Tonight, we offer a critical look at what is happening in Japan.

We talk with Hiroshi Fukurai, a professor at UC Santa Cruz in Sociology. He’s originally from Sendai, the epicenter of the monstrous 9.0 earthquake last month, and where many of his family still reside. He talks with us about the nuclear power system in Japan, the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s heavy hand on the media, and Japan’s recent passage of an internet surveillance act.

Also, Haruki Eda with the Japan Multicultural Relief Fund talks with us about an overlooked population in Japan, the ethnic minorities. We explore how they have fared through the disaster and fare in the wake of the disaster and what  some of the challenges have been accessing relief aid.

For National Poetry Month, we welcome poet and emcee, Colin Masashi Ehara, aka “Senbei.”

And finally, Jason Jong talks with us about We Are One Island, a Japan relief concert and auction taking place at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center this Saturday. Performers include Senbei, Purple Moon Dance Project, and Dirty Boots, among others and it will be emceed by Kara Tsuboi with the Oakland A’s.

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