Fine art filmmaker: I interviewed documentary filmmaker and artist Rea Tajiri, whose films will be screened at CAAMFest in SF. Her latest, "Wisdom Gone Wild," is about her mother Rose's slow dance with dementia.  nichibei.org/2023/05/caamfe…

Wonderful first visit: went to Gundruk Taste of Nepal & India and LOVED everything at this family-owned restaurant. Chicken Vindaloo, Coconut Chicken Curry, Saag Paneer, Bhindi Masada and incredible Garlic Naan. We'll be back soon! 10/10 #foodporn gundrukrestaurant.com

Tough job but someone had to do it: I spent two days walking through LA's Little Tokyo eating sushi with Daniel Miller for a video that accompanied his stories in the LA Times about the history of sushi in Los Angeles. youtu.be/d7qhoRqOfOs

Truth ache: I somehow missed 5280 magazine's food editor Patricia Kaowthumrong's May 1 essay about facing anti-Asian hate and its impact on her mental health. It's an emotionally honest, thoughtful and powerful piece that resonates deeply, a must-read. 5280.com/how-the-rise-i…

AAPI representAsian: Denver7 has posted on YouTube the "Real Talk" episode about Asian American Pacific Islanders including the history of Chinatown and continuing anti-Asian hate. I was interviewed at Tokio about Japanese food and culture. youtu.be/kQpw7Ix1VUo

Congratulations to Ramen Star for being named one of the top 20 ramen restaurants in the U.S. by Toast, the foodie website. Its fresh-made noodles grab the spotlight, as well as its slow-simmered broth. Congrats! Omedetou! pos.toasttab.com/blog/on-the-li…

Elevating Denver grabs lunch at Ramen Star with Denver mainstay and multimedia journalist, Gil Asakawa to discuss his love of food and how that creates cultural connection. Ramen Star was just named one of the top 20 ramen restaurants in the U.S.!

Frankly speaking: the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile, one of the most identifiable corporate marketing brand names, is no more. Instead, long live the Frankmobile! brokenpalate.com/p/the-wienermo…

Part of Colorado JA history: Japanese American farmers have been part of Colorado's economic culture since before WWII, and after their wartime incarceration. Ann Marie Awad wrote about this rich agricultural tradition for the Colorado Sun. coloradosun.com/2023/07/02/jap…

I've been posting less on Twitter after taking time off from the platform, thanks to Elon Musk's ownership and unsteady policies. Now that there's an alternative that's easy to sign up for, owned by Meta (Facebook & Instagram), I'm hoping to eventually drop Twitter.

I'll check in on "X" from time to time, but I'm posting what I would have put on Twitter on Threads....

Big news: I’m writing a cookbook, with help from some of Sac’s best chefs! “Sacramento Eats: Recipes from the Capital Region’s Favorite Restaurants” is coming to local bookstores and online retailers on Nov. 17. pediment.com/products/sacra…

Shed light on a cold case: I'm working on an article about an unsolved murder from decades ago; any help or anyone's memories would be appreciated. John Doe was misidentified as Native American in 1977, but DNA shows he was Japanese. Do you remember a missing from '77? #coldcase

Flower of hope: Join us for a free screening of the short documentary film, "Amache Rose," about the miraculous rose that bloomed 80 years after the Amache concentration camp was closed. A cutting bloomed at the Denver Botanic Gardens. RSVP at tinyurl.com/bdcjf4rv

The Sandos of time: Denver Post food writer Jonathan Shikes interviewed me recently for a piece about the rising popularity of Sandos -- Japanese-style sandwiches that are popular at convenience stores (konbini) throughout Japan. denverpost.com/2024/09/18/jap…

WTH? Before drivers see "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" as they come down from Wyoming, they will see this sign, proclaiming "Venezuela Ahead: BE PREPARED!" See Kyle Clark's 9News report: 9news.com/article/news/p…

It's hip to be square: YouTuber John Daub of his "Only in Japan" channel teaches us about the origins of the square watermelons grown, truly, only in Japan. They're totally cool, and meant to be decorative, not to be sliced up and eaten right away. youtu.be/Q8AyrW2o21E?si…

Would you do it? John Daub of Only In Japan tried out a new service tourists can use to reduce the amount of clothes, and therefore, luggage, they take to visit. Any Wear, Anywhere, lets you RENT clothes for your trips and they'll be at your destinations youtu.be/jH5n43NTu-A?si…

The Japanese American story, told in an engaging graphic novel: "But, Where Are You REALLY From?" is an exquisitely produced and thoughtfully written graphic novel designed to appeal to students of all ages. pacificcitizen.org/but-where-are-…

Not just the usual noodles: Food writer Jonathan Shikes of the Denver Post has a roundup of restaurants in the area that serve "weird" ramen, and the list includes some of my favorite legit ramen shops, including Osaka Ramen, Tokio and Ramen Star. denverpost.com/2024/11/11/ram…