SHIKATA GA NAI (Title of a Film)

I was born in Honolulu, grew up in Kakaako, went away to college and returned to work in the sugar industry for C. Brewer at the Hutchinson Sugar Company in Naalehu, Kau, Big Island of Hawaii.  So I spoke Pidgin English, referred to by some as Hawaii Creole.  Being away for four years at Stanford changed me so that I almost forgot local slang, but spoke English far better.  Working in the sugar industry on the Big Island and Kauai infused in me a different kind of Pidgin, which I retain today.

According to Google AI, the three most popular Hawaiian pidgin words blending Hawaiian, English, Portuguese Japanese, Chinese and Filipino are:

Da Kine: A universal placeholder word used to describe literally any object, action, or idea whose name you can't remember (similar to "whatchamacallit"). [1, 2, 3]

Broke da Mouth: The ultimate compliment for a meal that is incredibly delicious. [1, 2, 3]

Bumbai (or Bumbye): Translates to "by and by" or "later on." It is frequently used as a mild warning (e.g., "Don't do that, bumbye you get in trouble") . [1]

I was born in September of 1940, and my mother, holding me in her arms, told me that she pointed to the smoke in the far background coming from Pearl Harbor in 7December1941. 

•  The Japanese population of Hawaii then was 158,000, as much as 40% (it was 43% in 1920 and only 12% today, although the part-Japanese percentage is 22%) of the territory.  
• Those of Japanese ethnicity living along the Pacific Coast, numbering 158,000, were sent to 10 internment camps.  Less than 1% of Japanese in Hawaii were sent there, perhaps up to 1500.

• 
  There was thus this mistrust of Japanese, and about 5000 Nisei (those Japanese born in the U.S.) already in the Army were reclassified as enemy aliens.
• But those Ñisei were U.S. citizens.
• Because virtually every Japanese in the continental U.S. were in internment camps, the attitude of service eligible men was far different from those Japanese young men in Hawaii.

• 
  Finally, on 12June1942, the 100th Infantry Battalion (later named the Purple Heart Battalion) was activated, composed of about 1400 Nisei already serving in the Hawaii National Guard's 298th and 299th Infantry Regiments.  They were sent to the mainland for training.

• 
  On 1February1943, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (later called the Go For Broke Unit), was created of 4000 Nisei volunteers, mostly from Hawaii.
• The 100th Battalion was first sent to Europe in 1943, then later the 442nd, after completing training in Camp Shelby, Mississippi, was sent to Italy in June 1944.  The two units were combined later that year.
• They successfully liberated French cities from Nazi occupation, then drove German forces out of northern Italy.

• 
  In late October of 1944, 275 members of what became known as the Texas Lost Battalion got trapped and surrounded by 6000 German troops.
• The 442nd had just liberated Bruyeres and Biffontaine, but was asked to rescue the Texans.
• In five days of fighting, the 442nd rescued 211 trapped soldiers of the Lost Battalion, but suffered 800 casualties.
• Totaling 18,000 men, the 442nd won 4,000 Purple Hearts, 4,000 Bronze Stars, 560 Silver Stars. 21 Medals of Honor and seven Presidential Unit Citations.

• 
  The 442nd and 100th became the Army's most decorated units. Governor of Texas John Connally made these veterans honorary Texans.
• From the National WWII Museum:  Against the odds, the men of the 100th “go for broke.” Despite the years of suspicion and racism that prevailed at home, these Nisei men fought for their country and their ideals of freedom and democracy. They fought heroically, leaving behind a record that is still untouched today.

All the above serves as background to my posting today, emphasizing the point that growing up Hawaii introduces you to a variety of communication techniques highly dependent on your ethnicity.  My roots go back to Japan, so Japanese terms are liberally laced into daily conversation.  For example, the term, shikata ga nai, or sometimes abbreviated to shoganai, means it can't be helped or there's nothing that can be done or it is what it is.

So yesterday, there was a showing of the film, Shikata Ga Nai, at 15 Craigside.

The 2024 film was written and directed by Eric Nemoto.

Byrnes Yamashita talking to David of 15 Craigside.

Joy with actor Alan Okubo.

Excerpts from Better Hawaii:

Inspired by the true life tendencies of many 442 veterans who have never told their families of their war experiences, “Shikata Ga Nai” tells of the battles that these now declining heroes have faced on their own without no one else knowing.

The film is set in 1999 Honolulu. Tatsuo is a World War II veteran who served in the 442 Regimental Combat Team. He lives with his daughter Lynn, a single mother, and teenage grandson Ryan, and spends time with his army friend Seichi. His life seems peaceful, but he relives the war every day – and he doesn’t want to share his war experiences with his family.

You can listen to an interview with Eric Nemoto and Allan Okuboon Lance Motogawa’s radio show, the Motogawa Music Entertainment Show,

I should add that there was a short documentary, released in 2019, also titled Shikata Ga Nai;  An Inconvenient American.  Here is a video explaining the meaning of Shikata Ga Nai.

What is the format of the World Cup knockouts?

The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to the knockouts.

The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced at the World Cup following the tournament’s expansion from 32 to 48 teams. One loss and you're out!

Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19.

The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s knockout schedule is:

Round of 32: June 28 to July 3

Round of 16: July 4–7

Quarterfinals: July 9–11

Semifinals: July 14–15

Bronze medal match: July 18

Final: July 19

About yesterday:

• Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games when he drilled a free kick during Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan.
• Portugal’s scoreless draw with Colombia means that Portugal (and Cristiano Ronaldo) will not face Messi and Argentina in the quarterfinals.

The round of 32 is now set.

• The first match today:  Canada 1 vs South Africa 0.
• Tomorrow:

Brazil vs Japan, 1PM on Fox

Germany vs Paraguay, 4:30PM on Fox

Netherlands vs Morocco, 10PM on Fox

• 
  Team USA plays Bosnia/Herzegovina in San Francisco on Wednesday, July 1, at 8PM EDT.
• If USA wins, then  they play the winner of Belgium vs Senegal in Seattle on Monday, July 6, 8PM EDT.

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