Author Asakawa to Speak in Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — Gil Asakawa will discuss and sign copies of the newly revised edition of his book, “Being Japanese American: A JA Sourcebook for Nikkei, Hapa … and Their Friends,” at two Bay Area venues.

• Saturday, Aug. 15, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, 1840 Sutter St., San Francisco. Free admission. To RSVP or for more information, email the San Francisco JACL at sfjacl@yahoo.com.

• Sunday, Aug. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, 535 N. 5th St., San Jose. Free with museum admission ($5 for non-JAMsj members, $3 for seniors over 65 and students, free for JAMsj members and children under 12). RSVP to (408) 294-3138 or publicprograms@jamsj.org.

Gil Asakawa

The San Jose program is co-sponsored by JAMsj and Nikkei Traditions of San Jose Japantown. Books may be pre-purchased at JAMsj and at Nikkei Traditions, (408) 297-7554, at a special price of $16 (plus tax) prior to the event. Books will sell for $18.95 (plus tax) the day of the event.

“Being Japanese American” is a fun and entertaining sourcebook and is a celebration of Japanese American culture, history and heritage. While detailing favorite foods, customs, words, games and holidays, it also explores the painful history of immigration and World War II internment, with suggestions for connecting to the Japanese American community and passing on traditions across generations and into cross cultural families.

The revised edition has fresh interviews with Japanese Americans about their life experiences and explores contemporary Japanese pop culture such as anime and J-pop, with information on traveling to Japan with resources on the Web.

Asakawa is a Denver-based journalist, editor, author, speaker and blogger who covers Asian American, Japanese American and Japanese culture in blogs and social media. He writes regular columns for and is a member of the Editorial Board for The Pacific Citizen, the national newspaper of the Japanese American Citizens League, and is author of the blog Nikkei View. His columns are also published in Nikkei Voice, the national newspaper for Japanese Canadians.