Books

SAN DIEGO — Comicon, the world-renowned comic book and animation convention, opened to a record-breaking 125,000 attendees on July 24 and welcomed some new participants — World War II veterans from the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

They included Medal of Honor recipient George “Joe” Sakato (E Company), David Katagiri (F Company) and Jim Yamashita (I Company) along with their escorts, Leslie Sakato (Joe’s daughter), JA Living Legacy’s Susan Uyemura and Judge Bryan Yagi.

by J.K. YAMAMOTO
Hokubei Mainichi

DENVER — Ralph Carr, the governor of Colorado during World War II, is a hero to local Japanese Americans, but has been virtually unknown to the general public — until now.

Adam Schrager, a reporter for the NBC affiliate in Denver, discussed his new book, “Principled Politician: The Ralph Carr Story,” as the luncheon speaker at “Whose America? Who’s American? Diversity, Civil Liberties and Social Justice,” a conference held by the Japanese American National Museum from July 3 to 6.

DENVER —”Whose America? Who’s American? Diversity, Civil Liberties and Social Justice,” a conference held in Denver by the Japanese American National Museum from July 3 to 6, featured several authors of books about Japanese Americans.

From the Bay Area, Tsukasa Matsueda discussed his book “Issei: The Shadow Generation,” which looks at cultural traits that the Issei passed on to the Nisei, such as the concept of “gaman” (to endure).

Cynthia Kadohata’s “Outside Beauty” (Simon & Schuster) is narrated by 13-year-old Shelby, who can only describe her mother as a sexpot who collects men (and loans, spending money, and gifts of all kinds) from all over the country. She’s atypical, but she’s more than a pretty face — she’s confident and brave and lives life on her own terms. Her four daughters, all from different fathers, adore her, and work together to keep the family grounded in a way their mother can’t.

Naomi Hirahara’s “1001 Cranes” (Delacorte Press) tells the story of 12-year-old Angela Kato. When Angela arrives in Los Angeles, the last thing she wants to do is spend the entire summer with her grandparents. But in the Kato family, one is never permitted to complain.

Grandma Michi and Aunt Janet put Angela to work in their flower shop, folding origami and creating 1,001-crane displays for newlyweds. At first, Angela learns the trade begrudgingly.

San Francisco-based Viz Media, a company that publishes Japanese manga and anime in the U.S. and around the world, is taking steps toward increasing its access to popular Japanese manga titles.

On June 19, Viz Media announced the formation of a new company called Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co. Ltd., which will act as its main merchandising subsidiary. Masao Yagi has been named president of the new company.

ALAMEDA — Delphine Hirasuna, Kit Hinrichs and Terry Heffernan will sign copies of their latest book, “100 Baseball Icons: A Century of Historic Baseball Memorabilia” (Ten Speed Press), on Saturday, May 31, at 1 p.m. at Borders Alameda Towne Centre, 2245 South Shore Center.

The book presents the treasures of the most famous repository of baseball memorabilia in the world, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

LAFAYETTE - John Hamamura will discuss his novel, Color of the Sea, on Wednesday, May 7, at 7 p.m. at Lafayette Bookstore, 3579 Mount Diablo Blvd. in Lafayette.

The public event will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by a wine reception with the author for the bookstoreﾕs Book Culture club members.

NEW YORK — Sansei physicist Prof. Michio Kaku has written a new book that just hit the New York Times Best-Sellers list.

The book is currently ranked No. 12 in the U.S., and also No. 1 among all science books in the country. Published by Doubleday, Physics of the Impossible is now prominently displayed in bookstores around the country.

The book discusses the science behind many of the fanciful and imaginative technologies of science fiction, such as teleportation, telepathy, starships, time travel, anti-matter engines, and artificial intelligence.