so sad about ronald takaki passing. 15 or so years ago when i was living in dc, i read his 'strangers from a different shore' and wanted to follow it up with a historical book he had mentioned in some of the materials. i could not find the book, anywhere. someone suggested i call him up and ask him where i might find it. i thought, who am i to call up this author and scholar? but i did. and he answered the phone. and i said something like, omg, i'm a huge fan, and wow, and yeah, great book, and, um, do you happen to know where i might find this other book? and he told me and i got the book and i read it and it was great.