Being Japanese American

Gil Asakawa a is a 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 his columns are also published in the Nikkei Voice, the national newspaper of Japanese Canadians

Contents (1st Edition)

Introduction vii

Part I: JAs Yesterday

1 Where Did We Come From?

Paving the way • Here to stay • The camps • Fighting for a place in society • Speaking out • Redress

2 Memories of Home

Games • Crafting a culture • Musical roots • Spiritual roots

3 Customs

Turning Japanese • The gift of giving • Celebrations • The rules of death • Rules of etiquette • Values—good and bad

4 Food

What’s “authentic” Japanese food? • Ramen • Rice • JA specialties • Mochi and the special foods of New Year • Mochi madness • Recipes you can try

5 Language

Typically Japanese—and therefore JA • Growing up in a bilingual household • It’s my name; please don’t mangle it • Learning Japanese

Part II: JAs Today

6 It’s Hip to Be Japanese!

The power of anime • The man in the lizard suit • Ameri-kana • Hai! Karate • The sporting life • J-pop and the sound of young Japan • On the silver screen • JA lit • On the cutting edge

7 JA Communities

Japantowns • Community organizations • Community without J-towns • Church life, newspapers, and the Wonder Years • Nikkei, not just JA • Japanese Canadians, eh

8 Scrapbooking Your History

Photos, postcards, and other memorabilia • Climbing the Japanese family tree • Immigration records • Researching internment history • Recording your family history • Preserving your family’s legacy

9 Homeward Bound

Strangers in a familiar land • Ways to go • Getting young people to Japan • Tips for your trip
Part III: JAs Tomorrow

10 APA, Not Just JA

Pan-Asian, not pan-Oriental • Rugs are Oriental; we’re Asian • The rise of Yellow Power • A better tomorrow for APAs on screen • An apology at last • Our work’s not done • Building bridges in a post-/ world

Part IV: Resources

Organizations • Sites about Japan • Japanese culture • Genealogy • Hapa issues • Internment resources • JA/Nikkei/APA sites • Shopping • Travel to Japan • Books • Films and videos

Index