Stephanie Mayeda, GVJCI Social Media & Community Outreach Intern

Tofu: a staple of Japanese cuisine! Although not particularly flavorful on its own, this cute, little cube of bean curd can be made into many light and delicious dishes including what is known as agedashi tofu. Don't know what that is exactly? Well, it's simply just tofu cut into cubes, coated with potato starch, fried, and served in a tasty broth with toppings to give it some zing! Serve this succulent side dish with a bowl of ramen and you got yourself a meal anyone would be envious of! And the best part? Even though it is fried, the coating itself is so light and crispy (and not at all greasy) that it really does kick guilt to the curb. Now, let's make some!

Couldn't come to our Day of Remembrance last month? No worries! We got the video for you, right here, so you can watch it on the go or at the comfort of your home. 
Thank you to John Powers for shooting the video as well as letting us share his work. 

Please note that Konrad Aderer's film Resistance at Tule Lake is not in the video due to copyrights.
​

Stephanie Mayeda, GVJCI Social Media & Community Outreach Intern

Ah, the first day of spring! Now's the time of year when people begin to spruce up the house, getting rid of the old and adding back a little new. If you're looking to add a little extra cuteness at little to no cost, then why not try out these adorable lanterns! Fit for many occasions, these little guys can add a touch of sweetness and creativity to anything from an elegant wedding to a child's birthday party.

Here at the GVJCI, we like to use these lanterns for our annual Matsuri held every June. They add a nice bit of prettiness to an event that's already filled with so much fun! To make them, check out the instructions below!

Happy crafting!

Piece of cake, right? ;) Okay, looks like you're ready to start baking!

Now, kick back and have a slice! You deserve it!

Ah plum blossoms, hinaningyo, chirashi sushi, and hina-arare. Sounds like it's March 3rd, Hinamatsuri! 
Hinamatsuri is celebrated in Japan and in many Japanese families around the world in celebration of young girls' health, happiness, and prosperity. Japanese Heian style dolls known as Hinaningyo (雛人形) are displayed in homes, cultural centers, and schools, parents are busy cooking chirashi for dinner, and sweet and salty hina-arare are eaten as snacks on this day. Plum blossom season is right around the corner and are often on display near the dolls as well. 

"Hey! I want to celebrate it too," you say? Well, you can!
Follow this blog post so that you can celebrate at home! 🍴 (Where's the chopsticks emoji, huh!?)