Being Japanese American: A JA Sourcebook for Nikkei, Hapa . . . & Their Friends

by Asakawa, Gil

• ISBN13: 9781880656853
• ISBN10: 188065685X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-07-30
• Publisher: Consortium Book Sales & Dist

Summary

From immigration to discrimination and internment, and then to reparations and a high rate of intermarriage, Americans of Japanese descent share a long and sometimes painful history, and now fear their unique culture is being lost. Gil Asakawa's celebration of what makes JAs so special is an entertaining blend of facts and features, of recipes, songs, and memories that every JA will want to share with friends and family. Included are interviews with famous JAs and a look at how it's hip to be Japanese, from manga to martial arts, plus a section on Japantown communities and tips for JA's scrapbooking their families and traveling to Japan to rediscover their roots. Gil Asakawa is a third-generation Japanese American, author of the weekly "Nikkei View" online column. He lives in Denver.

Table of Contents

Introduction	vii
Part I: JAs Yesterday
1 Where Did We Come From?	3	(16)
Paving the way	5	(3)
Here to stay	8	(3)
The camps	11	(3)
Fighting for a place in society	14	(1)
Speaking out	15	(2)
Redress	17	(2)
2 Memories of Home	19	(12)
Games	20	(2)
Crafting a culture	22	(5)
Musical roots	27	(2)
Spiritual roots	29	(2)
3 Customs	31	(12)
Turning Japanese	34	(1)
The gift of giving	35	(1)
Celebrations	36	(2)
The rules of death	38	(2)
Rules of etiquette	40	(1)
Values-good and bad	41	(2)
4 Food	43	(14)
What's "authentic" Japanese food?	46	(2)
Ramen	48	(2)
Rice	50	(1)
JA specialties	51	(1)
Mochi and the special foods of New Year	52	(2)
Mochi madness	54	(1)
Recipes you can try	55	(2)
5 Language	57	(10)
Typically Japanese-and therefore JA	58	(1)
Growing up in a bilingual household	59	(1)
It's my name; please don't mangle it	60	(1)
Learning Japanese	61	(6)
Part II: JAs Today
6 It's Hip to Be Japanese!	67	(20)
The power of anime	69	(2)
The man in the lizard suit	71	(2)
Ameri-kana	73	(2)
Hai! Karate	75	(1)
The sporting life	76	(1)
J-pop and the sound of young Japan	76	(3)
On the silver screen	79	(3)
JA lit	82	(3)
On the cutting edge	85	(2)
7 JA Communities	87	(12)
Japantowns	87	(2)
Community organizations	89	(2)
Community without J-towns	91	(3)
Church life, newspapers, and the Wonder Years	94	(2)
Nikkei, not just JA	96	(1)
Japanese Canadians, eh	97	(2)
8 Scrapbooking Your History	99	(11)
Photos, postcards, and other memorabilia	100	(1)
Climbing the Japanese family tree	101	(2)
Immigration records	103	(1)
Researching internment history	103	(1)
Recording your family history	104	(3)
Preserving your family's legacy	107	(3)
9 Homeward Bound	110
Strangers in a familiar land	111	(1)
Ways to go	112	(4)
Getting young people to Japan	116	(1)
Tips for your trip	117	(4)
Part III: JAs Tomorrow
10 APA, Not Just JA	121
Pan-Asian, not pan-Oriental	123	(1)
Rugs are Oriental; we're Asian	124	(1)
The rise of Yellow Power	125	(1)
A better tomorrow for APAs on screen	126	(1)
An apology at last	127	(1)
Our work's not done	128	(1)
Building bridges in a post-9/11 world	129	(3)
Part IV: Resources
Organizations	132	(1)
Sites about Japan	133	(1)
Japanese culture	134	(3)
Genealogy	137	(1)
Hapa issues	137	(1)
Internment resources	137	(1)
JA/Nikkei/ APA sites	138	(1)
Shopping	139	(1)
Travel to Japan	140	(1)
Books	140	(3)
Films and videos	143	(1)
Index	144