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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
  • Matsuri Bento-To-Go
    • Matsuri Bento-To-Go Fundraiser
  • Events/Programs/Classes
    • GVJCI >
      • GVJCI Upcoming Events
      • API Heritage Month: South Bay Stories
      • Bento Program
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • 2022 Art Show
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Counselor Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
      • Restaurant Fundraiser
      • Virtual Matsuri >
        • VM Main Page
        • VM Content Schedule
        • 2021 VM Art Gallery
        • Entertainment
        • Food
        • Martial Arts
        • Matsuri Memories
      • Seniors >
        • TNK Classes
        • Smartphone/Tablet Class
        • Food Distribution >
          • Greeting Card Program
        • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
      • Recurring Events >
        • Day Of Remembrance >
          • DOR 2022 >
            • Big Band Music in Camp
            • Camp Comedy Performances
            • Japanese Cultural & Performing Arts
            • Fine Art >
              • Amache & Heart Mountain
              • Arts & Crafts
              • Henry Fukuhara
              • George Hoshida
              • Minidoka
              • Rohwer
              • Tanforan-Topaz Art School
          • DOR 2021 >
            • CSUDH Japanese American Digitization Project
            • Densho Campu Podcast
            • Lane Ryo Hirabayashi Tribute
            • South Bay JACL Oral Histories Collection
        • Meditation & More Class
        • Virtual Matsuri >
          • Art Gallery
          • Entertainment
          • Food
          • Martial Arts
          • Scholarship Recipients
      • Past Events >
        • 2021 GVJCI Online Art Show Home Page >
          • Artists A-J
          • Artists K-M
          • Artists N-O
          • Artists P-Z
        • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
          • Book Club
        • KonMari Method Workshops | こんまり®︎メソッドワークショップ
        • Oshogatsu
        • Oysters, Bites & Biiru
        • TABE-DORAIBU >
          • TABE-DORAIBU
          • Map & Partner Bios
          • POINT SYSTEM
          • FOOD PICTURES
    • Japanese Language School >
      • Japanese Language School >
        • JLS Graduates
    • Member Organizations >
      • Arts/Music/Dance >
        • Bando Hidesomi
        • Hawaiian Music Class
        • LA Men's Glee Club
        • Meito Calligraphy
        • Taiko
      • Health and Wellness
      • Martial Arts >
        • Gardena JCI Kendo
        • Gardena Judo Club
        • Gardena Kendo
        • Gardena Naginata
        • Kyudo Renmei
      • Service >
        • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sports >
        • Sansei Baseball League
        • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
        • South Bay Youth Basketball
      • Youth >
        • Boy Scout Troop 683
        • Boy Scout Troop 719
  • How to Help
    • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
    • Become a Bento Buddy!
    • Giving Tuesday 11.30.21
    • Donate Your Car!
    • 2022 GVJCI Raffle Drawing
    • Shop on Amazon
    • Volunteer
    • Purchase a 2023 Calendar Ad
  • Facility Reservations
  • Blog
    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?

GVJCI Blog
ガーデナ平原日本文化会館ブログ

Learning by listening

7/18/2018

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By Lauren Yoshiyama, JACL Intern 
Picture
​In 2002, the South Bay Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) received funding from the Pacific Southwest District, JACL Trust Fund. These funds were used to start the South Bay Oral History Project. The project’s goal was to preserve the history of Japanese Americans who live in the South Bay community. These oral histories share the stories, experiences, and contributions of Japanese American pioneers of the South Bay. A total of 23 oral history interviews were conducted in 2003. Of these 23 interviews, 16 are available online at CSULB’S Virtual Oral/ Aural History Archive.
 
This year I am an intern for the South Bay JACL and have been tasked with revamping and revitalizing the South Bay Oral history project. 16 years after its initial start, not much has been done with these oral history interviews. My job includes finding additional platforms for these interviews to be accessed, posted, and shared. I would like to expand the collection of oral histories that the South Bay JACL has by interviewing and recording more stories of Japanese Americans living in the South Bay. Similar community organizations have their own versions of oral histories and making these interviews more widely available is important in the preservation of the history of Japanese Americans
 
This entire process has been a great learning experience. Many of the interviews touch upon life in the concentration camps during World War II. These interviews, coupled with additional research has taught me a lot about Japanese American life before, during, and after the war. I think that the highlight of this whole project was finding the oral history of my great grandmother. Although I’ve heard a few stories from her and other family members while growing up, I didn’t really remember much about them. I was able to really paint my own picture of her life and experiences while also learning more about Japanese American history. I found out that my great-great grandpa was one of the first publishers of the Rafu Shimpo and also helped start the Japanese hospital in East Los Angeles. I also discovered that my family’s legacy with USC started with my great-great grandpa and continued on to my aunts and uncles. After the war, my family was lucky enough to return back to their hometown where one of their neighbors stored the family belongings in their basement, and they were able to readjust pretty quickly. The oral history continues on to talk about my great-grandma’s life, her growing family, and her community involvements. Listening to my great-grandma’s oral history made me feel closer to her because I never really got to ask these questions and learn about her life while she was alive.
 
Learning more about my family’s past has given me a greater appreciation of everything my family has done as well as a better understanding of what Issei/Nisei Japanese American life was like. I am fortunate enough to have my great grandmother’s oral history to listen to and share with my family. However, those who lived in the camps are getting older, so it is even more pertinent to hear, record, and preserve their stories. Not only are these interviews important for remembering family history, they serve as a learning tool to educate people about Japanese American lifestyles as well as the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. The incarcerees experienced a critical aspect of Japanese American history and those stories need to be shared.
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Japan Series #1: Japanese vs. American Fashion !

7/16/2018

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By Kelly Dekitani, GVJCI Social Media and Community Outreach Intern 
Konichiwa! Welcome to the Japan Series! 🎌
I’ll be going through travel tips, must-see and eat places as well as various other tips for those of you who have never been to Japan before! 🏯🍣

Our first series will be on (my personal favorite topic) FASHION! (My knowledge about Japanese fashion comes from the things I’ve observed studying abroad in Japan as well as through the numerous Japanese magazines that I’ve bought!)
Keep reading for some fashion trends and mistakes that you don’t want to make!
🔑Key Differences🔑
  1. Japanese people dress stylishly ! You will rarely see people with sweatpants or casual lounge wear in the streets of Japan!   
  2. Wide legged pants and skirts are a must! Although skinny jeans are an universal trend, you will see many people sporting a wide legged pants and skirt look rather than the tight jeans you see in America! (see photos below)
  3. Unique looks! Many people associate Japanese fashion with the colorful and cute-sy Harajuku fashion, but that is only one small genre that exists in Japan. In fact, there are many different types of style/genres that people wear such as grunge, monotone, marine, and etc. The streets of Japan are bustling with many different types of styles!
🚨Fashion mistakes you don’t want to make in Japan🚨(especially during the summer☀️)

  1. Don’t wear anything too revealing! It gets hot and humid during the summer so it’s tempting to want to wear as little clothing as possible, but please try not to!! Short shorts, crop tops, and other revealing clothing are inappropriate for Japan and you won’t see too many wearing them!  
  2. No leggings! In America it is common to see girls wearing leggings and a t-shirt, but in Japan that is seen as “underwear” so it’s best not to wear it without covering it up!
Current Fashion Trends in Japan
  1. Long skirts and wide legged pants! As mentioned earlier, you’ll see people wearing this look everywhere! It’s available in most stores and is really comfortable to wear!
  2. Mixing trends! Girly x sporty, Formal x casual, etc. Putting together a casual t-shirt with a long formal skirt or adding a sporty shoulder bag to a girly look are easy ways to spice up your outfit and are very popular in Japan!
  3. MEN’S FASHION is big in Japan too! Loose fitting clothes as well as urban, street wear is a popular look in Japan!
These are just some of the differences that I noticed! The best tip that I can give is to be yourself, but also be respectful of Japan’s culture and societal norms! People might think their fashion is weird because it’s different, but I think that’s what makes it great❤️️
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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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