Gwen Muranaka

By GWEN MURANAKA, RAFU SENIOR EDITOR Under the watchful gaze of Robert Vargas’ Shohei Ohtani mural, Nisei Week concluded its 82nd festival on Aug. 18 with a joyful nod to both the past and the future of Little Tokyo. Thousands filled First Street as the historic Downtown neighborhood celebrated its 140th anniversary steps from where […]

By GWEN MURANAKARAFU SENIOR EDITOR LAGUNA BEACH — Kabuki dancers in sumptuous kimono costumes are a vision in this year’s Pageant of the Masters at the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, which concludes its season this week. If you haven’t been to Pageant of the Masters, it’s a Southern California tradition that is a bit […]

Oshu’s mayor and city delegation tour the South Bay and watch the town’s favorite son in action. By GWEN MURANAKA and JUN NAGATARAFU SHIMPO STAFF WRITERS TORRANCE — As Shohei Ohtani celebrated his postseason debut with a booming three-run homer on Saturday, a delegation from his hometown of Oshu, Iwate Prefecture were among the thousands at […]

LACCD trustee holds “Karate Kid”-themed campaign event. By GWEN MURANAKARAFU SENIOR EDITOR GARDENA — Supporters of Kelsey Iino’s reelection campaign for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) Board of Trustees held a “Karate Kid”-themed fundraiser on Oct. 5 at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute. Iino wore a yukata — a nod to Tamlyn Tomita, […]

Threat of nuclear war growing as a-bomb survivors, Hiroshima physicians gather for biannual exams. By GWEN MURANAKARAFU SENIOR EDITOR TORRANCE — On Oct. 12, the biannual medical examinations of atomic bombing victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki coincided with the news that a Japanese group of survivors had been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for their […]

Rob Fukuzaki’s Heads Up Foundation charity golf tournament set for Nov. 11 By GWEN MURANAKARAFU SENIOR EDITOR “Oh, what a night!” Rob Fukuzaki shared after the Dodgers clinched the pennant, setting up a World Series against the New York Yankees that is sure to be a classic. Fukuzaki is incredibly busy as an award-winning journalist […]

By Gwen Muranaka My Dear Friends, It has been the honor of my life to work in the Japanese American community as a reporter and editor here at The Rafu Shimpo. And so now this chapter of my life is drawing to an end. It hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s the right one. […]

By GWEN MURANAKA For one night only, The Phantom was in the house. Davis Gaines, who has performed the lead role in “The Phantom of the Opera” more than 2,000 times on Broadway and in Los Angeles and San Francisco, sang at an intimate gathering on Oct. 17 at the California Club in Downtown L.A. […]

George Takei speaks, Umekawa Ichinosuke performs in afternoon event at consul general’s residence. By GWEN MURANAKA Traditions and the importance of adapting and passing them to future generations was a theme of the Nichibei Fujinkai (NBFK) luncheon held at the consul general’s residence in Los Angeles on Oct. 26. The event was hosted by Honorary […]

John Nishio vows to restore Japanese garden, filled with memories and meaning. By GWEN MURANAKA “This was our little paradise,” John Nishio said, standing in his Japanese garden last Saturday. He watched as stone-by-stone, family and friends pitched in to help carefully move his beloved Japanese stone lanterns from his home in Pasadena, weeks after […]