Podcasts about Japanese Americans

Recessions, trade wars, labor unrest — in moments of societal crisis in the United States, Asian-Americans have been perennially targeted, from the destruction of Chinatowns by white mobs, to the mass internment of Japanese-Americans during WW2, to attacks against Asians during Covid. Historian Scott Kurashige reflects on more than 175 years of anti-Asian violence and its connection to U.S. empire abroad and a divided working class at home. (Encore presentation.) Scott Kurashige, American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism UC Press, 2026 Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash The post U.S. Capitalism, Empire, and Anti-Asian Violence appeared first on KPFA.

On this episode, we chat with author Momo Yamaguchi about her debut novel, Hello, Limerence, an ode to bad decisions made in our mid-twenties following a young Japanese woman, dealing with a soul-sucking corporate job and a stagnant love-life, who lets a growing crush on a Japanese American man become an obsession that throws her life into chaos. Follow Momo on Instagram at @momoyamagucci and check out her debut novel Hello, Limerence is available now on the Books & Boba bookshop!Books & Boba is a podcast dedicated to reading and featuring books by Asian and Asian American authorsSupport the Books & Boba Podcast by:Joining our Patreon to receive exclusive perksPurchasing books at our bookshopRocking our Books & Boba merchFollow our hosts:Reera Yoo (@reeraboo)Marvin Yueh (@marvinyueh)Follow us:InstagramTwitterGoodreadsFacebookThe Books & Boba August 2026 pick is Klara and the Sun by Kazuo IshiguroThis podcast is part of Potluck: An Asian American Podcast Collective

Tips for avoiding flea-borne typhus. The Japanese American National Museum will reopen after a two year renovation. And a new food pop-up, Taqueando After Dark. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com

John talks to Bruce Rutledge, founder of Chin Music Press, about running an independent Asia-focused press, the origins of the company in Tokyo, and the move to Seattle, where Chin Music now has a bookstore in Pike Place Market. They talk about Chin Music's highly successful graphic novel trilogy on the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II. The wide-ranging conversation is an honest celebration of the challenges and pleasures of independent publishing. Chin Music Press books mentioned in the episode include: Their very first book, an anthology called Kuhaku, published in 2005. Goodbye Madame Butterfly: Sex, Marriage and the Modern Japanese Woman by Sumie Kawakami (2007/2010) Japan's Urushi Craftsmen: Can Old World Artistry Survive in the 21st Century by Bruce Rutledge (2020) When the Waves Came by Michael Larson (2020) WE HEREBY REFUSE : Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by authors Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura and illustrators Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki (2021). Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers by Lawrence Matsuda (Author) and Matt Sasaki (Artist) Those Who Helped Us: Assisting Japanese Americans During the War by Ken Mochizuki (Author) and Kiku Hughes (Illustrator) Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist's Perspective of the Japanese American Experience by Kelly Goto (Author) and Sam Goto (Drawings) The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

John talks to Bruce Rutledge, founder of Chin Music Press, about running an independent Asia-focused press, the origins of the company in Tokyo, and the move to Seattle, where Chin Music now has a bookstore in Pike Place Market. They talk about Chin Music's highly successful graphic novel trilogy on the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II. The wide-ranging conversation is an honest celebration of the challenges and pleasures of independent publishing. Chin Music Press books mentioned in the episode include: Their very first book, an anthology called Kuhaku, published in 2005. Goodbye Madame Butterfly: Sex, Marriage and the Modern Japanese Woman by Sumie Kawakami (2007/2010) Japan's Urushi Craftsmen: Can Old World Artistry Survive in the 21st Century by Bruce Rutledge (2020) When the Waves Came by Michael Larson (2020) WE HEREBY REFUSE : Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by authors Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura and illustrators Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki (2021). Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers by Lawrence Matsuda (Author) and Matt Sasaki (Artist) Those Who Helped Us: Assisting Japanese Americans During the War by Ken Mochizuki (Author) and Kiku Hughes (Illustrator) Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist's Perspective of the Japanese American Experience by Kelly Goto (Author) and Sam Goto (Drawings) The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

John talks to Bruce Rutledge, founder of Chin Music Press, about running an independent Asia-focused press, the origins of the company in Tokyo, and the move to Seattle, where Chin Music now has a bookstore in Pike Place Market. They talk about Chin Music's highly successful graphic novel trilogy on the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II. The wide-ranging conversation is an honest celebration of the challenges and pleasures of independent publishing. Chin Music Press books mentioned in the episode include: Their very first book, an anthology called Kuhaku, published in 2005. Goodbye Madame Butterfly: Sex, Marriage and the Modern Japanese Woman by Sumie Kawakami (2007/2010) Japan's Urushi Craftsmen: Can Old World Artistry Survive in the 21st Century by Bruce Rutledge (2020) When the Waves Came by Michael Larson (2020) WE HEREBY REFUSE : Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by authors Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura and illustrators Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki (2021). Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers by Lawrence Matsuda (Author) and Matt Sasaki (Artist) Those Who Helped Us: Assisting Japanese Americans During the War by Ken Mochizuki (Author) and Kiku Hughes (Illustrator) Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist's Perspective of the Japanese American Experience by Kelly Goto (Author) and Sam Goto (Drawings) The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/asian-american-studies

John talks to Bruce Rutledge, founder of Chin Music Press, about running an independent Asia-focused press, the origins of the company in Tokyo, and the move to Seattle, where Chin Music now has a bookstore in Pike Place Market. They talk about Chin Music's highly successful graphic novel trilogy on the Japanese American incarceration experience during World War II. The wide-ranging conversation is an honest celebration of the challenges and pleasures of independent publishing. Chin Music Press books mentioned in the episode include: Their very first book, an anthology called Kuhaku, published in 2005. Goodbye Madame Butterfly: Sex, Marriage and the Modern Japanese Woman by Sumie Kawakami (2007/2010) Japan's Urushi Craftsmen: Can Old World Artistry Survive in the 21st Century by Bruce Rutledge (2020) When the Waves Came by Michael Larson (2020) WE HEREBY REFUSE : Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by authors Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura and illustrators Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki (2021). Fighting for America: Nisei Soldiers by Lawrence Matsuda (Author) and Matt Sasaki (Artist) Those Who Helped Us: Assisting Japanese Americans During the War by Ken Mochizuki (Author) and Kiku Hughes (Illustrator) Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist's Perspective of the Japanese American Experience by Kelly Goto (Author) and Sam Goto (Drawings) The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/american-studies

This episode continues our 10th anniversary micro-series with a conversation featuring Dr. Ken Fong—longtime pastor of Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles, former national Asian American ministry leader, and Daniel's predecessor as Executive Director of Fuller's Asian American Initiative. Ken and Daniel trace the decades-long, often invisible labor behind the Asian American Center's history, from Fuller's earliest Asian American ministries class to the founding of the Center itself. Ken's path to Fuller in 1978, and the wave of Japanese American and Chinese American students who shaped the seminary's Asian American presence in that era Why Japanese American churches—shaped by the incarceration camps and shifting generational leadership—became, in Ken's words, a reluctant "vanguard" of pan-Asian ministry Evergreen Baptist's decision to hire its first Chinese American associate pastor, and Ken's framing of the church as evolving from a "Japanese restaurant" to a fusion menu still cooked by Asian American chefs Ken's early clashes over "new wineskins" for American-born Chinese ministry, and the "30 years too soon" conversation that followed The founding and dissolution of Fuller's earlier Asian American Initiative—including the racism Ken and Daniel encountered while trying to institutionalize the program, and why Ken ultimately stepped down so the Center could be funded Ken and Daniel's reflections on the emotional toll of that transition, and what it meant to rebuild afterward Why Asian American women students were consistently among the strongest in Ken's classes—and how few went on into full-time ministry Ken's shift over time from megachurch ambitions to a more communal, formation-centered vision of Asian American church This one runs long on institutional history, but it's essential context for understanding what the Center stands on. Thanks for listening! Sign up to receive more updates from the AAC: https://aac.fuller.edu/newsletter/ If you appreciate the work we do at the Asian American Center at Fuller Seminary, please consider supporting us! Your monetary support sustains our vital work and expands Asian American research, leadership development, and pastoral formation for the Church in the year ahead. Donate here: fuller.edu/giveaac. For information about our 10th anniversary gala, visit tinyurl.com/10yearsaac

Baseball history gets personal, and this one might change how you see the game forever. Author, filmmaker, historian, and former player Kerry Yo Nakagawa reveals the hidden legacy of Japanese American baseball. The family stories that shaped his life, and the lessons every athlete needs to hear right now. Kerry has spent decades preserving a missing chapter of American sports history, from the Nisei players who were denied access to Major League Baseball to the generations of ballplayers who kept the game alive anyway. He shares how a childhood surrounded by sandlot baseball, a family photo with Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth, and a simple moment watching his son's jersey sparked a lifelong mission to uncover the stories most fans never hear. You'll discover: – Why Japanese American players were forced into their own leagues – How sandlot baseball built championship habits, double plays, and baseball IQ – What Japan's training, discipline, and attention to detail can teach players everywhere – Why Shohei Ohtani's bathroom duty says everything about his mindset – How baseball, football, film, and even Alcatraz all connect in one unforgettable life Kerry also opens up about his work in film and television. His work on Rocky II, Chuck Norris projects, and his close relationship with Pat Morita, the beloved Mr. Miyagi. Along the way, he talks about the power of pride, discipline, and doing every job like it matters – whether you're cleaning a toilet, turning a double play, or chasing a dream. If you love baseball, history, or stories about people who turned adversity into legacy, this episode belongs on your playlist. It is funny, surprising, deeply human, and packed with the kind of insight that makes you appreciate the game in a whole new way.

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Japanese America! In Season 3, Episode 7, we step directly into one of the most monumental, legally complex, and deeply emotional chapters in our community's history: the fight for Japanese American Redress. While most people think of Redress in terms of the landmark Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the 120,000 Japanese Americans forced into domestic concentration camps, there is a massive parallel story of international kidnapping and legal limbo that took decades to bring to light. In this episode, we explore the extraordinary narrative of Japanese Latin American (JLA) deportees. Through the rare, deeply personal oral histories of the three Naganuma Brothers—Jimmy, George Kazuharu, and Kazumu Julio Cesar—we trace a family's journey from a thriving life in Callao, Peru, to being abducted by the U.S. military, fumigated with DDT upon arrival in New Orleans, and incarcerated at the Department of Justice internment camp in Crystal City, Texas. We examine their multi-decade battle for basic legal status after being classified as "illegal entrants," and highlight the fierce advocacy of their sister Kiyo, whose bold confrontation with U.S. officials made her siblings some of the few Japanese Peruvians to receive the full $20,000 Redress settlement. Koji also shares his own personal connection to Crystal City, where his family was incarcerated after his grandfather gave up his citizenship, illustrating the diverse and irony-filled nature of that campLinks & Resources MentionedDiscover Nikkei & Densho Partnership: Listen to the full oral histories and read the complete transcripts for Jimmy Naganuma (https://ddr.densho.org/narrators/927/), George Naganuma (https://ddr.densho.org/narrators/928/), and Kazumu Julio Cesar Naganuma (https://ddr.densho.org/narrators/927/)Learn More: Visit the Japanese American National Museum (JANM.org) for exhibitions, history, and community resources.Follow & Support UsEnjoyed the episode?  Don't forget to rate, review, and tell a friend! CreditsThe music was created by Jalen BlankWritten by Koji Steven SakaiHosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven SakaiEdited by Koji Steven SakaiProduced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National MuseumSupport the show

Our guest today is Chris Cheng. Chris is an American sports shooter, Second Amendment and diversity outreach advocate, and History Channel's Top Shot Season 4 Champion. He is also the author of the memoir and guide for beginning shooters book, Shoot to Win. And now, Chris has authored The Purple Heart Battalion, which tells the story of Japanese American soldiers of the 100th Battalion / 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II—men who fought with extraordinary courage for America while many of their own families were unjustly incarcerated back home. It's a historical novel about love, honor, survival, and what it means to belong to a country that has not always fully believed you do. 1) Many people know you as a champion shooter and Second Amendment advocate. How did your journey evolve into writing a historical novel about one of the most remarkable military units in American history? 2) Give us an overview of The Purple Heart Battalion. What story are you telling, and why did you feel it needed to be told now? 3) Executive Order 9066 dramatically changed the lives of more than 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Can you explain what it was and how it affected the families whose stories inspired your novel? 4) You intentionally use the term "incarceration camps" rather than the more familiar "internment camps." Why is that distinction important, and what does that language help us better understand about this chapter of American history? 5) Historical fiction has a unique ability to make history personal. What do you hope readers will learn about courage, citizenship, civil liberties, and the importance of preserving freedom from the story of the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team? 6) The legacy of these soldiers is one of extraordinary sacrifice despite extraordinary adversity. What can their story teach Americans today about unity, patriotism, and serving a nation even during times of division? 7) How do people follow you? Originally Aired 8.10.26

Between 1942 and 1944 over 16,000 Japanese Americans were interned in Jerome Arkansas. Join us for a story of lives interrupted and resilience with authors Connie and Kent Matsumoto and their novel Of White Ashes.

It has been over 80 years since more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes, detained and incarcerated during World War II.For many Japanese Americans, the hurt and trauma from that period in history is still felt today. Some have drawn parallels to the Trump administration's immigration policy, amid continuing mass detentions and deportations.Tuesday on Midday Edition, we discuss the through lines between wartime incarceration and present-day immigration enforcement, the impact on Japanese Americans generations later, and what we can learn from the past.Guests:Naomi Ostwald Kawamura, executive director, DenshoKoji Lau-Ozawa, assistant professor of anthropology, UC Los AngelesJames “Jim” Lin, retired professor, UC San DiegoLinks:Learning overview for Japanese American incarceration — DenshoJapanese American National Museum homepageJapanese American Historical Society of San Diego"Opinion: The link between wartime internment and ICE's abuse of due process" — The San Diego Union-Tribune

State and local leaders are suing the federal government after alleging that Immigration and Customs Enforcement quietly broke ground on a proposal to build an ICE facility in Gilroy. Santa Clara County leaders and a number of other Bay Area cities, counties and community groups, have banded together to put a stop to the plan. At a recent press conference, members of San Jose's Japanese American community also spoke out, drawing parallels to the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Mark Levin Show, it's particularly annoying that numerous national political figures refuse to discuss the significant and growing Islamist threat in the United States. Islamism is the greatest cultural threat we face. What is the ruling class is doing to stop Islamists from entering the country? Are we reviewing the status of those already here who promote radical views? Conservatives need to take over at the local level and reject mosque expansions, which isn't about restricting religious freedom but defending it against Islamist intolerance of religious diversity. Meanwhile, issues like universal healthcare are falsely cast as civil rights to advance a Marxist agenda that expands “democracy” and “rights” while threatening programs like Medicare and opposing enforcement against illegal immigration; supporting candidates like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan would harm both the state and the country. Also, Sen Chris Van Hollen is a radical nut job, Jew hater, and Israel hater. Van Hollen defends Democrats against communist labels by citing Republican attacks on FDR over Social Security. What did FDR do? FDR created internment camps of 120,000 Japanese Americans, refusing to sign a bipartisan anti-lynching bill to protect Southern votes, imposing Jewish immigration quotas during the Holocaust, and enacting socialist policies including industrial trusts and price/wage controls that prolonged the Depression, arguing socialism redistributes rather than creates wealth. Later, Wisconsin Governor candidate Francesca Hong views Thanksgiving as racist and posted in 2021 that Americans should cancel it. This is the problem with insufficiently patriotic immigrants welcomed into the Democratic Party's big tent. Later, by the skin of his teeth, Abdul El-Sayed is now the Democratic candidate for the Senate in Michigan. Early data shows El-Sayed did well with White, relatively wealthy college graduates, but not so well with union/blue collar workers and Blacks. El-Sayed will face Republican Mike Rogers, a good, solid candidate, in the November general election. El-Sayed will get the support of the media and he'll play down his Islamism and his association with people like Sen Bernie Sanders and Hasan Piker, who said America deserved 9/11. Let's not pretend El-Sayed is just another progressive. He's an Islamic Marxist. What Democrats have to figure out: how do you build a party around elitists? Claims from some on the fringes of the conservative movement—that younger people today face uniquely hard times due to student debt, homeownership barriers, and inflation driven by the war with Iran—are inaccurate and sound like leftist or socialist talking points. There have been far greater hardships faced by prior generations: the Great Depression's 25% unemployment, widespread business failures, and near-economic collapse, followed by World War II's draft of 16 million Americans with over 600,000 casualties under brutal conditions. Young people today simply do not have it as hard as those of 50–80 years ago - they simply don't. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Tuesday's Mark Levin Show, Abdul El-Sayed, who is running for the Democratic nomination for Senate from Michigan, is a very sick person, full of hate. He is on record supporting driver's licenses for illegals, opposing cooperation with ICE, and says America was founded on slavery. Slavery actually existed all over the world when America was founded: Black tribes sold other Africans to Europeans. Slavery exists today in Africa - where Islamists kill and capture Christians in Nigeria -- and in the Middle East. Women are treated horribly in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan -- all Islamic areas. America fought a Civil War and amended our Constitution to rid this country of slavery. Nirvana has never existed anywhere, but the America of today is as close as it has ever come. Meanwhile, issues like universal healthcare are falsely cast as civil rights to advance a Marxist agenda that expands “democracy” and “rights” while threatening programs like Medicare and opposing enforcement against illegal immigration; supporting candidates like Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan would harm both the state and the country. Also, Sen Chris Van Hollen is a radical nut job, Jew hater, and Israel hater. Van Hollen defends Democrats against communist labels by citing Republican attacks on FDR over Social Security. What did FDR do? FDR created internment camps of 120,000 Japanese Americans, refusing to sign a bipartisan anti-lynching bill to protect Southern votes, imposing Jewish immigration quotas during the Holocaust, and enacting socialist policies including industrial trusts and price/wage controls that prolonged the Depression, arguing socialism redistributes rather than creates wealth. Later, Wisconsin Governor candidate Francesca Hong views Thanksgiving as racist and posted in 2021 that Americans should cancel it. This is the problem with insufficiently patriotic immigrants welcomed into the Democratic Party's big tent. In breaking news, authorities arrested a man Sunday at President Trump's Los Angeles-area golf course after he appeared to monitor security preparations two days ahead of a fundraiser there. The man, who was taking photos and video, carried a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket; a loaded pistol was recovered from his car. He was charged with allegedly carrying a concealed firearm and possessing prohibited ammunition. The arrest was announced by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department as Trump prepared to arrive for a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner at the Trump National Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On August 6, 1945, the U.S. dropped the first atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing an estimated 140,000 thousand people. Hideko Tamura Snider was 10 years old at the time of the devastating blast and suffered unspeakable loss. She tells her story and her work for peace and reconciliation in the new documentary “Seeds of Peace.” She recently revised and updated her 1998 memoir  “One Sunny Day” to include this work.   The film documents her involvement in the years-long effort taking the seeds of trees that survived the atomic bomb to grow dozens of trees in Oregon. The communities chosen have ties to “World War II memory, Japanese American incarceration, veterans’ experience, and reconciliation.” We talk with the historian David-Paul B. Hedberg, producer and director of “Seeds of Peace." The film is screening around the state, including on the August 6 anniversary at Portland’s Tomorrow Theater.  

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 31! Today's guest came from an artistic family, but also was literally discovered on the streets of Tokyo which gave a huge boost to his career. Actor, writer, and producer Gabriel Prevost-Takahashi was born in Tokyo, spent time in Canada while growing up, and has worked on stage and screen for film and television.   Gabriel has appeared in projects ranging from the survival thriller Something in the Water to one of the most acclaimed television series of recent years, FX's Shōgun, where he played a Gray Guard and had the opportunity to work on a production celebrated for putting Japanese language, actors, and culture at the center of its storytelling. More recently, Gabriel can be seen on Netflix's live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender in the recurring role of Lieutenant Khettry, a soldier serving on the front lines of Ba Sing Se. Gabriel is also interested in creating stories himself. As a writer and producer, he has been developing projects including Go For Broke, a limited series exploring the experiences of Japanese American soldiers during World War II, as well as other film and television projects that give him opportunities both in front of and behind the camera. In our conversation we take time to talk about his background, the impact of getting noticed on the streets by legendary photographer Leslie Kee, what it was like for him to join a project like Shōgun, the responsible of being part of a global phenomena like Avatar: The Last Airbender, his hopes with Go For Broke, and much more. To learn more about Gabriel, you can watch any of his projects and you can follow him on Instagram @gabriel__prevost. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.

It has been a long while since Masaki and I sat down for a chat -- I'm calling this Masaki 2.0Japan.WWII. Portals. Japanese American. Shinto. Basalt. Mental states of consciousness. Time. Scalar Technology. WTH is going on. And so much more. Links for MASAKI MIYAGAWA:⁠https://www.masaki.one⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/masaki_one⁠Tips are most welcome:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/niish⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://thecosmicsalon.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠I want to thank the producers of this show:Meredith Walako (Scheduling, bookings, and social media manager). White Hawk Medicine. Myra. Cale Darnegie. Jorge. Susan Jenkins. Kerry Hoyal. Sarah Etta. Lizz Radican. Claire Cathcart. Steven Mercer. WiseNightOwl. Noël. Melanie Poe. Jason Lambson. Neil Macnaughton. Kate Kukulkan. Jane F. Kim Simone. Everlong,Niish-

Philippa opens with a brief history lesson — the word "blurb" was invented in 1907 by a writer mocking self-congratulatory publishers, and his fictional creation Miss Belinda Blurb gave us the word we still use today. Then it's three book reviews and a wide-ranging, genuinely fascinating conversation with David Baldacci — over 200 million books sold — about his latest novel Hope Rises.

Francis Fukuyama discusses the experiences and individuals that shaped him. Francis Fukuyama is the Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at Stanford University. His latest book is In the Realm of the Last Man. He is also the author of the “Frankly Fukuyama” column at Persuasion. We have a treat for you today! To mark the publication of Francis Fukuyama's memoir In the Realm of the Last Man, we're launching a multi-part series about his intellectual eras. Here, Francis Fukuyama reflects on his life, from his family's experience of Japanese-American internment, to surprising family secrets discovered in letters, to the political and social fallout after changing his mind about the Iraq War. Enjoying this discussion? In an event exclusively for readers of American Purpose and Persuasion, Yascha Mounk will be interviewing Francis Fukuyama about his life and thought at 5pm on Sunday, September 6 at The Abbey Centre, London. Find out more and get tickets here. Paying subscribers of Persuasion and American Purpose can access a code for a free ticket here. And, if you'll be in Oxford, UK on Friday, September 4, Francis Fukuyama will be in conversation with Nigel Warburton about his memoir—learn more and get tickets here. We're delighted to feature this conversation as part of our series on Liberal Virtues and Values. This series, made possible with the generous support of the John Templeton Foundation, features content making the case that liberalism has its own distinctive set of virtues and values that are capable not only of responding to the dissatisfaction that drives authoritarianism, but also of restoring faith in liberalism as an ideology worth believing in—and defending—on its own terms. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following ⁠this link on your phone⁠. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Jack Shields and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠Apple⁠ X: ⁠@Yascha_Mounk⁠ & ⁠@JoinPersuasion⁠ YouTube: ⁠Yascha Mounk⁠, ⁠Persuasion⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, hosts Tyler Suksawat, Will Beaman, and Scott Ferguson sit down with Washington State Senator Bob Hasegawa to explore his nearly two-decade campaign to establish a public bank in Washington State, launched in the wake of the 2008 Wall Street crash.The conversation situates Hasegawa's tireless public banking advocacy within his broader political formation. Born to a Japanese American family that suffered forced incarceration by the U.S. government during World War II, Hasegawa went on to enter the trades and join the Teamsters during a historic turning point for organized labor. As a leader in the rank-and-file movement to democratize the union and eradicate systemic corruption, Hasegawa was elected to union leadership in the Teamsters' first-ever democratic vote, only to subsequently witness a disappointing return to corruption enabled by the Clinton administration. This early crucible in rank-and-file organizing and institutional power profoundly shaped his career in the Washington State House and Senate, grounding his legislative focus on labor rights, racial justice, and public accountability.Dedicating the core of the discussion to the mechanics and necessity of public finance, Hasegawa articulates why public banks are vital tools for democratizing money, keeping public revenues working for local communities, and serving as a countercyclical buffer during market downturns. In a fascinating historical turn, Hasegawa walks through the founding of the Bank of North Dakota over a century ago, revealing how the agrarian movement behind the bank actually drew inspiration from progressive public ownership projects underway in Seattle at the time. This historical connection links the century-old legacy of the Bank of North Dakota directly back to Washington State, demonstrating that the current movement for public banking in Washington is coming full circle to its original inspiration. Finally, Hasegawa frames public banking as a truly global movement, exploring how different public financial structures around the world—such as Germany's municipal Sparkassen system—can learn from one another, cooperate, and move in international solidarity to build an equitable, democratically governed financial architecture.Check out the Substack for the Washington State Public Banking Workgroup currently chaired by Senator Hasegawa.See here for the 2026 SB 5754 Work Session and Public Testimony for Hasegawa's public banking legislation. Visit our Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/MoLsuperstructureOriginal music by Josh Klinghoffer 

In this special Japan episode of Wabi Sabi, I'm sharing the unwritten cultural rules every traveler should know before visiting Japan. Drawing from my Japanese American heritage and a lifetime of traveling throughout the country, I'm opening up the thoughtful customs, quiet gestures, and insider knowledge that can completely transform the way you experience Japan. From showing respect at temples and shrines to supporting local businesses, understanding omamori, honoring elders, and moving through sacred spaces with care, consider this your guide to experiencing Japan with greater depth, beauty, and connection, from your Japanese American best friend. Thank you for listening! Please share this podcast with two friends! xx Candice

Vince Fakhoury Horn speaks with Mushim Patricia Ikeda about working class dharma—from growing up as "the minority of Greensburg, Ohio" in a third-generation Japanese American family, to training in penniless Korean Zen temples where renovating the building was the practice. Along the way: bliss bunnies, samadhi junkies, mutual aid networks, and why affordability may be the grassroots issue of 2026.

The Tule Lake Segregation Center in Modoc County was one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were imprisoned during World War II. Eighty years after its closure, a group of pilgrims recently paid tribute to the people who died there. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Federal fire investigators are looking into a possible link between PG&E equipment and a fire in Plumas County that started earlier this month. Reporter: Danielle Venton, KQED As a new school year approaches, some Los Angeles special education teachers and parents are worried the LA Unified School District won't bring ballooning class sizes down this fall. That's despite an agreement reached last spring between the district and UTLA, the union representing teachers. Reporter: Maya Mukherjee, LAist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Is "detention center" the accurate way to describe it?Political scientists and legal scholars have been asking whether we're using the right language to talk about immigration enforcement. Some argue that calling them "immigrant jails," "immigration camps," or even "concentration camps" is more accurate.But others say using the term "concentration camp" diminishes the horrors of the Holocaust — the Nazi genocide of Jewish people.The debate around the language we use to describe immigration is not new. Experts have also considered how to describe the incarceration of Japanese Americans on U.S. soil during World War II.On KPBS Midday Edition, we sit down with three experts to help us unpack this debate and help us understand the weight of our language.Guests:Tom Wong, associate professor of political science, UC San Diego; director of U.S. Immigration Policy CenterRaquel Aldana, professor of law, UC DavisBenjamin Gonzalez O'Brien, professor of political science, San Diego State University; editor of Journal of Race, Ethnicity and PoliticsKeep reading:When do ‘detention centers' become ‘concentration camps'? Experts look to historyWhen immigration detention becomes a system of concentration: Lessons from research on 150 historical casesThis Isn't The 1st Time Americans Have Debated What To Call Detention CentersConcentration Camps Are Older Than World War IIOne Long Night: A Global History of Concentration CampsAmid escalating medical concerns, Otay Mesa Detention Center faces a question of oversight

During World War II, the US government asked the Japanese American citizens it interned two questions: Would you serve in the US armed forces wherever ordered? And would you swear “unqualified allegiance” to the U.S. and forswear any allegiance to Japan's emperor? Those two so-called loyalty questions animate acclaimed novelist Karen Tei Yamashita's latest book, which explores that historical period of state-sanctioned violence against immigrants and citizens alike — and how this notion of “loyalty” divided, antagonized, imprisoned and expelled Japanese Americans during World War II, with long-term ramifications. Following three generations of Japanese Americans before, during and after internment, the novel is formatted as the archived letters, poetry and oral histories of Japanese Americans real and imagined. We'll talk with Yamashita about her own family's story and about the novel's unfortunate relevance today. It's called “Questions 27 & 28.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government is using powerful AI tools to build massive digital dossiers on everyday citizens, and it's happening with zero oversight.SUPPORT MY WORK: Buy a paid subscription to my newsletter at https://www.usermag.co Support my work on Patreon: http://patreon.com/taylorlorenz    In this episode of Free Speech Friday, I sat with Matthew Guariglia, Senior Policy Analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), to expose how generative AI has democratized mass surveillance. From the FBI's massive physical paper filing hangars of the 20th century to modern AI models that scrape your social media, track your geolocation, and predict your political affiliation in seconds—the barrier to entry for government surveillance has officially collapsed.We dive deep into Guariglia's recent congressional testimony on the AI security landscape, revealing how the Pentagon is blacklisting tech companies like Anthropic for trying to restrict AI from being used in autonomous weapons and mass surveillance. In this video, we cover:How AI is automating mass surveillance at an unprecedented scale.The secret government contracts and the battle for unrestricted AI use.Why your social media history, geolocation, and purchases create a permanent record.The historical lessons from Ferguson and the Japanese-American internment that prove data is vulnerability.What you can do to protect your digital rights (hint: it starts with turning off your geolocation).

We avoided this episode because we thought it was going to be a sad episode about internment camps. But while the damage done to Japanese-Americans in World War II is definitely discussed, there are also wild car accidents, classic Magnum takes to the camera, optimal Magnum-Higgins bickering, and Macho Taco! Is this a core episode of “Magnum”? Follow the Kool-Aid Man. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

We avoided this episode because we thought it was going to be a sad episode about internment camps. But while the damage done to Japanese-Americans in World War II is definitely discussed, there are also wild car accidents, classic Magnum takes to the camera, optimal Magnum-Higgins bickering, and Macho Taco! Is this a core episode of “Magnum”? Follow the Kool-Aid Man. Jason Snell, Philip Michaels and David J. Loehr.

What makes a young Asian American fly halfway across the world to represent the U.S.? For five youth ambassadors at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, the answer was more personal than a résumé line.In the premiere of SeroTunein, host Kurien Thomas introduces the people behind this series — first-gen kids of immigrant parents drawn to Japan by family history, language, a career pivot, or simply the desire for a fresh start. Together they begin asking the questions they were rarely asked growing up: about expectations, identity, and belonging between two cultures.In this episode:What a World Expo actually is (think World Cup, minus the sports)Why so many Japanese American ambassadors chose to reconnect with their roots on their own termsThe quiet search for community that shapes the first-gen experienceThis is part one of a three-part series on wellness, culture, and identity.

Send us Fan MailMichelle Shimohara is a San Gabriel Valley native raised in Monterey Park and Montebello, who attended Macy Intermediate and Schurr High School before building a career in real estate that began in 2014. She previously appeared on the MySGV Podcast in a widely viewed episode about her Japanese American identity and upbringing, and returns in this follow-up conversation to share more stories from her life in the SGV.In this episode, Michelle talks about growing up in the "SJ" (Sansei/San Gabriel Valley Japanese American) social scene of the 1980s, including school rivalries between Schurr, Mark Keppel, and Alhambra High, and the car culture surrounding events like Nisei Week and the SALT gathering in Little Tokyo. She recounts reconnecting with a brother who had been given up for adoption years earlier, describes an unsettling experience living in a rental unit near Tai Hei restaurant in Monterey Park, and shares stories from her career in real estate, including how California law handles disclosure of deaths in a home and how buyers respond to that information.For SGV viewers, this episode offers a personal look at the Japanese American community's history in Monterey Park and Montebello, from youth sports and school culture to the car and music scenes that shaped the era. For Michelle's audience and those researching real estate topics, the conversation also touches on practical information about property disclosure laws and buyer decision-making in a competitive housing market.If you enjoyed hearing Michelle's stories, subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this episode with someone who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley._______________Music CreditsIntroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OGStingerScarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio LibraryOutroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG__________________My SGV Podcast:Website: www.mysgv.netNewsletter: Beyond the MicPatreon: MySGV Podcastinfo@sgvmasterkey.com

What do you do when you're offered an opportunity that will definitely stretch you but also scares you, and your first instinct is to hand it to someone else, because you feel you're not quite qualified? That's the moment we unpack in this interview with Ai Asakura, Alumni Program Manager for the TOMODACHI Initiative at the U.S.-Japan Council, who I met at an expat meetup in Fukuoka this spring — one with that same eclectic, cross-cultural energy as New York City, where you connect peer to peer with people from all walks of life. Ai is bicultural like me, and she's spent her career building bridges — between Japan and the U.S., and between mentees and the mentors who help shape their paths. But it took her some time to recognize being bicultural as her own superpower, and when she did, it empowered her to say yes to an opportunity most people would've handed to someone with a bigger title.Key TakeawaysLeadership is not a job title: You can be a leader as a mentor, a community organizer, a parent, or a volunteer—impact and initiative matter more than status.Networking is people-to-people connection, not transaction: Powerful “networking” often looks like simply being curious about others and building genuine human relationships.Bicultural identity is a superpower: Living between cultures, as Ai does between Japan and the U.S., creates unique insight, empathy, and the ability to act as a bridge.Opportunities often arrive through community: Ai's major career transitions—from hospitality to translation to TOMODACHI—came through relationships and community involvement.Saying yes can be the real “risky conversation”: Accepting the invitation to represent her region as a mentor felt risky to Ai, but turning it down would have meant betraying the message she gives her mentees about stepping up.Operation TOMODACHI to TOMODACHI Initiative: The humanitarian response to the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake evolved into a long-term leadership and exchange program impacting over 10,000 alumni.Exposure to hope changes trajectories: Young people from disaster-affected regions returned from U.S. programs with renewed hope, agency, and a desire to rebuild their communities.Community work can clarify your own identity: Serving Japanese communities in the U.S. helped Ai reconnect to her Japanese roots and recognize her role as a cultural bridge.Curiosity is a core leadership habit: Being genuinely interested in people—their stories, cultures, and experiences—naturally expands your world and your opportunities.There is still hope in the world: Despite global uncertainty, Ai emphasizes that human-to-human connection, especially across cultures, is a powerful source of hope.FeaturedConnect with Ai Asakura on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ai-asakura0977/Learn about the US-Japan Council: https://www.usjapancouncil.org/Connect with Jamie Lee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leejieunjamie/Learn about 1:1 executive coaching with Jamie Lee here: https://www.jamieleecoach.com/applyText me your thoughts on this episode!Enjoy the show? Don't miss an episode, listen and subscribe via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.  Leave me a review in Apple Podcasts. Connect with meBook a free hour-long consultation with me. You'll leave with your custom blueprint to confidence, and we'll ensure it's a slam-dunk fit for you before you commit to working with me 1:1. Connect with me on LinkedIn Email me at jamie@jamieleecoach.com 

Today, we’re bringing you the best from the KUOW Newsroom. First, when it comes to Xbox, Microsoft is doing a hard reset. This week, the company began reducing its gaming division by 3,200 jobs. Microsoft calls it the most significant restructuring in Xbox history. Next, instead of watching fireworks to commemorate America's 250th birthday last weekend, about 400 people went on a pilgrimage to the site of a former camp where Japanese-Americans were imprisoned during World War II. And finally, one of the most endangered sea creatures of the Pacific Ocean is getting a leg up in the kelp forests of the San Juan Islands. It’s a twenty-four-armed sea star called the sunflower star. We can only make Seattle Now because listeners support us. Tap here to make a gift and keep Seattle Now in your feed. Got questions about local news or story ideas to share? We want to hear from you! Email us at seattlenow@kuow.org, leave us a voicemail at (206) 616-6746 or leave us feedback online.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Glenn Flickinger and the Veterans Breakfast Club for a live conversation with author Gregg Jones about his acclaimed book, Most Honorable Son: A Forgotten Hero's Fight Against Fascism and Hate During World War II. Jones tells the remarkable story of Ben Kuroki, a Japanese American farm boy from Nebraska who became one of World War II's most extraordinary airmen. At a time when more than 100,000 Japanese Americans were incarcerated in the United States, Kuroki fought for his country in the skies over Europe, North Africa, and the Pacific, completing 58 combat missions and becoming a powerful voice against prejudice and hate. This program explores Kuroki's wartime service, his fight to prove his loyalty, and the larger story of Japanese American patriotism, sacrifice, and resilience during World War II. Gregg Jones brings new attention to a forgotten American hero whose life challenges us to think deeply about courage, citizenship, racism, and what it means to serve. #BenKuroki #WWII #VeteransBreakfastClub

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Japanese America! In our annual July Obon Special, we explore how the traditional summer dance circle has expanded into a massive, multi-ethnic movement of resistance, collective healing, and cross-cultural solidarity. In this episode, we feature powerful clips from the new documentary Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement—a brilliant co-production between the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and PBS. We trace the incredible journey of how an early 1980s request for the first English-language Obon song evolved into FandangObon: an iconic Los Angeles festival fusing Japanese Obon, Mexican Fandango, and West African drum traditions. Along the way, Michelle shares her nostalgic memories of childhood Obon festivals in Japan (complete with a loophole for bad manners), while Koji stands firm on his lifelong stance that "gangsters don't dance"—unless, of course, a childhood crush was involved. We also dive into what our ancestors might think of Koji's legendary Minor League baseball dance moves. What We Discuss in This Episode:The First English Obon Song: How Reverend Masao Kodani of Senshin Buddhist Temple challenged icon Nobuko Miyamoto to bridge a cultural gap in the early 1980s. Obon as Resistance: A poignant look at how Japanese Americans kept the Obon tradition alive behind barbed wire in WWII concentration camps, dancing in the camp dust as an act of survival. The Birth of FandangObon: The magical moment Nobuko stepped into a Mexican Fandango workshop, recognized the shared community structure of the participatory circle, and fused it with Obon. LA Cultural Synthesis: Artists Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez reflect on what it means to find collective healing, beauty, and joy through intergenerational solidarity. Cultural Nuances & "The Rules": Michelle and Koji discuss the differences between Japanese and American street manners, the multi-layered nature of Japanese spirituality (Shinto shrines, Christmas, and Buddhist funerals), and sharing cross-cultural clothing like yukata and happi coats with respect. The Ultimate Dance-Off: Michelle challenges Koji's rhythm, prompting Koji to defend his skills using Minor League classics like "The Chicken Dance," "The Bus Driver," and "The Q-Tip". Featured Voices & Film CreditsNobuko Miyamoto: Legendary activist, musician, dancer, and founder of Great Leap. Reverend Masao Kodani: Former head minister of Senshin Buddhist Temple. Quetzal Flores & Martha Gonzalez: Grammy Award-winning musicians and pillars of the LA Fandango/Son Jarocho movement. The Film: Audio clips featured in this episode are pulled directly from Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement, a co-production by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and PBS. Links & Resources MentionedWatch the Movie: Stream the full documentary right now on PBS: Nobuko Miyamoto: A Song in Movement on PBS. (https://www.pbs.org/video/nobuko-miyamoto-a-song-in-movement-gjvy7f/)Learn More: Visit the Japanese American National Museum for exhibitions, history, and community resources. (www.janm.org)Follow & Support UsEnjoyed the episode? Grab your uchiwa fan, head to your local temple, and step into the circle this summer! Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe! Support the show

Send us Fan MailMike Tai was born in Boyle Heights and raised in San Gabriel as an only child to parents from Japan. Growing up, he participated in foundational Japanese American community activities, including attending Japanese school on Saturdays, playing basketball for a Japanese league, and playing baseball for a Monterey Park team. His interest in automotive culture began in his youth, sparked by the mini truck cruising scene of the late 1980s. During his senior year of high school, he acquired a Toyota Tacoma that he continues to own and maintain twenty-eight years later.This episode details Mike's deep involvement in the Southern California import car scene, focusing on his journey to joining the Bosozoku car club in 1997. The conversation covers how his experiences prospecting for the club as a young driver led to mentorship, a trade tech education, and a twenty-six-year career as a professional auto technician at a single dealership. He shares insights into the evolving landscape of local car shows, media industry collaborations, and the profound personal support network his club peers provided during his mother's battle with cancer in 2016.For viewers in the San Gabriel Valley, this episode offers a nostalgic look at regional youth subcultures, local athletic leagues, and the enduring automotive traditions of Monterey Park and San Gabriel. Mike's audience and automotive enthusiasts will find value in his long-term perspective on vehicle maintenance, dealership operations, and the history of Southern California car clubs. People searching for real-world stories about career longevity in the trade industries or the supportive, family-like bonds built within hobbyist communities will benefit from his direct, practical experiences.To stay connected with the unique personal stories and cultural histories shaping the San Gabriel Valley, subscribe to the MySGV Podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation about brotherhood, automotive passion, and lifelong dedication, please share this episode with a friend or a fellow car enthusiast.This clip from a California Bosozoku Meet shows the distinct aesthetic and community atmosphere of the specialized car culture that Mike joined and grew up with in Southern California._______________Music CreditsIntroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OGStingerScarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio LibraryOutroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG__________________My SGV Podcast:Website: www.mysgv.netNewsletter: Beyond the MicPatreon: MySGV Podcastinfo@sgvmasterkey.com

On the eve of July 4th, against the backdrop of Independence Hall and the Trump-censored President's House memorial—where enslaved Africans were held in bondage as the foundations of the American republic were laid—Refuse Fascism convened an urgent outdoor public panel discussion, discussing:What does it mean to celebrate “America 250” as fascism is consolidating? Why is rewriting history so important to Trump/MAGA fascists?Why are Black history and liberation struggles such central targets of fascist repression and suppression? And what responsibility do people of conscience have in this moment?Featured speakers included:Michael Coard, attorney and founder of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition. He helped win the creation of the President's House slavery memorial and is now leading the fight to stop its dismantling by the Trump Regime and defend the public telling of slavery's history at Independence Mall.Rep. Chris Rabb, PA State Representative (PA-200) and Congressional Democratic nominee (PA-03)Masaru Edmund Nakawatase, Japanese American civil rights organizer, educator, and peace advocate born in the Poston incarceration camp in Arizona during World War II. Dread Scott, visual artist whose work has been exhibited at the Venice Biennial, the Whitney Museum and has been outlawed by the US Congress. Watch the full event here.Read the statement: America at 230: Ruled by An Illegitimate Fascist Regime on Track to Destroy the WorldRelated: White House Criticizes Smithsonian Museum for ‘Extreme Political Activism'Michael Coard: Justice delayed is not always justice deniedJuly 4, America 250: Extreme Heat, Extreme Need to Fight for a Different FutureText REFUSE to 855-755-1314 or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, follow @RefuseFascism on social media (@RefuseFashizm on TikTok) and our YouTube channel: @Refuse_Fascism.Support:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Refuse Fascism on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donate.refusefascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Venmo: Refuse-Fascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy merch (Big Cartel)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy merch (Fourth Wall)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

Mickey Mouse is an eldritch entity whose diabolical machinations reach across space and time.Also, we read this comic about an Japanese-American cartoonist.

Britt and Chris have a great time talking about their original #bestboy, Sam! They discuss his determination, his love for Frodo, his status as a gardener in a group of literal royalty and nobility, and his treatment of Gollum. They also find an interesting empire metaphor in the One Ring, consider a Japanese American reading of Samwise, entertain cute AUs, and learn from the hope Sam enacted even under the darkest shadows. Please tell a geeky friend about us and leave a review on your podcast app! If you really enjoy our content, become one of our amazing patrons to get more of it for just $1 per month here: https://www.patreon.com/geekbetweenthelines Every dollar helps keep the podcast going! You can also buy us a ko-fi for one-time support here: https://ko-fi.com/geekbetweenthelines Please follow us on social media, too: Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/geekbetweenthelines Pinterest : https://www.pinterest.com/geekbetweenthelines Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/geekbetweenthelines Twitter : https://twitter.com/geekbetween Website: https://geekbetweenthelines.wixsite.com/podcast Logo artist: https://www.lacelit.com

Welcome to Season 6, Episode 26! Our guests today are Jolene Gutierrez and Chris Sasaki… two of the creators of the picture book Unbreakable: A Japanese American Family in an American Incarceration Camp, Published by Abrams. It's an incredibly moving story cowritten by Minoru (Min) Tonai, an advocate for Japanese American rights. Unbreakable is a great balance of historical information, lived experiences for Tonai and his family, and the emotional challenges they faced during their incarceration in the Amache "camp" during World War II, as they campaigned to release Tonai's father from the FBI. The book does a great job of balancing a very serious topic and making it accessible to younger audiences. Jolene Gutiérrez is an award-winning neurodivergent teacher librarian who has been working with neurodivergent learners at Denver Academy since 1995. Jolene writes for young readers and hopes her books will help some readers feel seen and will inspire others to learn and grow in compassion. She is the winner of the 2025 Crystal Kite Award for the Southwest Region. In addition to Unbreakable, Jolene's work includes Mamiachi and Me: My Mami's Mariachi Band (co-authored with her son Dakota); The Ofrenda That We Built (co-authored with her daughter Shaian); Too Much! An Overwhelming Day; the Stars of Latin Pop series; Bionic Beasts: Saving Animal Lives with Artificial Flippers, Legs, and Beaks; and Mac and Cheese and the Personal Space Invader. Chris Sasaki is an EMMY and ANNIE award-winning animation artist. With a rich career spanning over several high-profile studios, they have directed and developed content for Pixar, Tonko House, and Apple. Their impressive portfolio includes collaborations with LAIKA Entertainment, Blue Sky Studios, Disney Television Animation, DreamWorks, and the Jim Henson Company. In addition to their animation work, Chris is a celebrated figure in the literary world, known for their captivating picture books. Their titles include GHOST; Home is a Window; Animal Architects; Sakamoto's Swim Club; and of course, the incredible Paper Son: The Inspiring Story of Tyrus Wong, Immigrant and Artist. Their illustrations have earned them the prestigious Dilys Evans Founders Award from the Society of Illustrators. To learn more about Jolene, you can find her online at jolenegutierrez.com or on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, or Threads @writerjolene. To learn more about Chris, you can find them online at csasaki.com or on Instagram @christopher_sasaki. We highly recommend getting your own copy of Unbreakable (preferably from the Japanese American National Museum). And if you're an educator or know an educator, then please share the educator's guide that can be found on Jolene's site as well as some coloring sheets on Chris's site. And if you're interested in going to one of their live events, the book's website has a list of upcoming events including events in Colorado and Southern California. If you like what we do, please share, follow, and like us in your podcast directory of choice or on Instagram @AAHistory101. For previous episodes and resources, please visit our site at https://asianamericanhistory101.libsyn.com or our links at http://castpie.com/AAHistory101. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, email us at info@aahistory101.com.  

In Crown City (A Japantown Mystery)" (Soho Crime, 2026), Ryunosuke “Ryui Wada is orphaned at 18, with no family or path left in Japan. He's lucky when merchants from the states pay for him to get to Pasadena to work in their store selling authentic Japanese merchandise. It's 1903, and although he's lonely and confused by American customs, he's committed to his new life. He thinks he's starting to fit in, making friends with his roommate, Jack, and falling for a pretty seamstress in his boarding house, but the man whose bed he acquired has gone missing, he's attacked on the street, and a painting is stolen from Pasadena's most well-known Japanese artist, Toshio Aoki. The artist then hires Jack and Ryui to find his painting, which just might get them both killed.  Naomi Hirahara is an Edgar Award-winning author of multiple traditional mystery series and noir short stories. Her Mas Arai mysteries, which have been published in Japanese, Korean and French, feature a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor who solves crimes. Her first historical mystery, Clark and Division, which won a Mary Higgins Clark Award, follows a Japanese American family's move to Chicago in 1944 after being released from a California wartime detention center. A former journalist with The Rafu Shimpo newspaper, Naomi has also written numerous non-fiction history books and curated exhibitions. She has also written a middle-grade novel, 1001 Cranes. Her follow-up to Clark and Division, Evergreen, was released in August 2023 and was on the USA Today bestseller list for two weeks. And she's passionate about collecting vintage postcards! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Send us Fan MailOliver Wang is a professor of sociology at California State University, Long Beach, who specializes in the study of popular culture. He is the author of Legions of Boom: Filipino American Mobile DJ Crews of the San Francisco Bay Area and Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture In Los Angeles. In 2025, he served as the project curator for the exhibition Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community, which was produced by the Japanese American National Museum and hosted at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena. Additionally, he has co-hosted the podcasts Pop Rocket and Heat Rocks, created the audioblog Soul-Sides.com, and works as a regular culture writer for National Public Radio's All Things Considered, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and KCET's Artbound. This episode covers Oliver's extensive research into ethnic subcultures and the social impact of music and car ownership. The conversation explores the history of Japanese American car scenes, detailing how vehicles evolved into literal and figurative tools for community self-expression, identity, and social mobility throughout greater Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. The discussion also touches upon his work documenting the Northern California mobile DJ movement, his decades of experience as a music journalist, and his current development of a new podcast project focused on the songs of Asian America. For viewers in the San Gabriel Valley, this conversation highlights a regional history that directly touches local communities, including historic car scenes spanning out to Pasadena. Oliver's audience will appreciate the deeper context behind his curated exhibitions, books, and long-standing multimedia journalism projects. Furthermore, individuals searching for insights into ethnic studies, popular culture sociology, Southern California automotive subcultures, or music history will find clear, academic examples of how diverse communities shape and preserve their own distinct cultural narratives. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast to stay connected with the cultural histories, thinkers, and innovators of our community. If you found this discussion on subcultures and community identity insightful, please share this episode with a friend or a fellow history enthusiast._______________Music CreditsIntroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OGStingerScarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio LibraryOutroEuphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG__________________My SGV Podcast:Website: www.mysgv.netNewsletter: Beyond the MicPatreon: MySGV Podcastinfo@sgvmasterkey.com

In Crown City (A Japantown Mystery)" (Soho Crime, 2026), Ryunosuke “Ryui Wada is orphaned at 18, with no family or path left in Japan. He's lucky when merchants from the states pay for him to get to Pasadena to work in their store selling authentic Japanese merchandise. It's 1903, and although he's lonely and confused by American customs, he's committed to his new life. He thinks he's starting to fit in, making friends with his roommate, Jack, and falling for a pretty seamstress in his boarding house, but the man whose bed he acquired has gone missing, he's attacked on the street, and a painting is stolen from Pasadena's most well-known Japanese artist, Toshio Aoki. The artist then hires Jack and Ryui to find his painting, which just might get them both killed.  Naomi Hirahara is an Edgar Award-winning author of multiple traditional mystery series and noir short stories. Her Mas Arai mysteries, which have been published in Japanese, Korean and French, feature a Los Angeles gardener and Hiroshima survivor who solves crimes. Her first historical mystery, Clark and Division, which won a Mary Higgins Clark Award, follows a Japanese American family's move to Chicago in 1944 after being released from a California wartime detention center. A former journalist with The Rafu Shimpo newspaper, Naomi has also written numerous non-fiction history books and curated exhibitions. She has also written a middle-grade novel, 1001 Cranes. Her follow-up to Clark and Division, Evergreen, was released in August 2023 and was on the USA Today bestseller list for two weeks. And she's passionate about collecting vintage postcards! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Imagine you're six years old. You look out past a barbed wire fence at a highway in the desert, and every single car that passes by is driven by someone white. The teachers who come to your school? White. The guards in the towers above you, also white. And you think to yourself: is this America? Or is America out there?  That child was John Tateishi. He was almost three years old when the U.S. government forced his entire family - along with 120,000 other Japanese Americans - from their homes and into concentration camps on American soil. His family ended up at Manzanar. And when the war ended, they were handed $25 and told to find their way home. What John did with that childhood - with that rage, that clarity, that love of country despite everything this country did to him - is an important story in American history, and honestly one that many adults may not have even learned in their history classes growing up.  He went on to lead the Japanese American redress campaign, helping secure a formal government apology and reparations. He's the author of Redress: The Inside Story of the Successful Campaign for Japanese American Reparations. He shares a lot about what that fight means today - for the Black reparations movement, for anti-Asian hate, and for the question that sits at the center of all of it: Who gets to be American?  As we move towards a celebration of America's birthday, that question sits front and center for many of us, as we're actively being told that we're not American. These stories show us not only how we reject that narrow view, but also how to fight for ourselves and one another while loving our communities, families, and country at the same time. What to listen for: John's personal experience as a young person incarcerated at Manzanar - and what it was like returning to society The makeup of Los Angeles in the post-war period - and how different communities banded together What John sees as the differences between the successful campaign he helped lead for Japanese American reparations and the hurdles facing Black Americans, starting with HR40. About John Tateishi: Incarcerated as a child in one of America's WWII concentration camps, John Tateishi carried that memory with him when he launched the Japanese American reparations campaign in 1978. He directed the public affairs and legislative strategies of the campaign until 1986, two years before the campaign ultimately culminated with the signing of the Civil Liberties Act.  Ten years later, he led the JACL's challenge against the Bush administration's policies that targeted Arab and Muslim communities and undermined the civil liberties of all Americans. He is the author of Redress: The Inside Story of the Successful Campaign for Japanese American Reparations (2020).  

Every September, KALW welcomes a new cohort of eight fellows to our Audio Academy training program that's now in its thirteenth year. Over a span of 9 months the current cohort has been hard at work learning what it takes to report and produce sound rich audio features. Stories that allowed them to follow their curiosity, go deeper on urgent issues or celebrate the communities holding people together. Tonight we have the bittersweet honor of graduating this year's cohort, so today we're bringing you a special tribute. It's a collection of clips from their best work. ‘Finding faith in the fight against artificial super intelligence' by Arlen Levy 'The show must go on: Tito Soto and SF's iconic Oasis drag club' by Stafford Hemmer ‘In Oakland, the musical legacy of Japanese American incarceration still resonates' by Cara Nguyen ‘Goalball emboldens blind athletes on the court and in their lives' by Rachel Longan ‘Women, non-binary players tackle America's Game' by Jordan Karnes ‘How queer communities are seeing themselves reflected in tide pools' by Anna Casalme ‘Berkeley's Warming Hut offers a safe space' by Viviana Vivas ‘Who put up all those gates in the Sunset?‘ by Rae Kim 

Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Japanese America! In this episode, hosts Koji Steven Sakai and Michelle Malizaki take the podcast on location to Second Street in the heart of Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, to record inside a true culinary and cultural landmark: Kouraku. Originally opened in 1976, Kouraku was recently honored by the City of Los Angeles with an official street sign certifying it as America's oldest operating ramen shop. To celebrate this incredible 50-year milestone, Koji and Michelle sit down with the restaurant's new owner, Mamoru Tokuda-san, who stepped in to take over the reins in January 2023. Mamoru-san shares the deeply moving story of how he transitioned from a restaurant career to volunteering at Kouraku during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually stepping up to preserve the space after the tragic passing of the previous owner, Hiroshi Yamauchi. We also look at the historical roots of Showa-era machi-chuka (Japanese-Chinese comfort food) and why its gentle, balanced flavors have sustained families across four generations. Note: For this episode, Koji reads the English translations of the interview so everyone can follow along with the history. However, we will also be releasing a separate, uncut companion episode featuring Mamoru-san's interview entirely in his own words in Japanese. In this episode, we discuss:The Magic of Showa-Era Nostalgia: Michelle explains why old-school Showa-era aesthetic is suddenly "cool" again and how Kouraku's vintage vibe instantly transports her back to her childhood in Japan. Preserving a 50-Year Legacy: How Mamoru-san balanced the pressure of taking over a historic business with the inspiration he drew from Kouraku's long-term staff—many of whom have dedicated 20 to 30 years to the kitchen. The Science of Machi-Chuka Flavors: The culinary reason Kouraku's stock is kept balanced and gentle, utilizing a chashu-infused soy sauce base rather than the overwhelming flavors of modern specialty shops. High-Tech Meets History: The introduction of Luna-chan, Kouraku's famous cat-themed delivery robot, and how it coexists with an irreplaceable, historic 1980s neon signboard that modern makers can no longer replicate. Food as a Cultural Time Machine: Koji and Michelle share their ultimate childhood comfort foods. Michelle reflects on making homemade gyoza with her mother, while Koji opens up about his lifelong obsession with curry rice, sharing a poignant memory of how his father's experiences in the WWII incarceration camps shaped his relationship with the dish. Links & Resources Mentioned:Visit the Restaurant: Kouraku, Little Tokyo (Los Angeles, CA) Learn more about Japanese American history: janm.orgSupport the show

"What I vividly recall is after getting to Tanforan and walking into this horse stable, and Mom… putting down her suitcase and just crying.”This is the story of Japanese American incarceration.In February 1942, shortly after the United States enters the war, FDR signs Executive Order 9066, beginning the forced removal of Japanese Americans from their West Coast homes and lives. Some 120,000 civilians—many of them American citizens, none of them charged with a crime—are sent to camps across the American West and South. Their constitutional rights are denied in the name of national security.Even as families struggle to carry on inside the barbed wire, legal challenges arise. Three Japanese Americans fight their way to the Supreme Court, forcing the nation's highest court to confront a question it would rather avoid: can the Constitution be suspended for an entire ethnic group in wartime? And when the court finally rules—does the answer change anything at all?____Connect with us on HTDSpodcast.com andpreorder Prof. Jackson's new bookgo deep into episode bibliographies and book recommendationsjoin discussions in our Facebook communityget news and discounts from The HTDS Gazette come see a live showget HTDS merchor become an HTDS premium member for bonus episodes and other perks.HTDS is part of Audacy media network. Interested in advertising on the History That Doesn't Suck? Contact Audacyinc.com.

USE CODE DONK50 TO GET 50% OFF YOUR PATREON SUBSCRIPTION https://www.patreon.com/lionsledbydonkeys LISTEN TO BLOOD WORK: https://open.spotify.com/show/5jt9RZSCVMJ1KS84QHB9jJ Buy The Highlands Burn: https://www.amazon.com/Highlands-Burn-Foundling-Brigade-Saga-ebook/dp/B0GSG5CNXX Get the audiobook (read by Joe) https://www.llbdpodcast.com/products/the-highlands-burn-audiobook During WWII the US Army developed a top secret program to create racist attack dogs on a swamp island off of the coast of Mississippi. This is the story about how Japanese-American soldiers were forced to act as bait for packs of untrained, starving, and abused dogs all because a Swiss psycho, who had no experience training dogs, convinced the US Army that each race smelled differently. SOURCES: https://www.npca.org/articles/3798-the-dog-trainers-of-cat-island https://historynet.com/dog-training-pacific-war/ https://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article277536763.html https://www.uswardogs.org/WWII https://americanhistory.si.edu/explore/stories/dogs-defense-how-skip-spot-and-rover-went-fight-world-war-ii https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/national-dog-day https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/uncle-sam-needs-to-borrow-your-dog.htm

On this season of Crimes of the Times, Los Angeles Times journalist Christopher Goffard explores criminal cases that have left a mark on California history. This season's stories include new developments in the Black Dahlia and Zodiac cases, the snitch scandal that rocked Orange County, the plight of the Japanese American woman known as Tokyo Rose, and the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.