Aloha, Hip Hapa Homeez!
At last, we're in the process of setting up several online ‘stores’ where you can purchase our merch—like buttons, posters, stickers and t-shirts for your ‘hapa holiday’, hapas!
‘Tokyo Lily’…war bride. wife. mother. artist. poet. dancer. seamstress. home chef. …
‘War Brides of Japan’…Japanese women who married American military men after WWII endured many hardships including raising mixed-race children while navigating a new language and culture…
‘Watermelon Sushi’…a film about two biracial sisters that explores identity, family, love, birth and death against the backdrop of 1980’s African American hiphop and Japanese traditions…
‘hapa*teez’…for the mixed-race community, no matter how you choose to identify…
’T_zing’…designs for spiritual folks include both Asian and Western Astrological symbols, as well as other metaphysical signs from world cultures…
‘Vegan*Jin’…art that embraces vegans and animal rights activists. the word ‘jin’ is often used in Japanese language to denote benevolence…
‘Palm Island Tropical Tease’…a gentle ocean wave, a cooling breeze, a swaying palm; welcome to the peace & zen of caribbean & pacific islands in Tropical Tease…
Our store links below will be made clickable as soon as they become functional over the next few weeks:
Teepublic
Zazzle
If you made a purchase at our former Cafe Press store, then rest assured we have your donation for ‘Watermelon Sushi’ noted in our records and you will be credited on the movie. Here just a few of our generous supporters:
 |
Andye |
 |
| Teri |
 |
| Cassie |
 |
| Ro Lee |
 |
| Carol |
 |
| Eva |
 |
| Julia |
 |
| Ejiro |
Meanwhile, in other news:
‘WAR BRIDES OF JAPAN, A DOCU*MEMORY’ can still be viewed on Gumroad. The five part series includes interviews with Japanese war brides, their husbands (and former enemies), their adult children, and their grandchildren. There’s an intro and trailer for each segment explaining the stories before you watch it.
https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/
War Brides of Japan website
War Brides of Japan on Youtube
War Brides of Japan on Facebook
'TOKYO LILY, A WAR BRIDE DOCU*MEMORY’ is still fundraising and still in its research stage. The story of Tokyo Lily (or Yuriko), a war bride who eventually became an artist, should be completed in 2025. Arrigatou! to all of our past donors whose names can be viewed here:
 |
| Tokyo Lily (left) in front of one of her paintings |
‘WATERMELON SUSHI’ is in the editing stages thanks to our Executive Producer Lowell Douglas Ing. We are so proud of how the footage has held up all these years and the stellar performances of our amazing actors. The narrative will feature a vintage look with hiphop music from the mid-1980’s.
selling copies of 'Watermelon Sushi' chapbook with Tokyo Lily (left) and her husband
We’re now preparing for 2025 interviews. Are you a mixie with something to say? We’re always looking for folks exploring their ethnic identity. If that describes you, drop us a note.
Have a hapa fall!
Your Hip Hapa,
Yayoi
