Aug 20th 2017 O.A.
Memorial Service for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Victims
Memorial Service for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Victims of the atomic bomb was held on Sunday, August 8th at Little Tokyo’s Koyasan Buddhist Temple in LA. It has been 72 years since the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. About 40 people attended the service from all over LA to pray for the victims. Hiroshima and Nagasaki Kenjinkai representatives, as well as the attendees quietly lit incense to the victims as Bishop Junkun Imamura chanted a sutra. A memorial service for former chairman of the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors, Kaz Suyeishi, who deceased this June was also held. Suyeishi was exposed to the atomic bomb when she was 18. When she came to the US, she was known as “Kaz Mama” since she was an activist lecturing children how horrifying atomic bombs are while she supported other victims in the US. Victims of the atomic bomb are dying from old age, and the number of storytellers from the incident are decreasing every day. At the memorial service, attendees were able to renew their understanding of “A peaceful world without nuclear weapons” which was Suyeishi’s long time goal.
Premium Sake & Shochu Exhibition
On Saturday, August 5th, Premium Sake & Shochu Exhibition was held at Anaheim’s Business Expo Center by the Japanese food importer, Wismettac Asian Foods. This year marks the 10th year for the event, and it is held in 6 locations around the US for restaurant individuals. More than 1000 people from all over SoCal attended this LA event. About 15 breweries from Japan and the US participated. Attendees tasted food products and asked questions regarding menu developments and sales. Many companies introduced varieties of sake and shochu since they are getting popular around the world. This is Shiso Shochu from Hokkaido, where you can taste the flavor of red perilla. Food booths were very popular too. Long lines were formed to taste the sushi, curry rice and okonomi yaki. Meat, ingredients and utensils necessary for restaurants were also sold as well. According to Wismettac Asian Foods, consumptions of Japanese sake are increasing each year in North America since it is the largest Japanese sake market in the US. They are guessing the numbers will continue to rise.