here to there
What do you value?
…
is like asking us
how long will it take to walk
to the nearest bus stop?
presents an interesting pause
do we measure the time of our actions
or the gravity of the situation
before we take our next steps?
we promised
What is your brand?
yakitori grill
makes a smoke plume
the laughter of chicken
…
to be ourselves
in doing work that matters
for people that care
is the foundation
to beautifully design
pieces and projects
for our culture
simply complex
Why may creativity be in short supply?
earthenware vases
stacked up behind
the pawn shop
…
the interactions between hands
and clay can form
infinite possibilities
from an abstract dot
to a summer yacht
creativity meets executive function
when we consider our surroundings
mind the rind
What is your favorite fruit and vegetable?
orange peel
fire ants carry
the blood moon
…
regarding fruits and vegetables
the most popular
parts reside inside
waiting to be consumed
however, what would happen
if we ate everything
instead of throwing away the scraps?
engine check
Do you procrastinate?
popcorn kernels
resting at the bottom
of the driver’s seat
…
when signaled
our initial thoughts
should lead us to finding the issue
to understand what needs to be fixed
rather than waiting
another day to see
if the light goes away
carousel
What is your most cherished photo?
house on the hill
morning glories bloom
in uncle’s dreams
…
filling the slots
from the dust covered box
with 35mm film
we are left to discover
how our ancestors captured life
through the lens
of their twenty-something selves
entry point
What habits need momentum to start?
rolling boulders
entering the valley
kids on the playground
…
in the world of habit building
whatever we decide
to spend our time on
isn’t about doing the activity
but realizing our initial choices
is like an entrance ramp
to how we shape our future
protect the back
How do you stretch?
…
to prevent stress
we encounter during the day
seems to be common knowledge
yet, why do we
sometimes neglect
stretching and rest
when developing a solid foundation?
raised by screens
Where do you consume the most media?
…
why do we attach ourselves
how do we express emotions
what do we see
all hover around
the question…
how much does media
influence our lives?
chasing the mailperson
Who do you trust?
…
can be a tiring task
especially when we find ourselves
accepting and receiving packages
from left and right
we almost always
take for granted the individuals
whom we put our faith and trust in
put on pause
What do you do when your life is put on pause?
spring ceremony
Nikkei honorary degrees
overdue purple sashes
…
when watching a tv program
freezing time
with the click of a button
is effortless and easy
however if history has taught
us anything,
we must learn
resilience, patience, and gratitude
…
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 on February 19th, 1942 which forcibly removed over 120,000 Nikkei from their homes, schools, and businesses to live in incarceration camps.
On May 18th, 2008, the University of Washington commemorated 449 Japanese Americans, who were students from 1941 to 1942, at “The Long Journey Home” event.
As a Gosei and third generation University of Washington alumnus, my haiku pays homage to the Japanese Americans, including my late grandfather, who were unable to complete their higher education journeys from 1942.
what does the cookbook say
How long is your attention span?
maple streams
cascading down
banana pancakes
…
when setting out
to complete a recipe
with multiple steps of preparation
leading into timely execution
maybe we should focus on finishing
single tasks first
over dividing our attention before things overcook
ask us anything
What is your favorite question to ask?
on the pond
lily pads separate
frogs and minnow
…
tea or coffee
what memory sticks out most
favorite new hobby
share a daily ritual
are inquiries audiences crave
as our answers distill new light
and provides us an opportunity to reflect
be formless
Why is showing empathy important?
melting ice
flowing into pools
the children play
…
too frequently we embrace change
with resistance and rigidness
unwilling to push past
our current states
before closing off
potential possibilities
explore the change’s nature with empathy
quintessence of
Is self-improvement helpful or harmful?
daybreak
racing against
crowing roosters
…
beauty and grace
health and fitness
active listening
to life itself
we sometimes lose ourselves
when looking at role models
for the sake of self-improvement
teeter totter talks
Do you consider others’ perspectives?
rain showers
infinite oscillations
rusty seesaw
…
with any dialogue
characters express ideas and practices
always alternating
one speaking up
while the other listens below
until both parties pivot
to a new center of balance
mid-day breezes
What life events do you notice daily?
gentle caresses
opening the curtains
restless fig branches
…
birds landing on the wire
people jogging across the street
to the post truck delivering mail
life takes on many forms
whether we choose to
feel their breezes or let them pass by unacknowledged
is entirely up to us
tsundoku
What was the last book you’ve read?
dusty bookshelf
all that remains
from the library
…
reading new books
we purchased
might be our most
recent responsibility
but in terms of
our current pile
we have a long way to go
dear dad,
How happy are you?
pink lagoon
chattering between
greater flamingo
…
“on a scale from one to ten…
how happy are you
with your life?”
is the question
we carry on
for ourselves to remember
your voice