Finding Okinawan Roots

Finding Okinawan Roots

by | Jul 9, 2026 | Classes & Events

Finding Okinawan Roots!

Monday, July 27, 2 – 4 pm

Meet with staff from the Okinawa Prefectural Library’s ‘Finding Okinawan Roots!’ The project helps people of Okinawan descent trace their family history using its passport issuance records database and comprehensive Okinawan historical materials. The team will visit J-Sei on July 27th to introduce the project and offer research consultations for those interested in discovering their Okinawan roots.

If you have ancestors who emigrated from Okinawa between 1900 and 1944, the Okinawan Prefectural Library staff can research information in advance of their visit.  Please provide any information you have such as name, hometown, date of birth, and year of emigration.  Complete this research request by 7/17/26 for advance research to be conducted.

RSVP for presentation.

Honor Bound Revisited: Retracing My Father’s Path with the 442nd

Honor Bound Revisited: Retracing My Father’s Path with the 442nd

by | Jul 7, 2026 | Classes & Events

Honor Bound Revisited:

Retracing My Father’s Path with the 442nd

Saturday, August 8, 1 pm

More than 30 years ago, television journalist, Wendy Hanamura, set out to capture the story of the 442nd/100th Regimental Combat Team through the eyes of her father, Sgt. Haruo Hanamura. Her father and his 442nd comrades were then in their seventies, able to laugh and cry and recount some of the darkest days of the war. Wendy travelled with these Company L veterans to France and Italy retracing their footsteps through some of the bloodiest battles of WWII. The resulting documentary, Honor Bound: A Personal Journey is now available to the public in the Densho Library and the Internet Archive.

Come watch this Emmy-award-winning documentary with multimedia producer, photographer & archivist, Brad Shirakawa.  Together last summer, Wendy and Brad retraced her father’s time in the south of France during the “Champagne Campaign,” exploring what is left of the villages, bunkers, and grand hotels of Nice where the 442nd wintered in 1944. Brad will share his research and photo documentaries of this little-known part of the 442nd story.

The event is presented by Friends of Topaz, Topaz Museum, and J-Sei.

Photo (above): Wendy Hanamura at Col de Braus, September 13, 2025. Photos are courtesy of Brad Shirakawa.

RSVP for this free event by clicking on the button below.

RSVP for in-person or online

Wendy Hanamura 

Over her 30+-year career in the media, Wendy has reported and produced stories around the world for Time, CBS, World Monitor Television, NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation), LinkTV and PBS. In 2014 she joined the Internet Archive—the world’s largest digital library– as the Director of Partnerships.

Wendy began her career as a photo editor for Time Magazine in New York. Her 1983 thesis took her to Hiroshima to live with and photograph aging hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombing. Her favorite project remains Honor Bound: A Personal Journey, the Emmy-award winning documentary she produced about her father and his storied unit, the Japanese American 442nd Regimental Combat Team. 

Brad Shirakawa

Brad took his first serious picture in 1970, idolizing Ansel Adams. He graduated from San Jose State with a photojournalism degree and worked for a small town newspaper for several years, where he photographed President Bill Clinton, the 49ers and the Pet of the Week.

For some 20 years he has produced Japanese American history. Brad was the author of The Street That Dreams Are Made Of, a book commemorating the 100 year history of a Japanese church in Palo Alto, CA. He was also the photo editor for Generations, a Japanese American Community Portrait. More recently he was the Project Director for the Alameda Japanese American History Project, a three year federal grant. Several thousand photographs, documents, PDFs and stories were generated and all went to Densho and the Internet Archive. Brad is currently a reporter, page designer and photographer for the Nikkei West newspaper where he does not have to shoot the Pet of the Week.

Pont Vieux, Sospel

Sospel, France

Wendy Hanamura and Brad Shirakawa, 2025.

442 in the Alpes-Maritime

 

Honor Bound

HONOR BOUND tells the story of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team through the story of one soldier, Haruo Howard “Howe” Hanamura, and his daughter, television reporter Wendy Hanamura, who travel to Europe in October 1994 for 50th anniversary ceremonies of the liberation of Bruyeres and Biffontaine by the 442nd. The film was produced by the National Japanese American Historical Society (NJAHS) and KPIX, San Francisco

A Plant-Based Diet to Ease the Joints

A Plant-Based Diet to Ease the Joints

by | Jul 6, 2026 | Classes & Events

A Plant-Based Diet to Ease the Joints,
a Saturday morning talk

Saturday, August 22, 10-11:30 am

While arthritis affects millions of people worldwide, is the pain and discomfort of inflammation something that we must learn to live with? Is there anything we can do?

Hear from Dr. Tamiko Katsumoto, a Clinical Associate Professor in the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at Stanford University, as she unpacks the science behind arthritis. She explains the key differences between osteoarthritis, caused by wear and tear on joints, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks healthy tissue. While there is no cure for arthritis, Dr. Katsumoto reveals why chronic inflammation plays a central role and how the modern diet is making things worse.  She is fascinated by the impact of diet and lifestyle on inflammation, autoimmunity, and cancer.

Dr. Katsumoto is passionate about the merits of sustainable whole food plant-centered diets as a strategy to both improve individual health and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation. Join us for an engaging conversation with Dr. Katsumoto and enjoy healthy light snacks to start your day.

RSVP here for in-person or online.

Hanafuda

Hanafuda

by | Jun 12, 2026 | Classes & Events

Learn to play Hanafuda

Mondays, Aug 17, 24, & 31, 10 – 11:30

Hanafuda, known as “flower cards” is a form of traditional Japanese playing cards. Hanafuda has a rich history dating back to the HEIAN ERA (794-1185). It has 48 cards divided into 12 months of the Japanese calendar. Each month features a floral theme and symbols proposed by Japanese nature through the seasons of a year.   This beginner’s class will teach Hanafuda with KOIKOI rule, a popular two person player game forming combinations ( yaku) and trying to gain more points than the opponents. Learn the basics of Hanafuda and practice playing together.   RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Hanafuda” in the subject. 

A Beginner’s Clinic: Introduction to Pickleball

A Beginner’s Clinic: Introduction to Pickleball

by | Jun 12, 2026 | Classes & Events

A Beginner’s Clinic: Introduction to Pickleball

Friday, June 26th, 12 to 1:30 pm

Oceanview Pickleball and Tennis Courts, 900 Buchanan, Albany

Curious about pickleball? Join us for a fun and welcoming 90-minute introduction to one of the fastest-growing sports in America. In this beginner-friendly clinic, you’ll learn the basic rules, essential strokes, court positioning, and simple strategies that make the game enjoyable and competitive. By the end of the session, you’ll have a solid understanding of how pickleball is played and the fundamentals needed to get out on the court and start playing with confidence.

Yas Takata is a PPR-certified pickleball coach with two years of coaching experience in the Oakland Hills area. Yas enjoys helping new players build a strong foundation while creating a positive and encouraging learning environment.

Patrick Wong is a PPR-certified pickleball coach with three years of coaching experience. He coaches out of Harbor Bay Club in Alameda and is passionate about helping players develop their skills and enjoy the game.

RSVP to jill@j-sei.org with “Pickleball” in the subject line. Limit to 12. Donation: $10  Sign up today.