Your donation will assist the stability and growth of the photography blog. It will assist specifically with internet blogging fees and promotion, computer maintenance, photographic equipment, and some travel expenses. Please make a one-time donation. Thank You.
“Side Angle Drumming” Saturday July 12 2025 performance“Two Drummers” Saturday July 12, 2025Close up of drummer Saturday July 12, 2025Beginning of set Saturday July 12, 2025Sunday July 13, 2025 performanceBeginning of Sunday set on July 13, 2025Senior & Junior members of San Jose Taiko July 13, 2025
San Jose Taiko performance was the highlight of the San Jose Obon on July 12-13 2025.
The group used a large open space to perform and entertain a large and very enthusiastic audience both days.
The outside venue perfectly showed their performance energy, ability, and skill.
Taiko is a happy and joyous activity that can bring people together.
Special thanks to the San Jose Buddhist Betsuin and San Jose Taiko
Your donation will assist the stability and growth of the photography blog. It will assist specifically with internet blogging fees and promotion, computer maintenance, photographic equipment, and some travel expenses. Please make a one-time donation. Thank You.
Your donation will assist the stability and growth of the photography blog. It will assist specifically with internet blogging fees and promotion, computer maintenance, photographic equipment, and some travel expenses. Please make a one-time donation. Thank You.
Jesus Ruiz RRN & Pangea Legal ServicesTraining participantsEntire audience
On January 11, 2025 over 125 people participated in a San Jose Japantown training by the Rapid Response Network (RRN) of Santa Clara County. The RRN in Santa Clara County defends immigrant families against threats of deportation and assists with the arrest or detention of a community member. The Rapid Responder Volunteer Trainings initially started during the Trump administration starting in 2017. Immigrant deportations only victimize and criminalize people without really solving the immigration issue. The training was organized by San Jose Nikkei Resisters and co-sponsored by PACT: People Acting in Community Together, Asian Law Alliance, Nihonmachi Outreach Committee, San Jose and Sequoia chapters of the JACL, Wesley United Methodist Church and the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin.
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
Your donation will assist the stability and growth of the photography blog. It will assist specifically with internet blogging fees and promotion, computer maintenance, photographic equipment, and some travel expenses. Please make a one-time donation. Thank You.
Pinoytown mural finished February 13, 2024Analyn (Ana) Bones & Jordan GabrielPicture of Jordan, Analyn, and Abraham Menor using slow shutter & rear curtain synchJordan Gabriel close upAnalyn & Jordan posing in front of mural with their painting toolsMural outline on the 2nd day of mural project
The beginnings on Pinoytown started from a 1887 Chinese immigrant settlement in San Jose that was also burned down in 1887 due to racial discrimination. Because of those reasons John Heinlein formed Heinlenville Chinatown on North 6th Street between Jackson and Taylor Streets in San Jose as a means of protection against hostility. Later on the first wave of Filipinos immigrants came to America in 1920s to the 1930s. Then during 1942 the Japanese-Americans were shipped to internment camps so some buildings and vacant buildings were filled by Filipinos and became Pinoytown. During the height of Pinoytown there were Filipino businesses and residences on both sides of 6th Street from restaurants, pool halls, barber shops, grocery stores, laundries, a church, barangay organizations, and a Filipino Youth Club. But Pinoytown declined in the 1960s due to demographic changes.
The Pinoytown mural artists are Jordan Gabriel and Analyn (Ana) Bones. They were supported and assisted by Rene Munoz, Abraham Menor, and Robert Ragsac. The mural is located in San Jose Japantown on the corner of 6th & Jackson in San Jose Japantown (Kogura’s). Assistance of the mural came from Empire Seven Studios & Kogura Company and sponsored by Filipino American National Historical Society Santa Clara Valley.
YOUR DONATION WILL ASSIST THE STABILITY AND GROWTH OF THE PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG. IT WILL ASSIST SPECIFICALLY WITH INTERNET BLOGGING FEES AND PROMOTION, COMPUTER MAINTENANCE, PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT, AND SOME TRAVEL EXPENSES. PLEASE MAKE A ONE-TIME DONATION. THANK YOU.
Heinlenville Park entranceGardenChess BoardReligious CeremonyConnie Young Yu was instrumental in naming the park Heinlenville Park
San Jose’s Japantown newest park called Heinlenville Park recently opened on Tuesday October 10th 2023. The origin of Heinlenville started in 1887 when Chinatown on Market Street in San Jose’s downtown was purposely burned down due to racial hatred against Chinese people. But John Heinlen, a German immigrant farmer and businessman provided inexpensive leases and protection to the local Chinese community even though he was threatened by the city’s white community. Heinlenville in San Jose lasted until 1931 but closed down due to The Great Depression. The name Heinlenville Park was spearheaded by a letter-writing campaign by the Chinese Historical & Cultural Project (CHCP) with community support and finally approved by the San Jose City Council.
One-Time
Monthly
Yearly
Your donation will assist the stability and growth of the photography blog. It will assist Specifically with internet blogging fees and promotion, computer maintenance, photographic equipment, and some travel expenses. Please Make a one-time donation. Thank You.
Taken at San Jose Japantown February 2022. Photograph was taken by using the rear-curtain sync setting from my camera and flash (flash fired after shutter is released so you only see the lights of passing vehicle)
The laundromat mural was painted in 2017 by local San Jose artist Samuel Rodriguez. It is a mural of Sam’s daughter and it is located at Kiem Service Laundromat at 349 East Empire Street in San Jose Japantown. The mural was coordinated by Juan Carlos Araujo and Jennifer Ahn of Empire Seven Studios (E7S). Sam is a self taught artist in San Jose through graffiti art but later he developed a ‘Topographical Portraiture’ and ‘Type Faces’ style and showcases his style in community activities and work. He displays his work at many public art spaces, museums, companies, galleries and in editorial publications.
Our Lives Our Photographs 