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  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board and Staff
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Follow Us on Social Media!
    • Join Our Email List
    • Resources
    • Testimonies/PR
  • Donate
  • How to Help
    • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
    • Donate Your Car!
    • 2021 GVJCI Raffle Drawing
    • Shop on Amazon
    • Volunteer
    • Purchase a 2021 Calendar Ad
  • Seniors
    • TNK Online Classes
    • Online Smartphone Class
    • Food Distribution
    • Online Resources
    • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
    • Bento Program
  • Events
    • Adulting Workshop Series
    • Day Of Remembrance
    • Drive-Thru Restaurant Fundraiser
    • KonMari Method Workshops | こんまり®︎メソッドワークショップ
    • Oysters, Bites & Biiru
    • Tomodachi Online Baking Workshops
    • Virtual Matsuri >
      • GVJCI Virtual Matsuri >
        • Art Gallery
        • Entertainment
        • Food
        • Martial Arts
        • Scholarship Recipients
    • 2020 Online Art Show >
      • Artist Discussion & Performances
      • Artists A-H
      • Artists I-L
      • Artists M-S
      • Artists T-Z
  • Programs/Classes
    • Japanese Language School >
      • JLS Graduates
    • Manzanar Immersive
    • Youth >
      • Resources
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
        • Counselor Registration
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • Boy Scout Troop 683
      • Boy Scout Troop 719
    • Sports >
      • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sansei Baseball League
      • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
      • South Bay Youth Basketball
    • Arts/Music/Dance >
      • Bando Hidesomi
      • Hawaiian Music Class
      • LA Men's Glee Club
      • Meito Calligraphy
      • Mel's Ukulele Picking
      • Taiko
    • Health and Wellness >
      • Kokoro Yoga
      • Meditation & More Class
    • Martial Arts >
      • Gardena JCI Kendo
      • Gardena Judo Club
      • Gardena Kendo
      • Gardena Naginata
      • Shotokan Karate
      • Shorinji Kempo
      • Kyudo Renmei
    • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
      • Book Club
  • Rentals
  • Blog
    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?

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Watch our Virtual Artist Discussion with some of the artists from this year's show!

This discussion is hosted by GVJCI Program Manager, Stephanie Mayeda, and GVJCI Art Show Curator and Board Member, Alvin Takamori and features artists from this year's online art show:
​
- Lisa Chakrabarti
- Joseph Jernigan
- MaeJean Ku
- Rumiko Rolley
- Amanda Sakimura
- Alvin Takamori

This discussion was filmed on September 13, 2020.


Poetry by Genie Nakano

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Genie Nakano was born in East Los Angeles, California. She is a poet and dancer with a Masters Degreee in Dance, from UCLA.  An award winning poet and writer, she publishes in many international tanka journals and writes for the Rafu Shimpo.  Currently, she teaches Yoga and Exercise in Gardena and will resume her classes  at Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Center as soon as it opens.

Website: www.genienakano.com
Immunity  March

It was worse than I thought
​It was worse than he thought
But his thoughts
Hurt a continent

we are unprepared
we are way behind
we don’t have enough …
no, we don’t have enough


but me
I don’t want to talk about it
So what can I do
I continue to teach Yoga
Is this right, is this wrong,
am I putting us in harms way
should  I go back into my cave
like the year before


out of the cave
Into the day
my comrades
we stand together
in a warrior pose
Strong and working for immunity
I hear Thicht Nhat Hanh’s words
We’re alive
“breathe in life, exhale smile”


I wash
my hands for eternity
continue on
with less mindlessness
more into mindfulness,
Where are my  hands,
my arms, my mind
I must,
we must
be prepared and strong
Community    Immunity

Genie Nakano, March 14, 2020
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Quarantine Daydreams

Sunbathing
in the afternoon
the birds are belting out songs
did they always sing so loud?
even New Delhi’s skies
​have a clear blue look
this is what happens
in quarantine…

an afternoon fantasy
starts to bubble
where we go back in time
—five years is enough
then we all know
what we should do--
prepare the earth, clean it out
vote Bernie and Liz
so, the congress can progress
and banks give out
a thousand a month
to everyone

then people willingly
give up their guns
all cows become sacred
pigs forbidden to eat
everyone grows
a victory garden
styles start to change
to comfortable
barefoot and natural
colors start to pop

From our gardens
we catch the fruit as it falls
sweet and ready to eat
squeeze the juice
plant new seeds
unroll the day
and harvest the sun

Genie Nakano, April 27, 2020

SET  ME  FREE

merging
into my present 
past memories 
of regretful actions
no one remembers 

thoughts of oblivion
cloud my heavy head
the rain
keeps pouring 
pouring pouring down

the witch 
is drowning and can’t get out 
she promises
for change and growth
too many lives have passed

dust 
is forming  pyramids
mummies
stalk unpaved streets
u turns  dead ends  barricades

where is 
the god of happiness
enlightenment
for all the world
I’m doing the best I can
I’m
going over
the edge
nothing to catch me
when I fall

I need a  secret 
a promise even soft lies
tell me 
there’s a heaven and no hell
everyone is healed

loving kindness
meditations, mystic chants
say them
give us a break
forgive and let go

fix the scars
and broken pieces 
press on enter--no return
this life is more than enough
Set me free

Genie Nakano, August 29, 2020
Celebrate not Celibate~~~OM MANI PADME HUM

Standing on the steps 
of an ancient Cambodian temple
a daydream starts to reel
a thousand years tickle my toes
as footsteps vibrate under my feet

the daydream 
takes me deep inside
to hear …
Om mani padme hum
the ancient Pali language

sandalwood incense mixes 
with fragrant Rumdul flowers
rising to the heavens
I am dizzy with this scent
the gods in this temple love women

 I am blessed to be here
I bring rice cakes dipped in honey, 
mangoes and ambrosia wine
the day turns into night 
dream continues on…

a rainbow moon 
rises in an indigo sky
Om mani padme hum
three thousand years ago the 
monks knew secrets of erotica ​
everyone 
is blissful in this temple
the night goes on 
the love goes on
Om mani padme hum

to all my dear 
Theravada Venerable friends
Oh, why can’t this be real
I am stuck in the land of Covid
dreaming up a dream.
Genie Nakano, August 1, 2020
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Meditation …Invitation to Peace

early morning
these days
no TV
no radio
prone to quietness

I meditate
every day the same way
like sitting
on a rabbit’s foot
I feel lucky

bound
by our desires
I watch
the incense
rise

clouds
turn into rain
turn into
spring flowers
no birth  no death

a yogini
blossoms in the night
unbound
by the clarity
of daylight
busy busy busy
thoughts busy buzzing
clear the space
toss them out
watch them fly

recreating

my past in my mind
oops…
underwater illusions
coming up for air

​when I meditate 

many feelings surface
anger   love   regrets   
I work hard
to let them go

there is
a wounded child
in us
the only way out
is in.

where is 
the god of happiness
enlightenment
for all the world
I’m doing the best I can.

loving kindness
meditations, mystic chants
say them
Lord give us a break
forgive and let go


before
they
fall
catch
moments

Genie Nakano, Sept. 17, 2020
NAMASTE  :(First Version)

​Dear gods
are you there
perhaps you are arguing
at the moment
please do not judge us
give us a chance to live
it’s so hard
living in fear
wondering
if I, he, she, they,
will be the ones
it’s so hard
not to open the door to talk
stand six feet apart
because you may be the one

So today
we elders sat outside in the mist
six of us – six feet apart
we drank champagne
clinking to health and life
our fears suspended
we laughed until the rain poured down
then no more goodbye hugs
went back inside

Rain dear rain – pour your magic
wash this nightmare away
Namaste
May be live in peace
Namaste
May we live in light
Namaste
Namaste…

Genie Nakano, 4/7/20

Performances


Artists

Click on the pages below to view artists' work by last name.
A-H
I-L
M-S
T-Z
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Come and visit!

GVJCI's Mission and Vision

Our mission is to create a space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

The GVJCI envisions a vibrant network and a welcoming space for all persons interested in Japanese heritage and culture where history and tradition are honored, people are inspired to create action and change, and cultural pride and respect for all humanity are promoted.




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Contact Us

 1964 W. 162nd St., Gardena, CA, 90247  |     (310) 324-6611    |      info@jci-gardena.org
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM