Sak n' Sak

There may be no one reading this blog. In which case, no one will see this these gorgeous photos. It's a river. A real river, a real place on this very real earth! 

So, yes, it's been busy.
Japantown has had a lot of good people and organizations doing a lot of good things!
Sak n' Sak has been a part of some of these. Not all have been about Japan Relief & Recovery, but there's the daily issue of trying to work at our other jobs which occupy our lives and pay the rent so to speak. But is this really and excuse for not writing? I don't think so. Still, time doesn't seem to stretch at all. In reality, it keeps going stopping not for man nor beast nor galaxies beyond. An interesting dimension; time.

Time doesn't affect anything but what we choose to recognize it as affecting. Or rather, it seems to me, that when I notice things slipping by, I'm alerted to the passing of time. If rapid brain function is any indication, or concussions make a difference, the passing of time in my brain is under my control. My control of my brain-time and the 'outside' real world time seem to be completely disassociated with each other.

So, I'm usually late. Which is weird for a long-time-ago swimmer who wanted to make an Olympic team. You'd think I'd always want to be on time or ahead of time, wouldn't you?
Which is a very odd way of saying that being on time is a challenge. So I cannot debate those who come to eco-friendliness later in life. In fact, it seems this has been a slow growing awareness which has taken decades from those first micro-environmental studies in the 1960's to become a noticeable habit in our daily lives.

It seems that the nonchalant and even in-your-face challenging attitude of those not involved, what was it? The X-generation? has ceased to be of influence. Maybe it's the years of trying to make sure that the youth of the nation had a nation to belong to. And maybe it's the years of small changes which create a waterfall or windstorm to power one huge change in awareness for the entire world.

The world sees that it's important to look at those grains of sand sifting themselves into a neat pyramid that keep going till they're gone. A realization that these grains of sand will actually BE gone at some time. And the extrapolation of thousands upon thousands of examples like these have meant that people wrote, spoke, created films, videos, photo collages, artwork, websites, tweets(and what's coming next?) to make people aware that we can have economic growth AND a good eco-sound world in the future.

The logs are moving downriver as (who were those guys?) planned.

A few minutes of reflection have found me counting. There hasn't been a day when Japan hasn't been a part of my life. My parents, both USA Nisei were married in the only doorway of a Buddhist temple standing near their workplace in Tokyo, post WWII. They both worked for Radio Free Press at the time, meeting there, after very different experiences during that war.

My mother made sure we were healthy, miso-shiru, tofu, sardines, liver every week and lots of kombu, nori, wakame, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. We were told that we should work hard and expect little, but to fight with all our intelligence and might to make sure equality and fair play were a part of American life. We were told that we were lucky, there were so many people for whom our life (they worked three jobs) was very luxurious.

We agreed. We never felt that we had been cheated and when our grandparents told us about stories of Japan, when our parents told us of the beauty of the ocean, the rice fields, the architecture, the care the people took in everything, we knew we had far to go to be considered equal in their eyes.

When we saw artwork that depicted huge waves with Mt. Fuji in the background, we thought about how well they knew the ocean.

When the news spread over the world that a tsunami had hit the Eastern Coast of Northern Japan, I stopped breathing. Transfixed, I watched the movement of the ocean creep on the television screen, realizing that in reality the water was moving a at a rate faster than the cars outside on the street, overtaking everything in its path. Bending steel like paper, moving buildings like toothpicks, the water pulsed through towns and cities with the heartbeat of the earth's quaking. Humans never looked so small as they did against the giant waves and the near constant shaking of the ground. I remembered hearing the tsunami warning training sirens at my elementary school on the coast of Southern California.

There isn't enough one person can do to alleviate the suffering or hardship or spur a recovery. But in our world of quick news and quicker reactions, people have leaped to show their support. When children put coins from their savings into a box to help others and individuals dip into their retirement savings to write checks to help, there's a fantastic, warm feeling of unity in purpose that puts hope into action.

Reading accounts of people who have survived, have suffered the losses of their friends and family, these are perhaps the most uplifting. They cry at the good news, in gratitude and sadness. As is so often in life, these two emotions coincide. Kindness, as always is, rewarded with more than gratitude. Those feeling last. And those connect us with the rest of humanity.

I hope I have been kind in my life. There are more opportunities for me, as I've been only watching the distress from a digital screen thousands of miles away. Sakura trees are blooming. It's cherry blossom festival season. We shouldn't and we aren't forgetting those images that come from Japan. It's time to get back to work.

Please go to www.japantownsanjose.org to find a list of ways you (and I) can contribute.

A few minutes of reflection have found me counting. There hasn't been a day when Japan hasn't been a part of my life. My parents, both USA Nisei were married in the only doorway of a Buddhist temple standing near their workplace in Tokyo, post WWII. They both worked for Radio Free Press at the time, meeting there, after very different experiences during that war.

My mother made sure we were healthy, miso-shiru, tofu, sardines, liver every week and lots of kombu, nori, wakame, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit. We were told that we should work hard and expect little, but to fight with all our intelligence and might to make sure equality and fair play were a part of American life. We were told that we were lucky, there were so many people for whom our life (they worked three jobs) was very luxurious.

We agreed. We never felt that we had been cheated and when our grandparents told us about stories of Japan, when our parents told us of the beauty of the ocean, the rice fields, the architecture, the care the people took in everything, we knew we had far to go to be considered equal in their eyes.

When we saw artwork that depicted huge waves with Mt. Fuji in the background, we thought about how well they knew the ocean.

When the news spread over the world that a tsunami had hit the Eastern Coast of Northern Japan, I stopped breathing. Transfixed, I watched the movement of the ocean creep on the television screen, realizing that in reality the water was moving a at a rate faster than the cars outside on the street, overtaking everything in its path. Bending steel like paper, moving buildings like toothpicks, the water pulsed through towns and cities with the heartbeat of the earth's quaking. Humans never looked so small as they did against the giant waves and the near constant shaking of the ground. I remembered hearing the tsunami warning training sirens at my elementary school on the coast of Southern California.

There isn't enough one person can do to alleviate the suffering or hardship or spur a recovery. But in our world of quick news and quicker reactions, people have leaped to show their support. When children put coins from their savings into a box to help others and individuals dip into their retirement savings to write checks to help, there's a fantastic, warm feeling of unity in purpose that puts hope into action.

Reading accounts of people who have survived, have suffered the losses of their friends and family, these are perhaps the most uplifting. They cry at the good news, in gratitude and sadness. As is so often in life, these two emotions coincide. Kindness, as always is, rewarded with more than gratitude. Those feeling last. And those connect us with the rest of humanity.

I hope I have been kind in my life. There are more opportunities for me, as I've been only watching the distress from a digital screen thousands of miles away. Sakura trees are blooming. It's cherry blossom festival season. We shouldn't and we aren't forgetting those images that come from Japan. It's time to get back to work.

Please go to www.japantownsanjose.org to find a list of ways you (and I) can contribute.

They're here!

Time marches on. Incredibly it's already December 2010!

In some ways it's so exciting and in others, one can't help wondering how difficult it is - not just for those who need food and shelter, who are serving their country overseas or here in the USA, or those who are struggling to get one gift for their child or children so that they may have a bit of what the retail holidays are about.

There are also those who have lost loved ones, or are struggling to hang onto life. Or there are those who are alone, whether healthy or ill, just trying to connect with another person in some simple way to have someone listen.

Amidst all this are messages of peace on earth, of goodwill toward all, of belief. Everyone is encouraged to believe in Santa Claus. Sak n' Sak is a business and this does help the economy a bit.

Still, belief is more than that. Our family caught the end of 'Polar Express' the other evening on television, maybe falling into the fresh air of the pine on the screen, the crisp sound of footsteps on snow. The story revolves around whether or not there is a real Santa and whether or not, even if the boy sees him, meets him, whether the boy would really believe. There's a shiny silver bell from the many bells that adorn the harness on the great sleigh that is pulled by Santa's reindeer. What happens if the boy loses it? Will the boy still hear it? Will he still believe even when he returns to the work-a-day world?

Of course, he does. It would have a depressing ending if he didn't. I'd be willing to bet that Tom Hanks wouldn't have been involved if it turned out to be unmagical, dismagical - without that special magic that comes with seeing a child light up because there is a belief beyond belief that Santa does exist. It's beautiful to behold. It's the best expression in the world.

But I've been lucky enough to see that expression on faces in other types of situations; 'the cancer is gone!' 'your mother will live to a ripe old age,' 'no surgery necessary,' 'we just found it,' ''we didn't think it would happen, but amazingly it did,' 'he escaped, unscathed.' It would seem to be about life and hope.

Some will say that this is different, it's real. Santa is make-believe, therefore not real. What makes the child's belief wonderful is that - it can't be real, but they believe anyway. The suspension of disbelief; that which all theater is based upon, all fiction.

So, if we all believe in peace on earth, if we hear the bells ring like they did for Christmas one day in WWI, when enemies called a truce and heard each other's happiness and wishes rather than the anger of power of nations. Maybe we'll look in the mirror one day and see that expression on our own faces. Naive? Maybe.

Santa is a wonderful teacher. Maybe belief or disbelief in Santa can serve as a gauge of the tension of the world. No matter the religion, no matter the creed. If there can be a jolly creature of a magical race that brings joy to everyone, who knows what's really good and what's really bad. Maybe the concoction of good and bad in the world will swing toward this wonderful reality. There is perhaps more joy, appreciation & gratitude than there is the will to destroy.

We can recycle the good things, turning them into maybe different, but good things that will make others happy and that can power world magic.

Let me say it now - Have a Great and Magical Holiday Season!

People have asked us whether or not we're eco-friendly.
Of course, we say 'yes' because we're taking the banners and sewing them into other thing. Reusing the material that would otherwise go into the landfill.

The banners are sometimes painted canvas, sometimes and more often than not, they are vinyl, which is a very non-eco-friendly but extremely weather resistant material. Printing is done in soft or vibrant colors pretty cheaply, so it's used most often for signage.

Those big banners you see on city light poles (like ours in San Jose) are vinyl banners that are usually used from year to year.

But those banners you see on the poles for special occasions, that have sponsors that change from year to year for athletic or racing or even dramatic events, are either sent to the dumpster or kept in storage to be disposed of later.

There are sometimes copyright issues and of course, one must be creative during the cutting and sewing process. Although you love Lance Armstrong, would you love a large reproduction of his eye or knuckle on your shopping bag?

We'll keep sewing bags -little ones, medium ones, large ones, with zippers, without zippers, as long as we have banners to cut and sew!

And yes, Virginia, we believe too.
We're sure that Santa uses organic and recyclable materials and is just as green as his clothing is red.

Sak 1

Ahhh - we missed trying to give you cyber-specials this year!

We're sorry!

But we do have lots of things perfect for gift giving at very good prices and you'd be helping us to recycle more banners!

Amazingly, we now have some from Michigan, eighth most populous state, the Wolverine State, the land that borders the great lakes.  The Convention and Visitors Buerau of Grand Rapids Michigan shipped us some banners that they are hoping we can use. We tried cutting one banner this past Saturday. We think they'll be kind of fun to sew!

Since we've been asked whether we take banner donations, we've said 'yes!' a few times.
Our donors have wanted bags that they can then sell to raise funds for their businesses or their favorite charities.

So, now, when you look at bags made from recycled materials, even if they are not Japantown banners, try looking for a Sak n' Sak label! They just might be ours!


Kathy (Sak 1)

This blog is not really a blog. It's more of a sometimes, once or twice a year, write something because you know you want to, but cannot seem to get down to doing it! There's that cool idea of getting to communicate with all your like minded friends and it's a great one.

But the reality is that we're trying to create new items, keep ourselves fresh and get our work in our day jobs completed. Writing time is slim, but even more than that, I wonder whether we should expose you, whoever is reading this, to a bunch of rambling about - who knows what!

So, I'll talk about pockets. Something relevant to bags and bag ladies (like us here at Sak n' Sak.) We can start with the bag to the left of the screen. It is a pocket itself. You can use it (well, I can use it, because I'm thinking of keeping it - shhh)- getting on with things - it can be used very effectively for papers needed for, say, a meeting. There's a crafted inner pocket that is perfect for holding your business cards. Although I have a few business card holders, they seem to be packed with business cards from other people, which is good, but would be even better if I had some of my own business cards to exchange!

Now, that's not a failing of the bag. It's my own failing. My fault, my crazy brain forgets what's right in front of it sometimes.

The bag is innocent. Don't blame the bag.

A tote bag is great for carrying or toting, (yes, thus the name I remind myself) things. Many things fit in a tote, of all sizes and shapes. And that's why a pocket is very handy. Then you can put the smaller items in the tote in the pocket alleviating the fear that one might have, of these smaller items in a zip or velcro closure bag from getting lost in the main compartment of the bag.

There are kangaroo pockets, slim pockets, zippered pockets, invisible pockets, i-gadget friendly pockets, pockets to hold water bottles, gathered pockets and cell phone pockets and pen and pencil pockets. Without pockets, your keys and tissue would fall on the floor all the time.

Pockets for rulers, change, receipts, passports, eyeglasses, shoes, towels, wiring, earphones, CDs and DVDs. There are pockets for everything!

Our world would be that much sadder without pockets. Aren't we glad we have them?

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sak 1

It's unbelievable.

Not to be alarmist because there's always a new article about our health, our environment and our economy. In fact, I'll be attending a City of San Jose Environmental Services workshop which will guide what and why the festival, Spirit of Japantown, Oct 2, 2010, will make use of or dispose of or recycle trash/recycling/composting. This is my second workshop, but I'm sure they'll have updated and new information for us.

There's an article in a recent TIME Magazine, April 12, 2010 issue " The Perils of Plastic"about BPA and other toxic chemicals, the EPA, how it must work, the Catch-22 (can't test everything, must test to be helpful at all, must have data to test with, can't have data unless something is proven, which requires testing and data...). It's a special report. It's good, informative. You may know already that there's a 34 year old piece of federal chemical legislation called the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) which the article says that everyone seems to agree, didn't do the job it was meant to do.

The writing was packed with information that only a real reporter can extract: finding information from the people who are working in the industry in legislation and the business and non-profit world, about plastics, polymers 1-7 (those little numbers in those little triangles on the bottles, packages, and leaching, potential leaching into food and water, the effect on us, our bodies, and what and how we can do something - or not - about things.

I learned from the article that a man known to his colleagues during the 16th century as Paracelsus created this notion "the dose makes the poison." The 16th century. We've learned things since then. Technology has advanced. And maybe another notion, the 'green chemistry' notion; sustainable, non-toxic chemistry, might become even more popular.

The article ends by saying that there is an EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award and there were 1,600 of 12,000 presentations in one moth's annual meeting of the American Chemical Society that were dedicated to sustainability. That's good, but that's only 7.5% of the presentations. What is everyone else doing I wonder?

The weirdly segmented manner of to-do and not-to-do during any day of my life in recent history will be influenced by my reading this article while trying to pay bills (no bills paid - but article read!). I'm now a little more knowledgeable but behind in my household, business, p/t work and volunteer chores. It didn't say anything about landfills or recycled paper checks, but did say a lot about those issues that affect whether or not we'll wake up or whether or not our children and grandchildren will be able to have children and whether they'll be more likely to be autistic or have ADHD.

BPA has been used since the 1940's. Plastic was a great thing back then but now, my water bottle is PBA free. A good thing.

And what about the bags? There is probably vinyl in the coating. PVC-something I've made an effort to stay away from since the 1970's. We don't want to have this stuff on the planet, really, no matter how good it seems to be for house sidings, etc. But we will make bags out of it, so that it doesn't sit idle in a landfill.

Maybe this is a fine line discussion. But to me, if we ever get to make beautiful bags from a sustainable source that would otherwise be tossed away, waterproof or not, it'll be greater than what we're doing now.

In the meantime, though, there's a ton of banners out there! We'll take them all!

In San Jose Japantown that means that we don't have to put money in the meters.

That a cash pick-up person at Nijiya Market knows the whole history of Caesar Chavez and his importance to farm workers in the USA.

That a lady visiting from Florida seeks out Sak n' Sak and finds one of us putting spring decorations on the Japantown bulletin board outside on the corner and asks about getting into the shop! She buys a lunchbag (in purple) and a small zippered bag to take back with her. (Thank you, Annette if you are reading this!)

That we find ourselves in issues of Eucalyptus Magazine earlier in the week so, we go to get a copy for relatives and one to keep in the shop!

It's all about thing of others, keeping horrendous events from happening because we CAN do something about things, and counting ourselves lucky to be working!

Hope your day is good too!

When you have no other choice!
Or
Out of necessity - ah - that's the same thing!

Well - we've got a lot of help from the City of San Jose who wants somebody to do something with old vinyl! We're happy to help out! You'll see a lot of non-floral designs coming from Sak n' Sak very soon.

This new group is yellow and blue with some rainbow colors coming later.

It's actually fun to see what they look like up close. When you see them from your car or as a pedestrian, walking along the street, the banners look cohesive - one design - you take it in all at once.

But when you get closer, to your own eye level, they take on different shapes and configurations. Design-wise, they suggest different things at each viewpoint.

Suffice to say that sitting at a sewing machine or working out for 4+ years (and that's if you are already in shape and talented) for an Olympic Games have very little in common - except maybe the perseverance part of things.

 
It's okay though. We love watching and cheering for Olympians.


Wonder if they might need a bag for some of that cool stuff they'll be taking home?

Not like Kermit the Frog, but there's a lot of new green items around that are easily found! My casual watch is made of corn resin with a bamboo face and an organic cotton band. Couldn't have found this a few years ago if you'd spent months looking. Today, it was found holiday shopping. It's an honest, not the greenest they say, but honest about it - eco-conscious and trying to do their best to be as green as possible! Sort of like Sak n' Sak! Find them at www.sproutwatches.com

At 4am the rain is washing down the city. Water pours off the roof, down the catch, into the pond, soaking the garden, cleaning the air. It is a calming rhythm of deep soothing nourishment.  Safe with a roof overhead, one is lulled into sleep.

So, I've read "Julie & Julia" and thought that that was what a blog should be. Something that one does that has a purpose, however odd, personal, pointed or unilaterally interesting.

That leads me to high speed rail.
(jump - what jump?) Most people are on the bandwagon now, aren't they? We would definitely benefit from having line cross America and starting here is a great choice. Spending time in Japan, one would wonder why America hasn't done this already - years ago.

Although we've gone through decades of wasted time, energy and money, the thing to do is to get it in gear and go forward, right?

Can't wait to see what's designed...

Welcome to our BLOG!
Est. February 2, 2010

Sak #1