“Join us on May 10 at 6:00 p.m. for a FREE virtual program with Dr. Paula Fujiwara. Register for FREE here: https://bit.ly/3KOMM75

Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II had little say in the food they ate or crops they cultivated. Join Dr. Paula Fujiwara and the Arizona Historical Society on May 10, 2023 as she explores the relationship of food and power among imprisoned Americans of Japanese ancestry, with some details on the two incarceration camps in Arizona – Gila River and Poston. She will discuss three intertwined themes: the relationship of the inmates with War Relocation Authority staff, the shift in family dynamics vis-a-vis meals and the tensions among the Japanese Americans themselves.

Paula Fujiwara, MD, MPH, has had a celebrated medical career working closely on tuberculosis issues across the country and the world. She also is a descendant of Japanese Americans imprisoned at the Tule Lake concentration camp in California.

You won’t want to miss this incredible free program that you can view from the comfort of your home!”

Odaiko Sonora taiko drummers, Suzuyuki-Kai tradtional dancers and AZ Kyudo archery will be performing. Exhibitions will be outside of the Amethyst Room. Learn about PCC language courses and programs.

PCC Downtown is on the NW corner of N. Stone Ave. and E. Speedway Blvd. at 1255 N. Stone Avenue in Tucson.

Loft Cinema at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. is showing various Japanese films, very different genres in May, 2023. Go to www.loftcinema.org for showtimes.

“Perfect Blue” on May 5 to 11

“Shogun Assassin” on May 12 to 18

“Tokyo Story: 4K Restoration” on May 17

“Princess Mononoke” on May 26 to June 1

See you at the movies! On our SAJCC website, movies coming to Tucson are listed in a separate category as “Upcoming Movies”, not under Upcoming Events: http://www.southernazjapan.org/upcoming-movies/

And save the date for July 15 for “My Neighbor Totoro” for the Loft Kids Fest.

If you grew up with Japanese culture and boys in your family, you might have flown these koinobori (carp wind socks) on bamboo poles, outside of your home, indicating how many boys you had in your family. Since I grew up with 2 brothers in rural Hawaii, of course we had to fly 2 koi every year. And I always flew one for my son on Boy’s Day, May 5.

Yume Japanese Gardens put up their koi socks on April 24, and will be flying them until May 6, 2023. So honor the boys and children in your family.

“The carp-shaped windsocks are traditionally flown in Japan for Children’s Day (子供の日, Kodomo no hi), a national holidays that falls the 5th day of the 5th month. In Japanese culture, the carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a waterfall.”

Yume Gardens is open Thursday to Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Sundays 12 to 5 p.m., at www.yumegardens.org. But they are closing for the summer as usual on May 7 through October 1, 2023.