  Theatre. This series of classic post-war Japanese  films showcases popular and rarely screened masterpieces from 1949 to 1960. These films  cast light on the dramatic changes Japanese society underwent following  the war. Award winning actress Yoko Sugi, featured in two of the  films will make a special appearance to introduce the films.

1 pm "Yuki Guni" (Snow Country) 1957 (Toho, 120 min) Director Shiro Toyoda.  Komako (Keiko Kishi) is a beautiful geisha with a deep  affection for Shimamura (Ryo Ikebe), a handsome but cold city-dweller.  Komako's relationships with others are strained by her love for Shimamura,  whose distance is reflected in the dramatic, winter scenery of this  film.

5 pm "Enjo" (Conflagration) 1958 (Kadokawa Pictures, 99 min) Director Kon Ichikawa. Based on a true story, "Conflagration" depicts the  tale of the burning of Kinkakuji Temple (called Shukaku in the film). The  beautifully shot film is a visual masterpiece and has garnered multiple awards  for its actors.

Tickets $5 JACCC & JAS Members and Students with ID, day of screening, $6 General Admission. More info: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700

 

Oct 12 LA Philharmonic presents Japan gagaku ensemble Reigakusha, 8PM, at the Walt Disney Concert Hall

 

Oct 22 Gods, Goddesses and Ancestors: Masked Rituals of Kerala, India, Ravi Gopalan Nair, Artistic Director, U.S. Premiere, Royce Hall, UCLA, Tickets: $42, 35, 25. Kerala, a lush state at the southernmost tip of India, maintains a distinct culture, rich in spectacular folk, classical and performing arts traditions. Touring for the first time in the U.S., these dancers recreate the sacred beauty of the regionÕs most dramatic ancient dance ritual, the Theyyam, or ÒGodÕs Dance.Ó http://www.performingarts.ucla.edu/Event.asp?Event_ID=151

 

Oct 23 Rhapsody In  Taps, A Tribute  to Gregory Hines 8pm

Location: Aratani/Japan America Theatre. Under the artistic direction of Linda Sohl­Ellison,  Rhapsody In Taps presents a "Tribute to Gregory Hines" with the  reconstruction of the pieces he created for the company. The program will be highlighted by the premiere of a new work by Monte Ellison ­ all performed  by the seven-member ensemble on stage with a live jazz quintet. Tickets: $30, $25, $19 JACCC Members, $36 Hoofers Circle, $28 orchestra, $22 balcony. More info: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700

 

November 6th & 7th, Aquarium of the Pacific Autumn Festival, Celebrating the cultures of Japan, China, Korea and Viet Nam. Some of the participants include:

Southern California Korean Dancing School,

Acrobatic Balancing Acts & Magic by Sha Sha Lui & Pedro Chan,

Art Nakane and his One Man Band

Angi Ma Wong - Feng Shui Demonstrations

Orgami Demonstrations by Michael Ujin Sanders

Japanese Dancing by Bando Mitsuhiro Kai

Cultural Storytelling by Actors of SAG Foundation, BookPals

Northern Shaolim Kung Fu Association - Chinese Lion Dance, Dragon Dance & Kung Fu & Weaponry and

Cultural Dive Presentations in the Blue Cavern

Kids Kraft Area with Fish Kites, Origami and Lantern Making

 

Visual Communications presents ...

 PAST/FORWARD

 NOVEMBER 14, 2004, 7:30 PM

 at the Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles

 Despite heated requests for the infamous celebration of Asian Pacific

 American chili and rice and cinema, Visual Communications has formally

 announced that it will not be having its community ChiliVisions event this

 summer.

 Originally scheduled for August, ChiliVisions has been replaced by

 Past/Forward, a fundraiser to benefit the Linda Mabalot Legacy Fund and

 Visual Communications' programs.

http://www.vconline.org/pastforward/nochili.html

 

Dec 11 Yamabiko Kai Theatrical Co. 1 & 7Pm, presents ÒTales of the EchoÓ musical based on Japanese Folk Tales. Aratani/Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles. Tickets $22, $19 JACCC Members, $25 orchestra, $22 balcony.

 

The Van Nuys Japanese Garden needs volunteers on Sundays in work in the Shoin Tea House, 11AM-3PM, 1 or 2 Sundays each month. Volunteers needed to either prepare tea or serve. Gift shop volunteers also needed, Mon-Thu and Sunday, mornings or afternoons, 2-3 hour shifts. Contact: The Japanese Garden, Attn: Betty Ethridge, 6100 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys, CA 91406.

 

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This Weekend (and earlier)

 

May 8- Sep 19 "Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business" The Los Angeles Public Library challenges our perceptions of the historic role and significance of female entrepreneurs in the U.S. economy by hosting the groundbreaking exhibition on display in the Central Library's Getty Gallery. Central Library is the sole west-coast venue for this exhibit. From the heart of Los Angeles, a city that boasts over 210,000 women-owned businesses, "Enterprising Women" introduces more than 40 stories of women who helped shape the landscape of American business. The trials and triumphs of a diverse group of inventors, innovators and trendsetters will be revealed through artifacts, costumes, diaries and letters, business and legal documents, photographs and paper ephemera, audio recordings and interactive technology. "Enterprising Women" marks the first time major themes of women's history - work and family, gender and professional identity, femininity and women's "proper place," and sex discrimination - are woven into the fabric of business history. The exhibition invites visitors to examine the change and continuity, over the past 250 years, of the definitions and material symbols of womanhood, ownership and entrepreneurial success. "Enterprising Women" is designed to illuminate and personalize the nation's transformation from an agricultural and household economy to one influenced by industrialization, the rise of big business, the emergence of consumer culture and the technology revolution. The exhibit is organized into five historic sections and enhanced by interactive spaces such as an 18th century print shop, a 19th century dressmaking shop, a turn-of-the-century beauty parlor and a 20th century corporate office. Five Californian entrepreneurs are featured in this exhibit including: Maria de Lourdes Sobrino (owner of Lulu's Desserts), Meg Whitman (eBay president and CEO), Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel Toy Co. and creator of the Barbie doll), Mary Pickford (Hollywood actress and movie producer), and Juana Briones (successful Hispanic rancher/trader/midwife and healer who pioneered the settlement of Yerba Buena, now known as San Francisco). The exhibit is on display in the Central Library's Getty Gallery, 630 W. Fifth Street, downtown Los Angeles, during library hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday, Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. The library is closed holidays. For information, call (213) 228-7500. A catalog of this exhibit is available for purchase at the Library Store or by calling (213) 228-7550. For more information about this catalog, visit the exhibit organizer's web site www.enterprisingwomenexhibit.org.

 

Sept 15 Manzanar: An American Story, and evening with conductor Kent Nagano and playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, 6PM reception for Annual Giving Circles Members and Arts Patrons, 7PM panel discussion with David Sefton, Director, UCLA Live. JANM, 369 E. 1st Street.

 

September 18 "Stars  Shine" Benefit Concert. Aratani/Japan  America Theatre, Little Tokyo. .Japanese singer Yuji Matsuoka and his daughter  Misao perform along with a roster of local Japanese performing artists who through the arts keep the Japanese cultural heritage alive. Sponsored  by the Southern California Kendo Federation and the Yuji Matsuoka Fan  Club, with proceeds to benefit Keiro Senior HealthCare and JACCC  programs. Tickets $45 orchestra, $35 balcony. More info: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700

 

Sept 18 Keep it Going . . . Pass it On: Poetry Inspired by the Manzanar Pilgrimage at the JANM, 2PM. An afternoon of poetry published in an anthology by the MANZANAR COMMITTEE, an organization whose goal is to educate the public about the Japanese American internment experience. Poets featured in this anthology will talk about their experience writing and their participation in Manzanar After Dark, a program that began in 1997 to teach young people about the Manzanar camp experience. George & Sakaye Aratani Central Hall. http://www.janm.org/events/m_2004-09.php

 

Sept 18 Little Tokyo Walking Tour from the JANM. 10:15 AM  - 12:15 PM The Little Tokyo community in Los Angeles was once a thriving residential, business, and cultural center of the largest Japanese American community in the United States until World War II. Relive history and learn about present day Little Tokyo with National Museum volunteers on this historical walking tour. Fees are $5 for National Museum members and $11 for non-members, includes Museum admission. Reservations and comfortable shoes and clothes are recommended. http://www.janm.org/events/

 

Sept 19 KATSUDO SHASHIN  (Moving Pictures): Japanese Classic Films Return to Little Tokyo

Location: Aratani/Japan America  Theatre. This series of classic post-war Japanese  films showcases popular and rarely screened masterpieces from 1949 to 1960.  These films cast light on the dramatic changes Japanese society underwent following the war. Award winning actress Yoko Sugi, featured in two of the films will make a special  appearance to introduce the films.

1 pm "Fufu"  (Husband and Wife) 1953 (Toho, 87 min) Director Mikio Naruse, Ken Uehara plays Isaku Nakahara, married to Kikuko (Yoko Sugi) and tormented by his wife's affections for a colleague.

5 pm "Zoku Aoi Sanmyaku" (Blue Mountains Part II) 1949 (Toho, 91 min) Director Tadashi Imai. Upon its release, Blue Mountains was a colossal box-office hit. Featuring the young Yoko Sugi and Ryo  Ikebe,  the movie came to symbolize the youth movement to free Japan of its old, feudal values. Aratani/Japan America Theatre. $5 JACCC & JAS Members and Students with ID, day of screening,  $6 General Admission. More info: call the Box Office at 213.680.3700

 

Sept 19, 4TH ANNUAL JAPAN AMERICA KITE FESTIVAL, Family-oriented event in Seal Beach. In just four years, this family-focused cultural event has become the second largest kite festival in California and is gaining recognition internationally as one of the premiere Japan-related kite festivals!  The festival includes free kite workshops for children, performances by the world famous Zendeko Taiko Drummers, Japanese "festival" food, stunt kite demonstrations, and hundreds of unique kites including some over 100 feet long!  Japanese Kite Master Mikio Toki will also showcase his traditional "Edo" (Tokyo style) Japanese kites. 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM. North side of the Seal Beach Pier

Seal Beach, CA 

 

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Last Weekend(s)

 

I went to:

 

See the Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile exhibit at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco (http://www.asianart.org/index.html). This was a packed exhibition, with people constantly bumping into me. The exhibit included paintings, clothing, ornaments, video, and photos. Only one more weekend. The rest of the museum was also mind-boggling in size and extent. Highly recommended. I also went for the first time to the Japan Town in San Francisco and paid a visit to the National Japanese American Histoical Society offices. (http://www.njahs.org/)

 

 

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LA Times: (The Times are requiring registration again, but you might as well sign up for the free on-line access to their articles. This week they may even be accessible without registration. Calendar articles are usually only accessible with a paid subscription.)

 

Sep 14 Wiesenthal Center Takes On North Korean Human Rights Issue

 Speakers at conference tell of seeing atrocities. Representatives plan a fact-finding trip.

By K. Connie Kang, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-gulag14sep14,1,4427667.story

 

Sept 10 ON THE LAW

Domestic Violence Hotline Stays Connected

 Five new languages are added, for a total of 11, in an ongoing effort to reach out to L.A. County residents needing shelter and safety.

By Arlene Mart’nez, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-onthelaw10sep10,1,4890002.story

 

Sept 8 THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ

MANY FACES, ONE HEARTACHE

 From coast to coast and beyond, families are torn over love and patriotism as the list of Iraq war dead grows.

By John Balzar, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/la-fg-dead8sep08,1,2194799.story

 

Sept 8 THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE

State's Geography Hews Party Line

 Democrats tighten their hold on the seaside while the GOP increases its dominion inland. The widening breach reflects national trends.

By Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/la-na-calsplit8sep08,1,230079.story

 

Sept 12 THE NATION

Internment Lesson Plan Is Under Attack

 A school program teaches that confining Japanese Americans was a mistake. Some want it to include the opinion that it was just.

By Tomas Alex Tizon, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-bainbridge12sep12,1,3947441.story

 

Sept 9 OBITUARIES

Richard Butler, 86; Supremacist Founded the Aryan Nations

By Elaine Woo, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-butler9sep09,1,957005.story

 

Sept 9 COLUMN ONE

Great Idea but Don't Quote Him

 Deng Xiaoping's famous one-liner started China on the way to capitalism. The only problem is there's no proof he actually said it.

By Evelyn Iritani, Times Staff Writer By Evelyn Iritani, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/la-fi-deng9sep09,1,4418442.story

 

Sept 8 THE WORLD

Californian May Oversee N. Korea Economic Zone

 Ex-Fullerton Mayor Julie Sa is front-runner to head the Sinuiju development area.

By Barbara Demick, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-koreaczar8sep08,1,3684195.story

 

Sept 14 Use of Patriot Act Is Probed

From Associated Press

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mayfield14sep14,1,6322826.story

 

Sept 13 As Trial Nears, Case Against Airman Is Marked by Missteps

 Investigator errors force the military to drop half the charges against a former translator.

By Eric Bailey, Times Staff Writer

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-airman13sep13,1,4940498.story