it was a potent reminder that in country defined by colonial violence no place is innocent
That the colonized land was later used as a site of incarceration is merely a recent iteration of colonial oppression
The irony that this place is called “Travel Town” is not lost on me
“to recover the memory is also to name the culprit.”
As with Brandon Shimoda’s remarkable The Grave on the Wall, his new book The Afterlife Is Letting Go circles around monuments
the innumerable violent expressions of power—and just as innumerable shapes of resistance
While Grave on the Wall predominantly focused on Shimoda’s grandfather
When describing the murder of James Hatsuaki Wakasa in 1943 at the Topaz concentration camp
Shimoda describes the moments before Wakasa’s death
“[Wakasa] had dinner with a friend in the mess hall that night—the stoves
are still there—then went for a walk along the southwestern edge of camp.”
This early quotation is the first of many gestures illustrative of Shimoda’s deep interest in collapsing time
the stoves—still remain from a time when a man was murdered with impunity while held in a concentration camp in a nation that considers itself one of the “free leaders of the world.” If the stoves are still here
What else has survived but perhaps leaves no obvious physical trace
Shimoda quotes many in The Afterlife If Letting Go
but aptly gives primacy to many Japanese and Japanese American witnesses
Within these pages are the historical plazas
or wave away the pains and horrors exacted on Japanese people and Japanese Americans in the U.S
Perhaps one of the most disturbing realities was for the children born in concentration camps and thus “into the impossible status of being simultaneously a citizen and an enemy of the United States.” Shimoda utilizes different forms to attend to all of this—some portions are almost entirely quotation
others are Shimoda’s descriptions of a museum or memorial or site as he moves through it
The Afterlife Is Letting Go has the quality of quiet but intense scrutiny, like turning an object over and over to see how else it might catch the light. Such thoughtful rigor defines Shimoda’s work. In an interview with Tiffany Troy at Tupelo Quarterly
“I have the attention span of a poet
two things simultaneously: I can concentrate deeply and I’m constantly distracted
where I’m going with the books I gather around/beside me
in the picture) is Volume 9 of The Collected Works of Langston Hughes
which includes Hughes’s reporting from the Spanish Civil War
written for the Afro-American (Baltimore) and directly from the fight against fascism
All the books on top of Hughes are related
I’ve been thinking that I should become a journalist
although I’ve also been thinking: isn’t that what poets already are
Sharon Sliwinski, Mandela’s Dark Years: A Political Theory of Dreaming
I *love* how all of these books are from the library
support your librarians and local libraries—they’re doing god’s work.) Once again
we get to see an amazing U of Minnesota Press book among a guest’s stack
Sliwinski wrote Mandela’s Dark Years after learning of a recurring nightmare Mandela experienced while imprisoned
Mandela writes in his autobiography (which Sliwinski quotes):
I had just been released from prison—only it was not Robben Island
I walked outside the gates into the city and found no one there to meet me
“[Mandela’s] nightmare seemed to attest something similarly poignant about his experience of prison
offering both a private account of his emotional state and a profound testimony about the political conditions of his unfreedom.”
Samih al-Qasim, Sadder Than Water: New and Selected Poems (trans
John Palattella writes in his Nation review of Sadder Than Water
According to the late novelist Ghassan Kanafani
a poem of al-Qasim’s about the massacre of forty-eight Palestinian villagers by Israeli border guards in the town of Kafr Qasim in October 1956 was “memorized throughout the whole Galilee.” Al-Qasim
one of which is included in Sadder Than Water
no memorial–/neither a line of poetry to delight the murdered/Nor any curtain for the unveiling.”
The diction of these lines is characteristic of many poems in the volume
addressed to a public event and determined to maintain an air of rhetorical grandeur
Palettella goes on: “the experiences of indignity
privation and misrepresentation…are the recurring subjects of Sadder Than Water
and al-Qasim explores them fruitfully.”
Mike Davis, Prisoners of the American Dream: Politics and Economy in the History of the US Working Class
Davis’ epic book of LA history, City of Quartz
has been in my mental to-read pile for years—he clearly was a brilliant and important writer on nuanced topics of the world and politics
Socialist Review calls Prisoners of the American Dream “One of the most trenchant and original analyses of American politics.”
Prisoners of the American Dream is Mike Davis’s brilliant exegesis of a persistent and major analytical problem for Marxist historians and political economists: Why has the world’s most industrially advanced nation never spawned a mass party of the working class
This series of essays surveys the history of the American bourgeois democratic revolution from its Jacksonian beginnings to the rise of the New Right and the reelection of Ronald Reagan
concluding with some bracing thoughts on the prospects for progressive politics in the United States
Boubacar Boris Diop, Murambi: The Book of Bones (trans
Diop’s novel is set during the Rwandan Genocide in April 1994
Eileen Julien writes in the book’s foreword:
What does a novel such as this bring to the awful violence of genocide that journalistic accounts and histories cannot
These forms of narrative are held to a well-known standard of truth
They are meant to establish and report facts
It does what a creative and transformative work alone can do
It distills this history and gives voice to those who can no longer speak—recovering
complex lives concealed in the statistics of genocide and rendering their humanity
In thinking about the gruesome murder of hundreds of thousands of people and this book—a frail object—we confront the enormous disproportion between the work of art
Yet it is through the work of imagination and language that the novel reconstitutes those unique human beings
and allows them nonetheless to survive and to be heard
Their stories may lead us to reflect on the practice of evil and help us claim our very own humanity amidst the routine banality of violence
the numbed indifference or silent acquiescence of which we are all a part
Martin Carter, Gemma Robinson (editor), University of Hunger: Collected Poems & Selected Prose
In The Caribbean Review of Books
Vahni Capildeo describes of how colonization defined much of popular literature in the Caribbean
[I]t is still unusual for a Caribbean critic to find her- or himself writing about an unquestionably great writer—technically great
and great in inspiring others—who is also local
and lives within living memory….The relatively early anthologization of Carter’s poems and their inclusion in the curriculum means that many readers-become-writers learned of the work in the classroom
but with those words and that thought already working in their pre-critical memories
in being as nearly comprehensive as possible
is—for the first time—the chance to see the span of Carter’s life’s work
and slowly to arrive at a new understanding of that totality
the physical book between one’s hands allowing the imagination to move between
weave and re-weave the times and spaces of the poems
Pauline Kaldas (editor), Khaled Mattawa (editor), Beyond Memory: An Anthology of Contemporary Arab American Creative Nonfiction
Kaldas and Mattawa write in their introduction to Beyond Memory (published at Medium):
Although particular to their authors’ experiences
Arab American life stories have become emblematic of what it means to have one’s identity misconstrued in America and to have to fight to assert one’s humanity
Arab Americans have been pushed to the margins of society
are well aware that telling their stories has becomes an act of speaking truth to resist and empower others…
[W]hen one refuses to be coopted and insists on rendering their experience as they understand it
Arab American writers share their stories of struggle and sacrifice as cautionary tales and to strip away illusions regarding the cultural politics of our country
June Jordan, Stacy Russo (editor), Life as Activism: June Jordan’s Writing from The Progressive
This volume collects Jordan’s essays she wrote for The Progressive magazine between 1989-2001. It feels apt to quote from Barbara Ran’s obituary on Jordan after Jordan’s death in The Progressive
Jordan not only gave me a greater sense of my identity as a black woman in a world dominated by white men
She was an internationalist and a humanitarian and fought for a definition of feminism that reflected a large and inclusive vision.”
It was the Palestinian struggle for self-government and dignity that captured June Jordan’s passion in the later years of her life
In 1996 she traveled to Lebanon where she wrote about the devastating militarism that had scarred the region
Jordan described the Palestinian struggle as “the moral litmus test” of her life
“I can’t think of another subject in the world today or in our United States that people approach with more trepidation and fear than that,” she explained in an interview in 2000….[T]he memory of June Jordan reminds us of the importance of speaking truth to power
If you need a quick reminder of Jordan’s powerful prose, I always love to read “The Difficult Miracle of Black Poetry in America: Something like a sonnet for Phillis Wheatley.”
Nicolás Guillén, Man-Making Words: Selected Poems (trans
Roberto Marquez and David Arthur McMurray)
The Afro-Cuban twentieth century poet Nicolás Guillén was a premier contributor to the Négritude movement and friend of Langston Hughes. Aaron Coleman writes of Guillén in Poetry:
Argelia Batista y Arrieta and Nicolás Guillén y Urra
Guillén—the oldest of six siblings—suffered the sudden loss of his father
who was assassinated by government forces for protesting electoral fraud
Guillén was immersed in the island’s politics and burgeoning print culture…
Guillén’s best-known poems first appeared in 1930 in Diario de la marina
one of the country’s leading newspapers
Published as a suite titled Motivos de son —which I might translate as “motives of son” or “motifs of son”—they were both a roaring success and a scandal because they flouted the expectations of traditional poetry
Guillén was a consummate maker and breaker of forms
The innovative poet rose swiftly to fame as he transformed the popular Cuban musical form of the son into a poetic form that called attention to the experiences of Afro-Cuban people and broke racial taboos
María del Pilar Blanco (editor), Esther Peeren (editor), The Spectralities Reader: Ghosts and Haunting in Contemporary Cultural Theory
As someone who has deeply nerded out on scholarship regarding ghosts/hauntology/etc (à la Derrida
The Spectralities Reader is the first volume to collect the rich scholarship produced in the wake of the “spectral turn” of the early 1990s
which saw ghosts and haunting conjured as compelling analytical and methodological tools across the humanities and social sciences
Surveying the past twenty years from an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective
the Reader displays the wide range of concerns spectrality
The disjunctions produced by globalization
the convolutions of subject formation (in terms of gender
and the lingering presences and absences of memory and history have all been reconceived by way of the spectral
Langston Hughes, Christopher C. De Santis (editor), The Collected Works of Langston Hughes: Essays on Art, Race, Politics, and World Affairs
In write-up of the edited collection in Kansas Alumni Magazine
Steven Hill shines a lovely light on Hughes and this volume’s editor
He really was an infectious conversationalist
and I think that comes through in this book
the exuberance of meeting new people through those travels and conversations
is palpable in this writing….To discover that
Hughes was a regular contributor to a little magazine
published by the Harlem branch of the New York YMCA
and that he wrote weekly columns addressing what was going on with Black art and Black literature
and to see some of those original publications
I think we see a different sense of humor coming out in the new material in this book
That’s tied to how we understand him as a blues writer
whose first novel is certainly about serious subjects but is infused
a sense of the importance of finding a way to laugh
perhaps to draw yourself out of a kind of constant state of the misery of oppression
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the Japanese rider sits fourth in series points・ Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis finishes fifth in 450SX
Honda HRC Progressive continued its 2025 AMA Supercross campaign this weekend in Seattle
where Jo Shimoda represented the team in the 250SX West division
With Honda’s satellite teams continuing to lead the brand’s efforts in the premier class
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis rode to a solid fifth-place result
Shimoda positioned himself within the top 10 early in the 250SX main event
then set about finding a rhythm on the deteriorating
The Japanese rider quickly moved his CRF250RWE into the top five but lost a spot just before the midway point
He regained the position five laps later and maintained it through the rest of the race
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers rode consistently to finish 10th
while SLR Honda’s Parker Ross crossed the line in 14th
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis put in a decent ride to finish fifth
Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath had a more challenging race but climbed through the pack
・ Although the weather held off on race day
Friday’s rain led to the cancellation of press riding and Saturday-morning free practice
a popular Washington Powerhouse dealer with locations in Lakewood and Bremerton
staffed a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits
where they displayed a CRF125F Big Wheel and a CRF450RWE
・ Local enthusiast Chris Taylor brought a beautiful replica of Jeremy McGrath’s 1992 Peak Honda Pro Circuit CR125R
along with a 1996 CR250R and other classic bikes
displaying them in the Honda HRC Progressive pit area
・ Jett and Hunter Lawrence missed the Supercross race to support the Honda HRC Castrol riders at the Austin MotoGP round
・ Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda placed sixth overall in 250SX West combined qualifying
Other Red Riders to advance into the heat races included Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers
Raylentless Racing’s Brandon Ray and SLR Honda’s Parker Ross
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was seventh overall
with Quad Lock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath qualifying in 13th
Other Red Riders to make it into the night program included Next Level racers Hunter Schlosser and Justin Rodbell
・ Shimoda got a strong jump off the gate in 250SX West heat 1 and stayed in the top three throughout the heat
All four riders secured spots in the main event
Schlosser secured his main event spot with a fourth-place result in the LCQ
where Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas will resume racing in 250SX East
Rain returned for round 13 of AMA Supercross in Philadelphia
setting the stage for another challenging night of racing
The event featured the second 250SX East/West Showdown of the season
with both Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas lining up for Honda HRC Progressive
Shimoda led the Red Riders with a strong fifth-place performance
while Hymas overcame a midrace crash to finish 10th
Dean Wilson made his highly anticipated debut as a fill-in rider for the factory squad
showing early promise before a series of challenges relegated him to 17th
In the 250SX East/West Showdown main event
Hymas was inside the top five off the start
while Shimoda avoided a first-turn crash and was in the top 10
only for an early red flag to bring the race to a halt
Hymas and Shimoda slotted into seventh and eighth
then battled before Hymas tipped over at the end of a rhythm section
He remounted but gradually slipped back to finish 10th
making key passes throughout the race to secure a fifth-place result
Other Honda-mounted riders in the main included Phoenix Racing Honda's Cullin Park and Gavin Towers
while Storm Lake Honda Buddy Brooks Racing's Henry Miller was 17th
Dean Wilson made his debut as a substitute rider with Honda HRC Progressive and was caught up in an early incident and was forced to perform a full 360 turn on the track to rejoin the race
he began picking off riders and gaining ground
but a bout of arm pump affected his late-race performance
Wilson ultimately crossed the line in 17th
but he and the team were encouraged by flashes of potential in his first outing aboard the factory CRF450RWE
Quad Lock Honda Racing's Joey Savatgy delivered an impressive performance to take fifth
while Phoenix Racing Honda's Dylan Ferrandis followed close behind in seventh
and Jeremy Hand (Valley Motorsports) was 22nd
it was an exciting night—it felt awesome to be back
It's been just shy of a year since I last raced a Supercross
I got caught up in the first corner and had to do a 360 to get going again
and I haven't been in this race environment for a while
I had some good moments and decent pace at times
and I know I'll keep improving from here."
I haven't been riding much during the week with my pinky still healing
so I've been chasing both the bike setup and my own form a bit
things came together—the bike felt better
Chance Hymas"The Philadelphia Showdown wasn't my best overall
I felt like my riding was strong—I just need to clean up a few things
We made some good improvements with the bike
so I'm looking forward to building on that in New Jersey."
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager"Tonight's track reminded me a lot of last year's tracks
when we had a lot of rain during the week—very soft and technical
It was fun having Dean in the truck and also having it be a shootout
it made it feel like a normal race when we have all our riders racing
Hopefully we can get through the next two races with no rain
but you never know with these Northeast states!"
Media contact:Tati Ziemer // Jonnum Media // tati@jonnummedia.com // +1 (707) 888-9418 450SX Results
450SX Championship Points (after 13 of 17 rounds)
250SX East Region Championship Points (after 7 of 10 rounds)
250SX West Region Championship Points (after 8 of 10 rounds)
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2025 7:22 PM ESTBreaking news coming in from RacerX's Aaron Hansel
who spoke with a Honda HRC Progressive personnel in the pits in San Diego after the big winner from Anaheim 1 in the 250SX West division and the championship points leader
pulled off in 250SX West timed qualifying #2 earlier today
The damage was two broken fingers from a pit board
Shimoda was holding his clutch (left) hand/wrist during the qualifying session in the mechanics area and never returned to the track
Hansel indicated that Honda did say he would attempt to race tonight.*Update: Shimoda raced the first 250SX West Heat Race to finish 7th and will advance to the main event later tonight
Here is the video of the incident from Supercross:
By Zach NewberryZach Newberry is a dedicated motocross journalist with over 20 years of experience in the sport as both a racer and a writer
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“Driven by curiosity for career growth and culinary exploration
with 400 restaurant visits in Japan”
Fun Fact About Yourself: One fun fact about me is that I’m a passionate fan of Japanese saunas
especially the outdoor rotenburo (open-air baths) and the refreshing plunge into cold water afterward—it’s my ultimate way to relax and recharge
What makes Manchester such a great place to earn an MBA degree
In my experience working in both American and Japanese companies
I have observed distinct cultural approaches: American companies tend to be highly individualistic and results-oriented
while Japanese corporations emphasize collectivism and hierarchy
I believe that pursuing an MBA in a European environment will enable me to explore new perspectives and values
Europe’s diverse cultural landscape offers invaluable exposure to international business practices
stands out as a natural choice due to its strong academic reputation and the opportunity to strengthen my English-speaking skills in a professional setting
After evaluating several MBA programs in Europe
Manchester emerged as the ideal choice for several compelling reasons
the program offers value for money without compromising academic quality or career opportunities
the city of Manchester strikes an ideal balance between vibrancy and livability
making it a highly suitable environment for my personal circumstances
particularly as my family would potentially reside there with me
what was the key part of Alliance Manchester’s MBA curriculum and programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you
The combination of theoretical aspects and practical approaches is a key factor in my decision-making process
While my primary goal is to develop a broad spectrum of business acumen beyond my current expertise
my past experiences have shown me the value of an output-based approach to learning
I have found that actively applying knowledge to solve real-world issues provides far greater insight than simply studying theoretical frameworks
club or activity have you enjoyed the most at Alliance Manchester
designed for students to select based on their career aspirations and personal preferences
has been one of the most captivating lectures I have attended
It brings together both full-time MBA students and part-time global MBA participants to explore Human Resource Management through diverse perspectives
By combining theoretical frameworks with personal experiences
participants engage in insightful discussions and collaborate intensively during the three-day session
Alliance Manchester is known for its hands-on consultancy projects
Tell us a little bit about a project you worked on
What did you learn that will make you a better professional
The first project I undertook was the Social Impact Project
where the client provided a comprehensive range of services in health and social care
Unlike my previous experience as a consultant
where colleagues often had substantial expertise in their respective fields
this team lacked prior experience in this domain
two critical factors emerged as key drivers of the project’s success
the ability to define critical business questions and hypotheses
highlighted the essence of effective consulting
reinforced by professors through lecture-based insights and frameworks
reminded me of the core principles consultants should embody
the diverse composition of our team—students with varied backgrounds
and roles—was pivotal in maximizing our collective potential
we leveraged each member’s strengths and addressed individual weaknesses
Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:
my performance and approach earned high praise from the client
fostering trust and driving their decision to secure our next business offering
The contributions to this project led to my rapid promotion to manager
Describe your biggest accomplishment in Alliance Manchester’s MBA program so far:
In addition to attending a diverse range of lectures and engaging in club activities
participating in the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) and advancing to the final round was an invaluable experience
This accomplishment significantly enhanced my practical understanding of venture capital and remains one of my most notable achievements
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When her beloved—but discontinued—camera bag finally broke
one travel photojournalist went on a deep dive to find the perfect replacement
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See full disclaimer below.* For seven years
I relied on my trusty camera bag to accompany me to all the remote places around the world where I reported travel and adventure stories
it finally broke and I discovered that it had been discontinued
That sent me on an unexpectedly trying mission to find an alternative
but as an adventure travel journalist and photographer
I needed a weather-resistant camera bag that could double as a travel backpack
it had to be small enough to fit under ever-shrinking airline seats
especially since I travel with just a carry-on and need the overhead space for a duffel or roller bag
I love that this one comes in a women’s edition that conforms to my body
It held up well in both extreme conditions
plus winter essentials for stops in the Yukon’s Whitehorse and Dawson City
• Large enough for cameras and travel gear
but small enough to fit under a plane seat
• Shoulder straps and removable waist bands for easily carrying over long distances
• Pockets abound on this pack—great for staying organized and keeping essentials accessible
which is especially important when you’re adventuring
• Airlines increasingly shrink their under-seat storage
so the pack didn’t fit under every seat (many storage areas can now only fit a small purse)
• My 14-inch MacBook Pro only fits in the laptop compartment without a protective case—fortunately the laptop sleeve is padded
• The pack itself is heavy at five-and-a-half pounds
which can make meeting airline weight limits tricky when you’re already loaded down with cameras and lenses
The Shimoda Explore v2 30 isn’t perfect—no pack is
But it’s the closest I’ve found to fit my needs as an adventure travel photographer
It’s ideal for outdoor-loving photographers who carry one or two cameras and a handful of lenses
Any more than that and you’ll need a larger bag or a camera pack designed solely for photographers
The straps have attachments for microphones and there’s a quick-access phone pocket
giving you multiple ways to nail the shot and the audio to accompany it
• Size: 11.6W x 20.3H x 6.6D inches (exterior dimensions)
• Waterproof: Water-resistant with included rain cover
• Laptop sleeve: Room for 16-inch laptops and smaller
(For amazing travel photos, start with these expert-approved essentials)
Who is the Shimoda Explore v2 30 camera bag best for
I recommend this bag for adventure travel photographers
and filmmakers because of its durability and design
This bag has shoulder straps and a sturdy waistband to lighten the load on long treks
as well as a small footprint that appeases even hyper-restrictive airlines—an unavoidable aspect of traveling to remote places
The low-key design that looks like any standard backpack makes it ideal for city strolls too
Women photographers who struggle to find a bag that fits their frame may also appreciate this version
Shimoda Explore v2 30 camera bag features we love
I’ve found much to love about the Shimoda Explore v2 30
There are more pockets on this backpack than I’ve ever seen on any bag
my photography odds-and-ends (lens cleaner
my camera and lenses secure in the main modular compartment
which is roomy enough for both of my Sony mirrorless cameras
my 100-400mm zoom lens is too big for that area
so I pack it in the main top compartment alongside my toiletries
which makes it easy to access my hefty iPhone 15 Pro Max for quick photos
I picked the Shimoda Explore v2 30 because I needed a small
portable bag that would fit under airplane seats
Whether or not it fits depends on the plane
but I’ve only run into issues twice and only because the under-seat space was too small to fit anything but a purse
The women’s version is sized to my female frame
with multiple adjustment points to ensure the perfect fit—great for long hikes
this pack is designed to be just as much a camera bag as it is an adventure bag—and that’s truly hard to find
I put this backpack through the wringer on a recent trip to the Yukon
where it spent almost as much time in the snow as it did on my back
while I chased northern lights for six hours
even after I set it on the snow next to me while I photographed
the rain cover makes it even more weather-resistant
so it’s good to keep that handy while you’re adventuring too
The Shimoda Explore v2 30 retails for around $385—pretty similar to other adventure-photography backpacks
but I’ve learned you truly get what you pay for
I’m willing to splurge on something I will use on about a dozen or more trips each year
this bag’s designed to last and comes with a five-year warranty
I tested the Shimoda Explore v2 30 camera bag on two adventure photography and reporting trips
The first was a five-day trek in the desert and dunes outside Loreto
The second was also a five-day journey in wind and snow in the Yukon
so I got to see firsthand how it fit in the overhead bins and beneath the seats
this Shimoda is like the Swiss Army knife of camera bags
and straps keep gear handy without sacrificing comfort over long distances
Travelers who need to carry more than two cameras
and a handful of small lenses (and even a big one)
you’ll be set for your next adventure—rain
(The best cameras for travel, tested and reviewed by Nat Geo photo engineers)
If the Shimoda Explore v2 30 isn’t for you
I’ve tested a few of these; others are recommended by fellow adventure photographers
Shimoda Action X40 v2
and it’s a great option for longer treks or the most rugged adventures
it’s trickier to fit under the seat of a midsized airplane—something I learned firsthand
with a roll-top upper pocket that expands or compresses based on how much gear you need
I use this one on trips that require more camera gear and equipment than usual
Lowepro Pro Trekker BP 450 AWII
Chilean photographer Miguel Angel Fuentealba spends his days in the field tracking and photographing pumas
He knows a thing or two about adventure backpacks
He recommends the LowePro Trekker BP 450 AWII because of its compact size and usefulness
noting the important perk for travelers: it fits airline carry-on requirements
The pack is designed to fit two pro mirrorless or DSLR cameras
as well as up to six lenses (depending on size)
this one has a removable waist belt that makes it ideal for hiking for the shot
AtlasPacks Athlete Camera Backpack
Adventure photographer Jay Clue
who travels North America by van to capture the continent’s most eye-popping landscapes
swears by the AtlasPacks Athlete Camera Backpack
“It’s honestly the best camera bag for travel and hiking,” he told me
with a slim profile that fits under airplane seats
The ergonomic shoulder straps and hip belt reduce the stress of carrying gear long distances
while a weather-resistant build keeps gear safe in all sorts of outdoor activities
(Get the perfect shot with these photographer-approved tripods)
Peak Design Outdoor Backpack
Peak Design has made a major name for itself in the world of travel photography—particularly with its ultra-light travel tripod, which I love for astrophotography. The Peak Design Outdoor Backpack works seamlessly with accessories like the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip, which attaches cameras to the shoulder strap or waist belt for quick access.
These packs fit a mix of photography gear, toiletries, and clothing—something adventure photographers, like me, crave in a bag. A weatherproof Terra Shell keeps gear safe in the field. Perhaps the best feature? The large camera cube. It’s sold separately, but I love that you can carry it around on short city walks and then pack it when you’re ready to go.
Red-Crowned Barbet sitting on fruiting strangler fig tree
the World War II Japanese incarceration camp now managed by the National Park Service in Granada
one of Brandon Shimoda’s students suggested that everyone in their Colorado College writing class bring in what they considered “a haunted object” — something unwanted but precious that they couldn’t bring themselves to let go of
or a hideous sweater bequeathed by a dead relative
“The Afterlife Is Letting Go” (City Lights
cultural history and personal memories that shape his reckoning with the legacy of Franklin Roosevelt’s Order 9066
which sent thousands of Japanese Americans
“I feel like this book is something that I’ve been either dreaming about or fearing for 30 years,” says Shimoda in his office on the second floor of Packard Hall on a recent afternoon
almost disappearing into his office couch beneath his baseball cap
And when I think about all the different ways I could have moved through it
it begins to nauseate me because it’s so massive.”
And the book begins with something massive
and massively haunted — a 2,000-pound stone that was used as an ad hoc memorial for James Hatsuaki Wakasa
who was shot and killed by a guard at Topaz while he reached for “an unusual flower” growing just outside the perimeter fence
it was rediscovered by a group of intrepid Japanese American archaeologists
“Once they made this discovery of the stone
the question was: What do we do now that we’ve discovered that it wasn’t destroyed
And the archaeologist said the best thing to do is to keep it in the ground
So that was kind of the official recommendation.”
But the stone’s story was irresistible to a well-meaning local teacher who’d created a private museum about Topaz and took it upon herself to have the stone unearthed and brought to her without consulting
informing or including any of the archaeologists
“And the moment that stone came out of the ground
it’s really a Pandora’s box because all of those meanings were real and true
but I don’t think they were fully felt until the stone came out.”
where it sat in beneath a tarp in a courtyard behind the museum
“They haven’t actually found a respectful way to present it
not just the stone but what the stone represents in terms of the camps
is kind of in the hands of this museum that is in the middle of nowhere
No Japanese American people live out there
They were taken to places where people had never even seen Asian people before
a lot of those towns are still like that.”
The stone and what to do about it and do with it now
has opened old wounds and rifts in the Japanese American community
like we had walked in on it in a private moment or like we were lifting something up
‘I’ve been taking a nap,’ and daylight had shaken it
In the book I use the word ‘humiliated,’ and I think it was embarrassed and/or humiliated that it was causing all of this commotion
I didn’t mean to create a crisis or retraumatize
I’m really sorry.’ There was something almost apologetic.”
It’s through the ongoing landscape of these wounds and rifts (pieces of the stone literally broke off in the process of removing it) that Shimoda’s book travels
It casts itself into the past both as a spell and a net
hauling history from the depths of memories in both word and monument
conjuring this haunted past that he can neither let go of nor hold onto in the present
“How do we let go without forgetting?” Shimoda asks throughout as he visits camps and memorials
compiling notes from books and documentaries in his wide net and casting the spell of accretion of insight upon all of it
The book’s cover image — a photograph by his grandfather
Midori Shimoda — of a young man hauling some massive
unseen weight behind him with a rope and half-looking back while leaning forward
reveals itself as the driving metaphor with every chapter
When asked if he sees lessons of any kind in the history of the Japanese incarceration camps in anticipation of a second Trump administration that has openly promised to put immigrants in camps and deport them
It didn’t stop between Trump one and Trump two
It just figured out some PR strategy that made people forget because here was not a figure like Trump to sort of pin all of that anxiety on
All those facilities have been kept up by the Biden administration
I ask him at the end if there’s anything he learned after finishing the book from the process of writing it — any thoughts he might have been wrestling with that have since congealed
defeated laugh as though remembering a joke that he just realized was on him
‘We need to remember our history or else we’re doomed to repeat it.’ It’s so frustrating because it suggests that these things keep happening because of this ignorance or misunderstanding of history
But these things keep happening because power has an encyclopedic understanding of history
Knowing the history does not prevent it from happening; it just keeps it going
Several generations of people are more aware of this history [of the Japanese incarceration camps] as well as other histories of oppression of different communities
“My general feeling about memorials is that they’re not designed to inspire people to remember
Or they don’t necessarily invite remembrance
But they’re designed to enforce forgetting because they present a facet of something that ‘cannot be forgotten’ that is so multifaceted that it could never be encompassed by any memorial
When he realizes it’s time to pick up his daughter from school
the present seems to offer some relief from the weight of all this past
the trauma must lead to solidarity.” It’s almost like hope
and the author of “Hydra Medusa” (Nightboat Books
and “Evening Oracle” (Letter Machine Editions
which received the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America
He is also the co-editor of “To look at the sea is to become what one is: An Etel Adnan Reader” (Nightboat Books
2014) and an anthology of poetry on WWII Nikkei incarceration (forthcoming from Haymarket Books in 2025)
He currently lives in Colorado Springs and teaches at Colorado College
The Colorado Springs Independent captures the essence of this city
engaging with its political and environmental issues while highlighting its vibrant cultural scene
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will continue to work with the nation’s largest state trucking group at Shimoda Government Strategies
The California Trucking Association’s chief lobbyist has opened a lobbying firm
Chris Shimoda, CTA’s now-former SVP of government affairs, is principal and CEO of newly launched Shimoda Government Strategies, he announced on LinkedIn last week
He will continue to work with the nation’s largest state trucking association as principal lobbyist and regulatory affairs consultant
“With nearly two decades of experience at the crossroads of legislation
results-driven solutions for your Government Affairs needs,” Shimoda wrote on LinkedIn
and environmental policy—earning us a national reputation for tackling complex challenges head-on,” he added
Shimoda has worked for the state trucking group
He started with the association as manager of safety policy in 2009 before becoming its manager of environmental affairs
policy director and VP of governmental affairs
Shimoda was promoted to SVP in November 2021
Alongside other state and national trucking leaders
Shimoda has been among the most vocal opponents and closest monitors of the California Air Resources Board’s efforts to require the industry to adopt zero-emission trucks
His new firm offers legislative services including bill tracking, coalition building and advocacy, according to its website.
As CTA’s principal lobbyist and regulatory affairs consultant, “I'll have the privilege of continuing to work with many longtime friends and colleagues in the trucking industry,” Shimoda wrote.
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The trucks’ capabilities have impressed drivers and executives, the carrier said.
The Federal Reserve’s move was welcome news for an industry beleaguered by a prolonged freight recession.
Subscribe to Trucking Dive for top news, trends & analysis
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Sean McCoy is a writer from Arizona who currently teaches at Deep Springs College. His creative and critical writing have appeared or are forthcoming in FENCE, The Believer, Slow Poetry in America Newsletter, Sonora Review, and elsewhere.
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・ Japanese rider posts consistent 5-5-3 results in 250SX West racing・ Solid performance as Shimoda continues his recovery from injury
Honda HRC Progressive resumed 250SX West competition this weekend in Arlington
The event featured the second Triple Crown round of the year
testing riders with three intense races per class
Despite still suffering from injured fingers
Jo Shimoda put in a steady performance throughout the night
securing fourth overall after a strong third-place finish in the final race
Shimoda launched his CRF250RWE out of the gate in 250SX West race 1
grabbing the holeshot and leading the early laps
a mistake in the sand section dropped him to seventh
The Japanese rider had a steady ride in the second race
making passes to secure another fifth-place result
Shimoda delivered his best performance of the night
finishing third on the deteriorating track and earning fourth overall for the Triple Crown
SLR Honda’s Parker Ross finished 14th overall
while Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers took 17th
With Honda HRC Progressive’s factory riders Jett and Hunter Lawrence sidelined
capable satellite squads led the brand’s 450SX efforts
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis was the top Red Rider
Quadlock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy finished 10th overall
while his teammate Shane McElrath took 13th overall
set up a pop-up activation booth in the Honda HRC Progressive pits
・ Jett and Hunter Lawrence are still sidelined as they recover from surgeries
but Hunter attended the Arlington event to support his teammates
engage with fans and participate in an autograph session
Hunter was also featured in an interview for the broadcast
Honda HRC Progressive is considering possible substitute riders
but no decision has been made at this time
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda qualified fifth overall
securing a direct spot in the evening program
SLR Honda’s Parker Ross and Phoenix Racing Honda’s Gavin Towers finished third and fourth
Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis qualified eighth
with Quadlock Honda Racing’s Joey Savatgy and Shane McElrath securing ninth and 17th
・ Arlington was the series’ Military Appreciation Race
and the team sported custom Throttle Jockey graphics paying tribute to Virgil Leroy Irwin
Army tank commander who served in World War II
and the grandfather of Robert and Matt Davis of graphics sponsor Throttle Jockey
Irwin was part of the 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion
his bravery and service were recognized as part of Honda HRC Progressive’s tribute to the men and women of the armed forces
Honda HRC Progressive heads to Daytona International Speedway for round 8 of AMA Supercross
This event also marks the return of the 250SX East competition
Honda HRC Progressive took on the season's first 250SX East/West Showdown in Indianapolis
where both Jo Shimoda and Chance Hymas represented the team on their CRF250RWE race machines
Shimoda battled near the front early on before finishing sixth
while Hymas fought through adversity after an early fall but was unable to finish
Honda's satellite teams continued to lead the brand's efforts while the factory riders remained sidelined with injuries
Shimoda got a strong jump out of the gate and ran near the front early
After engaging in several battles on the soft
the Japanese rider crossed the finish line in sixth place
A tip-over in the whoops set him back early
a late crash on the over-under jump ended his night before the race was finished
Phoenix Racing Honda's Cullin Park finished 13th
with Quad Lock Honda Racing's Carson Mumford and Phoenix Racing Honda's Gavin Towers finishing 19th and 20th
Phoenix Racing Honda's Dylan Ferrandis delivered a solid performance in the 450SX main event
while Quad Lock Honda Racing's Shane McElrath claimed a top-10 result
Chance Hymas"The East/West showdown was a DNF for me
and then worked my way up to 11th from dead last
Then I hit a Tuff Block on the top of the over-under
which caused me to fall from the top of it onto the ground
Not a good night here in Indy; I need to bounce back in Birmingham
so I'm pretty happy with the healing process
I'm still struggling with decision-making with the motorcycle
and I think I couldn't really perform like myself
and the goal is to win again–we have to keep working as a team
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager"Results-wise
this wasn't a race to write home about; I don't think we showed what our guys are capable of
It was cool to have a lot of associates from Honda Ohio at the race
It's really cool to have that kind of connection to the four-wheel racing side of Honda HRC."
Media contact:Tati Ziemer // Jonnum Media // tati@jonnummedia.com // +1 (707) 888-9418 450SX Results
450SX Championship Points (after 9 of 17 rounds)
250SX East Region Championship Points (after 4 of 10 rounds)
250SX West Region Championship Points (after 6 of 10 rounds)
・Jo Shimoda leads from start to finish for 250SX West victory・2025 CRF250R wins in professional racing debut・Jett and Hunter Lawrence look forward to San Diego rebound
The 2025 AMA Supercross season kicked off on Saturday at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
with Honda HRC Progressive rider Jo Shimoda claiming the first 250SX West main event of the season with a wire-to-wire victory
both experienced misfortune in the 450SX main and notched frustrating results just outside the top 10
but they expect to bounce back next weekend in San Diego
Shimoda delivered an outstanding performance in the 250SX West class
leading from start to finish aboard his CRF250RWE to secure a dominant victory and the red plate heading into round 2
consistent laps until finishing 4.7 seconds ahead of the runner-up rider
Jett and Hunter Lawrence encountered difficulties on a tricky track that caught out many riders throughout the night
Jett became caught in the Tuff Blocks off the start and rounded the first turn in last place
That put him in last place once again–this time with a larger gap to the front
He did his best to mitigate the damage but could only climb to 12th before the checkered flag flew
and he advanced to fourth by about the midway point
the sand that had claimed his brother also caused Hunter to fall
but he remounted and managed to finish just ahead of Jett
The showing was obviously not what the brothers or team had hoped or worked for
but they nonetheless remain optimistic for the season ahead
Quadlock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath had a respectable showing in the main event to finish in 13th
・Jett and Hunter Lawrence were featured in Friday’s pre-season press conference
the teammates hit the track for a riding session with the other riders
・For the first time in over 750 AMA Supercross rounds
five premier-class champions were on the starting line together
Jett Lawrence and Chase Sexton both won crowns with Honda
Cooper Webb and Jason Anderson are also past champions
・The 450 class lineup also features seven other past champions from the 250 class who have not captured a premier class Supercross title
as well as a multi-time champion from MXGP
These 13 riders would all finish in the top 14
・Jett is trying to become only the second rider to win back-to-back championships to start his premier-class SX career (Jeremy McGrath won his first four with Honda)
・The Lawrence Brothers Supercross VIP experience is back for its second year. Included is early VIP check-in and privileged entry to the Lawrence Factory Fan Zone, a meet-and-greet with the Lawrence brothers, a track walk, lunch and more. More information is available here
・To recognize his status as reigning 450SX Champion
Jett ran a red number plate with a fluorescent-yellow number 1 on his CRF450RWE at the opener
the Australian will run the yellow digit for the entire series
a popular Southern California Powerhouse dealer
where they displayed a CRF150R and a CRF250R
・Shimoda’s 250SX victory was the third of his career
Shimoda joins other Red Riders who have topped the support class at Anaheim
・Jett Lawrence notched the second-best time in both qualifying sessions
while Jo Shimoda was fourth-quickest in 250SX West
Also of note was Phoenix Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis
・NBC’s opening show included a feature on the Lawrence family
・Jett Lawrence was presented with the 2024 SMX championship ring to close out the Race Day Live show
・On Friday evening, Honda’s social-media channels posted a video of Jett and Hunter Lawrence catching a private HondaJet
The brothers then transitioned to a pair of Acura NSX sportscars
reigning AMA Supercross and SuperMotocross champ Jett Lawrence was introduced with a skit suggesting he was late to arrive at the race
Jett walked on the stage before mounting his CRF450RWE and riding onto the field
Jett narrowly was delayed avoiding a crash that took out four riders
and he found himself fighting forward from outside of a qualifying position
Jett made steady progress through the pack and finished in fifth
Hunter Lawrence had a strong start in the second heat
he crossed the finish line in fourth place
・Other 450SX Red Riders to qualify through the heats were Quadlock Honda Racing’s Shane McElrath and Joey Savatgy
and SmarTop/Motoconcepts Honda’s Vince Friese
Ryan Breece finished in third to claim a qualifying position
・Shimoda sat mid-pack after the first 250SX West heat-race start
but he steadily advanced through the field to finish in fourth place
Also advancing through the heats was SmarTops/MotoConcepts Honda rider Noah Viney
・Shimoda set the fastest lap time in the 250SX main event
as the only rider in his class to dip into the 1:05 range
・Shimoda participated in the post-race press conference
・San Diego will mark the first time ever for Shimoda to hold the red plate
・Next up for Honda HRC Progressive is AMA Supercross round 2 this Saturday in San Diego
That put him in last place once again–this time with a larger gap to the front
Quadlock Honda Racing's Shane McElrath had a respectable showing in the main event to finish in 13th
Hunter Lawrence"It was a frustrating end result
but there were a lot of positives throughout the day and night show
I'm eager to get back to work with the team to come back swinging in San Diego."
Jo Shimoda"We got a win tonight at the first round
I'm really stoked with the improvements we made during the day
It was a good confidence booster for the upcoming rounds
Lars Lindstrom – Team Manager"I'm not sure how many of these bittersweet nights we've had in the past
but it was a familiar feeling to have one rider have a great night
our performance was actually better than it seems
with Hunter moving his way forward in the beginning until his unfortunate crash
and Jett having the fastest lap time by almost a second in the heat race
We definitely need to make some improvements
I don't think we need to panic about our results
so it's time to trust in ourselves and come back strong in San Diego."
Media contact:Tati Ziemer // Jonnum Media // tati@jonnummedia.com // +1 (707) 888-9418
450SX Championship Points (after 1 of 17 rounds)
250SX West Region Championship Points (after 1 of 10 rounds)
not long after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
military removed thousands of Americans of Japanese descent from their homes
Most of them were full citizens who had been born and raised in the United States
Families had just a few days to get their affairs in order before reporting to relocation centers, mostly in Western states. Roosevelt’s order affected about 120,000 Japanese Americans
Writer and poet Brandon Shimoda
who is fourth-generation Japanese American
says the impact of incarceration didn’t end with the war
Shimoda, who lives in Colorado Springs and teaches at Colorado College, is a descendant of several family members who were incarcerated in internment camps. He says his family’s stories helped inspire his newest book, The Afterlife Is Letting Go
He spoke with Erin O’Toole about the legacy of Japanese American incarceration
Brandon Shimoda will be part of a discussion on untold histories, this Saturday, Feb. 15 during Fort Collins Book Fest. Find the full lineup of Book Fest authors and events here
It’s crazy to think that a pitboard changed the course of the 250SX West Region
The odds of Jo Shimoda hitting it again and suffering two broken fingers is highly unlikely
But here we sit three rounds into the series with Jo barley hanging on
It was truly a race-time decision if Shimoda was even going to compete Saturday at round 3 in Anaheim
He didn’t ride all week and was going to attempt practice and decide then
he easily advanced through his heat to the main event
Shimoda gutted through to a sixth-place finish
“I’m honestly just hanging onto the bike; it’s really tough on me,” Shimoda said after the race
but I put good effort in the main event to try to score some points
I just don’t want to let this [championship] go; I feel like I’ve got to stay in it
Next week hopefully I’ll be a little better and stronger
With Julien Beaumer finishing runner-up to Haiden Deegan
Shimoda now trails by 13 entering Glendale this weekend
The bad news: it is the first Triple Crown event
meaning he will have to race three times with every race counting
the West Region goes on an extended break following Glendale
“I’m so proud of Jo for surviving the night
and hopefully next weekend he’s just a little bit better and can then take the next three weeks to let his hand completely heal and come out swinging for the rest of the series,” said team manager Lars Lindstrom
Whether he is able to stay in the championship fight is unknown
but Jo has certainly earned new fans by trying
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two Yonsei activists and descendants of incarceration
visited the offices of the Nakamoto Group in Washington
also a descendant of incarceration—to deliver a petition calling for the termination of her company’s contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
was contracted to conduct annual inspections of approximately 120 of ICE’s migrant detention facilities
by everyone from immigrant rights groups to the Department of Homeland Security
the consequences of which were the increasingly fatal conditions of migrant detention in the United States
were joined by activists from Sanctuary DMV and 18 Million Rising
They arrived at the second floor of a nondescript office building carrying eight bankers boxes
each containing the names of a thousand signatories to the petition and several envelopes containing statements prepared by other Japanese American community organizations
They were making this visit on behalf of the community and were carrying
Her maternal grandparents were incarcerated in Poston
an internment camp in Arizona for Japanese Americans during WWII
Nakamoto might have been the one visiting someone by whom she felt betrayed
Because even though Morris’s and Sumida’s visit was an action against state violence
the energy was that of family members staging an intervention
appealing to another family member from the heart of a shared trauma in an attempt to bring them back from the underworld
the Nakamoto Group had been under scrutiny for its inspection practices: their preferential interview process
only interviewing people who spoke English
not Spanish or Indigenous languages; failing to report unsafe and unhealthy conditions
DHS released a report finding that the Nakamoto Group “misrepresented the work performed in evaluating the actual conditions of the facilities,” that the inspectors were “not always thorough,” were often unable to complete inspections
and conducted inconsistent and insufficient interviews
eleven senators—including Elizabeth Warren
and Cory Booker—wrote a letter to Nakamoto demanding information about the company’s contracts and procedures
Congress held a hearing to examine whether DHS was “doing enough” (Congress’s words) to oversee the conditions of ICE detention facilities
It was the beginning of her understanding of what camp meant
These were among the official calls for accountability
But none were as significant and searing as Morris’s and Sumida’s
because they alone were appealing from the specificity of a shared experience to the conscience of Nakamoto herself
Morris’s and Sumida’s visit was livestreamed
The five activists emerged from an elevator and carried their boxes down a hallway to Suite 240
On the wall inside the door was an enormous fan with two goddesses riding a dragon above a sea of waves
On top of a file cabinet was a geisha doll
in a tone that suggested she knew why they were there
“Is there anyone who can speak on her behalf?” “No
they’re all out.” “Would we be able to speak to you?”
When Morris explained that they were delivering a petition calling for the Nakamoto Group to end its contracts with ICE
the woman began calculating her way out of the room
Sumida turned to the livestream: “We’re hoping to be able to deliver not only the petition but approximately two hundred paper cranes
which were folded in memory of all those who have died in ICE custody
We are hoping that the Nakamoto Group will be able to accept these cranes as a first step to hold themselves accountable for being complicit in mass incarceration and abuses of immigrants.”
A large man appeared from behind the wall and stood at the edge of the room
explained that they had a petition and statements they wanted to deliver to Nakamoto
could they leave them with the man or the woman
The man offered so many excuses—“No one’s here who can accept them,” “I work here part-time,” “I’m on a tight deadline”—that it seemed as if he did not want the visitors to leave
Morris asked why they could not simply leave the petition and the statements on the desk
When it seemed that the impasse was not going to hold any longer
“We came here carrying a lot of pain from other members of our community.” They spoke plaintively
“We just wanted a chance to be able to share what Ms
The way that she has used her history is disgusting
From what happened to us and our families during WWII
My grandfather couldn’t keep going to school
His father was arrested after Pearl Harbor and taken to a Department of Justice camp.” It was the first moment
in which the potential abstraction of the past was clarified in the invocation of a person
“I don’t know what that has to do with our contract,” the woman said
Nakamoto spoke specifically about her family’s history of incarceration during WWII
She invoked that history and that is not just her history
The desk in the center of the room reminded me of a desk I had seen in an exhibition in the Presidio
San Francisco: a replica of the desk of John DeWitt
commanding general of the Western Defense Command
which was formed in March 1941 to control the Pacific coast
“It makes no difference whether he is an American citizen or not.” The desk was on an elevated platform in the center of the main gallery
is what a desk looks like prior to becoming a museum piece
when it is still in the midst of its violence: inconspicuous
one highlighting—while commemorating—the early twenty-first century phase of the unending tradition of migrant detention in the United States
Jennifer Nakamoto spoke before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management on September 26
sorry.” She introduced the Nakamoto Group as a “woman-owned
disadvantaged business,” although she did not clarify the meaning of “small” or “disadvantaged.” From 2015 to 2019
the Nakamoto Group received $22,538,084 from ICE
“My great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from Japan,” she said
“My maternal grandparents were born in California
the Presidential Order was issued to incarcerate all Japanese
My maternal family were living in California and had to relinquish all of their property including any businesses that they had
They were given one trash bag to fill of personal items to take with them and had to leave everything else behind
Our family was spread out to various internment camps across the country
My maternal grandparents were incarcerated in a Japanese internment camp in Arizona
Nakamoto recounted the origins of the Nakamoto Group
Her answers to questions regarding basic information about the Nakamoto Group’s practices were confused
She turned around several times to look at someone in the gallery
“What is the value of your current contracts with ICE?” “When do your current contracts expire?” “How many days’ notice do you provide detention facilities prior to an inspection?” “Sixty,” she said
“Thirty.” Representative Dan Crenshaw asked if she could give an example of a “life safety” issue
which was one of the areas of inspection she mentioned
She admitted that she did not know the health and safety standards by heart
Representative Dina Titus cited the statistic that during a year-and-a-half span
migrants had been put in solitary confinement 121 times
She asked Nakamoto if she could explain the difference between solitary confinement and segregation
“It wasn’t until I watched her face simple questions that I got a sense of her full betrayal,” wrote Sharon Yamato in Rafu Shimpo
“It seemed she decided it might be helpful to use her Japanese American heritage to try to make us forget why she was there and to give the impression that she’s somehow connected to the immigrants she’s responsible for protecting.”
“I was so upset in the office that I felt like my face was
I felt like everything in my body was just
I think there was probably a part of me that was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to say the things that I needed to say
when her professor asked everyone to introduce themselves
“I’m half-Japanese,” to which her professor said
and attended a high school where she was the only Japanese American
She had never been asked that question before
She told her class that her family was incarcerated during WWII
that her grandparents met and married in camp
but that she had been told not to ask questions about it
“I remember my parents warning me that any reminder of camp would potentially set my grandmother off,” Morris told me
I think I probably learned not to ask about it before I learned what camp was.” It was the beginning of her understanding of what camp meant
which burned into Morris’s sense of identity
“I knew there was a lot of intense trauma and shame around it
And I think the shame was the biggest thing that stuck with me because that’s the thing that I think I inherited
It was just so clear to me that being Japanese American was very loaded
Nakamoto was asked if she could explain the difference between solitary confinement and segregation
Her professor gave her the assignment of talking to her grandmother
as if the silence would be dispelled by the mandate of a school assignment
which her grandmother answered without emotion
“There’s a big part of me that hoped that if we could be in a room with her
that we would be able to connect,” Morris said
“The thing that her family went through is the thing that our family went through
and even her actions—using our history to try to justify this terrible thing that she’s doing—I know where that comes from
but we were also coming there as community.” Nakamoto had become emblematic of a kind of assimilation that Anne Anlin Cheng describes
as “the repetition of a violence (against an other that is also the self ) that she has already experienced.”
The activists carried the boxes and petitions and statements and tsuru out of the office
They left the building and gathered on the sidewalk to give their final statements to the livestream
Sumida spoke directly to Nakamoto: “Your use of your history to shield yourself is a betrayal
You have a lot of healing to do for yourself and for the harm you have caused.”
I remember thinking how generous “healing” sounded
That despite the betrayal and the harm that Nakamoto was causing
Sumida demanded that she find a way to heal
ultimately affirming process through which Nakamoto might nurture herself and her ancestors—bruised
by the perverse and brutal reality of their future in Nakamoto’s work—to a place of health
Because the person who has fallen farthest from community might still be considered a member of that community
Excerpted from The Afterlife is Letting Go © 2024 by Brandon Shimoda
Reprinted with permission of City Lights Books
In a media environment that tolerates tail-chasing
The Baffler is a rare publication willing to shake the pundit class free of their own worst impulses
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we rely on the good will of generous readers like you
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so you can ridicule us online for years to come—please consider making a one-time donation to The Baffler
Brandon Shimoda is the author of several books of poetry and prose
2023) and The Grave on the Wall (City Lights
His collection of essays on the memory/forgetting of Japanese American incarceration
Read this week's magazine
In The Afterlife Is Letting Go (City Lights
poet Brandon Shimoda reflects on attempts to memorialize the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII
you talk about the “neverending contest and crisis of memorialization.” Can you explain what you mean by that
is really trying to understand memorialization as not necessarily consoling us or offering a way to connect but as a way of distancing ourselves from an event
Thinking about the Japanese American community in particular and all of the different ways that we memorialize incarceration in Japanese history
There is always some contest between opposing viewpoints
So the memorial becomes more of a reflection of what we’re undergoing in the present than a representation of the event we’re memorializing
Memorializing either comes from a crisis or is presenting a crisis
What was your method for visiting sites and gathering material
I usually go into a situation like a journalist
with the intention of finding out information
I guess partly in the way that a poet gets distracted
I want to connect with the particular thing being memorialized
I discover that what I’m distracted by is telling me something more insightful or illuminating
You copiously quote from conversations with the descendants of incarcerated Japanese Americans
Why was it important for you to include their voices
I think this research was born in a way out of loneliness
so talking with these people was a very practical response to feeling like I’m wandering through these landscapes alone
These landscapes and the subject didn’t really come to life for me until I invited other people in
because what they were sharing with me was so beautiful
I was writing about a collective experience
and I felt like if the book was just from my subjectivity
then I would be defining that collective experience
What might a more effective or healing form of memorialization look like
It’s not something that can be externalized
Maybe I’ll be in conversation with somebody
and we’re just having a meal or emailing or on a bus ride together
And there could just be a moment of really intense and really warm feeling
something is transpiring between us or around us
It’s not something that can be expressed or contained
and you have to appreciate its fleetingness.
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2024 10:38 AM EDTJapan’s Team Honda HRC rider Jo Shimoda will return to racing in his home country for the first time in two years
competing on the brand-new 2025 CRF450R in the 7th round of the D.I.D All Japan Motocross Championship at Off Road Village in Kawagoe
This event will mark Jo's debut race on the Honda CRF450R
taking place just one weekend after the SuperMotocross World Championship Finals in Las Vegas
Shimoda is recently recovering from a collarbone break sustained at Round 9 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship in Unadilla
he is expected to compete in North Carolina next weekend for Round 1 of the SMX Playoffs through the finals in Las Vegas
where he finished 2nd last year during the SMX inaugural season
He is qualified 4th in combined Supercross and Pro Motocross points
Shimoda is Japan’s first and only rider to secure victories in Monster Energy AMA Supercross
Seeing Jo on the new Honda CRF450R in racing action will be good to witness
Photo Courtesy of Honda Racing Corporation
Here is the full press release from Honda:
The Japanese native has past experience in the JMX championship, having campaigned the Meihan round with another manufacturer in 2022, when he posted 1-1 moto finishes in the 450 class.
“I’m stoked on the opportunity to race in my home country,” Shimoda said. “The fans there show me so much support, and I want to thank them by going back to race as often as I can.”
A photographer’s camera bag is the unsung hero of the working professional
photographers simply could not do their jobs
Backpacks are and will always be a highly contentious and subjective debate
Everyone has their favorite and because there are so many different expectations for what a bag should do
few can agree on the best backpack for every photographer
Backpacks need to perform a few tasks well
and that list of requirements changes depending on the envisioned use case
while a day-use bag needs to be light and mobile
a travel bag needs to be comfortable to wear for long periods of time and able to hold more than just camera equipment
Adventure backpacks have a whole different set of requirements like the ability to support extremely precise adjustments and must have an internal rigid support system
photographers expect their bags to be durable and long-lasting as well as secure
I have actually argued in the past that it is impossible to make a single backpack that works for everyone
we won’t be naming a best backpack for every photographer
we’ve broken down our ratings into seven categories that we think cover the most use cases that photographers can expect to run into
these are our recommendations for the best backpacks and bags photographers can buy
all bags below have been tested by PetaPixel staff to verify recommendations
Price: $300
which does everything the Everyday Backpack does better — and more
Gura Gear managed to make a smaller backpack that can actually carry more equipment
While it’s not deep enough to hold a larger camera like a Nikon Z9 or a Canon 1DX
it easily holds other cameras like any from Sony
It features a roll-top so it can expand to carry soft items like a sweatshirt or jacket
has multiple pockets all around the bag for various accessories
and has a properly divided interior that holds a variety of lenses and other camera equipment
The material and build quality of the Kiboko City is top notch and while the bag isn’t waterproof
everything but the zippers will repel water thanks to being fully encased in X-pac fabric
Beyond those basics, the Kiboko City has side panel camera access, a magnetic hiding water bottle side pocket, a center channel tripod holder
The bag is a little bit more expensive than Peak Design’s backpack
Note: At the time of publication, the Gura Gear Kiboko City backpacks were still being offered on Kickstarter
Make sure you do your own research into any crowdfunding project you’re considering backing
While we aim to only share legitimate and trustworthy campaigns
there’s always a real chance that you can lose your money when backing any crowdfunded project
PetaPixel does not earn any commission from Kickstarter projects
Price: $500 (includes the extra-large photo core)
If you aren’t an Adventure photographer
odds are high that you don’t quite understand the hype behind Shimoda’s products
then you probably appreciate how adaptable
That’s really what it comes down to: high utility for an extremely tight use case
has an internal rigid frame that distributes weight evenly across the wearer’s back
and has a removable modular core system that makes it adaptable to the various kinds of adventures a photographer could have
Shimoda saw a need in the market that was underserved and has truly excelled at making near-perfect bags to fit that specific niche
These bags can take an absolute beating and never tear or fray
and that’s important for something that’s going to be exposed to the elements immediately and for years
For those looking at alternatives, the Atlas Adventure Pack is a great choice
the Adventure Pack is not short on storage
The well-thought-out design allows photographers to carry camera gear
The only issue is actually getting your hands on one
Another excellent option is the NYA-EVO Fjord
which we recommend just about as high as the Shimoda Explore
The Fjord bags are extremely well made and have many of the same benefits seen with the Shimoda series
Note: At the time of publication, the NYA-EVO Fjord backpacks were still being offered on Kickstarter
Shimoda nails adventure so it’s no surprise that they hit another home run for travel
The Explore series is brand new and takes everything right about the Action X70 and slims it down into a more manageable size
The excellent build quality and modularity remain but in a package that is much easier to travel with
The company made a few adjustments to the design that I found make is really great for travel both over land, sea, and air. Firstly, the two shoulder straps have easily accessible pockets that can hold a passport or a smartphone easily which I find very helpful when I need to get on a plane
The bag is lightweight when empty and can hold just enough camera equipment to satisfy a photographer who likes to travel light but also still keeps enough room for a few other basic essentials
It maintains the rigid internal frame found in Shimoda’s other bags as well
which means it is able to evenly distribute weight across the wearer’s back for more comfortable long-term use
These bags were built with carry-on in mind, and the Shimoda Explore 35 V2 qualifies in this regard for those who fly in the United States in “premium seating options,” while the Explore 30 v2 is sized for stricter European Union guidelines
The Explore 25 V2 is compact enough that it will travel almost anywhere and easily fit under an airline seat
This isn’t the kind of bag that you can bring and carry everything you need for an international journey
that is more a duffel or the adventure category’s game
this bag is one that you can comfortably wear all day between trips back to a home base
Price: $200, plus $60 for the camera insert
Moment isn’t traditionally known for making backpacks or hiking equipment, so it might come as a surprise that the company’s first attempt at a true multi-purpose hiking and camera bag is a real winner. We took a look at the Moment Strohl Mountain Light 45L Backpack and found it to be extremely lightweight
and of superb construction for what is a really low price of $200
Moment says it designed the bag along with Alex Strohl, a French photographer and adventurer, and put emphasis on keeping the bag lightweight while also durable. In fact, at launch, Moment said it was the lightest outdoor camera bag ever made
as the bag is one of the most robust we’ve tested from a materials standpoint and
it weighs nearly nothing which is hugely important to backpackers
which means weight is evenly distributed down your back which makes a big difference the heavier you load it
My only gripe with the Moment Strohl Mountain backpack is that the waist straps aren’t particularly rigid
which means they can’t bear weight without combining with taught pressure
those who wear this backpack are unlikely to do so without tightening down the waist straps firmly
so this complaint is likely not a big deal to most who would be interested in the pack
Price: $400
Think Tank has absolutely nailed the rolling bag niche. The company actually has a line of very capable rollers, but the Think Tank Airport International V3 is likely the best for most
holds a solid amount of photography equipment
Rollers really need to get just a few key things right but few companies nail these fundamentals like Think Tank does with the International: a good handle
Think Tank’s collapsible handle is exactly what you want to see in a robust yet lightweight design
the wheels make nary a sound when rolling down an airport hallway
the bag is easy to open and features multiple pockets and pouches
and the International is named such because it complies with overhead bin size restrictions for both domestic and international travel
Price: $260 for the bag alone and $328, which includes one essentials bag and a camera cube
The HEXAD is a hybrid backpack and duffel bag but is most certainly useful as both
It uses a modular core system that is easy to put in and remove
so the bag can be more than just a way to transport photography equipment
The system is cavernous and spacious without being overly huge
It achieves this by its ability to open and collapse based on how much needs to be stowed inside of it
it’s a rather impressively big duffel
Its versatility and functionality are really based on its ability to swap between these two forms and everything in between
The build quality of the Wandrd HEXAD is great too
and I don’t expect it to wear out any time soon
I wish it shipped with a single over-the-shoulder strap that makes it easy to hoist quickly without wearing it like a true backpack
but it’s a minor complaint that is easily rectified
Price: $219
The “messenger” class of bags tends to be controversial, as many do not like how all of the weight tends to balance on one shoulder. There have been multiple attempts by different brands to address this common problem and we think WotanCraft’s Pilot 10L does the best job with the fewest compromises
The design is based on a mix of classic military gear and modern outdoor equipment, which means it has all the advantages of accepting interchangeable external attachments (which WotanCraft calls Armor Modules) but has modern touches that make it more rugged and
too: it easily snaps closed but must be slid horizontally in order to open back up
It’s easy to do once you understand the motion but it has the advantage of being both easy and fast to close while also being very secure
It ships with two dividers for cameras and lenses and the back slot can hold up to a 14-inch MacBook Pro (or an iPad Pro)
The front features a hidden pouch that can be used to hold an umbrella or a jacket and a tripod can be mounted to the bottom
The Pilot comes in four sizes: a 10L, a 7L
The 7L and below are really too small for most uses while the 10L feels
We think an 8L would be a great middle option but until that happens
the ability to expand and contract with your daily load thanks to the optional Armor mods and hidden pockets makes the WotanCraft Pilot 10L our top pick in the messenger class of bags
If you want something a bit thicker and heftier, then our previous top-pick the $220 Peak Design Everyday Messenger V2 is still solid
it lacks the ability to accept external attachments and is very heavy when empty
Price: $60
I cannot overstate how important a good tech pouch is and how having one can be life-changing for a photographer who regularly travels. Before I had a tech pouch, I was cramming cables and adapters and memory card readers into side pockets and constantly losing track of them. The Peak Design Tech Pouch changed all that
The level of organization that the Tech Pouch affords frees up so much mental energy when I’m on the road
but it’s so well made that it deserves a call out
I’ve seen several other tech pouches from other companies but none nail it like Peak
The exterior of the pouch is a tough material that doesn’t attract pet hair or dust like small bags like this typically do
and the interior is divided into two main sections with a center divider that holds five additional sections
All seven of these compartments are visible from the second you open the pouch
I am able to store and organize every little piece of tech I need to charge or connect any time, all at my fingertips in an easy-to-see layout. While the Moment Tech Organizer is close (and less expensive at $50)
Peak Design right now makes the best one we have tested and for $60
Image credits: Header image courtesy of Moment
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2024 10:00 AM EDTTeam Honda HRC released a statement following the final round of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship at Ironman Raceway regarding Jett Lawrence's and Jo Shimoda's return to complete the team's four-rider lineup leading into the SuperMotocross World Championship Playoffs Round 1 in Charlotte
the newly crowned 2024 Monster Energy AMA 450SX Supercross Champion and last year's 450MX Pro Motocross Champion
was sidelined from the Pro Motocross Championship after Round 5 at Southwick in July with a thumb injury that required surgery shortly following the practice crash
he is confirmed to return to defend his 450SMX Championship for Round 1 of the Playoffs.Jett was also part of the broadcast from this weekend's final round of the Pro Motocross series from Ironman
He is ready for the challenge and what an adrenaline junkie he truly is
starting to find his flow in the later stages of the series
fell while chasing the lead during the second moto at the Unadilla National and Round 10 of the Pro Motocross Championship
which ultimately ended with breaking his collarbone
The team says that Shimoda is expected to return from his injury for the first SMX round
Jo placed 2nd last year in the inaugural SMX championship series
Photo Courtesy of Ayala Media / Josh Davey
Here is the press release regarding Jett and Jo's return from the team:
After missing most of his AMA Pro Motocross title-defense season with a thumb injury, Jett Lawrence is confirmed to return for his SuperMotocross title defense. Jo Shimoda is also expected to return from his collarbone injury for the first SuperMotocross round, although that is not yet confirmed.From Lars Lindstrom (Team Manager): "We're all extremely excited to have all four riders back for the SMX series, and hopeful to add more championships to our collection."
Honda Racing Corporation announced today that Team Honda HRC rider Jo Shimoda will take part in the seventh round of the D.I.D All Japan Motocross Championship
The event takes place on September 28 and 29
one week after completion of the SuperMotocross series
who finished fourth in the 2024 AMA Supercross 250SX West series and turned in three overall podium results in the AMA Pro Motocross 250 series before his collarbone injury
will compete in Japan aboard the new 2025 CRF450R
Shimoda's collarbone should not be an issue at that point
The Japanese native has past experience in the JMX championship
having campaigned the Meihan round with another manufacturer in 2022
when he posted 1-1 moto finishes in the 450 class
"I'm stoked on the opportunity to race in my home country," Shimoda said
and I want to thank them by going back to race as often as I can."
"It's great that Jo is going back to Japan to compete in front of his home fans
as well as our partners at Honda Motor and HRC," said Brandon Wilson
American Honda Manager of Racing & Advertising
"The support we receive from Japan is such a vital component of our success
and opportunities like this are a great way for us to show our appreciation
Last year Trey Canard did an exceptional job at the Saitama round
giving the CR Electric Proto its race debut
and we're confident that Jo will have a positive showing aboard the new CRF450R."
About Honda Power Sports & ProductsHonda Power Sports & Products is a business unit of American Honda Motor Co.
marketing and operational activities for power equipment and powersports products through independent authorized Honda retail dealers in the United States
Honda powersports products include motorcycles
Honda power equipment products include generators
Media contact:Danny Gonzalez // Jonnum Media // danny@jonnummedia.com // +1 (805) 915-7889
2025 12:49 AM ESTWhat a chaotic night of racing for the start of the first round of 2025 SMX and Monster Energy AMA Supercross season
Honda HRC Progressive's Japan's Jo Shimoda wins Anaheim 1 and leads the 250SX West Championship heading into San Diego for Round 2
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Chase Sexton claims his first Anaheim 1 win and lets all the chaos ensue behind him to take the red plate into Round 2 in San Diego next weekend.
By Zach NewberryZach Newberry is a dedicated motocross journalist with over 20 years of experience in the sport as both a racer and a writer
The following is from the prologue to The Afterlife Is Letting Go by Brandon Shimoda
saw a “rare and unusual flower” on the far side of a barbed wire fence
The Japanese man had lived in the United States for forty years
He was one of 8,130 Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans incarcerated in Topaz
a concentration camp in the Sevier Desert of west-central Utah
and one of the more than 125,000 who were incarcerated in prisons and camps throughout the U.S
seven months since the camp opened (September 11)
He had dinner with a friend in the mess hall that night—the stoves
are still there—then went for a walk along the southwestern edge of camp
four strands of barbed wire held up with tree limbs
the friend he had dinner with (Karl Akiya) visited the site and saw
an “unusual flower.” He speculated that Wakasa was reaching through the fence to pick the flower when he was shot
Another story is that Wakasa was walking his dog
Another is that he was running after the dog
Another is that the dog got caught in the fence
In her memoir, Desert Exile, Yoshiko Uchida writes that Wakasa was looking for “arrowheads, trilobites, or unusual stones.” In her YA novel Journey to Topaz—a fictionalization of Desert Exile—Uchida writes that Wakasa was “reaching for an interesting stone.”
“Many of the children were told that Wakasa was looking for a flower or a fossil,” said TT Takemoto
in an interview about their film Warning Shot (2016)
which takes a Rashomon-like approach to telling the story of Wakasa’s murder
reported that Wakasa was crawling under the fence to escape
“and because he was an elderly man he didn’t know what he was doing,” said George Shimamoto
In her memoir, I Call To Remembrance, Toyo Suyemoto writes that “the old man, in the habit of strolling along the fence for exercise, had no intention of escaping.” “He couldn’t have been trying to escape,” writes Kiku Hughes in her graphic novel Displacement
“He knew as well as any of us that there’s nowhere to go out there.” Beyond the fence was desert
The shot that killed Wakasa was fired from three hundred yards away by a white man in a guard tower
Wakasa may or may not have seen the white man
may or may not have fired a warning shot or shots
Wakasa may or may not have heard the man calling out
The shot that killed Wakasa was at least the tenth shot fired by guards at the Japanese Americans in Topaz
which may or may not mean that the first nine shots missed
He claimed that he “hollered” at Wakasa four times
“turned and started to climb the fence,” so he “fired one shot to frighten” him
To have shot Wakasa at three hundred yards
Philpott must have been holding him very tightly in his sights
He was court-martialed and tried for manslaughter. A jury of military personnel found him not guilty. He was acquitted anyway. The camp population, withheld from the truth of its own execution, was not made aware of this. “Particulars and facts of the matter were never satisfactorily disclosed to the residents,” writes Miné Okubo in her graphic memoir, Citizen 13660
Philpott’s charge sheet lists fourteen witnesses: ten military police officers
three War Relocation Authority [WRA] officials
The youngest witness (not listed) was likely Ron Kiino
He was playing with a friend beneath Guard Tower 8 when he heard shouting above and looked up
when people asked what he remembered about camp
The variations in the story of Wakasa’s murder—which
in the maelstrom of disinformation and the withholding of evidence
began to flow almost immediately—have become part of the story
parlor game aspect of trying to guess what Wakasa was doing
The variations reproduce what Jackie Wang calls a “guilt-innocence schematization.” If Wakasa was trying to escape
If Philpott thought Wakasa was trying to escape but Wakasa was reaching for a flower
then it was Philpott’s misunderstanding that ended Wakasa’s life
and its reinforcement of the racism of white America
“is just code for nonthreatening to white civil society.”
gathered smaller stones and a bag of cement
The Issei must have summoned it from the void left in the absence of their friend and brother
The monument was made to console Wakasa’s spirit
The stone was imbued with the perspective of eternity
That is where it came from: the ancient lake
would transcend the memory of those who were there
and would see Topaz and its eventual ruin beyond the end
The government ordered that the monument be destroyed
/ of deep space and reconciliation,” writes Claire Kageyama-Ramakrishnan in her poem “Tale of the Black Diamond.” When the monument disappeared
it transmigrated into the realm of collective imagination
the grave was no longer delimited by the fence or Topaz or the desert or Utah
the most general and the most specific reminder of why the Japanese Americans were incarcerated and what could happen to them on any given day in or outside of camp
When the Issei were ordered to destroy the stone
that diagrams the exact location of Wakasa’s murder
the guard towers to the north and south of where Wakasa was walking; it records the distance between Philpott and Wakasa as nine hundred and forty-three feet
six inches; it notes that there was a “mild westerly wind,” and that Wakasa was found face “up
by recording every detail and the distance
was treating the loss of life with respect,” Ukai said
The first time she heard about Wakasa was when she was 10
Her mother was talking about Topaz when her voice suddenly changed
“They didn’t have to kill him!” she shouted
“The Demolished Monument,” which she published as part of 50 Objects/50 Stories
They brought Shimamoto’s map (from Ukai’s essay)
“We were hoping to find maybe a few fragments of concrete,” Farrell said
They started from the footings of Guard Tower 8
measures about 4 feet long by 1½ feet wide,” they wrote in an article for Discover Nikkei
“Its thickness is unknown: it rises less than 3 inches above the ground
but is massive and seemingly unmovable.”
“What did you feel when you saw it?” Ukai asked Farrell
this is where his friends put up a monument
it makes me emotional just to think about.”
A meeting was called to discuss what should be done with the stone
and members of the Topaz Museum—fifteen miles from Topaz
in the town of Delta—agreed that it should remain in the ground
“Excavation and removal are by their nature irreversible and destructive acts,” he said
“You can’t un-ring that bell.”
Lau-Ozawa’s grandparents and great-grandparents were incarcerated in the Gila River concentration camp
on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona; much of his work is devoted to close reading the site
He reiterated the “oppressive forces” that resulted in the stone being buried
and invoked the Issei’s “touch and interaction with the soil and stone,” which he felt when he visited
“I was able to stand next to it and lay my hand upon it,” he told me
hired a local backhoe company to remove the stone and relocate it to the museum
“Remove” and “relocate” are resonant
the Senior Officer of the Utah State Historic Preservation Office
those museum board members who lived close enough (i.e.
neither of the two Japanese American board members)
A proper excavation might have included setting up a grid
then pulled with a forklift and chains into the excoriating light of the twenty-first century
Fragments of stone and pieces of concrete—the monument’s original base
and placed on a piece of carpet on a wooden pallet
The site of Wakasa’s murder was left unmarked
the hole in the ground—five feet deep—backfilled with dirt
Subject line: “Rock.” “Just a quick report on this morning,” the email began
“It only took a couple of hours to remove the dirt and pull the stone out of the hole,” she wrote
adding that “a small piece flipped off.” The last line of the email: “The crack was not a factor.”
“I didn’t expect it to have this physical effect on me,” as if her mother’s emotions from the dinner table a lifetime ago were
I was stunned to learn that you lifted the Wakasa monument this morning
You appear not to understand that the place where a member of our community was murdered
and where that crime was memorialized by camp inmates
In a similar way our agency and our ability to be involved has been taken away from us once again
and psychotherapist specializing in community trauma
who was born in the Tule Lake concentration camp after her parents were relocated there from Topaz
You have robbed us of a precious moment in time
So heartbreaking to know that you would not consider the meaning of such a moment for all of us survivors and descendants to be a part of a powerful healing experience to uncover the painful burden we carry about our family’s suffering
an artist born in Topaz—her father was the editor of the Topaz Times
and her mother wrote for it—who runs the Takahashi Foundation
a charitable organization that supports the Japanese American community
she noted the “special opportunity” that the stone’s unearthing had produced
and urged the museum to include Japanese Americans in telling its story
“Why not invite Japanese Americans to communicate about what it’s been like to be Japanese American?”
This time her email was co-signed by the museum board
“We understand your concerns and deep feelings,” the email began
The description of the removal was more comprehensive
There were numerous assurances that the removal and relocation were executed profession- ally and according to the advice of archeologists
“Since the rock is safe….”
now exposed—achieved the protection it needed
the director introduced into the story of the stone’s removal and relocation a concern that had not
was in danger of being vandalized or destroyed
and that that was the reason why it had to be removed right away
the director cited examples of vandalism around Topaz
entirely visible and accessible memorials to Wakasa—a sign mounted on a metal post
a handwritten plaque near the camp’s sewage plant
a tree trunk carved IN MEMORY WAKASA—had not been vandalized
whose location could only be known to readers of Discover Nikkei or 50 Objects
who would then have to measure out—starting where
with what?—nine hundred and forty-three feet
a group of camp survivors and descendants (including Ukai
They sent a letter to the museum outlining measures to “remedy” the situation
including by conducting an archeological assessment
making public the video of the stone’s removal
and apologizing for the desecration of the memorial site
The letter referred to the removal as “crude
reckless,” and a violation of the museum’s mission
the opening commitment of which is “To preserve the Topaz site and its WWII history.”
a group formed in 2013 by Topaz descendants as a “direct link between the Topaz Museum and the Topaz community,” published a letter defending the museum’s actions
citing “the climate of vicious anti-Asian hate” that necessitated the immediate removal of the monument
The climate was—and is—real and relentless
and stretches deep into even Asianless landscapes
“the museum failed to notify the community in advance of the removal
thereby triggering anger and leading some to conclude that it acted with callous indifference.”
The museum’s “haste” was “unconscionable,” wrote Karen Korematsu
who famously refused the exclusion order and fought incarceration all the way to the Supreme Court
“All incarceration sites and Indigenous lands need to be viewed as sacred,” she wrote
“Accountability and transparency are the only way to stop multi-generational trauma across all racial communities.”
does it mean to protect a 2,000-pound stone
The WMC and the Topaz Museum each expressed their commitment to the stone’s protection
in their ideas of how to carry out that commitment
The museum believed that they were protecting the stone from potential harm
The WMC believed that the museum caused exactly the kind of harm from which it claimed to be protecting it
They could not understand how people in the community could defend the actions of the museum and place the museum’s actions above the community’s interests
Those who defended the actions of the museum could not understand how the WMC could defame the institution that was preserving their history
Because the museum was giving space to a history that was
to criticize the museum threatened the already precarious nature of Japanese American memory and amounted to an act of disloyalty—to the museum
The rift was formed during the war and widened along the question of loyalty—how loyal the Japanese Americans were to the United States
how loyal the United States was to the Japanese Americans; that had already been answered
The Japanese Americans being were being forced not only into proving their loyalty—through their movements
through their responses to a loyalty questionnaire—but into a willingness to do so
from those on their deathbed to those born one minute ago
became a symbol of how much and how deeply
they subscribed and adhered to the kind of conditional
exclusionary Americanism they were being offered—which the collaborationist Japanese American Citizens League [JACL] was zealous to endorse
The community was entrapped in a series of limited viewpoints and positions
in which were implied an ethics of right and wrong—ways to attend to history
The pinnacle proof of loyalty was achieved in the community policing itself—people accusing each other of being disloyal
to individuals or to the meaning and momentum of their story
The pinnacle was topped by the flag of each person growing accustomed to also policing themselves
a system in which white people—friends and neighbors
With a 2,000-pound stone wedged—risen—into the rift
the question—the crisis—of how best to take care of itself
From the prologue to The Afterlife Is Letting Go by Brandon Shimoda
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Honda HRC announced in their press release this afternoon that Jo Shimoda has a broken his collarbone as a result in his crash in the second moto at Unadilla on Saturday.
Shimoda finished fourth in the first moto and was pressuring Levi Kitchen late in the second moto for the lead when his crash happened. It looked like an awkward fall and he did not get up before the TV crew changed cameras.
Here is the official statement from Honda:
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pro Motocross (@promotocross)
“It felt great to be up front and battling for the lead
but unfortunately the battle didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Shimoda said
“I ended up with a broken collarbone
but we’ll come back stronger once I’m healed.”
Shimoda currently sits fourth in both the 250 Pro Motocross standings as well as the 250SMX Playoff standings
We’ll keep you posted on his return to racing as more details become available
Today's print edition
Home Delivery
On a clear spring morning southwest of Tokyo
tracing the eastern coast of the scenic Izu Peninsula
lift their smartphones to capture the spectacular view: quaint seaside towns
rocky capes and the shimmering Pacific Ocean
Yet beneath the postcard-perfect landscape lies a quiet unease
This mountainous region in Shizuoka Prefecture sits near a major submarine fault
where a powerful earthquake is expected to strike — one that could unleash massive tsunamis.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); });
known for its surf-friendly beaches and abundant nature
The coastal cities of Atami and Ito are famed for their hot spring resorts
while Kawazu draws crowds in early spring for its cherry blossoms
Shuzenji is often referred to as the “Little Kyoto of Izu,” with its serene temple
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California — Chase Sexton took the lead early and stretched his advantage over a pair of veterans as Ken Roczen finished second and Jason Anderson third
but the big story in both the 450 and 250 West classes was not so much who won
Jett Lawrence crashed on Lap 1 in the 450 division and fell to the very back of the pack
but failed to crack the top 10 when the checkers waved
Haiden Deegan also crashed early and spotted a round to Jo Shimoda and the field
Sexton chased Lawrence for most of the 2024 Monster Energy Supercross season and the start of Pro Motocross
but it was without Jett in the field in the final races
“I kind of knew where I was at coming in here,” Sexton told NBC’s Will Christien from the top of the podium
I feel more like [how I was] in 2023 when I was fast but I’m a little more mature now
I could get out front and not make any mistakes.”
Sexton told the media he would let his riding do the talking in 2025 and he spoke loudly
Roczen would not be denied a podium finish
“There was mayhem on the start,” Roczen said
" I locked bars with a couple of people.”
Anderson backed up his 2024 season-opening podium with another this season
“That Main Event was crazy,” Anderson said
“I went into the first corner and I took almost everyone out
Ripped some spokes out and I could seen them on my fork.”
Jett was one of the people Anderson contacted in the first turn
Anderson had on-track run ins with both Lawrence brothers last year and this will not improve their relationship
Cooper Webb scored the fourth position as Eli Tomac also overcame an early crash to round out the top five
Tomac had a great start and led the field in the first lap until he hooked his front tire and went down
Sexton narrowly avoided disaster when he ran into Tomac while the rider of the No
Click here for complete 450 Feature results
Shimoda opened the season with a victory after leading flag-to-flag
The Japanese rider showed steady improvement last year in each of the SuperMotocross League’s three championships
but knew that to legitimately challenge for the championship
“This is the start I was looking for every single year,” Shimoda told Peacock’s Jason Thomas from the podium
“I think I was honestly sleeping on the gate
but we came out with a good start and put in consistent laps and never looked back.”
Shimoda crossed under the checkers nearly five seconds ahead of Julien Beaumer and 11.5 seconds over Jordon Smith
Jordon Smith’s third-place finish is the first podium for Factory Triumph Racing
“I’m really happy with my riding tonight,” Smith said
“I caught a bale with my clutch and tipped over
but I was feeling really good in the Main.”
One of the biggest storylines of the night
was a rider who barely cracked the top five
Deegan crashed on the opening lap and fell back to 19th
He remounted and sliced through the field to salvage as many points as possible by passing Coty Schock on the final lap
Click here for complete 250 West results
Sunny skies and highs in the 70s make today a beautiful one to kick-off the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross season
The full field of 450 riders is healthy and ready to begin with qualification next up on the schedule
Jett Lawrence is defending the season-opener as well as the championship while dozens of riders hope to stop his domination
NXTBets.com is favoring Lawrence by a wide margin for both the race win and the title
but anyone who has watched SuperMotocross knows there are half a dozen riders with a legitimate chance to win; Anaheim 1 always brings out the best in a racer
but he goes down on Lap 1 and gets run over by Sexton
Jett crashes and falls all the way back to the final spot
Sexton survived his contact with Tomac and takes the lead on Lap 3 from Anderson
Jorge Prado in fourth and Justin Cooper round out the top five
Sexton begins to stretch his lead on Lap 8 as Tomac climbs back into the top 10
Jett cracks the top 15 as Hunter Lawrence crashes and falls to 10th
Sexton holds a 3.5-second lead over Roczen with Anderson rounding out the podium
Fourth-place Webb and Justin Barcia round out the top five for now
Tomac is knocking on the top five on Lap 12
Prado falls to seventh and then crashes on Lap 14
Sexton is consistently posting the fastest laps
Jett moves up to 12th and is about to battle Hunter
Deegan crashes on the first lap and falls back to 19th
He overcame several poor starts in Motocross last year
but the Supercross features are much shorter
Beaumer in second and third-place Garrett Marchbanks look to capitalize on Deegan’s misfortune
but clips a Tuff Blox and falls back to sixth on Lap 5
Deegan picks up two points on Lap 6 by moving into eighth
Marchbanks was riding in a podium position for most of the first half of the race
Julien Beaumer and Jordon Smith in first through third
but does he have enough time to get a top-five
He does and muscles Schock out of the position
Fredrik Noren leads Lap 1 as he looks to make the season opener
Dylan Ferrandis gets pushed wide by Ryan Breece and falls out of a transfer position
Noren holds on for the victory with Stewart moving up to second on the final lap
Breece retains third as Mitchell Harrison passes Kevin Moranz on the final lap for the last transfer spot
Colt Nichols (sixth) and Ferrandis (20th) will not make the Feature
Click here for complete 450 LCQ results
Four riders will advance from the 250 West LCQ
Gavin Towers earns the holeshot but Parker Ross has the early lead
Towers made the pass on Ross with time running off the clock and holds on for the win
Ross finished second with Avery Long in third and TJ Albright rounding out the transfer positions
Click here for complete 250 West LCQ results
There was a snarl at the start and Jett ended the first lap in 11th after tangling with Webb
He climbs to ninth and in a transfer position by Lap 2
Webb crosses under the checkers in fourth and Jett made his way back to fifth
but that should not matter for the defending champion
Justin Hill advances to the feature ahead of Benny Bloss (seventh)
Shane McElrath (eighth) and Mitchell Oldenburg (ninth)
Click here for complete 450 Heat 1 results
Sexton gets the jump over Spanish native Prado
but he crashes on Lap 2 moving Hunter up a position
Stewart is slow to rise and is helped to the medical cart two laps later
Hunter and Tomac put on a show but Hunter holds onto the spot
Vince Friese (eighth) and Kyle Chisholm (ninth) will also advance directly to the Main
Click here for complete 450 Heat 2 results
but was pressured by Cole Davies in the early laps
Deegan has built a six-second lead over Davies
and Stilez Robertson round out the top five
The battle for the transfer position is between Noah Viney in ninth and Dylan Walsh in 10th
Deegan wins Heat 1 by seven seconds over Davies
Yoder takes the last spot on the podium in third
Fourth-place Shimoda and Marchbanks round out the top five
Also transferring directly into the Main are sixth through ninth: Robertson
who grabbed the final spot on the last lap
Click here for complete 250 West Heat 1 results
Smith gets the jump on the fastest qualifier Beaumer
Lux Turner in fourth and Cole Thompson are mixing it up in the top five
These riders aren’t always at the front of the pack with one minute on the clock
Beaumer wins over Smith with DiFrancesco in third
Thompson and Turner hold onto their top-fives
Michael Mosiman heads to the night show after finishing sixth
Click here for complete 250 West Heat 2 results
Tomac (1:04.043) posts the fastest speed in the fist qualification session by .235 seconds over Jett
Fourth-place Anderson and Cooper round out the top five
Click here for complete 450 Group A Qualification 1
Tomac tops the board again with a time of 1:03.120
He’s .253 seconds faster than Lawrence this time around
Sexton is close behind with a tenth of a second gap in third
Fourth-place Anderson and Hunter round out the top five
This is a significant leap up the chart for Lawrence
Click here for complete 450 Group A Qualification 2Click here for combined 450 Qualification results
Several riders crash during the first Qualification session
But it’s Deegan who posts the fastest lap in the first session with a lap of 1:06:.077 ahead of Beaumer (1:06.189)
Garrett Marchbanks and Michael Mosiman round out the top five
Click here for complete 250 West Group A Qualification 1
Beaumer improves his position in Qualification 2 and jumps to the top of the board with a time of 1:04.669
DiFrancesco is also within a second of the leaders in third
Fourth-place Shimoda and Jordon Smith round out the top five
Click here for complete 250 West Group A QualificationClick here for complete 250 West Qualification combined
The 450 riders take to the track for the first time today with Sexton setting the pace with a lap of 1:05.467
Jett landed third on the chart with an almost identical time to Tomac
Fourth-place Anderson and Cooper Webb round out the top five
Prado is taking a moment to find his Supercross rhythm and lands 17th on the chart
Click here for complete 450, Group A Practice resultsClick here for all groups combined
Free Practice is underway and Haiden Deegan made a statement by posting a lap that was 1.27 seconds faster than Shimoda
In his first race back after missing most of 2024 to injury
Levi Kitchen attempted to ride Free Practice despite battling flu-like symptoms
Click here for complete 250 West, Group A Practice resultsClick here for all groups combined
While we wait for the evening program to begin
catch up on some of the news you may have missed:
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・Japanese native puts on two charges to finish third in both 250 motos
・Chance Hymas shrugs off pain and a crash to finish ninth overall in 250 class
・Fourth overall in the 450 class for Hunter Lawrence
Jo Shimoda notched his third podium overall result of the 250 season at the Washougal Pro Motocross National in the Pacific Northwest
notching 3-3 moto finishes to take the same position on the day
Chance Hymas toughed out a badly hurting right ankle to complete both motos
even charging forward in race 2 following a turn 1 crash
ultimately tallying an 8-12 showing for ninth overall
Despite qualifying on pole in the 450 division
Hunter Lawrence wasn’t able to find the pace he has shown for much of the season
finishing just off the overall podium for the first time in his young premier-class outdoor career
Lawrence got a third-place start in the first 450 moto
On a track that is notorious for making passing difficult
the Australian moved by two riders to capture second at the midway point
but he lost his front end in a corner on the next lap and went down
one ahead of Phoenix Racing Honda’s Dylan Ferrandis
The second moto saw Lawrence start second and quickly assume the lead
but he wasn’t able to maintain the necessary pace on the slippery track and slipped back to fourth at moto’s end
Ferrandis was fifth in the moto and sixth overall
Shimoda was sixth out of turn 1 in the first 250 moto
Shimoda mounted a charge at the moto’s midway point
moving up to third (his eventual finishing position)
while Hymas gritted his teeth to finish eighth
He advanced to fifth through the whoops on lap 2
then moved into fourth on lap 4 and third a lap later
and that’s where he finished for third overall
・All three active Team Honda HRC riders took part in Friday’s Media Day activities on Friday at Washougal
getting track time and doing interviews with attending journalists.・After suffering a severe sprain to his right ankle last week
Chance Hymas’s participation in the Washougal round was in doubt
The Idaho native took part in qualifying and determined that he was up to at least try to complete moto 1
and he ultimately completed both motos.・Vancouver
dealership Pro Caliber Motorsports staffed a popup activation booth at Washougal
displaying powersports products and engaging with fans and customers.・Washougal featured a Military Appreciation theme
and Team Honda HRC participated with special Throttle Jockey graphics featuring a Viper Urban Camouflage pattern from team apparel sponsor TrueTimber.・After missing two races due to an injured back
Cameron Camera was back at work in the Team Honda HRC pits
spinning wrenches for Hunter Lawrence.・During morning qualifying
Hunter Lawrence turned the fastest time of the 450 riders
Chance Hymas and Jo Shimoda were seventh- and ninth-best
respectively.・Washougal marked the first time that Lawrence hasn’t finished on the overall podium in his young 450MX career
It was also the first time that Honda didn’t finish on the 450 podium since the last round of the 2021 season.・Nonetheless
Hunter retains second in the 450 title chase
Hymas and Shimoda sit fourth and fifth in the points
respectively.・Team Honda HRC and the rest of the AMA Pro Motocross traveling circus get a much-needed two-weekend break
with round 9 scheduled for August 10 at Unadilla MX in Upstate New York
2025 12:16 PM EST Anaheim one is in the books
The 250SX West Regional Championship kicks off with the riders taking to the track for the first time
we saw Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen go out for first practice but then change to the 250SX East to recover from illness
not known for having the strongest starts to a season
takes the lead early in the main event and runs away with it to the finish
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Haiden Deegan found himself on the ground in turn two but made an impressive charge from last to 5th
Will we see him back to his winning self this weekend in San Diego
Watch the video below:
By Gaven AyalaGaven Ayala is now poised to lead the relaunch of Transworld Motocross
He is excited to bring his expertise to this new role and aims to elevate the brand to unprecedented heights
In what we believe to be the final ‘announcement’ of riders returning from injury, Jo Shimoda will be returning from his broken collarbone injury to race the SMX Playoffs.
Although, you need to just just ‘trust us bro’ because Honda, nor Shimoda has officially put out an official statement on the matter. Or at least I never got one!
Despite no official announcement, Shimoda is in the press conference today at media day at zMax Dragway! He’s ready to rip.
“I think it should be pretty strong,” Shimoda said in the press conference today. “My scar isn’t completely healed. My goal is to get to the front and try not to get roosted!”
Shimoda did go onto say that he’s had maybe three days on the bike, one 450 day and three 250 days. He said he has spent most of his time playing Playstation 5 and we dig that answer.
Shimoda did put this video up on his Instagram a week ago.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by JO (@joshimoda)
We haven’t seen Shimoda since the second Moto at Unadilla
Shimoda finished fourth in the first moto and was pressuring Levi Kitchen late in the second moto for the lead when his crash happened
It looked like an awkward fall and he did not get up before the TV crew changed cameras
Shimoda finished sixth in the 250 Pro Motocross Championship and is heading into the SuperMotocross Playoffs as a #4 seed
Here is what the riders had to say and post after the season opener at Angel Stadium in Anaheim
450s: “I kind of knew where I was at coming in here
I feel more like myself in 2023 when I was fast
but I feel like I’m a little more mature now and I can get out front and kind of run my own laps and not make mistakes
They put in so much hard work this off-season to get me comfortable
knowing that I wasn’t comfortable last year; and coming in now we’re back where we need to be
We still have lots to improve; it’s only one race in and there’s 16 left
but we’re off to a good start and first time winning A1 feels pretty good
It was a little bit of mayhem on the start; I locked bars with a bunch of people and then I just rode such a solid race
But second is like the perfect spot.’ And I made that happen; so
this is probably going to be the only race where I’m hoping for a second
I had a solid Main Event and I couldn’t be more stoked about the second place.”
450s: “The whole Monster Energy Kawasaki team
I went in there and I tangled with about everyone
[The contact] ripped some spokes out and I could just see them
And I’m so lucky that it [the wheel] survived the Main
and hoping to clean it up and see if we can stay up here on the podium
It was an up-and-down day and an up-and-down off-season
but I wanted to be on the podium and felt like I was riding good enough to be up front
We need to get our starts a little bit better and be in the mix for next week
450s: “Talk about a high and a low; I mean
you know?… [I] made the pass for the lead over the triple there
Let’s put this great 20 minutes in…’ And just like that
I just tucked my front end there in that 90 degree corner
I’m excited [about] the way I rode the rest of the main there
so thank you… I was feeling just like I should
So great qualifying and a good quarter lap
450s: “The A1 vibes were off the charts as always
and JB51 is locked in and ready to attack a stacked 2025 season
I was able to lead for a lap and had a good finish there to set me up for a good gate pick in the main
Then I got another really good start but got shuffled back pretty quickly to fourth or fifth
I was in a pretty intense battle out there and kind of lost the flow
I had to be aggressive – attacking while being defensive with the guys behind me – which ended up costing me
So there was a little bit of a slump in the middle
but I was able to finish strong and come away with seventh
I feel like I got a really good jump and the Tuff Blox kind of came in
The start straight was kind of lined up awkward
We still have to figure out the bike; it’s still making some trouble for us in the whoops and stuff like that
We tried skimming and skimming was sketchy
We tried jumping and I was sketchy just jumping
work hard and we’ll come back and we’ll be better
So grateful for this opportunity with [QuadLock Honda]
So many positives to take out of the night
P2 in my heat race and managed to get the holeshot and lead a lap in the main
450s: “First one in the books with the new team
Went down in the main making a pass and my bike got stuck with another bike for a lap
Got cleaned out a couple laps into the main and unfortunately had to pull off due to some damages to the bike
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager: “The weekend went well overall
Eli was strong all day and unfortunately went down while leading the race
but put in a strong ride to come back to fifth
but he showed his late-race speed and grit in the main
Justin put himself in a great position with good starts and learned a lot about racing up front
250s: “This is the start I was looking for every single year
And I think I was honestly sleeping on the gate [in previous seasons]
But we came out with a good start and just put in some consistent laps
All this happened because of my team behind it
250s: “I think obviously I was fast in the off-season
but I haven’t translated that to a race yet
I believe I can be in the hunt for this championship and win these races
I’m going to get back to work this week and be ready for next weekend.”
250s: “I’m really happy with my riding tonight
I caught a [Tuff Blox] in that lefthander over there with my clutch and tipped over
I’ve just got to give it up to the whole Triumph Racing team… Going from the Star Yamaha team that I was on last year then moving over to the Triumph team
But I have full belief in everyone over there
we couldn’t do it without all the guys that are there… It’s just a full team effort and it’s awesome to give them their first Supercross podium
Hopefully we can put it on top of the box here soon.”
250s: “Not really happy to get interviewed for fifth
[then] fought my heart out and made my way back up to fifth and that’s all I could do
obviously the light should be shined on them and all we can do is come out swinging at the next race.” And later
via a press release: “It was a solid first round and a lot better than last year
We got a top-five and are not sitting 16th
I’m not super happy that we biffed it on the start
All we can do is go back to work and come back swinging next week.”
250s: “My pro debut at Anaheim 1 was a positive day
I learned a lot of race craft and felt good on the bike
I ended up sixth in qualifying and got second in the heat
but I went down on the first lap of the main and came from last to eighth
It’s time to build off that and get ready for San Diego!”
250s: “Good to be back at the races with the crew
thank you to my mechanic [Joe Butas]& [Team Solitaire] for a great weekend
It was a good way to start the first round of the season
We will get to work this week and continue building
Thank you to the whole [AEO Powersports KTM Racing] for all the hard work and dedication
Also big shout out to [Landon Ajster] for having my bike dialed
Super grateful I was able to see my family this weekend.”
Thank you to everyone [AEO Powersports KTM Racing] to make it a fun first weekend at the races!”
250s: “Even though the end result wasn’t what I wanted I had an awesome night
Tipped over first lap of the main unfortunately
Happy to end the night with P14 after struggling in the day program
Looking forward to building the rest of the season
It kind of just spits you out and puts everyone together
and then you have everyone trying to jump and get to the front
I think I have good speed and have a lot to offer
it’s just a matter of putting it all together
so it’s going to take a little bit of time
250s: “Rough start to the Main Event but all in all a good night of racing
Finished 7th in the heat race and worked my way to 16th in the Main Event after going down in the second turn
Stoked on the team I’ve put together and excited to keep improving!”
Had some unfortunate luck in the main with getting destroyed by another rider but we learned a lot and ended up P17
Definitely going to protect the inside a little more next time
Wish the main could’ve been a little bit better without my crash
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 250 Team Manager: “Even though the results don’t show it on paper
Haiden [Deegan] was fast all day and won his heat race
he crashed after the start of the main and had to come from way back
He got the holeshot and finished second behind Haiden in the heat race
Cole and Michael also crashed after the start and had to come from the back
Cole finished eighth in his first pro race and showed the speed to run up front
and it was a good first race back for Michael [Mosiman]
We’ll get back to work this week and come back stronger in San Diego
2025 10:38 AM ESTThe opening round of the 2025 SMX series and the start of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship from Anaheim
at Angels Stadium for Anaheim 1 was a wild and chaotic night in front of a sold out crowd
Here is the breakdown of the Main Events along with rider quotes
results and championship standings leaving Anaheim ahead of Round 2 this upcoming weekend in San Diego
For the opening 250SX West Main Event of the 2025 season
Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda grabbed the holeshot
while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan—defending 2x 250SMX Champion—went down early
leaving him to start at the back of the pack
Shimoda led the charge with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer moving into 2nd
followed by Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Garrett Marchbanks
Triumph Factory Racing’s Jordon Smith
and Rockstar Energy GasGas’s Ryder DiFrancesco early on
Beaumer applied steady pressure on Shimoda at the front of the field as Marchbanks slipped back after a mistake
reaching 6th after Marchbanks crashed in the whoops and lost several positions
Smith made a critical pass on DiFrancesco to lock in the final podium spot
Shimoda pulled away in the second half of the race to secure the win
Beaumer claimed 2nd for his first Supercross podium
earning Triumph its first-ever Supercross podium
Deegan edged out Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX’s Coty Schock to finish 5th
Japan's Jo Shimoda lights the candles and wins Anaheim 1
Photo Courtesy of Ayala Media / Josh Davey
1st place: "I’m pretty stoked
boot camp was tough because I started late with the training side of things
we were in a much better space mentally and physically for boot camp
and it’s been awesome working with Davi (Millsaps)
3rd place: "I got off to a good start but got shuffled back after getting pushed out
I had a tough block incident that caused me to lose a couple of spots
and I knew I was strong toward the end of the moto
I just kept putting in solid laps and made smart decisions toward the end."
250SX West Podium: (from left to right) Julien Beaumer 2nd
450SX Main EventIn the opening 450SX Main Event of the season
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac quickly took over before crashing on the opening lap
Defending Monster Energy Supercross Champion Jett Lawrence of Honda HRC got tangled in a tough block off the start and began dead last
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson powered past Prado for the lead
with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton in 3rd
ECSTAR Progressive Suzuki’s Ken Roczen overtook Prado to claim 3rd
while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper rounded out the early top five
Jett went down again after the whoops and remained deep in the pack
Sexton made his move on Anderson to take the lead
passing Anderson after the Supercross triple for 2nd
Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence and Cooper Webb advanced into the top five as Justin Cooper slipped back a few spots
overtaking Prado and Team Tedder’s Justin Hill to reach 6th
while Rockstar Energy GasGas’s Justin Barcia moved into 5th
Webb closed in on Anderson for the final podium spot
Tomac made a decisive pass on Barcia to secure 5th
though Webb fell just short of catching Anderson
Sexton cruised to his first Anaheim 1 victory despite briefly stalling the bike at the halfway point
Chase Sexton celebrates with his mechanic
1st place: "I feel like I'm still kind of processing it
and it's cool winning Anaheim 1—it's a pretty hyped race
2nd place: "I’ve won Anaheim 1 quite a bit
so to me it just didn’t really mean much besides adding another one
I was stoked because the last couple of weeks have been rough—we all got sick
so it was about getting back to 100%."
3rd place: "A lot of the stuff we did to the motorcycle this offseason was pretty in-depth
and having a bike that gets good starts puts me in a better position to get solid results."
450SX Podium: (from left to right) Ken Roczen 2nd
By Zach NewberryZach Newberry is a dedicated motocross journalist with over 20 years of experience in the sport as both a racer and a writer
As of now, it doesn’t appear that Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda will miss any time after sustaining two broken fingers after hitting a pit board in qualifying in San Diego.
Shimoda lined up at round 2 and qualified for the night show where he somehow finished 7th
The winner of the season opener at Anaheim 1 is currently seven points back of Julien Beaumer in the West Region title chase
Shimoda and team manager Lars Lindstrom commented on the injury and it appears
that he will race at round 3 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship this weekend at Anaheim 2
“Overall it’s good to score a little bit of points” said Shimoda
“Obviously I ended the night with two broken fingers
but I’m looking to get a little recovery and hopefully be a little better next weekend.”
How did Jo even ride?! 🤯(Via Jo Shimoda/IG)#SMX #SupercrossLIVE pic.twitter.com/YoueZ2QUoy
Lindstrom added: “Today was a challenging day for the team
and Jo having his incident in practice that broke two fingers on his left hand
for really gritting their teeth and showing everyone what warriors they are
the biggest story from the weekend is our 450 boys really turning things around from last weekend
who were able to get the bike in a better spot than it was
Maybe that’s why I wasn’t stressing about the bike’s performance like some in the media were
because we have such a great team that works together so well
Hopefully we can get Jo to be able to get through the next two rounds
so he can heal up more and continue to be a frontrunner in the class
I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.”
There are two more rounds of the 250SX West Region–Anaheim 2 and then Glendale–before the series turns to the East Region Feb 8 in Tampa
Main image: @octopi.media
Pingback:Rookie Report: Is Cole Davies Star Racing's New Golden Boy?
The 2025 SMX World ChampionshipTM series and Monster Energy AMA Supercross season began this Saturday
from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in California
Excitement has been building for weeks in anticipation of seeing the sport’s stars on the track for the season opener
The first of 17 Supercross events is headlined by reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence
competing in his sophomore season in the premier class
who finished second overall in the SMX Playoffs
also looks to build on the momentum from 2024
Two-time Supercross Champions Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb and reigning two-time Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton are competing to begin an action-packed 2025 season
The Western Regional 250SX Championship also starts with reigning two-time 250 SMX World Champion Haiden Deegan headlining the field
2025 marks the third year of the SMX World Championship
which unifies Supercross and Pro Motocross and presents the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs
with the top racers in the world competing for the sport’s ultimate title in a style of racing that features the best that both indoor stadium Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross seasons have to offer
It was just announced this weekend that zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway
and The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway will host the 2025 SMX World Championship Playoffs and Final in September
SMX World Championship Playoff 1 will take place on Saturday
September 13 at the Dome at America’s Center in St
The SMX World Championship Final will take place on Saturday
September 20 at The Strip at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas after a very successful return to the city for last year’s championship final
Angel Stadium is hosting their 34th season opener in 52 seasons of Supercross
Camping World Stadium (formerly known as the Citrus Bowl) is second on the list with six
Jett Lawrence won the Anaheim Opener last season joining Eli Tomac
and Jason Anderson as active athletes with an Opener victory going into 2025
Jeremy McGrath’s five Opener victories lead the way in 450SX Class history with Roczen’s four in second place
JETT LAWRENCE: After an incredible rookie campaign that saw him defend his SMX World Championship title and be crowned as Supercross Champion
he is trying to make history by becoming only the second athlete to go back-to-back to start his 450SX Class Supercross career
Jeremy McGrath is the only rider to accomplish this and did so by winning his first four titles
Jett has an incredible 65 podiums in his 98 career SMX starts
Haiden Deegan(38) grabbed the hole shot in the first 250 SX Heat
But it was Cole Davies(100) taking the lead early on the first lap
The rookie’s moment in the spotlight was a short one as Deegan regained the lead on route to a comfortable victory in the season’s first moto
Davies held on for a second place finish with Hunter Yoder(63) taking the third spot
and California rider Stilez Robertson(325) finishing fourth thru sixth
Jordan Smith(19) nosed out Ryder DiFrancesco(25) for the holeshot in the second heat
An early bobble by Ryder allowed Julien Beaumer(23) to slide into the second spot
The top three quickly separated themselves from the remainder of the field
Beaumer took the lead and fended off a late charge from Smith
A four rider collision just out of the starting gate marred the beginning of the the premier class first Heat
But it was Justin Cooper(32) taking the top spot out of the first turn
Jett Lawrence(1) and Cooper Webb(2) tangled as they raced side-by-side off the starting line
The incident dropped both well back in the pack and out of automatic qualifying position
The Anaheim crowd roared as Ken Roczen(94) rode past Webb to take over the early lead and rode away from the pack
Jason Anderson(21) worked his way into second dropping Cooper to third
Webb and Lawrence recovered to run fourth and fifth respectively
A crash by Ferrandis cost him a qualifying spot
he finished in 11th and will have to advance to the final via the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ)
and Chase Sexton(4) fought for the holeshot with Barcia prevailing first across the line
it was Sexton moving to the front and riding away with the by a comfortable margin
Jorge Prado(70) took over the second spot early and defended the position to the finish
Malcolm Stewart(27) made an early rush to the front but suffered a wicked crash when his bike lost traction and snapped hard to the right sending Stewart flying to a hard landing on the dirt
but walked off the course with the help of the AlpineStars medical staff
Malcolm Stewart was able to have his bike repaired and worked out enough kinks to make it to the 450 SX LCQ gate
He started mid-pack but worked his way up to a qualifying position
Helped in part by Dylan Ferrandis crashing out of the moto and missing the main event
Jo Shimoda got off to a much better in the main event and led early over Julien Beaumer
Garrett Marchbanks(36) sat in the third position
Haiden Deegan got caught up in a crash when he ran into the back of Ryder DiFrancesco early on lap one
Deegan had worked his way up to the 10th position
but lost an additional four seconds to Shimoda out front
Shimoda retained the lead but could not pull away from Beaumer who sat 1.6-seconds back in second place
Deegan had advanced forward to eighth place
DiFrancesco moved into third as Marchbanks lost control and went down
Deegan moved up to sixth with just under five minutes to go
Shimoda stretched the lead over Beaumer to 3.5-seconds
was another 10-seconds back in third but was in a battle with the Triumph rider Jordan Smith for the final podium spot
Smith replaced Jalek Swoll on the factory team after Swoll suffered a season ending injury during the pre-season
Smith made the best of his opportunity earning a podium spot just ahead of DiFrancesco
Deegan finished fifth by edging out Coty Schock(37) on the final turn before the checkered flag
A lot of big names are on the starting line for the 450 SX Main Event including five previous class champions and they all are looking for a win to start their season off on the right foot
The first corner is tight and a number of riders have gone down early in the prior motos
On a track that is difficult to pass the gate drop is going to be vitally important
Tomac gets out front early and leads the pack much to the delight of the Anaheim crowd
A collective gasp sucked all the air out of the stadium when Tomac went down before completing a lap and was run over by Chase Sexton
The defending champion was pushed to the inside of the track on the start by Jason Anderson and got stuck between two tuff blocks relegating him to last place
When things settled out halfway through lap on it was Jorge Prado out front with his teammate Anderson just to his inside
Anderson quickly made the pass for the top spot with Sexton charging to the rear wheel of the leader
In the sand section of the track Sexton pulled even with Anderson but could not make the pass
However on the next lap Sexton easily took over the top spot while Roczen closed on Anderson
Roczen moved to second but trailed the leader by three seconds five minutes into the moto
Jett Lawrence went down in the sand section and remained mired in 20th position
Tomac advanced to 13th but too many riders separate him from the leaders
Roczen closed in briefly but could not get to the rear wheel of the leader
and Hunter Lawrence rounded out the top five
Hunter Lawrence went down in the sand section just as his brother had done earlier and dropped out of the top ten
At the halfway point the top three riders remained the same with Cooper Webb and Justin Barcia moving into the top five
Tomac responded to his misfortune by riding past Pardo into the sixth position and Jett Lawrence had advanced to 15th
In the second half of the 20-minute timed portion of the moto Sexton had stretched the lead interval out to five seconds
Anderson sat another three seconds back and it was three more seconds back to Webb in fourth
Over the final two laps Barcia and Tomac staged a classic battle for the fifth spot
Malcolm Stewart came out of the LCQ to finish 10th
The Lawrence brothers finished out of the top ten
Next week the series moves to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego
Will it be a new trend setting race or will the motos return to form
a pit board turned the 250SX West Region on its head
In qualifying on Saturday at round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship in San Diego
round 1 winner Jo Shimoda suffered two broken fingers after hitting a pit board
Jo Shimoda hitting pit board at San Diego… pic.twitter.com/ZayV2o20fK
They’ve broken just about every bone in their body
cracked collarbones and everything in-between
they still find a way to make it on the gate
it was no surprise that Jo lined up for his heat race and qualified for the night show where he somehow finished 7th
After looking at these photo of his hand after the race
I have NO idea how in the hell Shimoda not only raced
We’ll update as Honda releases more information on Shimoda’s status for round 3
he is currently seven points back of Julien Beaumer in the West Region title chase.
Main image: @octopi.media
Pingback:Will Jo Shimoda Race Anaheim 2?
Sexton never relinquished the lead after taking it less than four minutes into the 20-minute plus a lap Main Event
the first race of 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross Season
The 34th season opener at the venue also pays points toward the post-season of the SMX World Championship
The enthusiastic crowd was on its feet for thrilling and unpredictable racing
made two big mistakes in the opening laps and could only climb back to the 12th spot
Honda HRC’s Joe Shimoda rode a nearly flawless race and led every lap to victory
“I kind of knew where I was at coming in here
but we’re off to a good start and first time winning A1 feels pretty good.” – Chase Sexton
after winning the A1 Main Event following his Heat Race victory
In the 250SX Class, Jo Shimoda won without being challenged throughout the 15-minute plus 1-lap Main Event
It was Shimoda’s first opening-round podium finish
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer performed well; Beaumer was the fastest qualifier and won his heat race
He held close to Shimoda for much of the race but never got close enough to make a run at the lead
Triumph Racing Factory Team’s Jordon Smith recovered brilliantly from a tip-over in a left-hand turn
he reached third place and held the spot to the end
“This is the start I was looking for every single year
And I think I was honestly sleeping on the gate
when asked on the podium how it feels to start the season with a strong performance
The Anaheim broadcast began with a heartfelt message from play-by-play commentator Leigh Diffey
the people of the Los Angeles area are still dealing with the extreme wildfires that ravaged the region this week… And our thoughts are with all who have been affected
the sport of SuperMotocross can serve as a source of light entertainment for those seeking it and perhaps needing it.”
A second message during the event encouraged fans to support the Red Cross’ disaster relief efforts by going to redcross.org
Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, hosts Round 2 of the 2025 season. The racing starts at 8:30 p.m. ET, Saturday, January 18. For more information, race results, video highlights, or to purchase tickets, visit SupercrossLIVE.com
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By Brandon ShimodaCity Lights Books: 232 pages, $17.95If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org
California
The Los Angeles Times will no longer use “internment” to describe the mass incarceration of 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry during World War II.
The term “internment camp” was long used in official documents to minimize Japanese Americans’ pain. Consider the majority’s statement in U.S. vs. Korematsu: “We deem it unjustifiable to call them concentration camps, with all the ugly connotations that term implies — we are dealing specifically with nothing but an exclusion order.” It is thus significant that “The Afterlife Is Letting Go” is built around what critical race theory would call the “counter stories” of Japanese Americans.
An amateur game at Manzanar to commemorate Japanese American internment during WWII coincided with the World Series opening weekend in Los Angeles
The book’s style is anything but dogmatic — it shares an aesthetic with Shimoda’s poetry
which sometimes marries abstract ideas with seemingly unrelated concrete impressions
when Shimoda reads an Issei couple’s letters while sitting in the barracks of Ft
he finds it difficult to reconcile his grandfather’s imprisonment with the barracks’ “charming
willowy air.” And in “The Wooden Building Will Be Left for Revenge,” a man on Angel Island
whispers “researching the ancestors” to him
and Shimoda is unsure whether this is meant to be a question
until I was no longer sure if the man said ‘researching’ or if what he had actually said was ‘rehearsing.’ Because they were doing that
The Korematsu majority opinion was never expressly overturned. In 1983, addressing Judge Marilyn Hall Patel, who vacated the lower court’s conviction, Korematsu said, “We can never forget this incident as long as we live.” As if yielding to that exhortation, “The Afterlife Is Letting Go” becomes a textual monument for present-day conditions. It recognizes that a literature of and for the people, not government documents, may be a balm for the obfuscations of power, memory and time.
Anita Felicelli served on the board of the National Book Critics Circle from 2021 to 2024 and is the author of several books including “How We Know Our Time Travelers: Stories.”
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2001: Fading winter sunlight silhouettes Siberian swans at a small lake in the community of Shimoda
The body of water is a popular spot for military people from the base who feed swans and ducks wintering at the lake
finished 4th in the first moto after being outside the top 10 on lap one
battling with the leader on the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki's Levi Kitchen before a tip-over occurred in the corner before the Skyshot table top late in the race
The team announced today that Jo suffered a broken collarbone from the crash but is hopeful he will return quickly as it is a "relatively simple" break.
Photo Courtesy of Honda Racing U.S.
Jo, who currently sits fourth in both the 250MX Pro Motocross Championship and SuperMotocross World Championship points, came into Unadilla after his third podium of the summer at Washougal. There is no exact return time for Shimoda at this moment.
Here is the press release from the team on Shimoda's injury:
Shimoda was back in 10th place after lap 1, but he worked his way through the pack to finish the moto in fourth.
Shimoda snared a fourth-place start and was quickly up to second. He rode in that position—regularly challenging for the lead—for much of the race, until he went down in a corner with just four laps remaining. Although it was essentially a tip-over, the incident was awkward enough that it resulted in a broken collarbone for the Japanese rider, who was forced to withdraw.
Lars Lindstrom, team manager for Honda HRC, states, "On a positive note, his break is relatively simple, and he should be able to heal relatively quickly.”
Jo says after the day, “It felt great to be up front and battling for the lead, but unfortunately, the battle didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I ended up with a broken collarbone, and I’ll have to get a plate put in. Obviously, that’s not how we wanted the day to go, but we’ll come back stronger once I’m healed.”
Shimoda are rapidly rising to the top of the list as luggage makers for adventure photographers
We’ve reviewed their rucksacks before and rated them extremely highly
so were curious to see if they could transfer their attention to detail and rugged construction to something a little more focussed on comfortable travel
Save your back and shoulders for the destination
by slipping your Shimoda Core Unit insert from a rucksack into a roller
and let the wheels take the strain through the airport
Shimoda is fast becoming the brand to watch when it comes to adventure photography luggage
For some reason genuine hiking rucksacks for photographers have been treated as something of a niche
with the big names aiming primarily at ‘urban’ packs or generic travel bags
F-Stop became the big name for a couple of years
but their recent decline has been as rapid as it has been gossiped about on internet forums
Enter Shimoda: founded by Peter Waisnor and Ian Millar – the latter being the former designer for F-Stop
Having used the F-Stop Tilopa for several years
we can safely say that Millar has built on his time with companies to create easily the best adventure backpack we’ve tested
Adventure photographers are regularly on the move
and after years of carrying all that weight on one's back
the appeal of a roller case that fits the same mould is hugely attractive
It wouldn’t be most peoples’ first choice for camera-carrying
but as a secondary choice – for airports
to throw in the boot of the car and even for quite static shoots – the Carryon Roller is fantastic accessory
The real appeal is for anyone who already owns a Shimoda pack since most of their Core Unit inserts (those in the DSLR and Mirrorless range) are compatible with the roller
This means the wheels can ease you through the travel and once you reach your destination the whole insert can be transferred into a pack in seconds
There is also a larger roller aimed at those carrying bigger video equipment
It’s not specifically sized to meet airline carryon restrictions
but it’s compact enough that you might be tempted to try your luck...
The Carryon and the DV Roller are made with the same materials as Shimoda’s packs – a lightweight and water resistant ripstop nylon that feels much more rugged than it should for the weight
The rollers are given a touch more refinement with some nice leather zipper-pulls and top carry handle
To facilitate the simple transfer of Core Units the roller has a ‘Doctor Bag’ style opening
which means the whole width of the bag opens upwards and remains rigidly in place with unfettered access to the contents
This is a simply superb design feature which makes for easy packing
It means if you do use the bag in the field that you can lift a fully rigged (small) cinema camera straight out
It also means the airport security scanners can get an unobstructed look inside and (usually!) negates the need to empty the whole thing
The interior – just like Shimoda’s rucksacks – is entirely lined in a light blue fabric which makes finding things so much easier than in a dark interior
The sides of the interior are lined with small mesh organiser pockets
in keeping with the brand’s love of stowage options
And on the outside are two large side pockets that can accommodate a tripod or a water bottle among other things
They’re also very useful for quick stowing of a newspaper or book to read on the plane for example
and one side has even more mesh organiser pockets
Both sides have a bellowed edge with a small compression strap
And even more expansion is offered via the attachment points for accessory straps
In use the bag does everything is promises and does so without fuss – it's one of those pieces of kit that you forget about instantly because it feels like it's always been there
There are some trips where it’s not possible to pack a rucksack inside hold luggage
so the roller is sacrificed and that’s when you realise it’s value
there will always be one more lens you’d like to be able to fit in
Alongside the Core Unit it's possible to lie a laptop on top
the real restriction here isn’t the bag but the airline requirements
the DV Roller will prove a cavernous option
And either option makes for a smart overnight case for weekends away
The price can’t be ignored – it's expensive
Expensive enough to probably be the preserve of jobbing professionals
luggage prices vary so wildly that this is competitive with the top end of the market and is smart enough to look at home alongside those fancy rollers
But even on its own terms the Shimoda Carryon Roller is great value
And if you’ve read this far you probably already know whether or not it’s for you
Read next: Best walking holidays in Europe
All our reviews are independent and unbiased
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Breaking News Before the Night Show at San Diego SX – Round Two of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship
After Jo Shimoda exited the second 250SX Group A qualifying session early
Honda HRC Progressive has confirmed an injury to the 250SX West championship leader
Shimoda broke two fingers after clipping a pit-board in the second 250SX Group A qualifying session
He will try to attempt the first qualifying heat race and make the Main Event in order to get many points as possible
This morning Honda HRC confirmed their rider
suffered a broken collarbone on Saturday during the second moto at Unadilla
Shimoda was running a close second to Levi Kitchen for most of the race before crashing on lap 12 of 15
The awkward crash resulted in a broke collarbone for the Japanese rider
which further dampened Honda’s hopes as Chance Hymas also pulled off after a spectacular crash in the opening moto
but unfortunately the battle didn’t end the way we wanted it to,” Shimoda said
“I’m really bummed for Jo; he was riding really good
and I have no doubt he was going to win that second moto
and he should be able to heal relatively quickly.”