Nancy Uyemura: A Life of Love Connected to Others
When people describe Nancy Uyemura, the word they use is “humble”. She doesn’t brag, she’s especially generous and she always goes out of her way to reach out to others. Her artwork spreads across Little Tokyo, yet what she’s truly known for in the community is her character. Wishing to bring greater recognition to her […]
Reina Asami: Balancing the Scales of Tradition and Innovation Through Tattoos
In a private tattoo studio in Los Angeles, Reina Asami is bringing to life her admiration and appreciation of her Japanese heritage by modifying calligraphy and other artistic traditions into wearable, livable art. The home base for this second-generation Japanese-American is Bear w/Me, located in Atwater Village, where she works alongside a wide variety of […]
Dani and Mary Iwami: Molding the Resilience and Persistence of Heritage into a Multi-Generational Artistic Vision
“She’s graceful, resilient, and passionate.” The very traits that ceramicist Dani Iwami admires in the people around her are abundantly evident in her own life story and the dynamism of her artistic pursuits. Her work as an artist is a tribute to the women who have come before, who walk in stride beside her, and […]
Rob Tsuyuki and Shoyu Drip: Influenced by the Japanese Culture
One look at the Japanese American creator of ShoyuDrip, an internet apparel company featuring modern-day fashion with a distinctive Japanese flavor, and you’d probably never guess that he once considered himself a “non-Japanese.” But for Sansei Rob Tsuyuki, 55, this was basically who he was for a good part of his life. “Both of my […]
Naoki Hayashi: PLAY, PRINT, EAT
Step into the shop of gyotaku (Japanese fish printing) artist Naoki Hayashi and you’ll find a vintage Mustang parked within the complex, covered in dust and debris, one of his many do-it-yourself projects that he’s got on the side. “I like to fix and create things,” said Hayashi, explaining how he once worked for a […]
KILAUEA – THE POWER OF NATURE: Bruce Omori’s Passion for Photographing “This Incredible Living and Breathing Planet”
To find his calling and passion, Bruce Omori — acclaimed professional Hawai‘i nature-and-landscape photographer — reawakened the small kid days of his youth immersed in the nature of Hawai‘i island. “I remember taking photos of plants and animals, flowers, everything; we also had birds,” recalls Omori who received his first camera when he was 9 […]
The Culture of Okinawa is the Culture of Awamori
Peace, Love, and Gratitude are most important to Okinawan people. So important, they infuse it into everything. Awamori is no exception. In various small villages of Okinawa, an awamori distillery is the heart that keeps the community thriving. The employees are a family that consists of people of all ages and abilities. When awamori is […]
Herbert Yaka: Racehorse Photographer’s Photo Finishes Determined Champions
It’s been decades, but whenever JoAnn Jamora smells cigars, memories of bustling racetracks wash over her. She grew up watching horses race, and remembers wandering around the tracks, picking up discarded tickets to check if they turned out to be winners. Meanwhile, her father sat in a tiny photo booth above the racetrack, in his […]
The Downtown General Store’s Nostalgic and Fun Flour-Sack Towels
Hawaii family draws on Japanese roots and island plantation life to create flour sack towels. Take one ‘ohana (family) and add one part Old Hawai‘i plantation life, one part artistry and lots of aloha, and what do you get? The traditional flour-sack towel. This is the story of Penny Sato Kiyabu, a Japanese American who […]
Mary Mitsuda’s Journey of Wonder
Meeting Mary Mitsuda for the first time is like catching up with long lost friend. Over tea and her favorite focaccia bread from the neighborhood bakery, we talked story about art, family and life. According to an article in a 2014-2015 issue of Kahala Magazine, “Mitsuda has had her work featured at over 150 exhibitions […]