Vintage Kokeshi Collection Finds Home at JACCC
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Kitty Sankey with her mother’s collection of antique kokeshi dolls, now on display at the JACCC.
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center was recently gifted a vintage collection of Japanese kokeshi dolls numbering close to 200 pieces from Kitty Sankey, a long-time community leader, past president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, and an active leader in various civic organizations.
Kokeshi-collecting was a lifetime passion of her mother, Anita Mitsuko Sankey, who was born in Los Angeles but spent a considerable number of years living in Japan. Her family was interned during WWII; she met Kitty’s father after the war, although he had been drafted into the U.S. Army prior to Pearl Harbor. Kitty’s father had two tours of duty that brought the family to Okinawa. Both Kitty and her brother were born in Japan during this time.
LOS ANGELES (AP) The last time Brittney Valles welcomed diners into Guerrilla Tacos, her restaurant was open for a mere five hours in July before being
March 14, 2021 10:19 AM
Saturday s rally denouncing anti-Asian attacks brought out hundreds to Little Tokyo. (Josie Huang/LAIst)
Bill Fujioka said as a child growing up in Los Angeles, a week rarely went by when he wasn t taunted or beat up for being a Jap. Still, he kept his dream of Asian Americans gaining acceptance and respect in this country as he ascended to the top administrator post for L.A. County, overseeing a multi-billion dollar budget.
The past year has shattered any illusion.
Anti-Asian attacks around the country have surged during the pandemic, with racists blaming Asians for introducing coronavirus into the U.S.
LOS ANGELES
The last time Brittney Valles welcomed diners into Guerrilla Tacos, her restaurant was open for a mere five hours in July before being ordered to close again because of the surging coronavirus pandemic.
So, it’s little surprise Valles is not rushing to open her doors now that Los Angeles County has given the green light to begin reopening more businesses that have been shuttered most of the last year.
“I’m antsy but optimistic,” Valles said. “I’m curious how this is going to roll out. We’re certainly not out of the woods at all. We’re just entering a new area of the woods.”
Los Angeles County is reopening businesses to an extent not seen since last spring when a coronavirus surge led to closures of cinemas, gyms, museums and indoor dining