community en

Death of an Origamist

Chapter Three—Little Black Dress

“Well, how was T-Rex’s class?” Barbara Lu, Sachi Yamane’s roommate at the convention hotel, asked. Seated at the desk by the window, Barbara ...

culture en

A Poet, a Mystery Novelist, and Writing in Japanese America

The Japanese American experience is rarely tackled in mainstream literature. In 2015, Asian protagonists are still conspicuously absent from novels, missing in popular films, and ...

culture en

Death of an Origamist

Chapter Two—Doctor Death

“So what we will be folding is…” Sachi felt her heart pound hard. Was her lanyard ID badge over her chest moving up and down ...

culture en

Death of an Origamist

Chapter One—Que Sera, Sera

For the past three days, Sachi Yamane was in heaven. Origami heaven, that is. Not only was she immersed in her most favorite pastime—folding ...

community en

Nikkei Detective

Chapter Twelve—Keep on Shining

Read Chapter Eleven >> We talk about bullying as if it’s a 21st century phenomenon. Boys bullying girls and boys who don’t fit in ...

community en

Nikkei Detective

Chapter Eleven—True Confessions

Read Chapter Ten >> We’re in my LAPD pal’s black-and-white. Officer Doug Brenner makes me sit in the back seat—it’s protocol—like ...

community en

Nikkei Detective

Chapter Ten—Following the Doc Martens

Read Chapter Nine >> Some people, when faced with a crisis, go ballistic. They run around, their faces red and their voices bellowing. Others get stone ...

community en

Nikkei Detective

Chapter Nine—The Last Selfie

Read Chapter Eight >> “I’m a private investigator. Kevin Shirota,” I flash my license as if it really means something to a woman sitting behind ...

culture en

Excerpt from A Grave on Grand Avenue: An officer Ellie Rush Mystery

I get on the Gold Line light rail—I may be missing my car but unlike some Angelenos, I know how to use public transportation ...

community en

Nikkei Detective

Chapter Eight—She Cleans Houses, Doesn’t She?

Read Chapter Seven >> “She was my friend. Perhaps my only friend.” Mrs. Yokoyama carefully enunciates each syllable. My fourteen-year-old daughter Maddy and I sit on ...