The Greater Kansas City Japan Festival...really exists.
My son and DIL moved to KCMO about a month ago. My DIL is Okinawan/Japanese and has had a difficult time adjusting. She found a job in housekeeping at a Hotel, but they're treating her like shit. My son told me about a Japan Fest next month and I figured it was probably just a small affair with maybe a few vendors, etc. It's actually pretty impressive! They're both really looking forward to it. We're hoping that she'll be able to network a bit and maybe find a better job, or at least feel less isolated.
Otherwise, Mom-in-Law is going to have to fly to KCMO and kick some hotel management ass. My DIL is way too kind and works way too freakin' hard to be treated like a second-class citizen.
Funnyish side-note: I asked my son if KCMO had a large Japanese population and he said, "Well, I've only seen one. I'm married to her."
I'm actually pretty jealous. 'Culture' in the town I live in has two variants; cowboy and Native American. The latter is only acceptable on the reservations. Last weekend they went to Irish Fest. 
http://www.kcjapanfestival.com/
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She was working at a sushi restaurant in Phx and would occasionally run into a stupid comment. She'd just laugh it off and go on to tell me about the 'really awesome' customers she had. But, honestly, who goes to a sushi restaurant and complains that the server speaks broken English? 
She's really fallen in love with America, despite our faults. My son's friends call her 'the little redneck'.
I don't think I could stand being the Only Asian in town. I feel so lucky to have grown up with many of the Chinese and Vietnamese neighbors who were very excepting of the little Japanese Korean girl down the block. My father was a well respected Dentist in the area, and my mom did her best to teach English, before they moved back east, and sold our house. I still run into Dentists today who know my family name..and ask how my father is doing? I love this San Francisco community, and never want to leave it!
