Apolo Anton Ohno (born May 22, 1982) is an American short track speed skating competitor and an eight-time medalist (two gold, two silver, four bronze) in the Winter Olympics. He is the most decorated American Winter Olympic athlete of all time.

Ohno is one of only four Americans who have won three medals in a single Winter Olympic games. He has been the reigning United States champion since 2001 and has won the men’s national title a total of 12 times. In December 1999, he became the youngest skater to win a World Cup event title, and became the first American to win a World Cup overall title in 2001. In 2008, Ohno won his first overall World Championship title.

He was the United States Olympic Committee’s Male Athlete of the Month in October 2003 and March 2008. He was named the U.S. Speedskating’s Athlete of the Year for 2003 and was a 2002, 2003 and 2006 finalist for the Sullivan Award, which recognizes the best amateur athlete in the United States.

He also competed in and won the reality TV show Dancing with the Stars in 2007.

Asobi Seksu – Strawberry from frank hommel on Vimeo.

Asobi Seksu is an American dream pop band based in New York City. Their music draws influence from the shoegazing genre as well, and similarly uses a textured and effects-heavy vocal and guitar sound. The band consists of Yuki Chikudate (vocals, keyboards) and James Hanna (guitar, vocals).

History

They were originally known as Sportfuck, and in 2001 released their first self-titled EP. Finding the name juvenile, the band soon changed their name to Asobi Seksu. Their full length self-titled debut album followed in May 2004. They regrouped with a new rhythm section for their second album, Citrus, which was recorded in Gigantic Studios, New York City, with producer Chris Zane and released in 2006 by Friendly Fire. One Little Indian Records signed the band in Europe and re-released the band’s first album and the follow-up Citrus in 2007. In early 2009, the band released their third studio album Hush. The album was released to generally positive reviews, with many critics citing a shift in the band’s shoegaze direction to a more mellow, dream pop sound.
In May 2009, Yuki Chikudate released a single with Pocket called “Sampo.” The track included remixes by Mux Mool, Blue Eyes, and Craig Wedren. In November 2009, a tour-only CD retitled Rewolf, featuring newly recorded acoustic versions of the band’s back catalog, was released worldwide.

Studio albums

• Asobi Seksu (2004)
• Citrus (2006)
• Hush (2009)
• Rewolf (2009)

Japanese-Iranian journalist Roxana Saberi describes how she was arrested for espionage and sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison.

We also like to categorize each other by generation, starting from the first to arrive in the United States, those pioneer Issei, and heading on down the family tree with Nisei, Sansei, Yonsei and Gosei. We get even more specific by throwing in the modifier for “new” to designate those arriving after World War II: Shin Issei, Shin Nisei and so forth.

Given our penchant for labels, then, shouldn’t we have one for the fastest-growing segment of our community? Well actually, there are quite a few options for describing multiracial Japanese Americans — but none share the same simple effectiveness of the terms above.

Read the full article on Nichibeitimes.com.

A Japanese food writer blends her passion for British food with the memories that accompany each dish, in this touching documentary, a labour of love with all the trimmings. The subject of the film, is the mother of one of the longtime halvsie members. Vote for the film “Mrs Birks’ Sunday Roast” to win the Best of Boroughs Audience Award.

See it online at the Film London site.

Tokyo Photo Shoot 20th (Sat) & 21st (Sun) June, 10am – 7pm
Osaka Photo Shoot 28th (Sun) June, times to be confirmed
London (UK) Photo Shoot date and time tbc

Our photo shoot in Tokyo will take place in a studio in Kokubunji, which is around 20 to 25 minutes from Shinjyuku. The studio in Osaka still needs to be confirmed but if you are free and can attend please let us know now so we can slot you into our schedule. The photo shoot should not take more than 20 minutes.

In addition to the photo shoot, we will select a number of people to be interviewed. The interviewing process will take about 60-90 minutes. We can meet in a mutually convenient time and place. You will be asked a number of questions about your identity and experience in relation to your half Japanese background.

If you are interested in taking part, we would love to hear from you.
Please fill in our online entry form:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cHBVN2VQUklDejQxOUxRM2FVSGp3Y3c6MA

—The project—
Hafu is a collaborative project between artist/photographer Natalie Maya Willer and social researcher Marcia Yumi Lise. The project is made up of portrait photographs of half Japanese people (or Hafus as they are called in Japan) and their stories, extracted from in-depth interviews. As part of the exhibition we will organise a range of events including an academic seminar, family art workshop, networking night, live photo shoot and a cultural evening.

The project tries to give insight into the experiences of ethnically mixed Japanese individuals. It offers an opportunity to explore the ways in which Hafus construct their identities and establish a sense of belonging whilst being in between different cultures.

The work we carry out is highly respectful to everybody portrayed. The format provides an intimate and safe environment where subjects’ stories can be heard. We place much value in respecting people’s opinions and integrating them in the dialogue we are trying to create. Our work is carried out to a high standard and we aim to achieve further intercultural understanding based on the trust of the people we work with.

—You can also get involved!—

- Volunteering
This is an exciting opportunity to get involved with our project and can be a great outlet to use your skills and energy! Volunteers can work alongside Natalie and Marcia to aid in creating and organising the exhibition. We are particularly interested in website design/updating skills, English/Japanese translation/interpretation skills, but also publicity and event/ exhibition set up skills. Volunteers can also be artists/performers who are interested in taking part at one of the events. You can donate as little or as much time as you would like.

- Partnering
We are currently looking into partnering with other organisations or companies to deliver this exhibition with its programme of events. We are particularly keen to hear from people in the arts, academia including high schools and universities in Tokyo and Osaka. So far we are being sponsored/supported by ANA, Mamiya and Sasakawa Foundation.

—Contact us—

info@hafujapanese.org
www.hafujapanese.org

写真展「ハーフ」参加者受付中

２０１０年開催予定の「ハーフ」写真展イベントの準備がよいよ始まりました！ポートレート撮影、またインタビューをさせてくださるハーフ・ジャパニーズの方を募集しています

【プロジェクトについて】
当写真展は写真家のナタリー・摩耶・ウィラーによるシリーズ「ハーフ・ジャパニーズ」とリサーチャーであるマーシャ・弓美・リゼによるインタビューから成り立っています。ハーフという外見に注目するだけではなく、ハーフとしての経験、そして自己の見つめ方、更には社会による見解について探るプロジェクトです。このプロジェクトを通して、単なる経験談ではなく、２つの違った文化背景を持つアイデンティティを理解し、またハーフとしての位置づけを認識するチャンスを持っていただけることでしょう。

写真展と同時開催で様々なイベントを企画。セミナーは現代日本社会における多文化コミュニティをテーマに、文化学そしてミックス・レース・スタディーズの専門家をお招きいたします。ハーフやその他マイノリティと日本にある様々なコミュニティとの交流会「ソーシャル・ナイト」、展示中のギャラリーにてお越しいただいた方々の「live撮影」、更には「キッズ・ワークショップ」「パフォーマンス・ナイト」も開催する予定です。

当プロジェクトは参加者全員を尊重した取り組みです。親密かつ安全な環境の中でストーリーを伝え、それぞれの意見を尊重、そして統合した対話を作ることを第一に心がけています。撮影・インタビューの参加をしてくださる方々、そして共にプロジェクトに取り組む仲間たちの信頼を基に理解を促進することを目指しています。

【撮影】
撮影予定日について（※撮影自体は２０分ほどでです）

東京　国分寺スタジオ
６月２０日（土）及び６月２１日(日) 午前１０時～午後７時

大阪　スタジオ確認中
６月２８日（日）時間帯は現在調整中

【インタビュー】
写真撮影した方々の中から、またインタビューのみご協力いただけるという方にもお話を伺いたく思っています。ご自宅、地域のコミュニティ・センター、学校、大学など、ご都合のよろしい静かな場所で、「ハーフ」としてのアイデンティティ経験についてインタビューします。所要時間は１時間半ほどです。

【応募方法】
ご協力いただける方は、どうぞ以下のエントリフォームをご利用ください。

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=cHBVN2VQUklDejQxOUxRM2FVSGp3Y3c6MA..

【スポンサー＆サポーター募集】
協賛団体や企業を現在募集しています。イベント全般の宣伝の際に露出のチャンスが多くございます。更に、ボランティアで写真展、及びイベントの企画サポート、また、アート・パフォーマンスをしていただける方も受付中ですので、お気軽にご連絡ください。現在ANA、MAMIYA、笹川文化財団の提供でプロジェクトを進めています。

【連絡先メールアドレス】
info@hafujapanese.org （日本語OK）
www.hafujapanese.org

Roxana Saberi is an Iranian/Japanese American journalist, who was arrested in Iran in February 2009 for working as a reporter without press credentials – her credentials were revoked in 2006. On April 8, 2009, the Iranian government charged Saberi with espionage, and she was subsequently sentenced to an eight-year prison term. An appeals court reduced the charge against her from espionage to that of possessing classified information, and reduced her eight-year prison term to a two-year suspended sentence, and she was released on May 11, 2009.

Watada’s February 2007 court-martial ended in a mistrial when he argued that his orders were unlawful, because Military Judge John Head ruled that the question can not be resolved within the military justice system, saying Watada’s argument was thus reduced to an admission of guilt. A second court-martial was scheduled but was stayed in October 2007 by U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle, who issued an order stating that Watada’s “double jeopardy claim is meritorious” and no evidence that it lacks merit was presented. The Army challenged the injunction, and Judge Settle ruled on October 21, 2008, that Watada cannot be retried on three of the five counts, but abstained from deciding whether the remaining two charges of conduct unbecoming an officer may go forward.

The Army appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in November, 2008. But after the Obama administration took office, the Justice Department asked the court to drop the case, which was dismissed on May 6, 2009.

Read more on the Halvsie Wiki: [[Ehren Watada]].