smshige3May 7, 20211 minFor the sake of the childrenWhen I was hired as Head Teacher for the Chinese Church day care center I was invited to the reverend’s house in Chinatown for a...
smshige3May 5, 20211 minRespecting children on their dayAsian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month My neighbor Gary was playing with his infant son, and as I was walked past he waved and...
smshige3May 3, 20211 minThe Rich Heritage of Kanji Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month One of the wonders of our heritage are what are known in Japanese as Kanji (漢字かんじ),...
smshige3May 1, 20211 minMy Japanese AncestorsSharing my family for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month My roots go back far but this is the earliest photo I have....
smshige3Apr 28, 20211 min"Go all the way!"When they called me names Daddy taught me how to box "Be ready to fight, But if you can, walk away, If you can't, go all the way" The...
smshige3Apr 22, 20211 minDragon BoyThey all called me Ping Got it from an Elvis film They didn’t know me I am no white man’s servant Provoke dragon boy and see Healing and...
smshige3Apr 19, 20211 minAppreciating her last hurrahThe tree doctor gives the death sentence for my ailing cherry. It won’t survive another year. Enjoy her one last time. But fears invade...
smshige3Apr 15, 20211 minFruits by the SeaI went to the sea to find peace I found an apple then an orange a watermelon a cantaloupe a kiwi a banana Funny how it brought such...
smshige3Apr 9, 20211 minTransformation in the pandemic: A free webinarI'll be doing a webinar "Finding balance & Wholeness in Life's struggles" live at 7 am PST here: We'll reflect on the potential for...
smshige3Apr 5, 20212 minIs this the time of your rebirth?As we emerge back into the world from our corona cocoons we may feel a special sense of wonder this Easter. For some of us, our long...
smshige3Mar 25, 20211 minI Too, Am AmericaOur ancestors came to this country in search of a better life for themselves and their families. Many welcomed us but others did not. We...
smshige3Mar 24, 20212 minThe No-No Boys Were Not SilentWhen the United States government’s incarcerated more than 110,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry in concentration camps without cause...
smshige3Mar 17, 20214 min“I’m Irish!”— Liberating a Surrendered Identity“You’re Irish, and don’t let anyone tell you you’re not!” My Irish aunt Johanna, who welcomed us with open arms when we came from Japan,...
smshige3Mar 13, 20211 minVast Sea, Sleeping MotherAnd you, vast sea, sleeping mother Who alone are peace and freedom to the river and the stream, Only another winding will this stream...
smshige3Mar 12, 20211 minStill Standing Trees 立ち尽くす木耐えるしかないのか 樹木よ 精神が血を流している 涙を流している 私たちは それでも 立ち尽くす木なのだ 和合亮一 we can only bear witness tree spirits bleeding tears falling, we are still...
smshige3Mar 11, 20212 minGlad to feel the sweet, fresh breeze Tsunami survivor Isao Sato, a resident of Iwate Prefecture that was devastated by the March 11, 2011 disaster, wrote of his experience:...