Following the parade was a ceremony at the nearby recreation center.

Aikido was developed by Morihei Ueshiba and its goal is for its practitioners to be able to defend themselves but also at the same time protect their attackers from injury.Right photo: Watanabe receives his shihan designation from the Aikido World Headquarters this fall.

50 years is just a short stop on the path.Shihan is one of the highest ranks one can obtain in aikido and Watanabe Shihan is one of the only people in the Los Angeles area to have achieved it.Iaido or Japanese swordsmanship is the art of drawing and cutting with the sword in one movement.

for something to impact ones life.The event-filled evening will feature the Kokoro band.

At the time of his passing in 2007.

The dojo looks like something out of an old Japanese movie and gives the space the feeling that you have stepped into feudal Japan.——————-Alisa Lynchs Farewell (not Goodbye) to Manzanar.

at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.flanked by volunteers and partners.

is dedicated to educating and raising public awareness about the incarceration and violation of civil rights of persons of Japanese ancestry during World War II and to the continuing struggle of all peoples when constitutional rights are in danger.at Big Bend National Park in Texas.