ceremony | Masako and Spam Musubi

“Just photos,” as they say… Photos of my beautiful daughter’s wedding a couple of weeks ago.

Well, with just a little writing, perhaps, with a smidgeon of our American history tossed in.

In my other blog posts, there has been mention of the “internment camps” in which one-half of my dad’s family was imprisoned in the US during WWII.

Internees were not allowed to bring in cameras amongst many other things deemed to be a threat to national or camp security – like knives, guns, tools…and cameras.

However, at one camp called “Manzanar” (where my Aunt Shiz and cousins were imprisoned), one brave soul braved the tight security measures and actually made his own camera…in secret. He then took prohibited photographs during his interment. His name was Toyo Miyatake… (Note: there is a super documentary on Toyo Miyatake called “Toyo’s Camera“: http://www.toyoscamera.com/. One contributor was George Takei who played “Sulu” on “Star Trek”. Takei was also imprisoned during the war.)

toyoscamera — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios

The actual camera he made is shown below; it is still in the possession of the Miyatake family:

In what I believe is a Signal Corps official photograph, the Toyo Miyatake family is pictured in their Manzanar barracks:

This is one of the more well-known photographs taken by Toyo Miyatake at Manzanar during WWII:

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Jump forward to today.

Toyo Miyatake’s grandson is Alan Miyatake; my 11 year old son sneakily grabbed my EXPENSIVE DSLR and snapped this photo of Alan and I chatting at my daughter’s wedding. The gent on the left is Alan. We are the same age……but I do look YOUNGER, of course. Just kidding, Alan!

We’ve known each other for over five decades now; we attended the same church. When we played B-ball in the church league, he played guard. When he let loose a shot, his form reminded me of a graceful ballet. He was good… and his photography was fortunately much better. (Smile)

He shot my weddings…both of them, unfortunately. And there was no one else I was honored to have shooting my daughter’s. Both of us were joking before the wedding that we were both extremely grateful for auto-focus…

The following proofs are Alan’s work where noted.

Thanks, Alan…but I still challenge you in sports photography! LOL

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19487_10151280500243985_1721626854_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. Isn’t my daughter just beautiful? Takes after mom, I am told.

409720_10151263339763985_797407911_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios

542282_10151457570194665_1145731824_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios

431310_10151263339593985_467757909_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios

602943_10151263339898985_171487557_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios

My four wonderful kids:

150002_10151457570254665_1505063580_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. This would be the last photo of the four kids together before her marriage. I was honored to have Alan take this portrait.

424970_10151457570344665_548793061_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. My oldest son Takeshi and my ex.

602892_10151457569494665_1099971633_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios

65268_10151457570624665_1340253585_n — Copyright Toyo Miyatake Studios. Doesn’t she look gorgeous?

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And now, some of my snapshots… Gotta throw these in:

aIMG_4252 — My son was the officiant (i.e., he married them off). He got choked up a few times. The bridesmaid on the far left is my cousin’s daughter, seven months pregnant.

Ever faithful and reliable Alan at work…

aIMG_4310 — They make their entry as husband and wife

aIMG_4365 — James and my youngest girl Brooke on their way for a dance. It was (HOPEFULLY) her first one.

aIMG_4362 — My littlest son’s (hopefully NOT his) first dance.

aIMG_4403 — Breaking of the ceremonial cask of “osake” graciously provided by my new in-laws.

Remember Jake and Brady? Their parents, too…but Brooke was too embarrassed to dance…yet.

Jake lost! She was too embarrassed to dance. 🙂

My bud Don and his wife Marie. A guy couldn’t ask for a more loyal and faithful friend. Thanks, Cap.

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Alan, great job once again. I was honored to have you shoot my daughter’s wedding.

And congratulations, James and Robyn. Love you both.

The main Hiroshima newspaper yesterday ran a story on my Dad and his yearbook – and of international kindness. Fittingly, it was the anniversary of the atomic bombing.

Article — The main newspaper in Hiroshima (Chugoku Shimbun) ran an article on my father and his 1937 yearbook. (A) Mr. Tsukamoto 塚本, the man who kindly helped locate my father’s yearbook, (B) me　金本光司, (C) my father Koso 康三,
and (D) my father’s beloved Nichuu High School 広島二中. (Since you all can read Japanese, in this case, it is read top/down, right to left.)

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Hiroshima conducts an annual, somber peace ceremony each year on August 6th. A peace ceremony. That’s the message. Peace. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just peace.

They are not calling attention to themselves seeking pity or repentance. While there are still many who feel the Japanese brought this on to themselves, the citizens of Hiroshima have moved beyond forgiveness and are simply seeking to spread a strong global message for peace.

This year, the grandson of President Truman (below) was in attendance. Ari Beser was there, too. His grandfather was Jacob Beser – Enola Gay’s bombardier. Wonderful.

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In my short story, “An Atomic Spark and a 1937 Yearbook“, it tells of how two complete strangers from Hiroshima – without hesitation – sought out my father’s yearbook from 1937. They miraculously found one, made a digital copy and mailed it to me through my cousin, Masako, who still lives in my father’s childhood home in Hiroshima. I printed it out and showed it to him a week before Father’s Day this year.

Dad – who is suffering from progressing dementia at 93 years of age – was overjoyed. He recalled so many things from the most happiest years of his life…including being a track star. Riding on the train to get to school with his friend Aoki… The school song. Dementia was put on the back seat for that morning.

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In a small expression of thanks, I had sent to Mr. Tsukamoto a flask etched with “Nichuu High School, August 6, 1945”. I also asked he offer a prayer to the students of Dad’s high school on August 6th. Dad’s beloved high school was but 1,500 yards from the bomb’s hypocenter.

Think about it. 1,500 yards from the hypocenter. A Marine Corps sniper armed with a Barrett .50 caliber rifle can take out a target over 2,000 yards away. The school ceased to exist.

As part of the peace ceremonies yesterday in Hiroshima, Mr. Tsukamoto visited the school’s memorial wall. You can see the stainless steel flask on the black center stone in front of a praying Mr. Tsukamoto.

In this photo, Mr. Tsukamoto is offering a symbolic toast with water from the flask.

I will be showing the article to my father this next weekend.

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I wish to thank Mr. Tsukamoto, Ms. Kanetou and Ms. Michiko Tanaka, the reporter who authored this article on international kindness, forgiveness and peace.

To say it is incredible falls short. 1,500 yards short.

塚本様、金籐様、田中様、日本語で完璧に書くことは出来ませんがとても感謝、感動しました。お礼を申し上げる上、世界に平和あるように祈りました。本当に有難う御座いました。金本光司

Masako and Spam Musubi

Tag Archives: ceremony

The Photographer for My Daughter’s Wedding

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True stories about World War II – One war. Two Countries. One Family

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True stories about World War II – One war. Two Countries. One Family