Local

The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) and the Japantown Merchants Association will present a free outdoor screening of “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” on Friday, Sept. 19, at 8 p.m. in Peace Plaza, Post and Buchanan streets in Japantown.

The 2006 animated film, whose original title is “Toki o Kakeru Shoujo,” is in Japanese with English subtitles. It tells the story of 17-year-old Makoto, who gains the ability to leap backwards through time.

by J.K. YAMAMOTO
Hokubei Mainichi

Kansai Bistro, one of San Francisco’s newest Japanese restaurants, offers its customers a first-class dining experience and also lends a helping hand to local non-profit organizations.

Located at 4112 Geary Blvd. in the Richmond District, formerly the site of Sushi Rock, the restaurant was established by Bob Kiyota with business partners Adrienna Robson and Raymond Medeiros. It opened in April.

The 2008 San Francisco Electronic Music Festival will be presented from Sept. 3 to 7 at Project Artaud Theater, 450 Florida St. (between 17th and Mariposa) in San Francisco.

The festival consists of five evenings of performances by internationally recognized artists and musicians. This year’s lineup includes a wide array of electronic music pioneers, modern innovators, and emerging artists whose styles and methods include contemporary chamber music, glitch, industrial sounds, music concrete, sound design, drone music, free improvisation and pop music.

The lineup is as follows:

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) this week announced her disappointment with the Ladies Professional Golf Association’s (LPGA) new policy that states all players must speak English or face suspension.

The LPGA has pointed to the need for players to be able to entertain sponsors in pro-am tournaments as the reason for the decision.

An exhibit of gyotaku (fish prints) by artist Chris Dewees will be on display from Sept. 4 to Oct. 16 at the Consulate General of Japan's Japan Information Center, 50 Fremont St. (at Mission), Suite 2200, in San Francisco.

Admission is free. Exhibit hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from 12 noon to 1 p.m.). An opening reception will be held Thursday, Sept. 4, from 6 to 7:50 p.m. (doors open at 5:30 p.m.).

BERKELEY — After setting up house on Aug. 23 in Unit 1 student residence hall, Molly Kawahata promptly left town.

Missing out on Welcome Week festivities and her first two days of college classes, the UC Berkeley freshman took a Sunday flight to Denver, where she’s a delegate at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

The following is a transcript of a speech, as prepared for delivery, by Rep. Mike Honda of San Jose, a supporter of Barack Obama, at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on Aug. 26:

“My name is Mike Honda. I am a proud Sansei Democrat and a Silicon Valley congressman. But above all, I’m a teacher.

by YOKO MORIHIRO
Hokubei Mainichi

Jazz saxophonist Sadao Watanabe has been playing music for more than 50 years, winning acclaim both in Japan and abroad. He will be kicking off a six-city U.S. tour in San Francisco on Aug. 29.

The last time Watanabe (affectionately nicknamed “Nabesada”) visited the U.S. with Japanese members of his band was 14 years ago. This time around, he and his crew have a whole slew of original songs and the performances promise to be enjoyable.

Watanabe spoke with the Hokubei about this tour and his future hopes and goals.

by J.K. YAMAMOTO
Hokubei Mainichi

COLMA — Two men have been arrested for attempting to steal metal items from a cemetery in Colma, but the investigation of a series of such thefts is ongoing.

Ruben Lopez, 29, and Richard Patino, 31, of Union City were caught trying to take two bronze gates, each weighing 100 pounds, from a mausoleum at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park on Aug. 18, according to Detective Cecilia Garay of the Colma Police Department.

SACRAMENTO — A public screening of the 1961 film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” was canceled due to protests from the local Asian American community.

Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Cohn had planned to show the film, which stars Audrey Hepburn and George Peppard, as part of the city’s free Screen on the Green series on the evening of Aug. 23 at Glen Hall Park. Instead, the Disney/Pixar film “Ratatouille” was brought in as a last-minute replacement.