Collegiate Women Sports Awards

On June 21st, American Honda Motor Co. held the 24th Collegiate Women Sports Awards at UCLA. Honda sponsors this annual event to support women’s college sports in the U.S. Athletes such as Jackie Joyner Kersee and Mia Hamm have received this award in the past. The NCAA voted Pennsylvania State’s volley ball player Megan Hodge and Connecticut University’s basket ball player Maya Moore. Honda has sponsored over $2 million in institutional grants to universities over the course of the program.

Spa Rirakuen Opens

Spa Rirakuen opened at the Miyako Hybrid Hotel in Torrance on June 27th. Rirakuen, which has 7 stores in Japan, opened its first store overseas. Its motto is “Relaxing the Five Senses.” Its services include the first hot stone sauna in the U.S., Jacuzzi, aroma therapy, deep tissue massage and other relaxing massages.

Akita Komachi

West Los Angeles’ Japanese restaurant Torafuku held a tasting for Akita Komachi rice on June 30th. Akita Komachi is rice directly shipped from Japan. Mutual Trading’s President Kanai made this direct import possible. Torafuku will hold a campaign from July to September, in which they will serve Akita Komachi rice for all their rice dishes.