The Secret World of Arrietty Directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of Mary Norton’s classic children’s book “The Borrowers” and “The Secret World of Arrietty” is one of at least five television and film adaptations, although not the most recent (the latest being a 2011 British television production). First released in Japan in 2010, it opened around much of the world during 2011 and finally makes its US debut today, with an American cast of voice actors. The wide opening includes several Sacramento theaters. This isn’t the only one of Norton’s stories to have made it to the big screen. Her first two novels were adapted into the beloved 1971 Disney production “B

Japanese couple Kathy and Yasushi Ueyama officially opened their second location of Shoki Ramen House on R and 12th streets May 3. The new location has an outdoor patio and enclosed parking and can hold roughly twice as many customers as the 24th Street location. The menu will remain the same at the new location providing a variety of made-from-scratch ramen, including shuyo, shio and tan tan men spicy ramen. Yasushi has 20 years of cooking and restaurant experience under his belt. Born and raised in Japan, he owned four restaurants during the time the couple lived in Kobe, Kathy Ueyama said. According to Kathy Ueyama, the couple moved back to Sacramento in 2001, and though Yasushi con

Looking for something to do this Friday night? Put on your dancing shoes, head over to the Blue Lamp, and support a good cause! Japan XOXO is a benefit dance party, with all profits from the door going to the American Red Cross. Join local DJs Shaun Slaughter, Adam J, Sam I Jam, and Taylor Cho as they do what they love to support an amazing cause. Feel like you could do more about Japan's dire situation? Feel helpless? Japan XOXO offers a very easy solution: COME DANCE. Expect an evening of fun house, bouncy house, hip house, topsy turvy techno, treacherous techno, and some fun indie stuff mixed in the middle keeping the party going all damn night. Plus, enjoy drink specials all night--

Sacramento – On Saturday, April 9th, comedy students from the famous Groundlings Theatre of Los Angeles will perform on stage at Sacramento’s historic Memorial Auditorium. The 7:00 p.m. free benefit will ask its audience to donate to Japan Disaster Relief*. The comedy improv show features two student comedy troupes The Gym Improv and Trust Fall Sketch. “I grew up in Sacramento, and I know Second Saturday is the perfect arts event for us to entertain a hip crowd and raise donations to help family and friends in Japan. 100% of the proceeds will go to immediate disaster recovery and to establish a fund for long-term reconstruction efforts,” said Sofia Gonzalez, co-founder of The Gym. Donat

California Family Fitness has partnered with Sport Chalet to participate in a shoe drive to benefit the tsunami victims in Japan. All shoes that are donated will be sent directly to Soles4Souls for distribution to the Japanese people. “We highly encourage everyone in the community to donate at least one pair of shoes,” said Randy Karr, President of California Family Fitness. “It is devastating to see how the tsunami and earthquake in Japan has affected so many, which is why we have partnered with Sport Chalet in Soles4Souls to lend a helping hand and make a difference.” To donate to this very worthy cause, people can drop off gently worn shoes at either Sport Chalet or a California Famil

Saturday, Cafe Au Lait will host Sacramento’s Bake Sale for Japan to raise money for victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami devastation in Japan. The Bake Sale for Japan is a national bake sale held on April 2 at bakeries, restaurants and other places featuring baked goods. Milena Pointer, who works as a nanny, and is one of the also an organizers for the Sacramento bake sale. Pointer viewed videos of the destruction in Japan and said she wanted to find a way to help. “If it happened to us, if it happened to America, we would need help,” Pointer said. “Any person with a heart would feel like they like they need to do something. The difference is some people act on that feeling, an

Vegan Bake Sale For Japan’s Earthquake Relief Local Vegan Bakers in Sacramento are organizing a vegan bake sale benefiting Japan's earthquake relief efforts. This bake sale will take place Saturday, April 2nd from 11:00am - 3:00pm at the Freestyle Clothing Exchange located at 2101 L Street in beautiful midtown Sacramento. The Freestyle Clothing Exchange will also offer a small discount with a bake sale purchase. If you'd like to help bake, or help spread the word via social media, please use the link below! If you'd like to come and eat delicious food while helping a nation stricken by horrific disasters,we look forwarding to seeing you Saturday! http://on.fb.me/vbsjapan   Full disclosu

 Dancers Global is bringing together the international & local dancing community to share dance videos displaying passion and support for those affected by the tragic earthquake and tsunami disaster in Northeast Japan. “We are asking dancers all over the world to put aside their differences and use their creative talents to show compassion for the victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan,” said Gabriel Thomas with Dancers Global. “We hope to really show an outpouring of support for the unfortunate victims through the art of dance.” Much like the music industry has come together in the time of disaster and need; Dancers Global is working to rally the entire dance community all over

Many members of our community have called Sacramento County Public Health with concerns regarding the risk that the nuclear accidents in Japan might pose to the health of Californians. To address these concerns, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has developed a "Frequently Asked Questions" document that will be updated as circumstances require it. The link to this document is here: http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/RadiationFAQS2011.aspx The California Department of Public Health also has a telephone number for members of the public who have questions. Call the CDPH Information Line: (916) 341-3947 Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sacramento County will follow the recommendat

Long before Mikuni Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar existed, co-owner Taro Arai was an 11-year-old paperboy with big dreams. He saved $6,000 over five years to move his family from Japan to the United States. Arai wrote and published his first book, “Abundance: Finding the American Dream in a Japanese Kitchen,” in hopes that he will inspire other Japanese youths. The book is set to be released Wednesday and combines his family’s history with recipes for some of Mikuni's customers’ favorite dishes. “It’s not just a recipe book,” Arai said. “It has my life story in it.” The book’s 12 chapters tell different stages of Arai’s life and include recipes named to coincide with their themes.

An event so big that it’s in the phone book? Believe it. The Japanese Food and Cultural Bazaar has been up and running for 64 years. Those three score and four years have provided plenty of time for great recipes to be shared through the generations and are now made available for your tasting pleasure this weekend from noon - 9 p.m. at the Sacramento Buddhist Church, at 2401 Riverside Blvd. Steve Kawano has been involved in the event for the last 13 years and now acts as chairman. Since his youth he has had the opportunity to sample the great variety of food available at the bazaar and confessed that the “teriyaki beef sandwich is to die for.” What began as Japanese-Americans gathering

  The Sacramento Art Deco Society came together Thursday evening to hear noted Art Deco photographer and historian Randy Juster at the SMUD building. Only eight people showed up for the more than 200-picture slide show of Art Deco architecture from around the world, but those eight got a wonderfully personal lecture from a man who’s been in the business of photography for 35 years. “It’s a desire to document things that are endangered,” the 56-year-old said.   The attendees were all welcomed by little cups of sparkling lemonade and halves of Entenmann’s donuts laid out on a folding table. It seemed that everyone knew one another, or were just incredibly gregarious. Sea Miller, board

A large wooden cask, with kanji characters written in heavy black ink brush strokes, sat alone in the middle of the stage — but not for very long. "On the count of three," said the announcer, "these men will break the top of the cask, symbolizing happiness and good luck. Ready? Ichi ... ni ... san!"  Right on cue Jimmy Yee, County Supervisor, Ryan Garner, Community Outreach Coordinator at the Office of Mayor Kevin Johnson, and Dr. Gary Raff, UC Davis Medical Center Pediatrics, shattered the top of the casket with their wooden mallets.  Several watchers exclaimed "Kanpai!" officially kicking off the Fifth Annual Northern California Premium Sake Fest on Wednesday.  Harley and Judy Inaba c

There’s something about the title “The Cove” that makes me think of a teen horror movie. But “The Cove” is a horror movie of an entirely different kind – a documentary about routine dolphin slaughters in Taiji, a small coastal town in Japan, and the degree of cover up and misinformation that keeps the practice from becoming common knowledge. This is a tough movie to watch, with brutal and graphic footage, but that’s also a large part of why the film exists – to capture on video what the local industry has tried to keep hidden.This is a message movie, made to get the word out. It’s the kind of movie that demands that a reviewer actually divulge the content. This is unusual for me and if yo