The Yoko Breckenridge Japanese Library

08/12/2025

三島！

08/12/2025

Did you know that Red Wing, MN has a sister city on Shikoku island in Japan and that it's called Ikata?

Sister City representative Andrew Johnson is currently traveling with six international students from Ikata, and in his free time he stopped by to see the Library. Andrew is a big Mishima Yukio fan, and he found that we have quite a few of his novels!

レッドウイング市に姉妹都市があって、愛媛県の伊方町だということをご存じでしたか。

伊方町市役所で働く国際交流員の ジョンソン・アンドリュー・ブレイディは今伊方町の学生を六人レッドウイング市に連れてきています。自由な時間があったので、図書館へ遊びに来てくれました。アンドリューさんは三島由紀夫の大ファンです。図書館に何冊か見つけて、驚いたようです！

08/05/2025

08/05/2025

With the help of intrepid volunteers, all boxes of books were carried up into the Library! Now, let the cataloging begin!

ボランティアの方々の勇敢な力で、全部の本が図書館に上げられました。これからは整理に取り掛かります！

04/28/2025

A perfect day for a new start!

新しい出発によく似合う完璧な日！

04/28/2025

Thanks to all who attended the Opening Party for the Yoko Breckenridge Japanese Library! The beautiful weather and the blooming of the pear tree and cheerful yellow Forsythia blooms in the garden also seemed to be celebrating Yoko.

会館祝いに参加なさった皆さま、どうもありがとうございます！
晴れ渡った空と庭で咲いている洋ナシの木とレンギョウの陽気な黄色い花も、洋子さんのことを祝っているようでした。

A special thanks to Cha'ami for the delicious onigiri and ikebana, and to Mr. and Ms. Nakayama for their tireless help, and for preparing chicken katsu!

美味しいお握りを作り、美しい生け花を生けてくださった茶編（Cha'ami）の方と、時間を惜しまずに何でも手伝ってくださり、うまいチキンカツも作ってくださった中村さんたちに特別にお礼を言いたいです。

I will be in Japan from April 8th until the end of June, but as soon as I return I intend to begin lending out books. The Library will be open on Saturdays- more details later. I can't wait to show you the books!

私は４月８日から５月末まで日本にいますが、帰ってきてすぐ、貸し借りを始めようと思っています。図書館は土曜日に開くつもりです。お楽しみに！

04/13/2025

You've come a long way, Baby!

These pics show progress on the second floor of the Library from winter 2023 to now! We are on track for our opening celebration on April 26th! If you want to come, please e-mail me at:

[email protected].

YB図書館は大出世を遂げた！

この二枚の写真には、２０２３年冬と今日の二階の様子が写されています。４月２６日の会館祝いの準備は順調です！参加したい方は以下の住所へメールを送ってください：

[email protected]

04/06/2025

The Nakayamas from Rochester and my student Tara Peterson from the Cities came to help at the Library this weekend. We are swinging into high gear to be ready by April 26th, when we'll have an opening event with onigiri, barbeque, and a few book-filled activities! More later!

The photo is of Tara, who helped paint the stairwell today. I missed getting a photo of the Nakayamas, but look for one soon!

03/04/2025

01/06/2025

Yesterday I visited Cha'ami, the new Japanese culture center in Minneapolis. They have an exciting new location, and they also have some of Yoko's library books! We decided to work together in the future to spread Japanese culture and get people reading great books!
昨日ミネアポリスの新しい日本文化センター「ちゃあみ」を訪れました。ちゃあみは素敵な新しいロケーションに引っ越しました。ちゃあみも洋子さんの本を持っています！私たちは力を合わせて、日本文化を広め、いろいろな方にいい本の読書を勧めたいと思っています。

12/30/2024

Recently Yoko Breckenridge visited her own exhibit (the War Brides Exhibit) at the Smithsonian. She was accompanied by Karen Harworth and friends. Karen has visited Yoko twice, and her son Richard and his family are taking good care of her in Texas. We hope to see her for the library opening in the spring!

Some of you will remember Yoko's THANK U license plate. As the year closes, I'd like to say a fond thank-you to Yoko, who has made many people's lives better, while making history at the same time.