Superjap / Buddahead / Japanese American

 I work a lot in the Asian American community.... this is a possible reason as why. I am a Japanese American a" Sansei or 3rd generation".... one side of my family from Hawaii and the other from Central California. I was born in Los Angeles , so in Hawaiian I am considered a "Ka-Tonk" a mainland born Japanese.  When i was young   I never spoke a word of japanese, nor anything else but english. I learned U.S. history and saluted the flag during the pledge of allegiance in the morning. My mother cooked tacos , pot roast, corned beef and cabbage,  and tv dinners (in the metal trays) . My mother told me she had been to "camp" I thought wow that must have been really fun. As i found out later in life how it was  the Japanese way not to complain or talk about bad times. I found out that my mother was imprisoned for being of Japanese ancestry  in America after the attack on Pearl Harbor....     I grew up in grade school thinking i was like everyone else, when i went to Hawaii everyone looked like me..... it was only in Central Cali that things were a bit different. Almost all my friends were of asian decent with 50% being Japanese. The older guys were referred to as "Buddaheads" and the younger guys  like me as "Superjaps" ,but they were interchangeable. We were the first import racers with Datsun 240zs and 510s. Mazda RX 3s and a few Toyotas. Those times have come and gone with Monterey Park with its japanese gardens to being called "Little Taipei" and known as a Chinese suburb.  Little Tokyo and Nisei week festivals are disappearing with younger generations not attending to "pick up on chicks" or "watch the cruise" There were no clubs to go to back then and none would take an all asian crowd anyway. As a JA we all did three things..... joined bowling leagues , went fishing and played basketball. I guess it was something our parents could do together  socially among themselves and we just did it too. My dad owned a bowling supply, where one could buy the bowling ball, bag and shoes. there were Nisei bowling leagues and hawaiian leagues and each city had  a few. My parents took me fishing, went to little  fishing derbys with prizes and a picnic for everyone. Many of the JAs had fishing charters.... owned fishing tackle shops and were well recognized in both fresh and salt water fishing circles. As far as basketball goes, that started with the kids. you wanted to be the cool kids playing ball. And since the majority of us asians were not as tall as the other kids, we formed our own leagues. JAO, CYC, NAU,OCSA  and many many others. Each league consisting of different ages and divisions. There were tournaments much bigger than the bowling tournaments up and down the state.    So what does all this have to with me today? or what I do now? Im not quite sure either, but maybe because of what happened to my family makes me want to help Asians in the media and recognize them as truly Americans and not foreigners. I am trying to help out our Asian community, something that is probably not thought of as much in Asia. We are not Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. but "Asian American" I did the first Asian American actor series that featured asians in a non - stereotypical role. There is a lot of stereotypes in Hollywood  going on even to this day!! Asian men are almost always portrayed as weaker males with little sex appeal. Many are still the gangsters or the nerds with accents. Women have it a little better, as they are "lucky" to be with the American alpha male.... Women are at least shown now to be stronger , sexier and independent , but many are still the demure lady, news anchor, or exchange student. I shot a series on the WWII 442 Japanese American veterans. Men who fought for the United States while their families were imprisoned for being Japanese!!. I work with many asian communities, non-profits, and independent movies and arts. I feel that everything must change, but it should change learning from the past. Many people who live here now don't know that there was a regiment of japanese heroes that fought for the U.S. or that it was one of the most decorated. People dont know why i cant speak Japanese or that my mom was sent to camp .So many japanese  around my age cannot speak.... it was not too cool to speak japanese when my parents returned from the war. I only know my Japanese roots, but many Asian American people have many stories to tell and stereotypes to break. In fact every person from every country has some stories of assimilation growing up in this country to share at one time.  I guess what I hope is we can all keep and be proud of our heritage and still be American, whether that be in the media or walking down the street.We are in a unique sub culture in America, the Japanese stories are gone and their culture has changed. Some of the things we did will continue...... most will not. I may be just passionate for my fellow Asians, but i feel it is deeper..... and the drive for which I worked with The Asian American Yolk Magazine, did my art series and continue to work with Asian American directors promoting our stories.  I just want to do a small part to remember the past and reflect my work to improve how we all look at ourselves as Americans in the future. Oh by the way Im fishing in 2 derbys this weekend.....wish me luck!