David Fujino

JAPAN: NEXT Presented by Continuum Contemporary Music May 26, 2016, 8 pm Mazzoleni Concert Hall 273 Bloor Street West Japan: NEXT was presented by Continuum Contemporary Music on May 26, 2016, as part of this year’s 21st Century Music Festival. We…

Sushi-Gen is on my mind, and I’ve decided to spend a modest amount for a decent Japanese lunch. The food’s priced in the middle bracket, and it’s consistently well-prepared, well-presented, and dependable.

Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Matcha Café 596 Bay Street, Toronto 416 591-0555 I boldly took an optimistic walk to Uncle Tetsu’s Japanese Matcha Café at 596 Bay and Dundas Street West (the old Chinatown). I figured that by going to the…

Based on the premise that all izakayas are not created equal, I decided to subject hapa izakaya to my personal taste test — not that I’m an expert aficionado of izkayas, but I was curious about this chain of restaurants…

Phase Space Peggy Baker Dance Projects January 22, 2016, 8:30 pm Betty Oliphant Theatre 404 Jarvis Street, Toronto On January 22nd I visited the Betty Oliphant Theatre to experience Phase Space, the latest full-length dance work by the masterful choreographer…

My talent agent emailed me in mid-October. I had an audition for Kazoku*, a student short film at York University, and I should deal directly with the students. I emailed back my interest in auditioning for the role of the…

Recently I read John Okada’s novel, No-No Boy, for the second time — you see, it’s been 32 years, to be exact, since I read this classic of Asian American literature, and I frankly wondered what new things it might…

I recently saw Brenda Kamino in the play, Moderato Cantabile, at this year’s 25th anniversary SummerWorks festival. What a (pleasure) it was to see a Nikkei actor in a role that’s usually given to an actor of European heritage. Brenda…

Hitoko Okada started out in the fashion industry working for a milliner in her hometown of Vancouver when she was just 17 and has been involved in theatre costume production since she was 19. She holds a Fashion Design Diploma…

Requiemby Frances ItaniHarperCollins Publishers Ltd.2011 Why do non-Japanese Canadians feel compelled to write fiction about Japanese Canadians? Such an abrupt question is usually asked behind closed doors in our community, but because we have our own writers, we have our…

I found it was best to approach Shintani’s piece, “Google Volterra,” slowly, as it’s installed in a dimly lit corner and should be viewed in a state of calmness.

Watada’s game of 100 ghosts serves as a conceptual framework for a collection of poems in which the spirits of lost and long-gone family and friends are fondly evoked.