Events › Mottainai - Rope Bowl Making Class

Explore the intersection of craft and history through the lens of mottainai—the Japanese philosophy of respect and waste-reduction. This mindset was vital for Japanese Americans navigating the scarcity of WWII incarceration camps, turning limited resources into handmade necessities. Instructor Katie Furukawa Bonifacio will guide you through sewing your own rope bowl using beautiful Japanese scrap fabrics. As you stitch, Katie will share reflections on her family’s incarceration experience, bringing the themes of George Takei’s They Called Us Enemy to life through the practice of sewing with limited resources. Part of the One Book, One Coast shared community reading event.

If this program sparks your curiosity, check out the rest of the One Book, One Coast series and deepen your engagement by reading They Called Us Enemy—a powerful story bringing Japanese American history to life through the deeply personal narrative at the heart of the series. Check it out in print or starting April 1, when unlimited digital copies of They Called Us Enemy will be available on both the Libby app and Hoopla platforms for San Mateo County Libraries cardholders—no holds or wait times required.

Explore more books and films about the Japanese American history that inspired this event in our One Book, One Coast staff list.