Bobby Okinaka

@bokinaka

Bobby lives in the Japanese island of Shikoku where he is a member of a local government program to revitalize the countryside. His projects are an oral history program of the town of Niyodogawa and trials to improve soil health using wood chips, microorganisms and compost. Prior to moving to the countryside, he lived in Tokyo for 12 years. He is originally from Los Angeles, CA. He writes about life in Japan on his blog: www.slowinjapan.com.

Updated July 2021

Stories from This Author

Book Review: Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine

Dec. 22, 2007 • Bobby Okinaka

When a newborn baby comes into the world, everything is a wonder. The bright lights, the strange noises, the sensation of being surrounded by tall strangers poking around overwhelm the senses. The baby enters the world a blank slate waiting for instruction. And yet, on some basic level, it already has everything it needs to know to face life. No one taught it how to blink, how to cry, how to kick its chubby legs. This is performed by instinct. …

Adrian Tomine artists graphic novels

Bridging the Gap in Los Angeles’ Nikkei Cultural Identity

Dec. 13, 2007 • Bobby Okinaka

Los Angeles has long been a gateway between Japan and the United States. It started over one hundred years ago when the first Issei landed on the California coast in search of better opportunities and continues today with Japanese businessmen and their families flying into LAX. The recent Japan Expo, now in its 28th year, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center is a prime example of the transmission of Japanese culture. Visitors enjoyed a wide variety of booths offering …