I stopped celebrating X-mas over 10 years ago, but I still love the holidays. I love the rock-i-fied versions of X-mas songs. I love the generosity people exhibit, and I love sharing with people I love.
This year, the best thing is this surprise warm weather! I walked from my house to Cancun for their delicious tostadas de ceviche with a side of beans and rice. On the way home, I stopped at the newish book store on Valencia street. I found three amazing books and received a free hot toddy (super strength). In order to make it home sober, I passed a full cup on to a guy sitting on the street next to the Killowatt.
Today, I ran errands: plants at Richmond's Sloat Nursery, a dimsum snack, a second in Green Apple, the quickest run into Costco, and a overdue visit to Kragen. Then, Paul and I started a new X-mas eve tradition: shopping at Ikea!
I know, I thought it'd be insane with last minute shoppers, but the place was desserted. We came home putting together our new furniture and then shared a meal.
Again, i don't really share the X-mas spirit, but with weather like this, I can't help but say, "Mele Kalikimaka to you!"
When I grew up, Downtown Los Angeles was this far off land I’d visit each year before school started. The Cooper Building offered up my discount back to school wear and I saw the city side of my mom come out.
But otherwise, Downtown was somewhere we passed through on the way to San Gabriel. I didn’t even know Little Tokyo existed; besides, I lived in the SoCal heartland for Hawaiian Japanese Americans, Gardena.
But when I started working my summer internship with VC in 1994, the vast Japanese and Asian American community in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo opened up to me. Our building was in the same building as the Rafu, America’s oldest and longest running Asian American daily newspaper. Down the street are the Japanese American National Museum; the Japanese Community and Cultural Center and their 800-seat Japan America Theatre; and Little Tokyo Service Center. And today, with the new VC in their new home at Union Center for the Arts, there’s also East West Players. These are my people!
During last week’s whirlwind visit to LA, I soaked it all up. I at some Korean BBQ; plugged into the board at the JAT; ate fancy ahi tacos on the plaza created by Osamo Noguchi; drank at the dive bar with people from AATC’s past; met one of the founders of Little Tokyo’s koban; saw JANM’s amazing show on taiko.
I began to miss LA and daydreamed how I'd return: 1) get a comparable city job in Downtown, 2) buy a condo in Little Tokyo, and 3) still be able to bike to work!
But when I drove my rental car back to the Burbank Airport, I experienced the part of LA that I'm happy to leave behind: TRAFFIC. I think I'm staying in San Francisco.
I've been calling on all my resources to prepare for what will be a less than four minute tribute to Pat Morita. Amy at VC offering up names, numbers, and annecdotes; Eddie at NAATA and his hard to find copy of Hito Hata; Chris at JCCCNC and the video of Salute to the Stars.
And damn, where has my head been buried?! I'm a sucker for award shows, so how did I totally miss out on going to Salute to the Stars where Mako, Pat Morita, James Shigeta, Pat Suzuki, and George Takei were honored and entered into the Japanese American Hall of Fame?
Bad JA. Who cares how busy I was. I shoulda been there.
Despite all my Asian American Studies and U.S. History classes, I'm embarrassed to say that I've only recently learned about the tragic Khmer Rouge story in Cambodia. And demonstrating the power of media and art, I learned about it through this radio piece and this film. Now, This American Life has added another chapter to the story with a riveting story (aired 12/2, episode 303) about Cambodia's struggle to build their economy.
I know, I know, people love TAL/Ira Glass. The show tells great stories. It has interesting characters. It illuminates our humanity. But really, this segment is by far THE BEST segment I've ever heard on TAL. I might dare to say that it's the best radio feature I've EVER heard.
TAL describes it like this:
"Right now, Cambodia is competing with other nations for the business of big clothing companies all over the world, buyers like the Gap, Nike, Adidas. But they've vowed to follow fair labor practices, which, while eliminating sweatshops for workers, also makes their costs higher. Other countries end up with the contracts – and the profits. So an official Cambodian committee sets out on a mission to convince the U.S. Congress to give them a special trade agreement, before time runs out. "
And by time running out, we're talking about unpaid workers starving.
There have been many struggles in the garment industry, even in America (remember AIWA's Garment Workers Justice campaign?), so to hear that an emerging country is practicing fair labor practices is amazing. But I could taste the desperation with every minute the story evolved.
I know that Ira Glass shies away from "politics" and says he's all about a "good story," but after hearing this piece, I wanted to write to my Congress People, to labor organizers, and to my friends to say, "Listen to this. Now do something."
Thank you Ira Glass for making current events compelling. Thank you Rachel Louise Snyder and Lisa Pollack for producing an amazing segment. And thank you Van brothers for your commitment to your country and your people.
Robynn Takayama is a community artist whose work has been presented through video, web, and gallery installation in San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Chicago.
A graduate of the KPFA First Voice Apprenticeship, she has contributed to national and local public radio programs and the Peabody-awarded documentary on Asian American history, Crossing East.
Robynn is a board member of the Association of Independents in Radio and served on the CPB-funded Makers Quest Talent Committee, charged with finding the most imaginative producers, reporters, and sound artists and urging them to take public radio beyond its traditional airwaves.
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