Author Archives: journeysofabentmind

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About journeysofabentmind

Gordon is a Nisei, a second generation American of Japanese descent born in 1938 whose family owned a farm outside of Atwater, California in the San Joaquin Valley. His world was abruptly changed when on December 7, 1941 Japan’s Imperial Navy launched an early morning attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus began a chain of events that resulted in his family’s forced evacuation and internment in a “relocation center” in Colorado during the war. After the war Gordon spent his teenage years in school and working on the family farm. He attended U.C. Berkeley and graduated in 1960 and went on to the Graduate School of Social Welfare at Berkeley earning a Masters in Social Welfare in 1963. He worked in a number of social service settings and last worked as a case manager for developmentally challenged clients in San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin Counties until he retired in 2000. When his wife Barbara retired in 2007 they moved to Eugene, Oregon following their children and grandchildren. Gordon lives with his wife of 55 years and close to the four grandchildren and life is just good.

Meanderings of a Bent Mind: Journeys of an Introvert

Posted on February 1, 2025 by journeysofabentmind

In August of 2023 my dear friend Nina Wolpe and I became published authors of our jointly written book, Two Faces, a story of two ten-year olds, one a white girl, the other a Japanese boy. It tells of two … Continue reading →

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August 24, 2024 | 33rd Annual Obon & Taiko Festival

Posted on September 10, 2024 by journeysofabentmind

Lane County Events Center | Eugene, OR Festive groups of Obon dancers and Taiko drummers entertained from the main stage in the afternoon and early evening and fairgoers sampled tasty Japanese and Indian dishes served from booths circling the hall. … Continue reading →

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2024 Asian Celebration – Eugene, Oregon –July 27, 2024

Posted on August 9, 2024 by journeysofabentmind

     Very large local crowds turned out for the 39th annual Eugene Asian Celebration today at Alton Baker Park. It was a sunny temperate 83 degrees with a gentle wind on occasion. The day was long but was eased by … Continue reading →

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February 13, 2024 | Eugene, Oregon | Osher Lifelong Learning Institute | Book Reading & Signing

Posted on March 1, 2024 by journeysofabentmind

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is a non-university, non-credit, non-degree continuing education program intended for local citizens aged 50 and older. It is a program that partners with educational institutions in an agreement with the Bernard Osher Foundation funded through … Continue reading →

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December 7, 2023 | Eugene, OR | Book Reading and Signing

Posted on January 14, 2024 by journeysofabentmind

Tsunami Books On this December 7th I gave a book reading at Tsunami Books here in Eugene.

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December 5, 2023 | Corvallis, OR | Book Reading

Posted on January 14, 2024 by journeysofabentmind

Letitia Carson Elementary School On December 5th of Pearl Harbor week, I visited Letitia Carson Elementary School in Corvallis, Oregon and shared a book reading with the fourth and fifth grade classes around the book Two Faces co-written by my … Continue reading →

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November 2, 2023: University of Oregon Special Collections Department

Posted on November 4, 2023 by journeysofabentmind

Today’s book reading for Two Faces jointly co-authored by my friend Nina Wolpe and me was organized by University of Oregon librarian David de Lorenzo. David was one of a dozen individuals we asked to read the advance reader copy … Continue reading →

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Cascade Manor: Book Reading by Fellow Resident Gordon Nagai

Posted on September 21, 2023 by journeysofabentmind

September 20, 2023 Last night I stood before a group of some thirty residents here at Cascade Manor for a book reading of the book I co-authored with a dear friend. Here at the Manor, we had just come off … Continue reading →

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Announcement: Our book is now published…!

Posted on August 10, 2023 by journeysofabentmind

After ten years of endless work and countless re-writes, I’m delighted to announce that Two Faces is now a published novel. Based on my own and a lifelong friend’s true experiences during World War II, we principally began our book … Continue reading →

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WWII Tragedy and Sharing A Family History

Posted on April 7, 2023 by journeysofabentmind

May 4, 2008 Today I made a second annual visit to the third grade class of a dear friend in Corvallis, Christine Gough. The visit was to share my story of my family’s forced evacuation and internment in a concentration … Continue reading →

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