Organizations Support Tokyo Foods with Fundraiser Organizations Support Tokyo Foods with Fundraiser

Community members are raising funds for Tozan and Kimiko Matsuda, who have run Tokyo Foods for more than three decades, after a suspect recently red through their shop windows. According to a press release from Asianati, 31 local and state organizations have signed a statement of support for the Matsudas. e market primarily sells Japanese products and Asian groceries.

Community members are raising funds for Tozan and Kimiko Matsuda, who have run Tokyo Foods for more than three decades, after a suspect recently red through their shop windows. According to a press release from Asianati, 31 local and state organizations have signed a statement of support for the Matsudas. e market primarily sells Japanese products and Asian groceries.

continuing on a di erent thread.

of violence, abuse, pro ling, and discrimination targeting AAPI communities since COVID-19 was discovered are alarmingly high. Such hate crimes cannot be tolerated. Join us in condemning all race-based attacks and harassment,” the organizations wrote.

of violence, abuse, pro ling, and discrimination targeting AAPI communities since COVID-19 was discovered are alarmingly high. Such hate crimes cannot be tolerated. Join us in condemning all race-based attacks and harassment,” the organizations wrote.

“I’m chief of Cherokee Nation, chief of Navajo Nation, I’m chief of Iroquois Nation, I’m chief of Cherokee-Iroquois Nation, I’m chief of Cherokee-Navajo Nation, I’m chief of Africa Nation, I’m chief of Egyptian Nation, I’m chief of Ethiopian Nation, I’m chief of all the Nordic tribes, I am chief of Irish Nation,” Beckjord claimed.

continuing on a di erent thread.

“I’m chief of Cherokee Nation, chief of Navajo Nation, I’m chief of Iroquois Nation, I’m chief of Cherokee-Iroquois Nation, I’m chief of Cherokee-Navajo Nation, I’m chief of Africa Nation, I’m chief of Egyptian Nation, I’m chief of Ethiopian Nation, I’m chief of all the Nordic tribes, I am chief of Irish Nation,” Beckjord claimed.

At the 5:40 mark of the video, one o cer asks Beckjord about his intent when ring shots at Tokyo Foods. Beckjord rambles about “dosing” again before getting to his reason.

At the 5:40 mark of the video, one o cer asks Beckjord about his intent when ring shots at Tokyo Foods. Beckjord rambles about “dosing” again before getting to his reason.

“Tokyo is in non-compliance. I am chief of Tokyo,” Beckjord says. “Does Tokyo want this over? en take him out [of] the cu s.”

“Tokyo is in non-compliance. I am chief of Tokyo,” Beckjord says. “Does Tokyo want this over? en take him out [of] the cu s.” e organizations and nonpro ts – which largely include Asian and Paci c Islander groups such as the Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati and the Japanese American Citizens League as well as faith and reproductive justice organizations – say that in addition to the Jan. 22 shooting, the Matsudas have endured home robberies, COVID-19 bouts and store supply shortages in recent years. e organizations and nonpro ts – which largely include Asian and Paci c Islander groups such as the Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati and the Japanese American Citizens League as well as faith and reproductive justice organizations – say that in addition to the Jan. 22 shooting, the Matsudas have endured home robberies, COVID-19 bouts and store supply shortages in recent years. e o cer asks Beckjord if he’d like to say anything. Beckjord is silent while the o cer searches his pockets and a bystander says that the suspect had red into Tokyo Foods. Eventually, Beckjord says that he does not have any weapons on his body but that “ ere’s a nine in the car,” meaning a 9mm handgun. at gun is in addition to the Glock .40-caliber pistol that o cers found on the ground, he con rms en Beckjord begins rambling oddly. en Beckjord begins rambling oddly.

“ ankfully, the store was closed and the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Matsuda, were unharmed. However, their business was destroyed, and patrons and sta at neighboring Uncle Yips who witnessed the incident were traumatized,” the statement said.

“ ankfully, the store was closed and the owners, Mr. & Mrs. Matsuda, were unharmed. However, their business was destroyed, and patrons and sta at neighboring Uncle Yips who witnessed the incident were traumatized,” the statement said.

Violence toward people of Asian descent has increased since 2020, on top of the legacy of racism the United States has perpetuated for centuries. Many attribute the spike in anti-Asian violence to racist rhetoric like that which former U.S. President Donald Trump used during his tenure. Trump frequently referred to the coronavirus as “the China virus,” “the Chinese virus” and even the “Kung Flu” because it reportedly had originated in Wuhan, China. Trump and many of his supporters – including sitting politicians – have continued to use such language.

Violence toward people of Asian descent has increased since 2020, on top of the legacy of racism the United States has perpetuated for centuries. Many attribute the spike in anti-Asian violence to racist rhetoric like that which former U.S. President Donald Trump used during his tenure. Trump frequently referred to the coronavirus as “the China virus,” “the Chinese virus” and even the “Kung Flu” because it reportedly had originated in Wuhan, China. Trump and many of his supporters – including sitting politicians – have continued to use such language.

Sincee the pandemic's start, a number of Asian-owned businesses in Greater Cincinnati have endured threats and vandalism.

Sincee the pandemic's start, a number of Asian-owned businesses in Greater Cincinnati have endured threats and vandalism.

As the o cer walks Beckjord to the squad car, Beckjord says, “Well, this is just a training exercise to see if I’ll comply with law enforcement. You know who Daniel Beckjord is. Well, my payroll pays your salary. My relatives are ve-star generals and ve-star lieutenants and ve-star admirals, and they don’t want me fucked with.

As the o cer walks Beckjord to the squad car, Beckjord says, “Well, this is just a training exercise to see if I’ll comply with law enforcement. You know who Daniel Beckjord is. Well, my payroll pays your salary. My relatives are ve-star generals and ve-star lieutenants and ve-star admirals, and they don’t want me fucked with.

According to the GoFundMe page for the e ort, which is being organized by Asianati co-founder Koji Sado, Tokyo Foods is the last Japanese grocery store in Greater Cincinnati.

According to the GoFundMe page for the e ort, which is being organized by Asianati co-founder Koji Sado, Tokyo Foods is the last Japanese grocery store in Greater Cincinnati.

On Jan. 31, the Evendale Police Department said that thus far, its investigation did not show that Tokyo Foods shooter Daniel Beckjord committed a hate crime.

On Jan. 31, the Evendale Police Department said that thus far, its investigation did not show that Tokyo Foods shooter Daniel Beckjord committed a hate crime.

“I’m a special agent and this is concluding an investigation to end child molestation and sexual slavery and the dosing of mass populations through drugs and drug-like substances and psychedelics and psychedelic-like substances, and this is to end it forever,” Beckjord tells the o cers in the video.

“I’m a special agent and this is concluding an investigation to end child molestation and sexual slavery and the dosing of mass populations through drugs and drug-like substances and psychedelics and psychedelic-like substances, and this is to end it forever,” Beckjord tells the o cers in the video.

At that time, a bystander tells one o cer about something “back in the car” as well as something about his wife. Beckjord notices this before continuing.

At that time, a bystander tells one o cer about something “back in the car” as well as something about his wife. Beckjord notices this before continuing.

“And they want you to release me and back in the car...,” Beckjord says, mimicking part of the conversation. “And he did the right thing. He just wanted to make sure his kids were safe. And, uh, I run the ma a for every galactic...”

At the car, an o cer buckles Beckjord into the backseat, where the suspect says, “Law enforcement has to save me from situations in the future, and this is just a training exercise to show how this should work.”

At the car, an o cer buckles Beckjord into the backseat, where the suspect says, “Law enforcement has to save me from situations in the future, and this is just a training exercise to show how this should work.”

An o cer then asks Beckjord if he chose Tokyo Foods because it was an Asian market.

An o cer then asks Beckjord if he chose Tokyo Foods because it was an Asian market.

“No, no,” Beckjord says before going into the “training exercise” spiel again. “MIB [men in black] is in my head and you can’t get ‘em out of my head. Secret Service is in my head; you can’t get ‘em out of my head. Every government agency is in my head.”

“No, no,” Beckjord says before going into the “training exercise” spiel again. “MIB [men in black] is in my head and you can’t get ‘em out of my head. Secret Service is in my head; you can’t get ‘em out of my head. Every government agency is in my head.” ey’ve supported the community for 35 years, now it’s our turn to support them.” ey’ve supported the community for 35 years, now it’s our turn to support them.”

“Even after everything they have gone through, the 93-year-old Mr. Matsuda still talks about the goodness in people, the community, and how he does not want to trouble others,” Sado said on the page. “My hope is to raise enough funds for Mr. & Mrs. Matsuda to recover from these tragedies and to live the rest of their lives in peace.

“Even after everything they have gone through, the 93-year-old Mr. Matsuda still talks about the goodness in people, the community, and how he does not want to trouble others,” Sado said on the page. “My hope is to raise enough funds for Mr. & Mrs. Matsuda to recover from these tragedies and to live the rest of their lives in peace.

Funds raised will go toward repairing damages and helping to pay rent and insurance costs at Tokyo Foods and will provide the Matsudas with assistance for basic living expenses, Sado said.

“ e suspect never o ered a motive for the o ense and that remains under investigation,” the department said. “After searching two residences used by the suspect, two vehicles used by the suspect, as well as two cell phones belonging to the subject, no evidence was found that pointed towards an ethnic/cultural motivation or targeting in the Evendale incident.”

“ e suspect never o ered a motive for the o ense and that remains under investigation,” the department said. “After searching two residences used by the suspect, two vehicles used by the suspect, as well as two cell phones belonging to the subject, no evidence was found that pointed towards an ethnic/cultural motivation or targeting in the Evendale incident.”

But for the organizations that have signed the statement of support for the Matsudas, that doesn’t matter. Helping a longtime community member does.

But for the organizations that have signed the statement of support for the Matsudas, that doesn’t matter. Helping a longtime community member does.

“And they want you to release me and back in the car...,” Beckjord says, mimicking part of the conversation. “And he did the right thing. He just wanted to make sure his kids were safe. And, uh, I run the ma a for every galactic...” e o cer simply says, “All right” and begins to shut the door. But Beckjord has one nal question. e 31 organizations that signed the statement of support also called for more awareness of the violence towards Asian community members, which has been rising since the start of the pandemic.

“ ey’ll be here before you can get me out of this parking lot, through teleportation, if you go any further than this,” he adds.

“ ey’ll be here before you can get me out of this parking lot, through teleportation, if you go any further than this,” he adds.

Funds raised will go toward repairing damages and helping to pay rent and insurance costs at Tokyo Foods and will provide the Matsudas with assistance for basic living expenses, Sado said.

Beckjord then trails o before

Beckjord then trails o before e o cer simply says, “All right” and begins to shut the door. But Beckjord has one nal question.

“Are you alive or are you a spirit, sir?”

“Are you alive or are you a spirit, sir?”

“Stand with AAPI’s. Incidents e 31 organizations that signed the statement of support also called for more awareness of the violence towards Asian community members, which has been rising since the start of the pandemic.

“Stand with AAPI’s. Incidents

“Tokyo Foods and the Matsuda family cannot be made whole again. e trauma of such attacks will inevitably leave scars. We also know the burden of such ignorance and hate cannot be shouldered by only those who are subjected to it. We ask Cincinnati to stand united to show its support of Tokyo Foods and send a message that we do not tolerate hate,” they said.

“Tokyo Foods and the Matsuda family cannot be made whole again. e trauma of such attacks will inevitably leave scars. We also know the burden of such ignorance and hate cannot be shouldered by only those who are subjected to it. We ask Cincinnati to stand united to show its support of Tokyo Foods and send a message that we do not tolerate hate,” they said.

Donate to the Tokyo Foods e ort on GoFundMe at bit.ly/3wZjb2J.

Donate to the Tokyo Foods e ort on GoFundMe at bit.ly/3wZjb2J.