60th Cherry Blossom Festival Contestant
Marika Emi Yano Wilson
Parents: Scott Wilson and Christine Yano
High School: Punahou School, 2006
College: School of Visual Arts and University of Hawai’i at Manoa
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Womens Studies and Art, expected 2012
Occupation: Student
Ambition: To maintain a creative and intellectual life while working towards positive and holistic social change
Interests: Spending time with my family and dogs, exploring new locales, discovering new creative mediums, vegan cooking, sustainable food initiatives, running, yoga, studying and analyzing cultures
The tradition of "gambaru" embodies the values I admire and find useful for personal and collective growth. I understand it to be the force by which Japanese strive relentlessly towards their goals. It emphasizes the importance of hard work and a sense of perseverance in rough times. After Japan's earthquake disaster in March 2011, "gambaru" was one of the commonly heard expressions from survivors. "Gambaru" is not simply a mentality I turn to in moments of hardship: it more importantly reflects a hardiness of spirit I see as uniquely Japanese. It is an active spirit filled with agency and hope that always takes the position of the survivor, and never the victim. When I asked my grandma what "gambaru" means, she smiled and said, "Give it all you've got." This is a tradition that isn't always about winning but rather about doing your best and never giving up.