HAPA New Year

Aloha, Hip Hapa Homeez!

your hip hapa

A serious question: Do you think that the mixed-race agenda has become obsolete?

Recently, a Moderator posted an article on Hip Hapa Homeez, a Facebook group that is for “…anyone who is biracial, blended, mestizo, mixed-race, multiethnic, transracially adopted, or who crosses cultures…” 

The posted video featured a young mixed Asian-white man complaining about not being accepted by both sides of his family.

Yawn. 

Seriously. I wondered how long this particular complaint has been around because about 25 years ago, I began writing for a plethora of publications that featured stories about the so-called “mixed-race experience”.

You might remember some of them—the pioneering Mavin magazine started by a young Korean-Irish American man in Seattle. 

There was also a fabulous internet website out of New York called SWIRL.

Additionally, there were group get togethers galore on campuses, museums and other venues. 

I believe the first mixed-race conference I attended was Hapa Issues Forum in Northridge. What an eye opener!

Later, I organized a panel for one of the annual Mixed Chicks Film and Literary Festivals in Los Angeles. That event featured numerous books and movies by and about mixed-race folks. 

One year, I traveled to Berkeley for the Hapa Japan Conference festivities where nearly every participant was half Japanese.

There seemed to be so much electricity in the air back in those days. We were all exploring our newly discovered mixed-race identities, and we were excited to share them with the world.

But over the years, it seems that we have moved on. Perhaps most mixed-race people no longer feel the need to search for validation of their identity. In fact, the young man in the video referenced above struck me as being outdated. It’s as if being mixed-race now is so common that it’s no longer a "thing".

Soon this blog, which was started in 2007, will also go the way of the dinosaur—which is not a bad thing. It just shows that we’ve progressed to no longer needing to proclaim our mixed-race heritages now that there are so many of us.

If you check out previous blog posts, you will note that there were many interviews with mixed-race actors, artists, authors, chefs, dancers, filmmakers, musicians and more. But these days, not many are promoting products exclusively for the mixed-race community.

Yayoi Clan Art banner

However, we at Watermelon Sushi World are still promoting ours. You can check us out on Redbubble and TeePublic where we offer buttons, mouse pads, phone covers posters, stickers and t-shirts.

Redbubble

Teepublic

Most of our current artwork is based on two of our films—"Tokyo Lily" and "Watermelon Sushi".

Tokyo Lily website

donor page

Watermelon Sushi website

Watermelon Sushi on Youtube

Watermelon Sushi on Facebook

Meanwhile, our “War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory” films are still available on Gumroad:

https://watermelonsushi.gumroad.com/

War Brides of Japan website
War Brides of Japan on Youtube

War Brides of Japan on Facebook

And, recently, we learned that two of our photos will participate in the Smithsonian Japanese war brides traveling exhibit:

https://www.sites.si.edu/s/topic/0TO4z000000nTALGA2/japanese-war-brides-across-a-wide-divide

Additionally, we are the lucky recipients of a “spark” grant to complete a film about veganism called “What’s on your Palate?”

What's on Your Palate?

Stay with us, kids, and have a very HAPA new year!

Your Hip Hapa,

Yayoi

Mixed Messages

Aloha, Hip Hapa Homeez! 

 

Sarah with her son Malcolm

Lucky us, we’re back to interviewing intriguing Hip Hapa Homeez. In this blog post, we’re featuring the fabulous Sarah Doneghy who hosts her own shows discussing the plight of us multi-cultis. 

You can watch her “Mixed Messages Show” at: https://youtu.be/pbQwx_I-WX8

Sarah also has her “Mixed Nut One Person Show” at: https://youtu.be/AhZBMyMxLKo 

Q: Sarah, please discuss your parents’ backgrounds and how they met. 

A: My Dad is black, my Mom is white. My Dad is American, my Mom is English. My Dad is Muslim, my Mom is Catholic. They met when my Dad was traveling around the world on his bicycle. The people he was staying with in Germany knew a place he could stay in England. One of the people living at that place in England was my Mom. That’s how they met.   

Sarah's mum

Sarah's dad

Q: What was it like growing up in West Virginia? 

A: A few months ago I looked up, “Most racist state in America”. The answer was, “West Virginia”. Growing up, there weren’t very many black families, and we were the only mixed-race family. There was a lot of racism. 

The first time I was called the n-word I was seven. I got bullied in school a lot. I remember when I was a teenager being kicked out of people’s houses because I was black or, “colored” or, of course, the n-word. Then there were friends who would ask me to lie to their parents and tell them I was Native American or “anything but black”. 

My first One Person Show, “Mixed Nut” was a coming-of-identity story. I talked a lot about what growing up in West Virginia was like in that.   

Q: Do you think mixed-race issues are any different now, 54 years after Loving v. Virginia? 

A: That’s what I’m trying to discover. My Dad grew up in segregation in West Virginia. He was the first black student to attend a desegregated school there. The stories he’s told me about the racism he’s received are absolutely horrible and heartbreaking. I don’t know how he survived it. 

The racism I experienced growing up is definitely different than what he did. I think one of the issues that has changed is that people have more freedom in how they choose to identify. There’s more language now for people who are more than one race. They don’t have to choose one race and they also can.   

It’s hard to know what is meant by “mixed-race issues”. There are so many mixes of so many different races. I’m not sure if there are mixed-race issues as a whole. I think racism, at least in America, is a big commonality when it comes to what we’ve experienced. But again, that’s what I want to find out.   

I don’t know how this issue has changed, but I think every mixed-race person has a coming-of-identity story. They see that their families look different from them and different from each other depending on the situation. There’s always the “Where do I fit in” journey. I think we all have had to ask, “What are you?” of ourselves.   

Q: Since you’re both black and white, but ethnically ambiguous, what are the most shocking things you’ve heard either race group say about the opposite? 

A: I dealt with so much racism early in life that I’ve never really been shocked by what people have said not knowing that I’m mixed-race. I’ve been more shocked by what people have said around me even though they do know I’m black mixed. 

Something happened a few years ago that I am still angry about and hurt over. It was the day of the eclipse and I was hanging out with two white friends—a guy and a girl. These are people I had known for a while. The girl was complaining about a kid she worked with and then called him a “n*gger”. “What?!” I was stunned. I really couldn’t believe what I had heard and then she doubled down. Yeah. That was indeed what she said. I went off on her. “How could you say that? What is wrong with you? You know I’m black!” 

Meanwhile, the guy didn’t say anything. He stayed completely silent. When I confronted him about his silence he said, “She made a mistake. That’s all.” That right there shocked the hell out of me. He got mad at me when I called her a racist. I was the one that was overreacting. I had offended him. And these are people saying, “Black Lives Matter” and “F*ck Trump”. They don’t even see their hypocrisy—their racism—and don’t want to. I haven’t spoken to either of them since.   

Q: Why did you create your show, Mixed Messages, and what do you hope to accomplish with it?   

A: I made this show first and foremost for us. I wanted to create a space for us to have these discussions. These are conversations that need to be had and stories that need to be told. I think it’s important for people to know about mixed-race experiences. People need to hear from us and we need to hear from each other. There are so many similarities as well as so many differences. I am really interested in people’s stories. I’ve learned so much already. 

Sarah with her sister

Sarah with her brother

In the first episode, Marcus talks about how his mom is racist. I didn’t know how common that was in mixed-race families until people wrote me saying how much they related to that. I’m privileged in that I never had to deal with that in my family. Marcus facing racism in his home was one of the things a lot of viewers couldn’t believe and, sadly, so many could. 

Sarah with her brother

I’m really excited to meet new people and hear different narratives. There’s something about getting together with someone and knowing that you don’t have to explain things. We already know. We’ve all been on a racial identity journey. And it’s often one we continue to travel. That’s unique to us. Every mixed-race person has the racial identity discovery story. I think it’s fascinating and fantastic. I want to hear as many of these as possible.   

If you are interested in being a guest on Mixed Messages, or have a topic you’d like to see discussed, please email Sarah at: mixedmessagestheshow@gmail.com 

And, don’t forget to watch: 

Mixed Messages Show: https://youtu.be/pbQwx_I-WX8 

Mixed Nut One Person Show: https://youtu.be/AhZBMyMxLKo 

Meanwhile, Hip Hapa Homeez, we’ve been struggling to keep our websites updated. As you may know, our “War Brides of Japan, a docu*memory” 5-part series is currently on hiatus. But there are numerous trailers and interviews you can watch on Vimeo and Youtube. 

Here are our top performing websites: 

War Brides of Japan  

Watermelon Sushi  

Lena Starwheels A Free-Spirited Filmmaker 

Until June 30, I am very much 

Your Hip Hapa, 

Yayoi

Crossing Cultures: Meet Model Anima Kurayami

Anima Kurayami

Aloha, Hip Hapa Homeez.

It’s been awhile since we’ve actually posted any biracial, bicultural, mixed-race, multicultural and/or transracial interviews here.

While we’ve been working on the War Brides of Japan docu*memory, we've had to focus solely on that project.

But, now we’re back where we left off, and this issue features an amazing interview with an amazing lady—cross-cultural model Alexandrine Maurice aka Anima Kurayami:

Q: Where were you born and raised? 

A: I was born and raised in France, in an eastern region called Lorraine. 

Anima in Tokyo

Q: When did you first begin modeling? 

A: Four years ago, I met the Japanese designer Takafumi Tsuruta from the brand Tenbo completely by chance. He's promoting diversity through his clothes for disabled people, so they can mingle with others and allow the world to progress. He asked me if I wanted to become a model, to parade for his brand, and I accepted. 

Q: What attracted you to Japan? 

A: Japan has always been my greatest passion. When I met Takafumi Tsuruta, I already had plans to go there, because it was my life project. But it was his proposal that got me started. It was complicated for various reasons, but I was able to go to Tokyo a few months after talking with him. 

Q: What is your disability? 

A: My pathology is called spinal muscular atrophy. It is a genetic disease that causes very serious respiratory problems and muscle atrophy (which prevents me from walking, as well as limiting my movements). 

Q: Do you consider yourself a representative for models with disabilities? If so, in what ways are you proactive? 

A: I hope more generally to be able to encourage all people who feel discriminated or uncomfortable in their lives. Nowadays, unfortunately, people believe that you cannot do certain things on arbitrary criteria (the color of your skin, your disability, your sexual orientation, etc.). I wish I could be the example I would have liked to have had a few years ago. Back then, I was lost myself and, everyone around me was trying to dissuade me from doing artistic work because "you're in a wheelchair, so you can't!".

I am not the first to do what I do. I am aware of it, and I hope that many others will join us in time! 

Q: How do you feel Japanese look at disabled artists such as yourself? 

A: I have been to Japan twice. So far, nobody looked at me in a bad way, nor did anyone say anything bad on this subject. Japanese people appreciate what I do. They encourage me a lot, especially through the Internet. 

I know that the country as a whole still has some trouble with people who have disabilities, but that's why I believe it's important that more and more artists with disabilities are noticed (and not only in Japan), in order to help the world to evolve. 

Q: What do you hope to change, and how do you see the future for models like yourself? 

A: Is it too much if I say I want to change the world? Ha ha. Anyway, I hope to be able to contribute. We're in 2019. And yet, in my opinion, diversity is not well represented in the media. It does not push people into meeting each other, since they have the impression that people who are in a situation such as mine are exceptional cases, when in fact it is not. 

The world belongs to everyone, and it is important that everyone finds their place in it. Moreover, I think that going towards each other helps us to learn and not to remain frozen in what we already know. 

Arrigatou gozaimasu, Alexandrine!

Hip Hapa Homeez, our quarterly posts this year will be on 6/30, 9/30 and 12/31.

Also, the links below will keep you updated about the War Brides of Japan docu*memory.

War Brides of Japan videos:

youtube The Chase trailer

vimeo The Chase trailer

youtube 88.1 FM interview

youtube behind the scenes production trailer 
vimeo behind the scenes production trailer
youtube pre-production trailer 
vimeo pre-production trailer 
youtube v.2
youtube v.1

War Brides of Japan websites:

warbridesofjapan.com

weebly

jimdo

War Brides of Japan in the news:

Stubborn Hearts

DIFT 

NBC 

international examiner

international examiner 2

discover nikkei

War Brides of Japan on Facebook:

fan page

Throwing Rice Productions on Facebook:

fan page

War Brides of Japan on LinkedIn:

how they learned to forgive and love the enemy

making love, not war

those bad ass brides!

War Brides of Japan on Twitter:

watermelonsushi

War Brides of Japan on G+:

google plus

War Brides of Japan blogs:

on the road

tumblR

A War Bride's artwork:

iAmArtistYuriko

heARTworkByYuri

Until we meet again on June 30, I am…

Your Hip Hapa,

Yayoi

Extra, Extra! Coming Soon! War Brides Of Japan!

Aloha, Hip Hapa Homeez!

While the big news for mixies globally is the upcoming wedding of biracial American actress Meghan Markel and Britain’s Prince Harry, there are other brides in the news, too. 

Read all about it!

One year after we completed Principal Photography on our War Brides of Japan documentary, we found ourselves in California once again.

In early November, documentary participant Elaine invited us to the elegant birthday party of special blasian lady, JoAnna, in Long Beach. Surrounded by her lovely female friends, we took dozens of photos and later marveled at how many of us had Japanese war bride mothers and African American military fathers.

See for yourself, here:

blasian beauties: top row, left to right: Emma, Michi, Naomi, JoAnna, Yayoi, Joan. seated: Elaine, Floria.

Later on in our travels, Elaine, who's been one of our staunchest supporters, hosted a fundraiser for our documentary. Yes, we’re still in need of funding, and will likely launch a campaign soon so we can pay our amazing composer, LA CAt, what she deserves to have. Meanwhile, you can donate here:  

Network for Good

But back to the fundraiser, a good time was had by all who participated at a Torrance karaoke bar where Elaine handed out Coach bags as prizes in several raffle drawings. 

Here are some pix from that event:

Elaine calls out winners of the raffle drawings...

...and, a lucky winner is Emma!

but Floria wins, too!

and, so does Patty!

karaoke was kraaazy!

Floria and Patty were clearly moved by Emma's performance

Joan and Emma singing, 'STOP in the Name of Love!'

Sadly, while we were in California, we also lost one of our favorite friends in entertainment. Rhoda Robinson Hicks was an energetic writer and performer, and her son David promises to carry on her legacy.

David as a child actor with Frankie Muniz, Hollywood

an all grown-up David meets with Your Hip Hapa at the American Film Market, Santa Monica

While we’re still busy editing War Brides of Japan for an early 2018 release, we invite you to visit the links, down below, that provide more info about the film.

We thank you for your continuing support and encourage you to donate to our cause if you haven’t already. Every penny is 100% tax deductible. We do appreciate each and every one of you and send a big ARRIGATOU!

If you’ve already made a donation and would like us to post your photo on Facebook and/or the name of the person you made the donation in honor of, please let us know.

We’ll see you next year in March 2018 just in time for sakura and War Brides Of Japan.

Here are links to the film:

War Brides of Japan videos:
youtube 88.1 FM interview
youtube behind the scenes production trailer 
vimeo behind the scenes production trailer
youtube pre-production trailer 
vimeo pre-production trailer 
youtube v.2 
youtube v.1

War Brides of Japan websites:

warbridesofjapan.com

weebly

jimdo

War Brides of Japan in the news:

DIFT 

NBC 

international examiner

international examiner 2

discover nikkei

War Brides of Japan on Facebook:

fan page

War Brides of Japan on LinkedIn:

how they learned to forgive and love the enemy

making love, not war

those bad ass brides!

War Brides of Japan on Twitter:

watermelonsushi

War Brides of Japan on G+:

google plus

War Brides of Japan blogs:

on the road

tumblR

A War Bride's artwork:

iAmArtistYuriko

heARTworkByYuri

Your Hip Hapa,

Yayoi