Interviews English

MICHIHIRO OKAZAKI, D.C.

Owner and Chiropractor at Okazaki Chiropractic
In March, 2024, Okazaki Chiropractic celebrated its 20th anniversary—a milestone that underscores its commitment to fostering health and wellness in the community. We caught up with Dr. Okazaki to reflect on this journey.

SHIGEKO GARCIA

Director – Four Seasons Haiku Class　Sensei – Omotesenke Tea Ceremony
The “Four Seasons Haiku Class” was established in San Diego, California, 50 years ago from her passion to learn, enjoy, and spread the way of haiku, a short form of Japanese poetry, throughout the United States.

Dai Tamesue

Track and Field Athlete
Dai the Samurai Hurdler is demonstrating his multiple talents.
Based in San Diego, with his sights set on the London Olympic Games in 2012.

Tadahito Iguchi

San Diego Padres Infielder
Looking for a new start in San Diego, Tadahito Iguchi is ready to win
The ideal living environment for his family is the basis of his Major League life.

Mitsuhiro Iwamoto

Former Teacher, School of Acupuncture and Manual Therapy for the Visually Impaired, University of Tsukuba
Former Board Member, Japan Blind Sailing Association
Mixed Teams of the Blind and the Sighted Compete in Yacht Racing
“ Those who cannot see ” and “ those who can see ” live harmoniously together, creating the epitome of an ideal society.

Dr. Kazuo Inamori

Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Kyocera Corporation President,
the Inamori Foundation
Starting with only three million yen in capital and 28 employees, he has been devoting himself to the production of fine ceramics for half a century. The foremost factor in his success has been his continued “ strong desire.”

Masayuki Imai

The English version of the movie “The Winds of God – Kamikaze –” will be coming to the States!
Listen to the young souls’ screaming for life and death….

Iris Yamashita

Academy Award-nominated screenwriter
Making her Hollywood debut as a screenwriter with “ Letters From Iwo Jima,” Iris Yamashita made her dream come true!
Her delighted parents asked, “ Who’s Clint Eastwood anyway? ”

Kuniaki Miura

President, Miura Education Center
The right brain has the power to awaken the infinite potential and possibilities of human beings. With the “ Image Brain ” development approach, I want to help children have prosperous lives.

Jeff Orr

Director of Marketing WiMAX Forum
You can think of it as a recipe for a certain dish that assures customers that it will have the same quality each time it is made. The WiMAX Forum exists to define and to document what steps need to be taken and then to verify that they have been followed.

George Nobuichi Ekita

Director-at-large Asian Business Association of San Diego Entrepre
This generation and being here, we have a lot more freedom and more opportunities to do whatever we want. We are in America, and whatever you dream, you can make it come true!

Yuko Takahashi Severson

President, Kokusai Travel Chair, “ Build a Happy Japanese Retirement Home in San Diego” Project
Dreaming of building a senior home where people of Japanese descent can live at ease and enjoy their retirement in San Diego, “ America’s Finest City ”….

Musashimaru Koyo (Fiamalu Penitani)

Oyakata and 67th Yokozuna, Musahigawa-beya
I think by the time I reached my late 20s I had that feeling…you know? That feeling that I could do what I wanted and whenever I walked into the ring I felt like, “I’m not losing today.”

Brigitte Bélanger-Warner

Publicist, “ O ”, Cirque du Soleil
The big top was our home, because we were always traveling. So coming here (to Las Vegas) was the first time we ever had a fixed location or residence. It was a bit of a gamble on Steve Wynn’s part, but after all, this is Las Vegas!

Michael Shanahan

Director of Marketing & Communications Maritime Museum of San Diego
While she wasn’t involved in any one historic event, she is directly tied toone of the most significant ongoing events in world history — the emigration of people across oceans. Nearly everyone one of us living in the United Sates can trace their ancestors back to someplace other than here.

John Kaizan Neptune

Musician – Composer – Craftsman
The whole process is really remarkable and exacting, from selecting “ madake ” to crafting it. It requires a similar focus as composing a piece or a concert, but the general energy that is required is different.

Lane Nishikawa

Writer – Actor – Director “ Only the Brave ”
So they were sending cops, helicopters, fire engines…we heard all of this noise and we were sitting there wondering, “What’s going on?” We thought it must be something big, and it turned out to be us.

Chen SiTan aka the “ Chinese Prince of Taiji ”

Two-Time World Taiji Champion Director
Wushu Association of China
There were a bunch of us and we didn’t know who was going to succeed or who would fail, but I was determined. When our teacher asked us to do something 10 times…I’d do it 20!

Tatsuo Sasaki

Principal Timpanist, San Diego Symphony
Shigeko Sasaki – Violinist, San Diego Symphony
Life is a symphony performed by two loved ones. A talented musician couple’s journey through life. Their passion led them to open a unique music school teaching the younger generations.

Fumiko Ishii

Professor of Japanese Language and Culture,
Irvine Valley College Japanese-English Simultaneous Interpreter
An expert on English is being charmed by the stylishness of Japanese….
As a Japanese woman, she has chosen to live a unique life. Her lifelong career is to be a linguistic bridge between people.

Masaru Emoto

N.Y. Times Best Selling Author
It’s like the chicken and the egg, which came first? If you have good water then of course it will have beneficial results for your body, soul and self. By the same token if we constantly ingest poor water it will have the opposite effect.

Hiroko Suzuki

Professional Football Player The So Cal Scorpions
The irst Japanese player in women’s professional football is tackling life.
Sports are a starting point to educate people and create a future for children.

Alan Pate

Antique Dealer – Curator – Author NINGYO: The Art of the Japanese Doll
In many respects this is not only an overlooked form in the west — it’s an undervalued form in Japan too. Go to Kyoto or Tokyo, bastions of Japanese culture, and they allocate so few resources to ningyo.

Tentsukuman (formerly Hiromitsu Noriyasu)

Former Yoshimoto Comedian Film Director, Street Poet
No matter how much we love somebody, our love does not reach our loved ones if we can’t save the Earth. Here comes Tentsukuman, promising us a paradise filled with hope and smiles!

Steve Okino

Writer – Producer – Director “A Most Unlikely Hero”
To question or to dissent is unpatriotic in a lot of people’s minds these days and we’re saying that it is the ultimate form of patriotism — to stand up for the beliefs and values and the traditions that this country was founded on and to question those that would infringe upon them.

Terry Kennedy

Manager, San Diego Surf Dawgs of the Golden Baseball League
When I left it I swore that I’d never go back — that was 13 years ago! I took a year off, went back to school, then I had to get back in. I figured it was pretty selfish of me after what all those coaches and managers had done for me that I wouldn’t give something back.

Saburo Koga

Sculptor
Saburo Koga is a multi-talented artist in quest of comprehensive arts. As a passionate sculptor depicting the close relationship between humans and trees, he promotes carrying their own chopsticks to conserve natural resources, linking people throughout the world by the “ chopsticks of love.”

John“Mac”McLaughlin

President, CEO San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum
Tugboats were pulling her out and as they rounded Pt. Loma and began heading north…all of a sudden Midway started pulling west. Something like that should have been impossible, but she wanted to head out to deeper water… almost as if she was trying to head back to Japan one last time!

Martin L. Ito

Pfc. 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Canon Co. Decorations: Purple Heart,
Bronze Star for Valor
It was awfully hard, and then there was a BAM, BAM, BAM and we started to run. The first thing you know my helmet dropped off my head and started rolling down the road with me chasin after it; I wanted that darned helmet so bad.

Hideyuki “Andy” Hata

Committee Organizer Japan Fiesta in San Diego
Cross-cultural experience helped his dream come true eading to the birth of a Japan-US friendship event unique to San Diego! Hideyuki “ Andy ” Hata talks about the starting point and meaning of cultural exchange through sports.

Chris Tashima

Actor, Filmmaker Cedar Grove Productions
My initial reaction was,“ Good idea! But where are we going to get the money to make a film? Come on.” Later though the light bulb went on, he was right, this was a perfect project for a short film and it had just fallen into my lap.

Noritoshi Kanai

President, Mutual Trading Co., Inc.
Mr. Kanai talks about his half century as the initiator of the sushi boom in America. Turning his back on the system and the establishment, he decided to come to the US at age 41. He attributes the success of his food trading company to his experience in the military service and in student business, as well as, his meetings with people.

Allan P. Judd

Chief Pilot, Sanyo Lightship
This is where I live; this is playtime. When I’m up here flying…its just wonderful. I love being at the interface between the land, the sea and the air. Right here, in the sky, over the water — this is as good as it gets.

Yoko Inomata

Ballet Dancer, San Diego Ballet
Overcoming difficulties and inner conflicts, she made her dream come true.
The petite Japanese ballet dancer is a big performer in America.

Kazuyuki Mizuno

Jewelry Designer
Gems, the gorgeous works of art from Mother Earth — his artisanship amplifies their beauty and style. “ I want to show the power and romance that a stone has. It’s my job to highlight the customer’s charm.”

Mike W. Arms

President and Director Helen Woodward Animal Center
Here at the HWAC nobody has to fear watching the life drain out of one of their friends – here we find homes for our animals, we don’ need to euthanize them, we send them to loving homes. That’s what it’s all about.

Akira Takahashi

Japanese Teacher, University of San Diego President
Japanese Language Class Founder, Mongol Education Fund
Teaching Japanese as a volunteer at a new high school in Mongolia, Mr. Takahashi spends a summer month when the teacher and students are connected by “ hope.” His passion for Japanese language education went beyond the US. He enjoys interacting with young people with big dreams who are the future of Mongolia.

Yoshiko Ikezawa

Costume Designer
Free-spirited, original ideas keep appearing in America, the information hub of the world. “ I wish to inspire people and make them happy,” says the designer who animates her costumes.

Lee Ann Kim

San Diego Asian Film Foundation, Executive Director & Founder
What Hollywood is saying is that these are really good films, but how are we going to market them because they’re with Asian people! What are we going to do? I know, we’ll change the story, we’ll get non-Asian people to do it, we’ll change the title, and we’ll take out everything that made this film special.

Stan Sakai

Cartoonist – Creator of Usagi Yojimbo
I was sketching in my sketch-book and I drew a rabbit with his ears tied-up.
I just loved the design — so instead of Miyamoto Musashi, he became Miyamoto Usagi, a masterless samurai-rabbit, wandering the land, fighting injustice and seeking enlightenment.

The Yoshida Brothers (Ryoichiro and Kenichi Yoshida)

Tsugaru-Shamisen Players
Having pursued the refinement of their art since age five, the Yoshida Brothers are shooting to stardom in traditional Japanese music. Exploring for new lures of Tsugaru-shamisen, the duo performs on the world stage.

Dr. Edwin McDan

Lecturer: Intercultural Communication San Diego State University
The three major factors for success are curiosity, action, and experience.
Living in Okinawa led me to communication studies. Life without adventure offers no prospects.

Robert “Cita”Welch, Jr.

Vice President of Tribal Enterprise Business Development Viejas Enterprises
They estimate that there were about 25,000 of us when the first Europeans came here. By 1904 there were only 1,700 of us left, and in the 1850’s during the gold-rush times it was even legal to kill Indians.

Sadami Imai

LPGA Teaching Professional
Wishing to enhance amateurs’ skills to the maximum, Sadami Imai dreams of a “ Sadami Cup ” tournament. Fascinated by golf at age 45, she made up her mind to become a teaching professional and realize her potential.

David Glanzer

Director of Marketing and Public Relations San Diego Comic-Con International
People don’t realize that even though we always have some big celebrities scheduled to appear like “Buffy” (Sarah Michele Geller) there’s no doubt that there will be other stars who will show up unannounced. Last year it was Halle Barry and Angelina Jolie who came at the last instant, before that it was Arnold Schwarzenegger…

Dr. Kouzi Suzuki

Ph. D., Education, President, Institute for English Yomiagezan
Chairman of the Board, Institute for International Culture Exchange
While promoting international understanding through soroban for over 39 years,” Mr. Soroban ” has contributed to right-brain development that enhances creativity. His passion for encouraging the use of soroban worldwide never ends.

Akinori Otsuka

Pitcher ･ San Diego Padres
Since meeting Trevor Hoffman five years ago, Akinori Otsuka felt it was his destiny to join the Padres. As San Diego’s first Japanese Major Leaguer, Aki, “ the eighth inning man,” talks about his endless dreams and lofty ambitions.

Tim Murphy

President, CEO and Founder Elite Racing & Suzuki Rock‘n’ Roll Marathon
So I was running along one morning and I thought, “ If I lived in Cleveland, I would do a marathon that would start and finish at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and do a big concert afterwards.” Of course the next day I thought, “ Yeah, but who wants to go to Cleveland.”

Darrel “Mouse” Davis

Head Coach, The San Diego Riptide Arena Football League 2
When I first started running it people used to tell me, “ You can’t do that! Can’t do what? Well you’ve got to have at least two backs in the backfield and you can’t have four wide receivers. Oh really! Why is that? Well that’s just the way it is.” Coaching was so conservative.

Junko Yamamoto

Artist, President, J. K. Studios
In recreating images of her dream diary on canvas, she captures the vivid reality gushing from her visual memory. She wishes to uncover children’s potential through painting.

Alexander Chuang Ph.D.

Executive Director San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
In Shanghai, there were areas controlled by the British, French and Japanese, that were off-limits to Chinese! Signs read “ Chinese and dogs not allowed ”. So a lot of people just wanted to get out and find a better life and make a living.

Brian Remas

Founder, Bike for Brains
It wasn’t good news…when you can see the cyst on your x-ray from 12 feet away, you know it’s not a good thing, but I did feel kind of relieved. Finally, we knew what it was and everyone would believe me…now we needed to treat it.

Ryuji Ishii

President, AFC Corporation
Creating sushi culture all over the U.S., his American dream has come true, with his rapidly growing company operating 1850 sushi bars in North America and earning 250 million.

Yuka Sato

Professional Ice Skater, Former Olympic skater and World Champion
Looking ack they never really thought I was athletically talented enough to excel either… As a child I wasn’t very fast or strong… I always finished last in races and so they weren’t quite sure if skating was something that I should seriously pursue.

Maki H. Miyahara

Instructor at the Pasadena Cultural Institute Kendo Dojo, Valley Kendo Dojo,
Member of All United States Kendo Federation and Southern California Kendo Federation
They just tell you the basics, how to hold a Shinai, how to put on a Tenugui, and things like that. Knowing the basics is fine, but I also want to tell people the reason why you do it that way and how you defend yourself.

Andrew Freund

Founder & Director, California Sumo Association
A minute later he puts his hands on the table and stands up, his eyes all big and excited, and says,“ I’m going to fight! ” I was stunned ̶ we were all stunned!

Ted Jardine

President-CEO San Diego Visitor Information Center
… a Mr. Stoner… had erected two information kiosks, one on either side of Des Moines, Iowa on Interstate 80, and I thought, “ My goodness… if you can do that commercially for Des Moines, Iowa you could do that for San Diego!”

Mitsuyo Fukuda

Principal, San Diego Japanese School, Japanese Teacher, Chula Vista Public High Schools, Japanese Instructor, State University of Baja California (UABC), Mexico
Having devoted herself to her teaching career, this pioneer in Japanese schools continues teaching the Japanese language — her way of repaying America for the opportunities.

Yuko Maruyama

Pianist – Composer
It wasn’t until I was in high school that I accidentally found a cassette tape of my fathers… an Oscar Peterson album… so I listened to the tape and then I was shocked to hear the beautiful sound of jazz.

Masayoshi Morimoto

President and Chief Operating Officer of Benesse Corporation
Former President of Sony Manufacturing Co. of America
San Diego, Brazil – Overseas resident work experience spanning 25 years My life travels along the front lines of international strategizing.

Dr. Pi-kwang Tsung

Tsung Director, American Institute of Chinese Medicine,
Chief Executive Tsung Corporation
Putting behind his early memories of war chaos — the Manchurian Incident, the Sino-Japanese War, the Pacific War, and the February 28th Incident –this ambitious freedom seeker left his homeland, Taiwan, and discovered his destiny in Chinese herbal medicine.

Professor Martha W. Longenecker

Founder – Director Mingei International Museum
We’re all made up of quarks, and all of these pots, and all these textiles are made up of the same thing ̶ it’s a patterning of energy. So when you use that cup or when you pick up that bowl or wear that fabric or touch the spoon, if it’s whole, it makes you whole.

Kotaro Nakamura

San Diego State University　Associate Professor, School of Art, Design, and Art History, Principal, Roesling Nakamura Architects, Inc.
His creativity has bloomed in America, where true abilities and skills are appreciated, in pursuit of the profession of architecture as the “ fruit of the meaning.”

Gary T. Ono

Executive Director　Documentary Video “Calling Tokyo”　Japanese-American Radio Broadcasters During World War II
My father, like most of the broadcasters, never mentioned anything about his WWII experience. It wasn’t until much later that I would accidentally discover the strategic and unheralded role that he and others had played for their country

Sadako Oehler

Professor of Ikenobo Ikebana, President of the Ikenobo San Diego Chapter
“ No longing for home, with flowers I spend my days, amassing petals of time.”
The heart of ikebana blooming on foreign soil.

Rev. Hiroyuki Suzuki

Mission Barabbas Evangelist, Siloam Christian Church Pastor,
Director, Prison Fellowship Japan
Gave speech during a breakfast before audience of 3,000 people, including the president.

Raquel Giscafr

Co-owner Promotion Sports, Inc.
Ah the early days were like an adventure! We started from nothing…
we had no capital and we had to work very hard to get sponsors…
we did everything ourselves.

Dr. Randall C. Phillips

Honorary Consul General of Japan in San Diego, Vice President Emeritus,
Alliant International University
Guided by an unabiding passion for life, people and Japan, our Honorary Consul General of Japan in San Diego continues to reach out to people across our city and across the ocean showing us all the way.

Shoji Shibuya

Owner, Instructor Shoji English School
Taking a cue from JFK’s inaugural address that provided guidance and direction. Overcoming his own shyness to journey along ” the path of English “…of 27 years and more than 1,000 students.

Omid Namazi

Head Coach, San Diego Spirit Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA)
For me it’s unacceptable to think that a team is playing not to lose.
I think you’ve got to go out there and want to win and expect to win!
In order to do that, you’ve got to be prepared both mentally and physically.

Nao Suzuki

University of California at San Diego (UCSD) Researcher
Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences (CASS)
Searching for clues of the world one-second after the birth of the Big Bang. Unlocking the mysteries of the 13.7 billion year-old universe as a gift for future generations.

Kevin Hunter

Vice-President Design and Studio Activities, Calty Design Research Inc.
Southern California has been and continues to be a rolling museum for automotive design and our job is to absorb all of this and create what we think will be the next direction of automotive design.

Michael S. Inoue, Ph.D.

President, The Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana
Building bridges to better understanding among nations, generations and citizens; forming foundations upon which to build true peace, harmony, happiness and prosperity.

Kazuo Kuwabara

Owner “ Oriental Treasure Box ”
From interior design to the world of antiques
A journey of exploration for things of days-gone-by

Ben Segawa

Executive Director Japanese American Historical Society of San Diego (JAHSSD)
When you talk to people like myself, 67 years old, we always divide our lives in two… before the war and after the war. It seems to be a cutoff point… we had to start our lives over again after the war.

Katsuyoshi Ukon

Ukon Services, Representative, Japan Services Association, President
At 17 he washed his hands of the Yakuza; at 26 he began his journey around the world. This master “ handyman ” will satisfy your hearts desires.

Tom Wilson

Executive Director The Century Club of San Diego Organizing body of The Buick Invitational
From Camp Callan to The Buick Invitational, attracting top players from around the world, the majestic Torrey Pines Golf Course has grown into one of San Diego’s most precious jewels.

Yuichi Yaezawa

Principal San Diego Minato Gakuen School
Education is the guiding force that enables us to tap the potential inside of each of us. Giving warm ale to the little fighters of San Diego.

Kayoko Yoshioka

Former Broadway dancer
Performing in such world-renown Broadway musicals as ” Cats “, “The King and I” and ” Carousel ” Kayoko broke ground as one of the first Japanese dancers to perform on the legendary stages of Broadway, singing and dancing her way into our hearts.

Sister Helen McHugh

Former Chair, University of San Diego, English Dept. Member,
The Religious Order of the Sacred Heart
A calling that led from San Diego to Japan and beyond turned a one-year sabbatical into something that touched the lives of many… from college students to the Empress of Japan.

Kohei Owatari

Water and Stone, President Landscape Contractor
The adventure of life…traveling the world to discover the true meaning of nature. Through his landscaping and adventure tours he expresses his connection with the natural world.

Donald G. Lindburg, Ph.D.

The Zoological Society of San Diego Associate Director,
Conservation and Science Division Head, Office of Giant Panda Conservation
From China with Love…Since their arrival at the San Diego Zoo it has been sheer “ Panda-monium ” as Dr. Lindburg and his staff patiently unravel the mysteries of San Diego’s most popular residents…the giant pandas.

Ildong Kim, M.D.

Doctor, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Primary Care Physician,
San Diego Nippon Clinic, Director
High school five years, driver four years… and at the end of his wanderings he found his way to becoming a doctor with the goal of someday helping to serve as a link between the American and Japanese medical systems.

Leo Liao, Ph. D.

Chairman and co-founder of World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce
Co-founder of First United Bank
An international trade expert, banker, and member of the State of California’s Economic Development Committee for Asia, this groundbreaking businessman loves building international relationships and a stronger San Diego.

Thom Kaumeyer

Aztecs Defensive Coordinator San Diego State University
Former NFL player, coach and head coach in Japan’s Pro-football league, this San Diego native has returned home and is hoping to lead the Aztecs football team to bigger and better things.

Tom Yanagihara

President of Balboa Park Japanese Friendship Garden
Deep in the heart of Balboa Park, tucked away behind the Spreckles Organ Pavilion
there exists a magical place, a place of grace and beauty known as Balboa Park’s Japanese Friendship Garden.

Yumi Climenson

Impressionist Painter, Member of the La Jolla Art Association
An encounter with ” The Cafe Terrace at Night ” decided her life’s path… this plein air painter guided by the essence of nature and deeply influenced by Van Gogh.

Donald H. Estes

Professor of History, Political Science at San Diego City College
“ Before the war, there was an old Japanese community flourishing in downtown San Diego. I grew up with many Japanese who lived in our neighborhood.”