My name is Mika Matsumura and I am a second year at the California State University of Fullerton. My major is Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. 2020 was pretty crazy and unpredictable, but I would definitely say that interning at Gardena Valley JCI was the highlight of my year. I met so many amazing and humble people in the community while volunteering at the food distributions. In addition, I had the opportunity to be alongside the hardworking GVJCI staff and the other intern Taylor, my new friend. Writing the blogs and talking to new people allowed me to learn more about Japanese culture as well as the Nikkei community. |
By: Mika Matsumura, GVJCI Social Media and Marketing Intern I grew up in the North Torrance area and my parents got me involved in all sorts of activities such as SBY basketball, FOR basketball, Sansei baseball, Girl Scouts, Karate, FOR Volleyball, Obon Dancing at Gardena Buddhist Temple, Japanese School, and of course going to the annual Matsuri here at GVJCI. When I was little, I absolutely loved Matsuri with all of the fun carnival games and delicious food! Little did I know that I would be a Social Media and Marketing Intern here. I have made so many unforgettable memories as an intern. Some of my favorite memories were when Taylor and I went to the actual site of GVJCI for either food box distributions or the restaurant drive through fundraiser. Of course, our weekly zoom meetings were great, but I loved seeing everyone in person even if we were wearing masks. Those interactions where I got to see people smiling with their eyes were the best. It was exciting to meet new people while volunteering! I enjoyed listening to their story of how they first heard about GVJCI, as well as their love for the community. The staff here are the friendliest people and they really treated me like family. Even though my internship is over, you will surely still see me volunteering! Thank you GVJCI for an incredible experience.
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By: Taylor Ingman, GVJCI Marketing and Social Media Intern Fall is the perfect time for kabocha and comfort food! This kabocha stew is guaranteed to keep you warm and cozy as the weather starts to cool down. This tasty stew is a great dish to share with close friends and family, especially during fall and winter. I took these pictures the other day when my mom and I made a large batch for our family; we brought some to her parents and brother as well, who all agreed it was oishii (delicious)! I love to make this stew with my mom-- the familiar Japanese flavors in this dish such as dashi and mirin (and of course, kabocha) remind me of eating Japanese food with my family. These classic ingredients will fill your kitchen with the nostalgic scent of a homemade Japanese meal. As my younger brother once said, this recipe smells like our grandparents' kitchen in the best way possible! Ingredients: 1 small kabocha 3/4 cup water 1/2 cup sake 1/4 cup dashi 3 tbsp brown sugar 3 tbsp soy sauce 2 tbsp mirin Vegetables (we used carrots, onion, and green beans) Rib eye steak or prime rib Harusame (glass) noodles (optional) Preparation: Optional: Boil harusame noodles until soft (around 3 minutes). Strain and rinse with cold water, then set aside for later. 1. Wash and cut kabocha into small chunks, removing insides. 2. Cut green beans and onions into small pieces. Peel carrots and cut into slices. 3. Thinly slice the steak (we used rib eye steak). 4. Add kabocha to a medium sized pot with vegetable oil. Use enough vegetable oil to cover all the chunks (they should be shiny). 5. When the kabocha has softened a little, add the rest of the vegetables to the pot. Add more oil to cover the vegetables. 6. Once the vegetables have softened slightly, add the steak to the pot. Cook until the meat has browned. 7. Add dashi and water to the pot. When the mixture begins to boil, add sake, soy sauce, mirin, and brown sugar. 8. Mix thoroughly and add harusame noodles if desired. 9. Serve hot with rice and enjoy! I sometimes like to sprinkle roasted sesame seeds on top. Itadakimasu (let's eat)! This recipe is a modified version of the Nikujaga recipe from Chopstick Chronicles, using kabocha instead of potatoes and harusame (glass) noodles instead of konnyaku noodles; the measurements are slightly different as well. The original recipe can be found here: https://bit.ly/3pTOgAj.
By: Michael Suyehiro, Guest Contributor My name is Michael Suyehiro, a Boy Scout of Troop 683 and volunteer at the GVJCI. I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to help and put together events at the JCI for more than three years now. They’ve allowed me to have a glimpse into my Japanese heritage, something I don’t normally experience in my daily life, as I live in an area predominantly consisting of Caucasians and Korean-Americans. Being here has opened my eyes about the great things I wouldn’t have been able to experience and gave me an opportunity to interact with the people I can relate to in my community. It’s given me the chance to grow as a human being, make new connections, learn about my past, and so much more. I recently volunteered at the Azay fundraiser on August 22nd. Despite the pandemic, we were determined to hand out the meals promised. It was very relieving to finally get out of the house and socialize a bit. It’s something positive that we all have the ability to still see people and be appreciative of something we almost always take for granted. It’s given me a new view on both the GVJCI and my communities: I’m thankful that they’re here, I’m grateful that we’re still connected, and I’m glad that we can all smile in some way. We all always never notice how much socializing means to us; for the shy, the outgoing, and everyone in between. The JCI isn’t only a place to learn and to practice our skills, it’s a place to socialize and be human. Same with our communities and all of our friends and family: they’re much more important to us than we think. I know that I’m thankful for the experiences I’ve had and will continue to be grateful for all the smiles and projects and fundraisers and festivals to come. But not only am I smiling for my own reasons, it makes me feel good to make other people smile. I’m hoping that what I’m doing will help someone else feel good and relaxed, too. I know that there are people out there who feel the same way, so I want to ask those people to volunteer or even just call or text a friend or family member, take time to make that effort to help and reach out to someone. Of course, be safe, keep others safe, but now more than ever, there are so many people out there that need a reason to smile. We aren’t given the big convenience of being able to run into people out of pure luck, so show someone that you really care about them. This won’t last forever, so look forward to the events and meetings in the future and the people you’ll be able to see again.
By: Kellen Tomiyama, former Social Media & Community Outreach Intern Hello my name is Kellen Tomiyama. Last spring, I had the opportunity to work at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) as the Social Media & Community Outreach Intern. Growing up as a Japanese American in a city in Orange County that does not have a large Japanese American community or presence, it was a culturally eye-opening experience to get to interact with the members of the GVJCI. Also, moving to Torrance, CA introduced me to many other Japanese Americans that I got to know and interact with. It was refreshing to be able to speak with Japanese Americans my age who grew up with a strong connection to their Japanese roots. Not to mention all the great Japanese food in Torrance - especially my favorite Japanese restaurant Azuma!
I am so thankful for the people/experiences I have gained through my time at the GVJCI. I look forward to attending the annual Matsuri every year. When I start my family, I will be able to take them to the Matsuri and pass down the tradition. Growing up in a community where Japanese Americans are not common, I am so grateful for my time here at the GVJCI and how close it has brought me to my Japanese roots.
Shohei Ohtani, one of Major League Baseball’s exciting new players, has created buzz all around the league with his play on the field so far. A humble Japanese baseball player who has caused a fan frenzy among the Japanese American community here in the states. Many Japanese Americans are filled with pride watching Ohtani succeed as a pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. If he continues at a high level, Ohtani could have a greater impact on how Japanese baseball, and in some ways Japan itself, is perceived than even pitcher Hideo Nomo did during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the mid-90s. People can’t stop talking about him. Ohtani is not the first Japanese baseball player to come to the states and cause buzz with their on the field play. Nomo, Ichiro (Suzuki), (Hideki) Matsui all got a lot of attention. (Daisuke) Matsuzaka too. But, Ohtani may be the most hyped and talked about Japanese player of them all. As far as respect as a player, the respect that Americans will give to a Japanese player, it certainly looks like Ohtani will be the most respected when all is said and done. Ichiro has over 3,000 hits and combined hit record if you count Japan, but he’s good at hitting ground balls to second base and running them out. This is something different. This is an entirely new category. What else can you say but Babe Ruth? Baseball may be the American pastime, but Japan has taken it and shaped it in its own image. When NPB was viewed from afar as little more than a minor league, Nomo, Ichiro and the rest proved that was a myth. This is the same with Ohtani, who was met in Spring Training with doubters who said his high level of play in the NPB couldn’t translate to the MLB. But those doubters were quickly silenced once the season started. Born, bred and molded in Japan, Ohtani has the potential to change the way Japanese ballplayers are regarded in terms of their own skill and the skill of the players they compete against before heading to MLB. Ohtani’s success represents something bigger than just the game of baseball. He is playing for the respect of Japan. |
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