APRIL 2020 • NIKKEI VOICE COLUMNS • 11 Lessons from a mountain town: Random acts of sakura

to click through a cycle of bad next. news. In sakura season, Japanese cul- That's the danger of bad news, ture believes every stage is beau- it's easy to get more. The more tiful, from the time the first buds we get, hoping to find answers appear to when the petals drop to and a solution, the more we feel the ground. In fact, it’s believed discouraged and fearful. It wasn't that if a sakura petal lands on the best way for me to get ready you, it will bring you luck. Taking a moment to for bed. In the West, we often focus on stop and smell the We are curious, we want to the destination and the end. In know and to be aware of policies Japan, it's more about the jour- sakura and events that affect us, but how ney. Japanese society has more of much is too much information? It a long-term view and that things depends on how it makes us feel, last if we take care of them, in- Caroline Ishii we need to decide for ourselves. cluding family, friendships and Columnist We need to fill our lives with nature. more joyful moments. How do The Japanese appreciation of we do this during a crisis? The the transitions can be seen every- OCHI, Japan — How do we keep antidote to fear and worry is grat- where, from the food changing our glasses half full during a cri- itude and mindfulness. in character and colour in stores sis? How do we stay positive? Take time to notice the things and restaurants to an entire spe- I keep on returning to the saku- that make you happy, the things cial vocabulary created around ra (cherry blossoms) for answers. you are grateful for, my friend re- sakura. PHOTO COURTESY: CAROLINE ISHII The sakura are starting to bloom minded me. I was speaking as if Sakura vocabulary: all over my town in Japan. They my glass was half empty. I hadn't tsubomi = bud A store window display of sakura-themed treats that come out in the remind me that life continues de- noticed that I was sliding down; sakihajime = started to bloom spring time. spite the current COVID-19 cri- it's easy when you are socially gobuzaki = full bloom has almost sis and I will get been reached through this. "In the West, we also have nature and seasons, (50 to 70 per Hanagasumi = flower haze, when when little green leaves grow I woke up late cent opened) there are many blossoms after the sakura fall, a sign that because I got but do we notice all of the transitions and each mankai = full Hana-no-ami = flower rain, when summer is just around the corner stuck watching stage between the seasons?" bloom rain falls on the cherry blossoms Yozakura = night view of cherry the news and chirihajime Hana-akari = flower lights, when blossoms, when the sakura are couldn't stop. = petals have sakura are in full bloom their light up at night. I tumbled down the rabbit hole, distancing in a foreign country started to fall from the trees bright colour makes the night not In the West, of course we also looking at a news story about the and don't have much interaction hazakura = trees have turned so dark have nature and seasons, but do number of COVID-19 deaths, with others. green (leaves have replaced the Sakura-fubuki = cherry blossom we notice all of the transitions then I compared regions, coun- Japanese culture often cele- pink petals) snowstorm, when sakura petals and each stage between the sea- tries and the world. brates nature and the seasons, it There are also words to dance in the wind and look in sons? The media is good at attracting is integral to their way of living. describe moments in sakura the distance like a storm of pink It's spectacular seeing the rows you to read more, with their stra- They notice the seasons and tran- season: petals tegically placed links leading you sitions, from one moment to the Hanami = flower viewing Hazakura = cherry tree leaves; See SAKURA P. 15 What to do when you're stuck inside during a pandemic Columnist Mel Tsuji home to keep a safe, social dis- cently, including Elvis in Hawaii, on what he likes to do tance. Chuck Berry and the Monterey Now, forced inside myself, my Pop Festival. That latter was from while stuck inside job is now to find productive 1963. It was a waste of time be- things to do. To start the day, we cause the groups shown weren’t keep to our old habits. We tune too good and scene shots were Mel Tsuji into CBC Radio’s World at Eight mostly of people trying to look Columnist for the latest national and inter- hippie cool. national news. For relaxation, I usually look After that, we tune to an old around my home. First to my TORONTO — “We are in a war standby, Metro Morning, for a books. I have probably four to against an invisible killer,” the ra- great digest of local Toronto five favorites I’m getting through. dio blared. news. I usually to listen every One is Linda Ellerbee’s And So It “Witness the cancellation of a morning to get an idea of what’s Goes: Adventures in Television. generation,” read a headline from happening in the day ahead. Ellerbee had a long career as a re- a Toronto Star opinion piece, de- At breakfast, I turn to the TV. porter and anchor in TV and it’s a scribing the plight against the First, it’s to CP24 to see what hap- funny and informative look at the pandemic in Italy. pened overnight. Then I quickly industry. Dramatic stuff describing the switch to CBC News Now for the Another is Herman Wouk's first week in the escalating fight national news, then to CNN for tome, War and Remembrance. against COVID-19. It is all very the American and foreign news. It’s a followup to his 1,000 page real and I can The Winds of feel it, being iso- "Now, forced inside myself, my job is now to War. Both are lated at home, great novels. PHOTO COURTESY: MEL TSUJI unable to go find productive things to do. To start the day, I’ve broken up out, unless it’s my reading One of the ways columnist Mel Tsuji entertains himself during the day is we keep to our old habits." by reading. for medicine or with Thomas groceries. Boswell’s The Since I’m retired from my I'll also hop around NBC, CBS Heart of the Order. If you like characteristic of play at that time. sic NHL was a game from Oct 19, jobs as a reporter/producer with and ABC. baseball, you’d love this one. Bo- It was Gretzky magic, playing 1989. Gretzky was approaching CBC and teaching journalism at After my news fix, I switch swell was the baseball columnist against his old club. He was set- the NHL point scoring record of Humber and Seneca Colleges, my over to sports. Not much going for The Washington Post. ting up in his “office” behind the 1,850 points set by ole “Blinky,” transition to staying home has these days, but in normal times, If it’s hockey you want, there net, then passing out to wingers Gordie Howe himself. been relatively easy. it can get quite busy keeping up are some gems on television. for easy goals. To heighten the drama, the Not so much for my son and with what’s happening in hockey Sportsnet has been running NHL It was also a fantastic treat Great One was playing against daughter. Trevor is still on the job and baseball. I’m not a big basket- Classics. watching Paul Coffey streaking his old club, the Edmonton Oil- every day as a customer relations ball fan, but I go for highlights. On March 18, it re-broadcast- down the wing and cut in front ers. He tied, then beat Howe’s officer at a car dealership, but he The morning agenda can keep ed a game from over 30 years for one of his unbelievable goals. record. says his work is drying up and he me busy from 8 to 10 a.m. After ago, when the Edmonton Oilers His speed and quickness are sim- To mark the occasion, a pre- may have to take reduced hours that, I can review some interest- played the Pittsburgh Penguins, ilar to those seen these days by sentation was made at centre ice or be laid off temporarily. ing documentaries recorded a Mario Lemieux versus Wayne “Conner McDavid.” He had al- with Howe being brought in to Lindsay is still working as a night or two before. Gretzky. This was great hockey to ready scored 40 goals for the sea- highlight the festivities. producer with a national news I love music docs from PBS and watch, though, it was marred by son that wasn’t even completed. program, but is working from there have been a few dandies re- extreme hooking and holding, a Another game shown on Clas- See ISOLATING P. 13 APRIL 2020 • NIKKEI VOICE COMMUNITY • 15

From AOKI P. 8

Neon Future IV is also the name of his highly anticipat- ed sixth studio , released April 3. Like his previous Neon Future , it’s packed with collaborations, connecting with performers from all walks of life, like boyband legends to Japanese-American rock- er/rapper . His concerts never cease to amaze fans. Keeping just ahead of the trend, he brings a fresh and exhilarating experience with ev- ery show. If you’re used to confet- ti cannons, jumbo-size screens, t-shirt giveaways and bass bins that can kickstart your heart, you’ll be overwhelmed with a concert. PHOTO CREDIT: CAROLINE ISHII This year’s concert stage dou- In Japan, the entire cycle of sakura are appreciated from the time the first bled as the Aoki Playhouse, with buds appear on the branches to when the pedals fall to the ground. the bottom stage transformed into a foam pit for himself and a select few VIP fans to jump into. From SAKURA P. 11 fect at that moment. In learning He played new tracks and clas- to recognize and embrace these sic bangers all night. Aoki con- of sakura carefully planted. But moments, especially now, and certs always end with something I am more delighted by the ran- piecing them together, we make called “cake face.” Ten cakes are dom sakura trees I see every- our hour, day and lives. tossed into the faces of fans with where. In a plot of farmland, in In sharing joyful moments of handmade signs. PHOTO CREDIT: DR. JONATHAN ETO green cedar forested mountains sakura discoveries, my hope is With what was staged to be the and the gravesite of a loved one. that this starts your gathering of first concert of his two month During Steve Aoki's concert , the bottom part of the stage has transformed I call it random acts of sakura. awe-inspiring moments in your North American Neon Future into a foam pit. I wonder who had the foresight life. IV Tour, he managed only to to plant sakura even though they Sakura can teach us that life is fulfill seven of his 29 stops be- didn't know what the future held impermanent and fleeting. What fore COVID-19 emergency pro- releasing a new app to venturing and fashion. or if they would get to see them we plant now, we may not see cedures cancelled the tour. Aoki into his first podcast, called Aoki Though Aoki may not reach his bloom. bloom in our lifetime, but others instead performed virtual con- ‘N Air, a weekly travel show about average of 250 concerts this year, I am still in awe every time I will. There is beauty even in the certs from his Las Vegas mansion his favourite place in the world, you’ll be sure to hear, see or con- see sakura, like fireworks with face of difficult times when we to help fundraise for the World Japan. A five-episode series, Aoki nect to him in some way. Until the burst of colours. I pause and look for it. Health Organization. speaks about all that interests next time, eat, sleep, cake, repeat. the world is beautiful and per- *** Nothing slows him down, from him from travel, art, food, music ***

From HAPA P. 10 run our organizations the way they are and be respectful of that, rns also saw how he has grown as then I think we will be in a good a filmmaker. Since the film's -re place.” lease, Stearns has spoken in pan- Stearns is now also exploring els and conferences around Can- mixed race identity in children's ada and North America about literature. His new children's mixed race identity. book, Nori and His Delicious He was awarded the Cultur- Dreams, tells the story of a mixed al Pioneer Award from Harvard race Japanese Canadian boy who University for his exploration of dreams of sleeping in different multiethnic identity and the Em- types of food every night. ily Award from Emily Carr Uni- The book is also a way for versity. children to learn about different He also co-founded Ha- types of food. Parents have told pa-palooza, an annual festi- him their children are wanting to val celebrating mixed heritage try food they've never wanted to through arts and culture, from before, like falafel. 2011 to 2017. Creating children's books was “I think reflecting back 10 something Stearns has wanted years later, there's definitely a lot to do since he was a teenager. He of things I've learnt making that studied animation at Emily Carr film and that I would've done dif- University, and now publishes his ferently,” says Stearns. PHOTO COURTESY: JEFF CHIBA STEARNS books under his own company, “But at the same time, that's Meditating Bunny Studio Inc. also reflective of who I was at that The cover of Jeff Chiba Stearns new children's book,Nori and His Delicious Dreams. During the quarantine, “Now that I have kids, the time time in my life, exploring those Stearns read his new book on a Facebook live stream. is right. I feel like I'm at a good questions and talking to my fam- place where I have the ability to ily. It became that film that a lot make the characters I want to of Japanese Canadians gravitated Powell Street Festival and festi- ans.” is a completely different story, a make,” says Stearns. to because they saw their family vals like mochi-pounding with When it comes to mixed race majority of the class are mixed “I thought of myself as a kid reflected in my family.” his kids. It has also been an op- identity, Stearns says the rest of race children. who was Canadian, but I was Since the films' release, Stearns portunity to meet with commu- Canada can look to the Japanese “Japanese Canadians can be always being asked, 'What are has received countless comments nity leaders like Art Miki, and Canadian community as leaders. leaders other communities can you?' and 'Where are you from?' and emails from viewers, who learn more about Japanese Cana- When Stearns was growing up look to, to see the shift in com- which is why I think it's import- have seen their families in his, dian history. munity,” he ant to have characters who are or have used the film as a spring- “With ev- "That for me inspires me to want to continue mak- says. mixed. I'm going to keep doing board to discuss identity. erything I've “I think the that in the books and stories I do, One mother told him after she done, [Japa- ing media that celebrates and explores the history more that we because for me it's important to took her children to see the film, nese Cana- and heritage of Japanese Canadians," says Stearns. can accept have that representation.” they discussed their identity the dians] have the fact that *** whole car ride home, a talk they been incred- our com- For more information about Jeff had never had before. ibly supportive, and I think that in Kelowna, B.C. he was one of a munity is going to be one that Chiba Stearns, One Big Hapa The film has also strengthened for me inspires me to want to handful of mixed race children in is mixed and blended, as long as Family or to purchase a copy of Stearns connection to the Japa- continue making media that cel- the school. we can understand that and cel- Nori and His Delicious Dreams, nese Canadian community. He ebrates and explores the history When he looks at his daugh- ebrate that and continue to teach visit: attends cultural events, like the and heritage of Japanese Canadi- ter's class in Vancouver today, it the traditions and continue to www.meditatingbunny.com