Junshin Choir from Nagasaki, Japan. Photos courtesy of JoAnn Blatchley, Convener, Minneapolis St. Paul Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration Committee, and Vice President, St. Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee.

AAP staff report

Twin Cities (August 8, 2010) – The 2010 Hiroshima Nagasaki Commemoration events featured visitors from Nagasaki and dancers from Minnesota Collaborate at the annual commemoration to pursue peace and mourn the two atomic bombings that took place in August 1945. This was a special year as it is the 55th anniversary of the sister city relationship between St. Paul and Nagasaki – and the 65th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

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Washington, D.C. (August 5, 2010) – The Japanese American Citizens League announced that the organization will honor outstanding women at its annual Gala to be held in Washington, D.C. on September 16, 2010. The JACL event, “A Salute to Champions,” will have awards presented to Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Etsu Mineta Masaoka, Christine Toy Johnson and Roxana Saberi. JACL corporate partner Eli Lilly will also be honored.

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Above, Paper lanterns float in the pond of the Como Park Japanese Garden during the Obon Festival to honor the dead last Sunday. A stone lantern is also lit in the foreground, one of six lanterns that were part of the original Japanese garden at Como Park in the early 20th century. (AAP photo by Wua Xiong)

By WUA XIONG

AAP staff writer

St. Paul, Minn. (August 15, 2010) – According to Buddhist tradition and Japanese cultural beliefs, the souls of the dead may interact with the living at the time of Obon. The Japanese Buddhist Obon or “Bon” festival takes place each year as a custom to honor ancestors that have passed away. This tradition has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and is also celebrated in Saint Paul as the Como Park Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival.

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Japan’s legendary all-girl rock band, Shonen Knife, is returning to Minnesota in support of their upcoming full length CD, “Free Time”, set for release on August 31, 2010 from Good Charamel Records). The band makes rolls into Minnesota as part of its 2010 North American Tour on September 20, 2010, 8:00 p.m. to play The Cave on the campus of Carleton College in Northfield, before heading off on the remainder of its Midwest and Eastern U.S, and Canadian stops.

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Subbody Butoh Method was developed by Rhizome Lee in Japan.  “Subbody” means subconscious body. In the subconscious realm, away from the boundary of ego and daily consciousness, our mind and body melt into oneness and create world that is completely different from daily world. Though various conditioning techniques, a Subbody Butoh practitioner creates movements through exploring the subconscious realm.

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F red Korematsu with his Medal of Freedom (Photo by Shirley Nakao, courtesy of the Korematsu Institute)

Sacramento, Calif. (August 9, 2010) – The Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution bill was passed on the California Senate Floor with another unanimous vote of 34-0. This follows unanimous votes in the Senate Education Committee in June (8-0), the Assembly Floor (69-0) and the Assembly Education Committee (8-0) in May. The bill now goes back to the Assembly for concurrence before moving to Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk in August or September.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 5, 2010) ­– The U.S. Senate approved legislation (S. 1055) awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Japanese American soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) during the War. The legislation comes just prior to the 22nd anniversary of The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, offering redress to Japanese Americans interned by the US Government during the Second World War on August 10, 2010.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 11, 2010) – Twenty-two years after The Civil Liberties Act became law on August 10, 1988, providing redress to Japanese Americans interned by the US Government during the Second World War; the National Japanese American Memorial Foundation will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the national memorial inspired by the Act.

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Delphine Hirasuna, author of “Art of Gaman” along with her co-author Kit Hinrichs are speaking on “Transitions and Progressions” on Aug. 19, 2010, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception starting at 5:00 p.m. at W Minneapolis – The Foshay, 821 Marquette Avenue, downtown Minneapolis. The event will benefit BrandLab, a nonprofit established to create opportunities in the marketing industry for students with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

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Mirja P. Hanson, Ph.D., was named the new Honorary Consul General for Japan in Minnesota last May, a role that puts to work a lifetime association with the country she was raised in as a child of missionaries. (Contributed photo)

By TOM LAVENTURE

AAP staff writer

St. Paul, Minn. (August 4, 2010) – Dr. Mirja P. Hanson now serving as the Honorary Consul General for Japan in Minnesota – a title that is more functional than its title – as an individual who sets the tone for a century of continuing relationships between two cultures. The appointment was made by the Japan Minister of Foreign Affairs George Hisaeda, who was present in Minneapolis May 24, for an inaugural reception along with the Chicago Consulate General and staff and local dignitaries.

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