QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

SUMMER 2021 | VOLUME 67

The fun is back!

E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 1 7/9/21 9:29 AM MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A Message from the Executive Director BOARD OFFICERS Dearest Marj, We took on initiatives such as "Save the Myron Okada | President Japanese YWCA," "Save Japantown Bowl," Scott Okamoto | Senior Vice President It's hard to believe that my journey with "Preserving Our Japantowns" and "Japanese you is coming to an end. Although I always Donna Kimura | Vice President American U.S.-Japan Relations." We even knew our time working together would one Kelly Yuka Walton and Hillary Nakano | became an international relief organization day come to an end, I knew I would never Corporate Secretaries for the 1995 Kobe earthquake and most be quite ready for it. It's hard to imagine the Robert Sakai | Chief Financial Officer, recently, the Northern Japan Earthquake Center without you or walking into the office Ex Officio Relief Fund. All of these incredible things we and not seeing you sitting at your desk. have been able to accomplish would not have BOARD OF DIRECTORS I wish there were words that could truly been possible without you. If you had not Terry Akiyama express how thankful I am to you for working agreed to work with me and hang around for Sherilyn Chew with me for the past 31 years, but even if these past 31 years, I would probably not be David Fukuda there were, sometimes a “thank you” is never working here today. I needed you more than Judy Hamaguchi enough. I was never quite sure why you you ever knew — your experience, guidance Chris Hirano stayed to work with me all these years. After and, most importantly, your trust and Aya Ino having retired from working for the Federal support. It's hard to imagine what the Center Stephen Katayama government for over 40 years, all I knew is would be like today without you. Ryan Kimura that I never deserved you. The most amazing part of us working Susan Kobayashi Back in 1988, I remember when I first heard together is that you never quit on me, walked Rumi Okabe that a recent retiree named Mrs. Fletcher, out the door or left the Center because of Allen Okamoto who knew nothing about the Center or the something I did or said, even after shooting Marilyn Oshiro San Francisco Japanese American community, you with a rubber band and nerf gun. I am the Leigh Sata was going to join our Board of Directors, luckiest boss in the world because of you, and Teresa Serata I thought, “this lady must have the wrong I want you to know out of all the wonderful Jon Shindo address, wrong organization, or must be and incredible things that have happened Kyle Tana crazy!” Despite that, we figured out how to to me working at the Center, the one that I work together, and our lives and the life of treasure most is you. STAFF this organization changed forever. Paul Osaki | Executive Director I hope that working at the Center has Lori Matoba | Deputy Director It's hard to believe that you have been brought a smile to your face every day. When working with me for over half my entire the Center was conceived, first and foremost, Marjorie Fletcher | Executive Assistant life! When we first started, the Center was our goal was to become a second home for Mika Shimizu | Office Manager/ a very different place — we had typewriters our community. You, more than anyone, Receptionist and adding machines. We had never heard helped us achieve that goal. Matt Okada | Director of Special Events of a fax machine, and we kept track of our and Communications I hope your well-deserved second retirement members and donors using index cards. You Elena Nielsen | Membership Coordinator in Utah with your family will bring you all even took shorthand for me. There was no Jennifer Hamamoto | Director of Programs the joy and love you deserve. Just know, gymnasium/community hall. There were so Haruka Roudebush | Senior Programs no matter where your path may lead, I will many uncertainties and challenges back then, Manager always consider myself your adopted son! but looking back, it was the best of times. We worked hard because we had big dreams Sometimes a “thank you” is never enough, but MISSION ミッション to fulfill and a vision of what this place might I want you to know that you have been the one day become. best boss that I ever had. The Center is a non-profit organization which strives to meet the evolving needs Today, those dreams we once imagined of the Japanese American community by With love and gratitude, offering programs, affordable services and happen every day. Today, over 185,000 people administrative support and facilities for walk through our doors every year. We have other local organizations. The Center also expanded our programs beyond the San provides educational, cultural and recreational Francisco Bay Area to include statewide, programs that meet and address the interests and concerns of the community. Our goals national and international conferences, remain rooted in preserving the Japanese workshops, symposiums and exchange Paul Osaki American cultural and historical heritage as programs to Japan. Now with our new virtual well as fostering the foundation for future Executive Director programs, we have participants from other generations of Japanese Americans. parts of the globe.

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Returning to the Center

I am so happy to see It has been so wonderful I started working for the returning to work at the all the folks back at Center in person. One of Center last October and the Center. I feel my favorite parts of our occasionally stopped by our reopening has been seeing comfortable with all how excited all of our facility to print things or the people back at the program participants have pick up mail. Still, it wasn’t been to be able to get out of Center, and I’m glad the house and return to their until our reopening last they're back. classes and programs. month that I’d experienced —Marjorie Fletcher, Executive Assistant —Haruka Roudebush, Senior being at the Center full-time Programs Manager altogether with other staff. Community and activities have returned to the Recently, I’ve enjoyed seeing Center. From the click clack sounds of the Mah community members stop by Jongg tiles to the music and smiles coming from our front office to check-in the line dancing class, I’ve enjoyed seeing so many and chat. The little mini- familiar faces back at the Center and hoping to see reunions are heartwarming many more soon. to see! —Mika Shimizu, Office Manager/Receptionist —Elena Nielsen, Membership Coordinator

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The Fun is Back at the Center

I was so excited to return It was definitely Twilight to the activities and to see Zone material going to everyone again! I was sad the first line dancing to learn about some of the class since we stopped in changes in the people who March, 2020. We walked I used to see — those that through the gym doors. have passed away or won’t We saw faces we hadn't be returning. We have to be seen in more than more conscious about the a year. We heard Al changes for social distancing. Kitashima say, "Ok, let's —Yoko Sumida get started." We lined up. Al began teaching. He started the music. Nothing unusual. It was like we never stopped. —Steve Louie

It's good to be back in the Center! Our zoom classes were good, but in-person classes are better. It helps that everyone in class is vaccinated. —Rich Tokeshi

I was very happy to return to in-person art classes. It was wonderful seeing (almost) everyone. We were all totally vaccinated and masked, plus there was a huge air purifier at the back of the room and the tables socially distanced from each other. We have classmates who can't make it in-person so the Center staff set up Zoom so they can participate. It's great having the Zoom option. The big screen also allowed us to watch Rich Tokeshi work with charcoal on his drawing. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be safely together. —Kay Nomura

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I'm happy to be back in the I'm grateful that Line Dancing has started writing class at the Center to again. I missed dancing and seeing my dancing exchange ideas with other friends. Most of all, I missed seeing "Al writers and read our stories. I missed the group and having Kitashima" move his body!!! Thank you JCCCNC lunch together. for keeping us safe while dancing. —Harumi Serata —Lily Gin Chan

It’s so good to see familiar faces and do something “normal” again. Something I've enjoyed for years, pre-pandemic, but with the safe health practices in place that minimize the risk not only to myself but for the whole community. The Nikkei Open Golf Tournament was a perfect day and I really appreciate a perfect way to ease back into our beloved activities and how the Center has welcome people back to the Center — safely and outside! put those practices in place and consistently Our first in-person event, we enjoyed gorgeous weather communicated with all and a breathtaking course — a wonderful setting for golfing of us about these safe, and volunteering! We had so much fun volunteering and it healthy practices. is one of our favorite events! We look forward to more! —Tim Huey —Sherilyn Chew (and Peti Arunamata), Board member

I think the golf The Nikkei Open was scheduled for Half Moon Bay tournament was a great Golf Links with weather projected to be in the high event, and the weather 50s and potential winds. The “hacker” golfer that I am was worried. But, alas, the day was beautiful and my cooperated. All of my Tako flight team had a wonderful time. We did not guests had a great time. end up last and the Center’s initial event was a The staff did a celebration of getting together after a long wonderful job. hibernation. —Robert Sakai, Chief Financial Officer, —Myron Okada, President Ex Officio

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A Love never set foot inside the Center. I had me; it held so much possibility within it. Letter to never even heard of the Center before I was not disappointed. Every single one applying to the Kase Program, much to of you has contributed to the joy, the the Center Paul’s dismay. My only trips to Japantown history and the richness that exists in this were merely as a tourist passing through community. I feel lucky that for a brief for some good food and fun trinkets. I moment in time, I was able to experience Community came to the Center and this community it as a deeply important part of my as a blank canvas, and now, after four life. The Center and the community Dear Center Community, years, I feel as though I am departing as a will remain a part of my life, even as I colorful painting. Growing up, my Jiichan spread my wings for new opportunities. This is a love letter. It is in no way a often used the phrase “okagesamade” Okagesamade. traditional love letter to one person (thanks to you). I always loved the phrase whom I love. It is a love letter to many, I wanted to create a short list of things and its symbolism, and during my time many people, to a few places and things that I love for posterity and perhaps for at the Center, I have seen it personified and to a thousand feelings. It is a letter you to relate to. Here are some things time and time again. Thanks to all of you, of love to the Center, to the staff, to the that I love: I am who I am today. Thanks to all of board, to the Center community and to you, I know what I know today. Thanks How the staff always has my back, Japantown. to all of you, I am leaving my work at the quite literally. I recently got a very bad I write this letter on the eve of my Center with so much love for the Center sunburn, and Ruby, Mika and Lori helped departure from the Center. I am not a and this community. apply ointment to the top of my back ship moored at a harbor ready to set sail and shoulders to help the sunburn heal. There is something absolutely special for another shore though. I am simply a Diane and other staff gave me sunscreen about the Center community and plant being repotted in some new soil, and tips on how to avoid sunburns in the Japantown. I felt it the moment I leaving behind a few roots but carrying future. showed up on that very first day of the with me the nutrients and growth of the internship, eyes wide trying to take in all Marj’s stories. I wish I had written down place where I first began to sprout. of the sights about me. Everything felt so or recorded everything Marj has ever said When I began my journey at the Center new but familiar. When I walked around to me. Her stories, sayings and remarks as a Kase Nikkei Community Scholarship the streets and the Center, I felt a sense would catch me off guard constantly, Program (Kase Program) intern, I had of wonder and awe. The space excited and I would dissolve in laughter with

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her. She’s an encyclopedia of wisdom treats during my lunch break. and funny stories. I am immensely Being able to pet dogs at the Center all grateful to have been able to work day. Nemo, Zen and Hana, as well as the with such a special person. The other pups who come to visit, always Center and community will miss her give me my dog fix! joy, her pineapple cakes, her witty banter and her ability to make anyone The snacks and omiyage staff, board and feel at home. community members bring to the Center after trips to Japan and Hawaii. Watching growth and life happen before my eyes. I feel so lucky to have Busy days at the Center and in the watched Jordyn, Jen’s daughter, and community where people are streaming Sochan, Mika’s son, grow up during my through the plaza and Buchanan Mall. time here. They are such unique, fun The incorporation of Mottainai. A couple and loving kids! I was also able to see of weeks ago, I learned how to fold community folks add to their families. a plastic bag into a perfect and neat The triangle from Lori to save for later. willingness of folks to volunteer for anything. I am so thankful to my crew Home baked goods made by staff and of volunteers that always helped me with the community. my mailings, including this newsletter, Special events at the Center and in the and special events like Tabemasho and community. I loved MC’ing Children’s Colma Cemetery Clean-up. I loved Day, gathering for Tabemasho, cleaning getting to know you all and appreciate Colma Cemetery, hanging out at the your hard work! golf course for the Nikkei Open, helping Sharing stories with Matt and Elena of out at Sake Day and making mochi every our weekends, our childhoods and our December. lives. I have loved getting to know my Our board. Thank you to the board office mates and feel lucky to walk away for your generous support to continue with two amazing friends. to move the Center forward. The Sunny days in Japantown and the Issei community is so lucky to have your Memorial Garden at Cottage Row. leadership. Being greeted by Mika each morning. Our staff. These are some of the best I am sure all who enter the Center people, and I feel eternally grateful to The sound of mah jongg tiles and can relate to this as well. Mika would have worked alongside them. Paul, Lori, chatter coming from the conference always greet me with a smile and “good Marj, Mika, Ruby, Jen, Diane, Haruka, rooms on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the morning,” and we would share stories. I Matt and Elena, thank you so much for soft brush strokes and low chit chat of always started my workday in a better everything you have done for me. mood because of Mika. the Watercolor Class; the concentration Our Japantown community. I, and many and sweet smiles of the Bridge group; Benkyodo’s lunch options. I don’t know others, have said before that the Center the murmurs and easy laughter of the if they still sell their hamburgers, chili or and the community are much more Writing Class; the fun and upbeat music hotdogs, but it was a great addition to a than a space. Thank you to everyone and Al’s patient instructions for the Line midday manju when I needed lunch and for contributing to the vibrancy and Dancing Class. I will miss all of the smiles a treat! Mum’s and Paina’s french fries. joy of this community. I will hold this and conversations I shared with the Yasukochi’s coffee crunch cake. Super community in my heart forever. program participants that came during Mira’s curry and katsu bento. Takara and With gratitude and love, my workday. I loved listening to the Kui Shin Bo’s lunch sets. Udon Mugizo’s sounds of people creating, playing and ramen and donburi set. The food in sharing. Japantown in general… I am going to miss walking to get meals, snacks and Stephanie Doi

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Alice Kawahatsu with volunteers at Tabemasho 2009

Cooking Up an Old Classic — Reopening the Nikkei Potluck Cookbook Project

Food, and consequentially, uring the pandemic, our sorely missed our food programming, not foodways, the cultural, social, and lives changed, and so, only because of the joy and sustenance economic methods in which we foodways— from the ways given to our members and participants in which we used to make, by such events, but because these events produce and consume food, is a Deat and even purchase food to the often transmit and center culture and constant in our lives. Foodways stories and traditions we used to be tradition in our community. Foodways intersect at the crossroads of able to tell through making and eating are important cornerstones in sharing culture, traditions and history. food— drastically changed too. Many and transmitting culture, oftentimes In the Japanese American of us were not able to share a meal in multi-generational settings. Though community, food, and the way it with loved ones, and we were not able the pandemic altered our foodways to eat together as a community. At and halted many of the opportunities is produced and consumed, has a the Center, we halted our Community to share foodways, the future holds long, rich, and meaningful history. Kitchen program, in-person food potential to redouble our efforts in workshops, annual Tabemasho event, sharing food and the cultural and annual mochitsuki workshops and the traditional stories and rituals embedded many other programs where culture and in our foodways. food were the main events. The Center

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yummy creations. Many of the ladies in the group belonged to local churches, so it also became kind of an informal Interfaith group as well. It was nice to have various ages in our group, as it was a great time to share and pass on stories to the next generations. We even made various foods together and did taste testing. Eventually, we thought it would be a good idea to make a cookbook. The members all collected recipes and stories to add to the book and Ms. Pon helped put it together with the Center. The Center debuted this cookbook at their very first Tabemasho community Alice directing volunteers at Tabemasho 2009 fundraiser. I recall vividly helping at the first Yoshimura Ito, Alice Wong Kawahatsu, Tabemasho event. It was like a huge Marjorie Fletcher, Michie Koga and potluck! People from the community Lois Ohwa. Together, they created donated their favorite family dishes and the memoir cookbook to catalogue this is what was served to the guests. Japanese American recipes related to Needless to say, although it was a great stories, poems, photos and other written array of traditional potluck foods, it and visual storytelling representations was challenging to have everyone get a to help bridge the generational gap taste of everything, so we started to ask and begin to teach the foodways of various organizations and churches to the Japanese American community to donate specific foods in larger quantities. younger generations. We reached out to It was easier to keep track of and plate. Alice Kawahatsu to share her profound During the first Tabemasho event, Paul memories of the project. Osaki, Executive Director of the Center, mentioned that at the end of the event, a number of grandmas came up to him Alice helping to prepare plates with volunteers at “It’s been awhile since this book was and thanked him with tears in their eyes. Tabemasho 2009 created, but here is what I recall: They were so happy they had attended I was just one of many women who this event. For some, it had been such In this issue of our newsletter, we are were invited to the JCCCNC by Ms. a long time since they had traditional cooking up an old classic by reopening Pon, a young woman who was working family-made Japanese foods. It brought our Nikkei Potluck Cookbook Project and to complete her thesis and degree in back such fond memories of their past. sharing a reflection from a committee Occupational Therapy. As I recall, our This was such a powerful message! member that helped spearhead this first meetings were just getting to know Food not only helps us connect with important cultural project. Tiffanie Pon, the other women, hear stories of food our culture and communities, but also OTR/L, OTD, a doctoral resident at and family and share how food has made connects us to our history and it can the University of Southern California’s an impression on our experiences and comfort us as well. That’s where the Department of Occupational Therapy who we have become. For many of us, word “comfort food” comes from. Also, and Occupational Science at the time, we enjoyed potlucks and socializing with talking with others about our great proposed the cookbook in 2008 as a people. Participating in a potluck was memories of food and family can be very piece of her doctoral project. Tiffanie a great way to make family favorites healing. A few of the women I met at our collaborated with the Nikkei Potluck and try new recipes while sharing and first gathering remain very close friends Project Group, consisting of Naoko sampling other people’s interesting and Continued on page 10

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Potluck Cookbook Project continued from page 9 Wakame and Edamame Onigiri with Salmon Flakes to me. We continue to volunteer at the annual Tabemasho events This recipe was inspired by my since it began many years ago. What Nihonmachi Little Friends’ (NLF) better way to bring history, culture, chef, Midori Tamano. My kids still community and family and friends remember the great food at NLF. This recipe is great for picnics, together while raising funds for our potlucks and social gatherings and precious and valuable Japanese Cultural can easily be served in a large bowl! and Community Center of Northern California!” INGREDIENTS 8 cup cooked white rice

Alice’s Original Entry in Nikkei Potluck 1 package wakame pieces (green Cookbook Project: package found in Japanese markets)

Wakame and Edamame Onigiri 1 package frozen edamame, thawed with Salmon Flakes. Submitted by and shelled Alice Wong Kawahatsu the kitchen and wash some dishes. As Cooked or flaked jar salmon embarrassed as she was, she entered MY STORY: INSTRUCTIONS the kitchen and proceeded to roll up Sharing Food from the Heart Place cooked rice in a large container her sleeves. My dad came over to her for mixing. Sprinkle rice with My earliest memory of food came in the and asked what she was doing. When wakame bits and add edamame. form of a story that I recall my mom she explained that she had accidentally Mix with shamoji (rice paddle). sharing with me of how she met my dad. left her wallet at home and the cashier Make onigiri and put a little piece of He was a Chinese cook at a Chinese/ told her to wash the dishes, he laughed salmon in the middle. Repeat until American restaurant called “Asia Grill.” and said, “That's OK, you don't have to rice is all used. My mom, who is a second generation wash the dishes, it's on the house.” They *Tip: To make onigiri, wet hands with Japanese American, was a student became good friends and he eventually water to keep the rice from sticking studying to be a dental assistant. She asked her out and the rest is history. and shape each onigiri into a triangle would frequent the Asia Grill restaurant Hearing this story over and over as a shape or an onigiri maker can be used. at lunchtime with her classmates. Her little girl and seeing how generous my favorite dish to order there soon became dad was with his talent for cooking, I the chow mein special. One day, while think I naturally realized that food had a herself. I remember the church families talking with the waiter, she mentioned way of bringing people together. I also would bring meals to us and the Boy that the chow mein was the best she’d realized early on that good food offered Scouts would bring care packages to ever tasted and wanted to meet the from the heart can make others so us for Thanksgiving. My older brothers cook. Lo and behold, there was my happy. would hide and were embarrassed, but dad, cooking tons of food in this huge It was unusual in those days for a my younger sister (aged six at the time) wok. When she told him he made the Japanese American to be married to a and I would come out and greet all the best chow mein she had ever tasted, person who was originally from China. visitors and thank them for what they he grinned with delight. One evening, When I was growing up, my mom brought. It was so heartwarming and after work, she was craving chow mein would say… “If anyone gives you a hard comforting to know that there were and decided to go have dinner at the time about being half Chinese and others who thought about us during this restaurant all by herself. half Japanese, you tell them… I'm half difficult time. It was also around this After she had finished eating, she went Chinese and half Japanese and I’ one time that my mom made friends with to pay for the meal. It was then that she swell kid!” Food was pretty abundant other fellow moms who had also lost realized she had left her wallet at home at home when I was growing up. Then, their husbands. My mom's friends were in another purse!! When she explained when I turned eight years old, my dad so supportive and would come over to to the cashier what had happened, suddenly passed away and my mom our home and show us how to cook their he got mad and directed her to go to was left to raise five young children by favorite dishes. This was fun because

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with us about Japanese culture and our traditions. Eventually, the school asked Community Kitchen us if they could come and visit our For anyone eager to try some of the church and take a tour of Japantown. We family recipes in our Nikkei Potluck were so happy! To me, this showed that cookbook, our quarterly Community food offered from the heart can easily Kitchen communal dinner program bring people together and sharing the brings members of the community stories that normally don't happen under to the Center’s full service kitchen and Issei Memorial Hall for a multi- any circumstances seem to happen so generational evening of cooking a easily. predetermined menu of Japanese and Now that my kids are older, they like to Japanese American family recipes bake and share their cookies and cakes and dishes. Each quarterly menu is with friends, neighbors and relatives. It planned around a different theme makes me happy to see that they have by our committee of Community Kitchen volunteers, who then oversee learned that food offered from the and teach program participants how heart can bring smiles and joy to people. to prepare and cook the dishes on Alice with son Masashi We are fortunate to live right here in the menu. The Community Kitchen Japantown where there are numerous program not only helps us preserve many of them were from different occasions when our community gathers and transmit our Japanese American countries, such as Spain, Vietnam, for sharing in celebrations or in times of culinary traditions and foodways to the Ireland and many other countries. It happiness. Still, there are other times next generation of home cooks of the was wonderful to hear their stories and when our community gathers because community, but is a social gathering watch them cook up a storm. I learn that we have lost a beloved community for Center and community members no matter where you are from, sharing friend. It is through all these occasions to connect and enjoy an evening of your story and eating together can be that I have witnessed that food shared camaraderie and good eats! so healing. Up to this day, I still feel from the heart can bring community During our COVID-19 closure this strongly that if more people from around spirit and people together. I hope my kids past year, our Community Kitchen the world got together to share food will continue to make and offer food to participants met on a monthly basis together and share their stories, there others in this mindful way and pass this over Zoom to hold virtual potlucks would be less wars and conflicts and important family value down to future where they would prepare a dish going more healing and forgiveness could take generations. I also hope that they will along with each month’s theme and place. remember and share with others the discussed the recipes for the dishes they prepared as well as swapped famous chow mein story about how their While raising my kids, my husband and cooking tips with each other. Some of Grandma Jane met Grandpa Al. I love to bring the food of our culture the virtual potluck themes from this to those who may not be familiar with Note: Alice is married to Rev. Masato past year included: Tofu Challenge, it. I especially like to show children Kawahatsu of the San Francisco Konko Recipes from the Camps, Summer how to cook Japanese food like onigiri Church. She works at the United Religions Obon and Matsuri Recipes, Okinawan and mochi. We were fortunate that Initiative, a global interfaith peace Dishes, Sweets, Treats and Japanese Desserts, Kabocha Challenge, Noodles our children attended a school that organization. During WWII, Alice’s mom and Holiday Dishes, Nabemono, allowed us to do this each year in their (Jane Hara) was interned in Stockton, CA Vegetarian Dishes, Curry Creations, classrooms. I remember that first year and then in Rohwer, AR. Following that, Egg-straordinary Dishes, and Seafood we showed the class how to make she was interned in Tule Lake. After the war Dishes. We can’t wait to resume our mochi and many of the kids had never ended, Jane went to Japan for seven years in-person programs with everyone, tasted it before. It was well received and returned to California in 1952 where so keep an eye out for our next and everyone enjoyed themselves. The she has lived ever since. In 2005, Grandma Community Kitchen night in person at next year, we decided to add a few Jane finally graduated from her original the Center! In the meantime, get your Japanese stories and share some cultural high school in Lodi with the graduating copy of the Nikkei Potluck cookbook items. As the years went on, the kids got class of 2005. She also represented her high and perfect your own renditions of JA more comfortable with us and looked school at the JCCCNC graduation held in family recipes and potluck favorites! forward to making mochi and talking San Francisco.

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Crossing the Pond: Diane Honda’s Search for her Family History

As the Center transitioned at the start of the pandemic to hosting virtual programs, one of our first online offerings was our Your Family, Your History genealogy webinar series with professional genealogist Linda Harms Okazaki. Over the course of eight virtual sessions held from May through August 2020, our program participants learned how to research and write their family histories to preserve them for future generations of their families. Part of the course instruction covered how to acquire documents and official records including records from WWII incarceration camps as 2014 photo of my family: front row (L to R) David Reiland (husband), Michael “Mikeie” Honda well as immigration records and passenger Reiland (son); Back row (L to R) Elizabeth “Lizard” Honda Reiland and Entropy (Daughter with manifests from the ships that brought over Dog (our grandmutt), Diane Honda our families’ first Issei immigrants to the United States (U.S.). For those able to track their family histories beyond our immigration stories to our ancestors’ lives in the motherland, our family history webinar series included a session guiding participants through the process of requesting old family koseki records and registries from municipal government offices in Japan. We were delighted to hear from our virtual program participant Diane Honda, who took our Your Family, Your History course all the way from where she lives in Tennessee, and even more remarkably, through the research and guidance received through the Center’s program, was able to find and directly contact her distant relatives in Japan. We are grateful for Diane allowing us to share her family history search story here with the rest of our community. For anyone interested in our Your Family, Your History webinar series and researching your own family’s history, online access to the course materials and full series video recordings are available for purchase. Please visit our genealogy and family history programs page on our website at jcccnc.org/programs-events/genealogy.

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paternal and maternal side family members. He declared, “It’s a miracle.” Previous clients have not been nearly as successful locating koseki or relatives. He’s as excited as I am about our search results.

Current status on my family history research I connected with newly found relatives on both sides of family in Japan! On my maternal family’s side, I held a Zoom session with the grandson of my maternal grandfather’s adopted son in Tomoko Honda, daughter of my paternal Masaki Wada, the grandson of my maternal Japan and my maternal U.S. family. My grandfather’s youngest brother grandfather’s adopted son. Grandfather adopted a son to become the head of the household and to care DIANE’S STORY of the incredible translator, Yuzo Ochiai, for family property in Japan, as my What got me started researching my I met through the class, I have koseki for uncle had no desire to move to and family history? Decades ago, I helped my my grandparents and five of my eight live in Japan. On my paternal family’s daughter create a simple family tree to “greats.” The remaining three koseki had side I began an email exchange with meet a class assignment. It only went already been destroyed. the granddaughter of my paternal as far as my grandparents. While I had grandfather’s youngest brother. taken a couple of courses on researching I have also connected with close Japanese American family history, I really and distant U.S. relatives. I created didn’t know how to take the next step. descendant charts for each grandfather Linda Harms Okazaki’s class explained Armed with what I and shared them my newly found how to conduct research in much more learned in the class, relatives in Japan and my relatives in the detail. When conducting family history a newly recognized U.S. I connected with a second cousin research, it’s recommended you identify on each side of the family. I gathered a question you want to answer and direct treasure trove of family information to create a descendant your research accordingly. documents and an chart for their grandparent to share with I have a photo of my grandfather incredible amount of luck, relatives in Japan. My second cousins and another young man. The only didn’t know much about their relatives, information I have about the second I had the information just names. Thanks to the class, I easily person in the photo is he’s believed to be needed to “cross the located birth and death dates for those my grandfather’s brother. None of the “grands” and their children. I shared the U.S. family knew my grandfather had a pond” and request family charts with relatives in Japan and my brother/a brother who immigrated to registries (koseki) distant relatives in U.S. I will also share North America. The photograph was my grandparents’ descendant charts with taken in Vancouver. My grandfather my second cousins. came to North America through Canada. Tomoko Honda, my newly found relative Who is the brother in the photo and on my father’s side of the family was Using the information in my what happened to him? happy about the unexpected contact. grandfather’s koseki — I believe I know Here’s what she shared: Armed with what I learned in the class, a the name of the brother in the photo. I newly recognized treasure trove of family then decided I wanted to try finding "I remember my grandfather (Diane’s documents and an incredible amount family in Japan. I asked for Ochiai-san’s note: grandfather’s youngest brother) of luck, I had the information needed help. Armed with only a couple of wrote letters to the States when he was to “cross the pond” and request family decades-old names and addresses, still alive. After he suffered a cerebral registries (koseki). Thanks to the efforts Ochiai-san managed to locate both Continued on page 14

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Family History — what he wrote about himself and continued from page 13 about his family. I am curious about a brother who came to Canada and was stroke, he was no longer able to write there at the same time Tomoji Wada was letters, so my mother wrote letters for there. In addition, I would like to know him. It has been 40 years since he passed more about Tomoji Wada’s ancestors. Are away. I lost my mother last year. I was there really 27 generations listed? When feeling that we no longer had any way of did they live? What, if any, additional learning about our relatives in the States. historical information is included in the America has been on my mind for a long two documents? time. My mother also worked hard as a Ochiai san and I ultimately decided bridge, and I think it's because [of that] to create a hybrid translation of just we all [feel] connected after 50 years! I the beginning and part of the end am very grateful to Diane for her efforts portions of the family scroll and family on our behalf. Thank you very much." My tree documents. Per Ochiai san, the father was very happy, too, when I told documents appear to be very similar. him about this. Unfortunately, the documents didn’t We have been sharing family photos of contain any information about what our grandparents and of another grand happened to his brother. uncle. I emailed my second cousin about Juzo Honda family circa 1922, a family photo of my I am the family keeper of birthdates, paternal grandfather, grandmother, aunt and my discovering our relative in Japan. I asked wedding dates and death dates. I send father. Once I saw this, I knew we found my father’s her to share and ask her family about the e-cards commemorating such events. relative. photos I received from Japan. She also If you saw the Disney animated film this earth. I think it is important to be wants to communicate with the newly Coco, I think I hold a similar outlook remembered, at least by family. Tomoji found relative in Japan. Hopefully, we’ll about family. If no one remembers an Wada was proud of his family lineage. He all learn more about our relatives on both ancestor, in a way, they cease to exist took great pains to copy, create a copy sides of the pond. and it’s as if they never were upon of the Family Tree Scroll and created a Translating Additional Family family tree document in addition to the Documents scroll. Perhaps I am “channeling” Tomoji Presumably, my maternal grandfather Wada. He was apparently interested in descended from a prominent family. documenting his family history. Among the possessions he left his family, Maybe this is what I am supposed to be was a copy of his family’s scroll and a doing right now — preserving Tomoji family tree document he created-- no Wada family history by obtaining family copy machines back in those days! He koseki, having them translated and had also added biographical information sharing that information with family to the end of the documents. After members. In keeping with my love of obtaining and translating all available learning things, and understanding this koseki, the last unexplored items were was such an important thing to Tomoji the family scroll and the family tree Wada maybe I’m “supposed to” have the documents. This was before I set out Family Tree Scroll information translated to find family members in Japan. I asked and to share it with the family. Maybe Ochiai san to give me an estimate to that would be my gift to my family and translate them. Ochiai san cautioned me to Tomoji Wada. that the task would be difficult and time- consuming. He asked, “What would you The information needs to live on beyond like to know from these?” Tomoji Wada. If I can find family in Japan, I will see what they know about the long Here’s my long answer: I’d like to know Hitomi Kojima, the granddaughter of my paternal family history. If they are not aware of Tomoji Wada’s biographical information grandfather’s youngest brother it, I will share it, along with what has

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happened to the Tomoji Wada family, me to arrange a Zoom meeting with since he came to the U.S. the relative on my mother’s side of the family, translated for my relative and is Back to the photo that started this a fountain of knowledge regarding the journey, while, I’ve gotten a bit off course families and the area (Taiji) where my and still have one of my two original maternal grandparents grew up. He is questions left to answer, I feel my the curator of the Historical Archives for journey has yielded great results. Taiji. My grandfather’s brother may have Ochiai- san was instrumental in gaining crossed into the United States a few the confidence of my relatives, so they’d times. However, he appears to have be willing to communicate with me. disappeared without a trace. This is I had failed to consider this potential where it gets interesting. To date, my problem ahead of time. My relatives were family history research trek has been initially quite concerned that someone relatively easy, satisfying and fruitful. Yuzo Ochiai from Osaka, Japan was trying to scam them. If the situation Now, I’ll have to roll up my sleeves were reversed, I’d be wary of an unknown and ask Ms. Harms Okazaki for advice “relative” suddenly trying to contact on where to go from here. I’m looking me! When I set out to locate relatives in forward to the next steps in this journey. Japan, I didn’t think about the fact I don’t read or speak Japanese. My relatives DIANE’S JOURNEY don’t read or speak English. The pandemic literally opened up I use software to translate our emails. a world of virtual content for me. I It’s less than perfect, but an affordable attended a wide range of classes held by option for everyday conversation. When organizations/instructors across the U.S. software translations are inadequate, as well as two from New Zealand and or when important family history India. If I recall correctly, the Japanese information is being exchanged, I ask American National Museum’s (JANM — I Ochiai san to translate. was born and raised in Southern CA, so I’m familiar with JANM. We moved to Linda Harms Okazaki An unexpected benefit of this journey Tennessee in 1995 for my husband’s job. has been getting to know distant Our families still live in Southern CA.) I must give credit to Yuzo Ochiai, the relatives in the U.S. in addition to my virtual Discover Your Japanese American Japanese translator I met through the relatives in Japan. I’m confirming the Roots course instructor told class class. I was successful because I had following… Hitomi Kojima, the newly participants about the JCCCNC’s Your “boots on the ground” in Japan. Ochiai found relative on my father’s side of the Family, Your History Workshop Series. san figured out where to file requests family said her father lives in the same That’s how I learned about the JCCCNC for my family registries (koseki). If an house where her great grandfather and course. The JCCCNC’s complimentary office didn’t have a registry, he asked grandfather lived. If this is indeed our first session of the series was so amazing, officials where the registry might be great grandfather’s original house — I immediately signed up for the rest of found. He saved me a lot of time, trouble that’s the same house my father visited, the classes. and money. Ochiai-san also determined on his 1939 visit to Japan, when he was 18 years old! I can’t say enough good things about the where to search for relatives, based on the scant information I had, and instructor, Linda Harms Okazaki, and the Yuzo Ochiai’s Comments on Diane’s he ultimately found them. Ochiai-san course itself. Journey commented we were really lucky — not I’ve taken shorter courses on researching all his clients are so successful. I met Ms. Diane Honda during a web Japanese American Family History, but seminar that Ms. Linda Okazaki gave last this course gave me the tools to be I “met” another Japanese national, year. Linda is a great genealogist that I've successful. It presented things in bite- Hayato Sakurai, who is fluent in English, been working with for many years. Linda size portions, so you can actually do the through the search for my mother’s and I are a good team. I translate koseki, research over the duration of the course. family in Japan. Sakurai-san, worked with Continued on page 16

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Family History because people can be suspicious with genealogical societies and attended continued from page 15 phone calls from a stranger. This procedure classes beyond the series. Virtual does not always work, and I often end up education is here to stay. It’s especially and she writes a family history book out reaching the dead end, but in Diane's case, suitable for those with day jobs or of my translation along with her extensive it seemed that her ancestors had guided who live too far to drive into the city. research on each family. It was just a God's me to reach her remote descendants on In-person is still a nice option, especially gift opportunity to have met both of these both her maternal and paternal sides. if we wanted to do some “hands-on” wonderful people. Her maternal side lived in Wakayama activities. Prefecture, and her paternal side in It is not always easy to retrieve one's koseki Q: Do you have any other anecdotes Kumamoto Prefecture, about 800 km apart and even harder to find remote relatives about launching the webinar series in a from each other. living in Japan, especially when we don't virtual format? have enough information of a particular Diane and her remote relatives in Japan are A: Creating and presenting this series family. For example, "How is your great now in constant communication by emails was really rewarding. The students great grandfather's name spelled in kanji and Zoom, and I extend my help whenever developed their skills as family historians characters?" or "What era was he born they need me. This is truly the goal of my in a way that wouldn’t have been in?" or "Where about in Japan did the work, and I am very happy to be their possible in a single workshop. In some cupid. Thank you, her ancestors for your ways, I joined the students on their great help, from my heart. personal journeys. Together, we got to –Yuzo Ochiai from Osaka, Japan know their ancestors. One student was I am the family keeper researching the early Okamura family of birthdates, wedding Genealogist Linda Harms Okazaki of San Francisco. In May, there was an answers to questions we had about article in the Nichi Bei Weekly about dates and death genealogy and Diane’s journey. the planned retirement of the owners of dates. I send e-cards Q: Were Diane's results typical or the Benkyodo Company. I immediately thought “I know that family!” commemorating such something that's unique and a best- case scenario, especially given Diane Q: Are there any general events. If you saw the connecting directly with living family recommendations for people who'd like Disney animated film members? to start their own journey? Coco, I think I hold a A: Diane has been a fabulous student. A: There are many resources for family Curious, engaged, eager. She came history. Take a class, join a writing group, similar outlook about to class prepared and asked lots of don’t give up. The best advice I have is to family. questions. Every family history journey is start with a research question or a focus. different. Those who apply themselves, What is it you want to know? who have a dedicated research plan, and Future genealogy programming to keep go beyond the “low hanging fruit” are an eye out for: the ones who find that the process is family live?" In Diane's case, however, very very rewarding. It takes time to do what FamilySearch and Ancestry.com are fortunately, with a great help of village Diane did, but it’s usually possible to always creating new programming. Local officers I dealt with, I was led to locate obtain the koseki and often (though not genealogical societies have classes and most of the koseki I needed, and the always) possible to find living relatives. special interest groups. The more you information in the koseki they sent me gave learn about genealogy, the more you Q: What was your partnership with the me hints to locate her remote relatives. discover about your family, the more Center to create an extended virtual you want to know. Diane has taken Based on the addresses from the koseki, series like? I went through the telephone directory this to heart. After taking the series at A: The webinar series was a lot of fun. on the Internet and found several families The Center, she joined the California Many thanks to The Center for inviting under the same surname, then made a Genealogical Society where she’s been me to try this format. I think one reason phone call to each one of them to ask if taking a LOT of classes. for the success was limiting the number they were anyway related to her, which of people per session. Several of the is always the hardest part of my work students (including Diane), have joined

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The Fun Is Back… and We’re Doing It Safely!

Masks are no longer required, but many still feel more comfortable keeping Carlos keeping high-touch areas clean. them on. Do what is most comfortable for you. Many things changed on June 15 in San Francisco and California. Capacity limits, social distancing and most health and safety requirements were rescinded, including the guidance to wear a mask indoors for those that are fully vaccinated.

Current Center Health and Safety Policies: 1) All in-person program participants must be fully vaccinated or provide proof of a negative test within 72 hours of program attendance, and participants are recommend to prepay and register when possible. 2) Our staff are following guidance to monitor their health, self-assess for symptoms and stay at home if they are not feeling well. 3) Although not required, we are maintaining our daily cleaning of high-touch areas, furniture and equipment and ensuring proper ventilation in rooms/offices. We want you to know that the health, safety and comfort of all participants at the Center is our highest priority, and we continue to monitor the healthy, vaccinations and reopening of the City and surrounding areas. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding our policies, Thanks to the KT Foundation’s recent donation match, to increase ventilation, please contact Lori Matoba at [email protected]. we have placed several HyperHEPA air purifiers. These air cleaners filter 99.5% of the harmful ultrafine virus particles down to 0.003 microns.

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Preserving Culture One Class at a Time Current Ongoing Programs at the Center

Greetings from the Center’s Programs Department. We welcome you to peruse the list below that feature all the fun that we offer. The first class session is free for any first-time participant (materials costs for select classes still apply). We encourage you to try something new! For more information or to register for a class, please visit our website jcccnc.org, email [email protected] or call (415) 567-5505. All in-person programs require preregistration and proof of vaccination or negative test within 72 hours of attendance.

ARTS AND CULTURE uptempo music to make for a captivating dance style that is growing in popularity in ASIAN AMERICAN WRITING Japan and abroad! No dance experience is A place for both new and experienced necessary. Class members have the option of writers alike to write and share about dancing with the class recreationally, or learn- themselves, their families and others ing the group's repertoire to perform in public. to preserve the stories and memories When: Fridays, 7-9 p.m. of our Asian American community. Cost: $12 M | $17 NM/monthly Instructor: Genny Lim $3 M | $5 NM/drop-in When: Wednesdays, 10-11:30 a.m. new media, subject matter and ways of Cost: $44 M | $50 NM/monthly MARTIAL ARTS AND FITNESS $14 M | $16 NM/drop-in thinking. This class will use basic draw- ing, painting concepts and subject matter, KARATE—MONDAY AND WEDNES- but will also look to expand participant’s DAY CLASS (VIRTUAL) artistic horizons. The atmosphere of the class is very informal for creating art. Karate is an Okinawan martial art mean- ing “empty hand.” Develop self-defense Instructor: Rich Tokeshi skills and strengthen yourself mentally and When: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon physically. Our class is part of the Interna- Cost: $3o M | $4o NM/monthly (virtual) tional Karate League (IKL) which instructs $9 M | $12 NM/drop-in a modified Shorin-Ryu style of karate. This class is open to all skill levels age 6+. WASHI NINGYO (VIRTUAL) Instructor: Craig Hamakawa Engage in the art of Japanese paper doll mak- When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. ing and create your own 3D Japanese washi Cost: $28 M | $44 NM/monthly BASIC DRAWING (HYBRID) (traditional) paper dolls. In this class made $8 M | $13 NM/drop-in Join instructor Rich Tokeshi, an original for all skill levels, participants will learn the instructor of Japantown Art and Media (JAM), basics, or perfect their skills in doll making. KENDO WITH SAN FRANCISCO and bring out the artist in you. This eight- First-time participants must register by phone KENDO DOJO week class concentrates on basic drawing by the first Saturday of the month. Class fees Learn the modern Japanese martial art of concepts and subject matters such as still life, include all materials. Class is for ages 18+. Kendo. Kendo is an activity that combines portraits, scenes from everyday life and draw- Instructor: Yurie Nakamura/Rochelle Lum martial arts practices and values with strenu- ing from photos. All supplies are provided at When: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon ous sport-like physical activity. Kendo uses no additional fee. The class is open to all skill Cost: $30 M | $40 NM/monthly bamboo swords and protective armor to levels. $8 M | $13 NM/drop-in discipline the human character through the Instructor: Richard Tokeshi application of the principles of the katana. When: Saturdays, noon-2 p.m. This class is hosted by San Francisco Kendo Cost: $65 M | $85 NM (eight consecutive DANCE Dojo. To learn more and to register visit sfk- weeks) YOSAKOI DANCING WITH ITO YOSA- endo.github.io or contact them at $13 M | $16 NM drop-In KOI DANCE GROUP (VIRTUAL) [email protected]. Instructor: San Francisco Kendo Dojo Join the Ito Yosakoi Dance Group's weekly BEYOND BASIC ART CLASS (HYBRID) When: Mondays and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. classes to learn the lively, energetic dance This weekly art class is designed for inter- style of Yosakoi dancing! Yosakoi dancing Mondays at Buddhist Church of San Fran- mediate and advanced students and will features choreographed group dances with cisco; Thursdays at the Center (JCCCNC) allow participants the opportunity to explore traditional movements mixed with modern,

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SENIOR CHAIR AEROBICS (VIRTUAL) Designed for seniors who want to build basic physical strength in a low-impact class. Students will use a chair to par- ticipate in exercises to increase flexibil- ity, muscle coordination and strength. Instructor: Kaeko Inori When: Thursdays, 10-10:45 a.m. Cost: $3 M | $4 NM drop-in (virtual rates)

MUSIC Coordinators: Yone Higashigawa UKULELE – ADVANCED (HYBRID) and Nancy Nakai This class is for experienced Ukulele play- When: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30-4 p.m. ers that focuses primarily on Hawaiian song Cost: $2 M | $3 NM/drop-in traditions, as well as chords and rhythmic strumming techniques. SPORTS Instructor: Don Sadler When: Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (resumes COMMUNITY VOLLEYBALL August 5) Create a team for your non-profit, service Cost: $40 M/ | $60 NM/monthly or interest organization and join us for a $12 M | $17 NM/drop-In volleyball league filled with fun, food and UKULELE – INTERMEDIATE (HYBRID) friends! Each team must consist of either board, staff members or volunteers in your Designed for ukulele players who have organization. Please contact the Programs prior experience. This class will focus on Department at programsevents@jcccnc. learning and reviewing chords, as well org if interested in forming a team. as songs and strumming patterns. (New students with no prior experience should When: Tuesdays, 7-10 p.m. participate in the Ukulele 101 workshop Cost: $45 M | $55 NM/per season held twice a year to cover basics such as tuning, basic chords and techniques.) 30 AND OVER BASKETBALL Instructor: Don Sadler Sign up for the Center’s Monday Night (draft) Japanese and When: Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Basketball League. Participate in games that Japanese American Cost: $40 M | $60 NM/monthly are competitive, but friendly! See our website $12 M | $17 NM/drop-in for league information. Trivia When: Mondays, 6-10 p.m. (up to 15 weeks per season) SOCIAL 1) Who was the Japanese Cost: $120 M/$155 NM/Per Season American man credited in BRIDGE 40 AND OVER BASKETBALL breaking the color barrier in Keep your mind sharp while playing bridge in a fun, social environment. Get your friends and join the mature, wise the NBA by becoming the and friendly competition in our Wednesday Coordinator: Alice Moriguchi first non-white player? Night (draft) League. See our website for When: Fridays, 12:30-4 p.m. league information. Cost: $2 M | $3 NM/drop-in 2) Who was the first When: Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m. (up to 15 weeks per season) Japanese golfer to win a MAH JONGG Cost: $105 M | $130 NM (per season) major tournament and Engage in social activity and develop cre- when did they win? ative strategy skills by playing this popular Chinese tile game. If you would like to learn how to play Mandarin style Mah Jongg, 3) Where and when was classes will begin when we have four play- the first Japanese American ers. Sign up at the Center’s front office professional baseball club and indicate if you would like to attend either a Tuesday, Thursday or both classes. formed? You will be contacted by the Mah Jongg M = Members | NM = Non-Members answers on page 27

coordinator when we have at least four KEY HYBRID = in-person and virtual students enrolled. Invite your friends!

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Upcoming Workshops

See what exciting and enriching workshops we have coming up this spring, including various cooking programs and special lectures. Be sure to check the Center’s website for additional workshops and events as they are added to the calendar! All in-person workshops require preregistration, including proof of full vaccination or negative test results within 72 hours of program.

Copies of the Mochi Magic cookbook are available for order separately from webinar registration. More about Mochi Magic: Mochi — the traditional Japanese treat made of chewy rice dough — is a popular and versatile vehicle for all kinds of sweet and savory fillings, and easily molded into adorable shapes and characters that define Japan’s culture of cuteness. Food writer Kaori Becker’s easy-to-follow techniques MOCHI MAGIC SUMMER for creating and cooking with mochi deliver VIRTUAL WORKSHOP the perfect mix of fun and tradition. Each with Kaori Becker, chef and author colorful page brims with recipes for hand- of Mochi Magic Cookbook pounded, steamed, and modern microwave Sunday, Aug. 8 | 1-3 p.m. | via Zoom mochi; fillings like rosewater, Nutella, black Fees: $15 M | $20 NM sesame, Oreo Cream Cheese, and Japanese TEA BLENDING FOR ENERGY Register online: plum wine; mochi-focused goodies like AND WELLNESS http://bit.ly/summer2021mochimagic Bacon-Wrapped Mochi, Ozoni Soup, Asian American Herbalism with Erin Supplies list and recipes provided upon baked goods; and inspiration for shaping Wilkins of Herb Folk registration irresistibly charming mochi flowers, baby Saturday, July 24 | 10–11:30 a.m. Mochi is a traditional Japanese chicks, pandas, and more. Kawaii!! In-person at the Center confectionary beloved by those lucky Order from Amazon: Cost: $30 M | $35 NM enough to get it fresh. It can also come http://bit.ly/mochimagicbook Register online: in a variety of forms, shapes and textures, Paperback: $10.73 http://bit.ly/asianamherbalism and now you can learn how to make it at Kindle E-book: $9.99 Registration includes two herbal tea blends home! Back by popular demand, chef and to take home! cookbook author Kaori Becker will be About Kaori Becker The Center is excited to host our first holding quarterly virtual mochi cooking Kaori Becker is the author of Mochi Magic in-person workshop since our reopening workshops with the Center featuring and a cook specializing in Japanese cuisine. with Yonsei acupuncturist and herbalist recipes from her cookbook, Mochi Magic. Growing up “hapa” (half-Japanese) in the Erin Wilkins, owner of the Herb Folk Kaori previously held a virtual mochi Bay Area, she was drawn to her mother’s shop in Petaluma, California. making workshop with us over Zoom Japanese home cooking, especially sweets last November to celebrate the release and baked goods. Together with her Asian American herbalism draws upon of Mochi Magic, and we are delighted to mother, Becker runs Kaori’s Kitchen, a Bay traditional wisdom and current trends share more of Kaori’s mochi magic with Area cooking school featuring popular for staying healthy naturally. Join us for a you going forward! mochi classes. Becker also co-owns The hands-on workshop where you will learn Mochi Shop in Columbus, Ohio. Kaori how to blend herbal teas for increased In this virtual workshop, Kaori will has taught her dessert mochi workshops energy and wellness. We will learn about give you a peek into the recipes and at the Center in the past. For more the Eastern and Western energetic techniques presented in her cookbook, information on Kaori's Kitchen, please visit: properties of common herbs such as and then teach you how to make two kaoriskitchen.com. chrysanthemum, mint, honeysuckle, different kinds of delicious mochi treats!

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 20 7/9/21 9:29 AM PROGRAMS AND EVENTS プログラムとイベント

mullein, marshmallow and goji berry. Registration full? E-mail programsevents@ lesson prompts to sign up as a volunteer And we’ll discuss how to prepare for jcccnc.org to be placed on the session facilitator. Volunteers must be available fire season with herbal recipes for lung waitlist. the third Friday of the month from 6–8 health and immunity. Everyone will take The Center and the Japan Exchange & p.m. PST. home two herbal tea blends. Teaching Program Alumni Association To download the J-Chat Volunteer Erin Wilkins is an Asian American of Northern California (JETAANC) Facilitator Orientation Packet, go to: herbalist, Japanese style acupuncturist. are pleased to bring you our brand http://bit.ly/jchatorientation0521 Her work is rooted in TCM and Japanese new monthly program, J-Chat Virtual Volunteer registration full? E-mail energetic medicine — tapping into her Japanese Conversational Language [email protected] to be added own ancestral healing traditions to Exchange, which launched successfully directly as a volunteer facilitator. empower others to restore health and in May. This program provides beginning prevent illness. A seasoned educator, to advanced Japanese language learners About Dr. Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda her classes include seasonal wellness, a monthly space over Zoom to improve Born in Tokyo and raised in Texas, Lisa self care workshops, Asian American conversational skills! Hofmann-Kuroda earned a BA in English herbalism and folk traditions. Erin is the Each monthly session will begin with from Wesleyan University and a PhD in owner of Herb Folk, an Asian American a brief Japanese language lesson for Japanese Literature from UC Berkeley. herb shop and clinic in Petaluma, CA. beginners and intermediate speakers She writes, translates and teaches for She is a member of the Sonoma County taught by Japanese language professor a living and is particularly interested in Chapter of the Japanese American Dr. Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda, followed teaching Japanese to Japanese Americans Citizens League and a proud Yonsei. by small group conversations assigned and Japanese heritage speakers. Follow her To learn more about the services and by skill level (beginning, intermediate on Twitter @lhkuroda other offerings at Herb Folk, visit and advanced), assisted by Japanese- HerbFolkShop.com. speaking volunteer facilitators. Practice your conversational skills in Nihongo New Monthly Virtual Program: and connect online with other language learners from the community! Monthly J-Chat Session Program: • Short beginning and intermediate Japanese language lesson taught by Dr. Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda • Lesson materials provided in advance upon registration About JET Alumni Association of Northern California • Small breakout groups for conversation The Japan Exchange & Teaching Program J-CHAT VIRTUAL JAPANESE practice Alumni Association of Northern California CONVERSATIONAL LANGUAGE • Breakout groups assigned by skill level (JETAANC) serves as a network and EXCHANGE (beginner, intermediate and advanced) resource for JET Program alumni in Sponsored by the JET Alumni • Breakout groups led by Japanese- Northern California and Nevada, and Association of Northern California speaking volunteer facilitators provides assistance to the JET Program and Dr. Lisa Hofmann-Kuroda other activities that strengthen U.S.–Japan Jun. 18, Jul. 16, Aug. 20, Sep. 17 Volunteer Facilitators relations. JETAANC is an all-volunteer, (3rd Friday of each month) We’re looking for more J-Chat volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With 6–8 p.m. PDT facilitators! Our maximum capacity over 1,700 current members, JETAANC $3 M | $5 MM | Free for JETAANC and size of small breakout conversation is one of the largest and most active JET members with promo code and groups will vary based on the number alumni chapters in the world. For more volunteer Small Group Facilitators of volunteer facilitators registered for information on JETAANC events and Via Zoom; meeting login and lesson each session. Feel free to encourage activities, go to: jetaanc.org. materials provided upon registration any Japanese-speaking friends who Register online: are comfortable assisting beginning https://bit.ly/jchatconversation conversation groups and following

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 21 7/9/21 9:29 AM CULTURAL TRAIL MIX

The Center Joins a Coalition to Stop Asian Hate Don't be alone. Run your daily errands with Recently, there has been an work together to help each other so family or friends. increasing number of reported that we can all feel safe and secure in 一人で外出しないでください。買 い物などで外に出る時は家族や友 hate incidents against Asian conducting our daily activities. The more frequent presence of “Beat Officers” 人と一緒に行動しましょう。 Americans in this country. provides an easier access to notify the Be aware of your surroundings. Look police department of issues and activities around. Don't be looking at your phone. ccording to the website Stop occurring in real time, and we hope to 携帯に集中せず、外出中は周 AAPI Hate, (stopaapihate. work more closely with them through 囲に気をつけましょう。 org), from March to December, this newly created coalition. 2020 over 2,808 reports of Only use or answer your phone in an area Aracism against Asian Americans were Several organizations participating in the where you feel safe. NCC have already started to sponsor 何かしらの理由で携帯を使用しな reported. 7.3% of the reported incidents ければならない場合は安全な場所 activities to help Japantown. The SF were against elderly Asian Americans に移動してから使用しましょう (60+ years old). Examples of what has JACL has created posters to be placed happened to these victims include being in storefront windows and homes to Move away from people who make you feel uncomfortable. Cross the street or go into barred from entering a public facility, denounce Asian hate. They have also the closest store. created and translated into Japanese an being coughed and spat upon and being 身に危険を感じた時はすぐに移動し physically assaulted. information sheet on how to prevent ましょう。緊急時は即座に近くのお crimes against persons and have provided 店などに助けを求めま しょう。 This disturbing rise of violence against personal alarms free of charge to seniors Asian Americans prompted a number in the community. API Legal Outreach Don't carry a purse. Put your things in a zippered or secure pocket. of organizations in Japantown to get conducted a seminar on Knowing Your together to work for proactive measures なるべく鞄は持ち歩かないよ Rights and how to report hate crimes うにしましょう。貴重品はポケ to help our community, particularly our as well as sponsoring a delicious bento ットにしまってください。 seniors, and form a coalition. lunch to raise funds and awareness of Don't flash your cash. Put wallets away Our coalition, the SF Nihonmachi NCC activities. before exiting the store. Community Coalition, (NCC), will work The Center has joined in this effort and お店を出る際は財布をしまってから together to raise awareness, to apply will work with the other NCC members 外に出ましょう。現金はなるべく他 人に見えない様にしま し ょう。 for funding from public and private to make sure that our best efforts are resources and to educate and inform used, particularly to protect and look out Don't wear expensive and designer jewelry our community about what is happening for the many members and visitors to the that is visible. in the community so that they can be Center. 高貴なアクセサリーや宝石はなるべ safe and secure in their homes and く身に付けないようにしましょう。 businesses. Please stay tuned as we plan ahead with future events. Communicate with family, friends and NCC had one meeting with the Captain roommates with your plans for the day, so of the Northern Station of the SF Police they know where you're supposed to be. Department and will be holding a virtual If victimized, please contact your 何かがあったときのために家族 や友人またはルームメイトと1日 town hall meeting for our community at local police department. If you の予定を共有しましょう。 large to tune in and learn what is going have questions, contact API Legal Outreach for free hate violence legal on and how to help one another on June Don't walk alone at night. services at (415) 567-6255 (service in 24, 2021. 夜間は一人で出歩かなよ English, Japanese and 11 other API うにしましょう。 It is important for Japantown to be languages). Victims and witnesses informed of what type of crimes are can also report an incident online Provided by the Japanese American Citizens happening in our community and to in a variety of Asian languages at League (JACL) and Japantown Community stopaapihate.org Benefit District (JCBD), with translation by Santa Takahashi and design by K. Nomura.

22 Summer 2021 CULTURAL TRAIL MIX

The Center Participates in the Opening Day of the Tokyo Olympics

On July 23rd, the Center will However, for those of you who would Games. This will be followed by guest organize an event in partnership like to sleep in a little later that day, speakers and local elected official, and with NBC Bay Area to welcome please join us for festivities at the Peace then a series of demonstrations to Plaza starting from 2 p.m. PST on July 23 share the types of cultural arts that are and celebrate the Opening Day of — the start of our local ceremony. Our performed in Japan such as karate, kendo the Tokyo Olympics at the Peace program will also be livestreamed and and kyudo. Plaza in San Francisco Japantown. many portions of it will be aired on NBC The 2021 Cherry Blossom Queen, Kelly Bay Area’s news stations, channel 11 and Eshima will dance the Tokyo Gorin Ondo, cable channels 3 and 703. BC News owns the US media a song and dance created specifically rights to the upcoming The Center was honored to work with for the Tokyo Olympics and lead a Olympic Games, and will NBC Bay Area to host the 100 Days to demonstration to encourage group start broadcasting the event the Tokyo Olympics on April 14, 2021, and participation. Nlive from 6:55 a.m. EST on July 23. This is now looks forward to working together Other activities and information booths the first time that this news station will to plan this historic celebration. broadcast the event in real time. For will be available for all individuals viewers on the west coast, this means The tentative schedule for activities at attending. Please join us for the that we need to set our alarm clocks the Peace Plaza include a Parade of Flags festivities! celebration where youth participating to wake up by 3:55 a.m. to watch the For further information, please visit our in summer activities at the Japanese Opening Ceremony. NBC will air 7,000 Facebook page for a full schedule of Community Youth Council will walk into hours of coverage of the games covering activities! the 33 competitions and 339 events to be the Peace Plaza holding the flags of the sponsored at 42 venues across Japan. nations participating in the Olympic

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 23 7/9/21 9:29 AM OUR DONORS 寄付者

KT Foundation Matching Grant Donors

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors for their support in our Spring Annual Support Drive (Spring Support Drive). We are excited to announce that every donation was matched dollar for dollar, up to $40,000, by a generous matching pledge from the KT Foundation. The Spring Support Drive funds will help create a safer and healthier environment as we reopen our Center. We will install touchless faucets, toilets, light switches and other non-contact equipment to limit touchpoints and prevent the spread of viruses and germs. Your contribution will make the Center safer for everyone, from young infants to seniors. The Center will also use the funds to improve air circulation by purchasing commercial HyperHEPA filtration clean air machines that can filter 99.5% of airborne particles.

The board and staff of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the Board of Directors of the KT Foundation for their continued support. We are grateful beyond words to our many donors, members and program participants who did not forget us despite being closed for over 400 days. We truly appreciate those who supported us by sending donations to help with our financial deficit caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. During these troubling times, with economic uncertainty, belonging to a community becomes even more essential. Your gift illustrates your unwavering belief in our mission and your stake in our community. Donations for the KT Foundation Matching Grant were received from March 1 – May 31, 2021.

PLATINUM ($5000+) Mrs. Fumi and Mr. Nobusuke Fukuda EMERALD ($250-$499) Ms. Mutsuko Arima Mrs. Judy Hamaguchi Mr. Kazuyuki and Mrs. Alice Adachi Mr. Satoru and Mrs. Carolyn Hosoda Mr. Don and Mrs. Christina Hirose Ms. Eiko Aoki Ms. Nancy K. Nakai and Mr. Dale Spink Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Christine Hiroshima Dr. Mary Bitterman Mr. Timothy Huey Mr. William J. Edick and Ms. Pamela Burns GOLD ($1,000-$4,999) Mrs. Mary Ishisaki Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Mr. Peti Dr. James and Mrs. Cynthia Hayashi Ms. Brenda Jow Arunamata Ms. Yoneko Higashigawa Ms. Miyako Kadogawa Mr. Hiroshi and Mrs. Janice Fukuda Mr. Garrett M. Hisatake and Ms. Phuong Bui Mr. John and Mrs. Ruby Kobayashi Ms. Naomi Gould Mr. Tom and Mrs. Gaylene Hoshiyama Mr. John and Mrs. Shannon Mandel Ms. Elayne Hada-Souza and Ms. Janis Ito Mr. Rick Matsuno Mr. Thomas J. Souza Ms. Susan M. Kobayashi and Mr. Charles S. Han Mr. Tosh Mitsuda Mr. Craig and Mrs. Lyn Hamakawa Mrs. Esther Marks Ms. Tsuruko Nakamura Mrs. Lyn and Mr. Brian Hirahara Mrs. Joy and Mr. Bruce Morimoto Ms. Rose Oda Ms. Kazuko Hishida Mrs. Shirley Murakami Mr. Myron Okada and Ms. Lynne Ogawa Mr. Stephen and Mrs. LeAnn Katayama Dr. David L. Walton and Ms. Machiko Mr. Michael Okagaki and Mr. Gary Kitahata and Ms. Arlene Kimata Nakatani Ms. Wendy S. Hanamura Mr. Alan and Mrs. Sylvia Kitashima Ms. Janet Ninomiya Mr. Roy S. Okuno Mr. George Kobayashi Mr. Allen and Mrs. Patricia Okamoto Mr. Tak Onishi Mr. Jonathon and Mrs. Janet Low Ms. Matty Taga-Allen Mr. Charles Kagay and Ms. Teresa Serata Ms. Karen Mah-Hing Ms. Michiko Tashiro, Ms. Chiyo Tashiro and Ms. Marumi Suyeyasu Ms. Ella Miyamoto Ms. Lucille Tashiro Mrs. Emelita Takahashi Dr. Lawrence and Mrs. Sydney Nakamura Mr. John and Mrs. Marge Tsukamoto Mrs. Miyoko Tomura Ms. Chizuko Nakamura Mr. Peter and Mrs. Ayako Yee Mrs. Karen Wong-Lee Mr. Victor K. Ono and Ms. Elaine Yee Mr. Brad Yamauchi and Ms. Diane Gunderson Ms. Jennifer Tambara-Ono SILVER ($500-$999) Mr. Robert and Mrs. Susan Yoshioka Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Kaeko Park-Li Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Mr. Bradley Yee Mr. Jason Sharp Benkyodo Company Mr. Gary and Mrs. Carolyn Soto Dr. Emily Brewer Mr. Ko and Mrs. Hisako Takemoto Mr. Jerry and Mrs. Shelley Ferguson Ms. Diane Tokugawa

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Mr. and Mrs. Yoshimitsu Toya Mrs. Yoko Maeda Mr. Kenji and Mrs. Mary Tomita Mr. David and Mrs. Teruko Turner Mr. Scott and Mrs. Kimberly Mamiya Mrs. Betty Tsugawa Ms. Yuki Ventimiglia Mr. Gary Masada Mr. Ben Tsutaoka and Ms. Stacey Fung Ms. Kelly Yuka Walton Ms. Sandi Matoba Ms. Montira Warran Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Betty Yamamoto Mr. Hitoshi and Mrs. Joan Matsukuma Mr. Tim and Mrs. Jo Ann O. Wong Mr. Michael Yamashita Mr. Chester and Mrs. Nanako Matsuoka Mr. Ken and Mrs. Nancy Woo Dr. Craig Yonemura and Ms. Ria McIntosh Mr. Ken Wu Ms. Pamela K. Matsuda-Yonemura Ms. Cynthia Miyashita Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Anna Yamaguchi Mr. Robert and Mrs. Marisa Mizono Mr. Gary and Mrs. Karen Yamamoto RUBY ($100-$249) Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Patricia Mizuiri Ms. Marcella Yano Anonymous Ms. Doris Mizuiri Mr. Jim S. and Mrs. Lynn Yonashiro Ms. Juliet Aguilar Ms. Haruko Nagaishi Mrs. Sara and Mr. Dave Yoo Mrs. Sumiko Akashi Mrs. Nanami Naito Ms. Donna Yoshida Castro Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Akiko Arikawa Mr. Kiyoshi and Mrs. Tazuko Naito Ms. Audrey Yu Ms. Lily Chan Mrs. Emiko Nakahiro Mr. Darryl Chun Ms. Kim Nakamura DONORS ($0-$99) Mr. Byron and Mrs. Jan Der Mr. Henry Nakata, Jr. Mrs. Itoko Akuhara Ms. E. Leilani Fox Mr. Lionel and Ms. Millie Ng Ms. Barbara Armstrong Mr. Koichi Fukuda Mr. Edward M. and Mrs. Ayako Nishimoto Ms. Atsuko Awaya Mr. Saburo and Mrs. Lucille Fukuda Mr. Somao Ochi Ms. Lillian Bloom Ms. Naomi Funahashi and Mr. Richard Lee Ms. Jacqueline Octavio Mr. Colin Bowers Ms. Gail H. Gee Ms. Harua Oda Mr. Edward Driskill Ms. Gabriella Grandilli Ms. Lois and Mr. Edward Oda Ms. Tomoko Flynn Ms. Amy Hanamoto Ms. Michiko Ogino Mr. Alan Gee Ms. Aiko Hashiyama Mr. Dii Lewis and Ms. Joyce H. Oishi Mr. Hans Goto Mrs. Mary K. Hidekawa Ms. Marsha Okada Mr. Donald and Mrs. Deborah Hayashi Mr. Daryl Higashi Mr. Clifford and Mrs. Bonnie Okamoto Ms. Shirley Imamoto Ms. Diane Honda Mr. Ricky and Mrs. Glenda Okamura Ms. Jessica Kawamura Ms. Helen Hoy Mrs. Nancy A. Okano Ms. Ibuki Lee Ms. Takako Huang Mrs. Kay K. Onishi Mrs. Sandra Mar Ms. Shizuko Ikeda Mrs. Linda Ono Dr. Lorianne Masuoka Ms. Mary H. Ikenaga Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Eleanor Osumi Mrs. Yaeko Noda Mr. Masahiko and Mrs. Kazuye Ikuma Mrs. Yaeko Ozaki Mrs. Katherine Nomura Ms. Cynthia Inaba Ms. Nancy F. Ozaki Mr. Terry Oda Ms. Dawn Iwamoto Ms. Annabelle and Ms. Nadine Quan Ms. Frances Oda Ms. Christine R. Iwanaga Mr. Ross Sakamoto Ms. Brooke Perkins Ms. Melody Kamada Mr. Wilfred Lim and Ms. Susan Sakuma Ms. Robyn Pesce Ms. Tracey Katayama Mr. David and Mrs. Cindi Sasaki Mr. Robert and Mrs. Momoe Sasaki Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato Ms. Yasuyo Satoh Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Susie Sato Mr. Russell and Mrs. Harumi Kishida Ms. I. Reiko Saul Mr. Donald and Mrs. Marian Seiki Ms. Kayoko Kitsuda Mr. Henry and Mrs. Adelina Serata Mr. Steve Omori and Ms. Linda Sekino-Omori Ms. Kathy Kojimoto Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Mary Shek Ms. Lia Shigemura and Ms. Helen Zia Mr. Thomas and Mrs. June Konno Mrs. Mary Shin Mr. William Shirado Ms. Kristy Kunisaki-Marino and Mr. Takeo Shirasawa Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Shirley Shiromoto Mr. Rick Marino Mrs. Chiz Shiro Ms. Katharine Snyder Mrs. Joyce Kuwatani Mrs. Sharon Suzuki Mr. Jimmy and Mrs. Caroline Wong Ms. Cynthia Lee Mr. Kenneth Takahashi Ms. Susan Woo Ms. Bettina Leong Mrs. Toshiko Takahashi Ms. Rachael Y. Yamashiro Ms. Leslie Lethridge Takahashi Market Ms. Liane Yanase Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Carrie Louie Mr. Ben and Mrs. Fumiko Takeshita Mrs. Tamiko Yasuhara Ms. Elaine Low Ms. Susan H. Tanaka Mr. Jerald and Mrs. Nina Lowe Mr. Gary M. Tom and Mr. Leo Joslin Mr. Frank and Mrs. Yoko Lum Mr. Mitch Tom

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 25 7/9/21 9:29 AM OUR DONORS 寄付者

Honoring the Special People in our Lives Spring Annual Support Drive Tribute Gifts

In this edition, we would like to recognize the tribute gifts made In Memory or In Honor of someone special through our Spring Annual Support Drive from March 1 – May 31, 2021. We thank you for remembering and honoring those extraordinary individuals who have helped to make your lives and our community exceptional.

In Memory of

ROY KAZUMI ABBEY GEORGETTE IMURA HENRY S. NAKAO Mr. Peter and Mrs. Ayako Yee, $1,000 Mr. Gary and Mrs. Karen Yamamoto, $200 Mr. Russell and Mrs. Harumi Kishida, $100

LUCY ADACHI JAMES KAMADA STAN NATSUME Mr. Kazuyuki and Mrs. Alice Adachi, $250 Ms. Melody Kamada, $100 Mr. Jerald and Mrs. Nina Lowe, $100

YOSHIHIRO AOYAMA FRANK AND SETSUKO KANEKO HIPPO AND SUE OKAMURA Ms. I. Reiko Saul, $100 Ms. Ria McIntosh, $100 Benkyodo Company, $500

VIOLET ASANO SADAME AND MITS KOJIMOTO KENJI OTA Mrs. Sumiko Akashi, $100 Ms. Kathy Kojimoto, $100 Ms. Leslie Lethridge, $100

DR. RICHARD BREWER NELLIE KONO MARJORIE, MARK AND CAROLYN Dr. Emily Brewer, $500 Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Mary Shek, $50 SATO Mr. Hiroshi and Mrs. Janice Fukuda, $250 MUTSUKO FUKUDA DAISY KARGANILLA Mr. Koichi Fukuda, $100 Ms. Brenda Jow, $500 HARRY KATSUMICHI SHIN Mrs. Mary Shin, $100 TERRIE FURUTA SACHIKO MATSUMURA Mrs. Chiz Shiro, $100 Mr. David and Mrs. Cindi Sasaki, $100 Ms. Bettina Leong, $100 Mr. Paul Osaki, $100 KENGE AND SACHIKO TAKAHASHI NANI KAONOHI LEIMOMI Takahashi Market, $100 GAHETON JAMES AND MARY MATSUNO Ms. E. Leilani Fox, $100 Mr. Rick Matsuno, $500 FLO YAMADA Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Mary Shek, $50 BOB HAMAGUCHI PHILIP M. MIYAMOTO Mr. Robert and Mrs. Momoe Sasaki, $50 Ms. Ella Miyamoto, $250 TOSHIKO AND FRANK YAMASAKI Mr. Ronald and KIYO HIROSE MAE AND JOHN MIZONO Mrs. Shirley Shiromoto, $50 Mr. Don and Mrs. Christina Hirose, $500 Mr. Robert and Mrs. Marisa Mizono, $100 YUTAKO YAO MICHIKO HORIO AKIO MOCHIZUKI Mr. Edward M. and Ms. Janet Ninomiya, $1,000 Ms. Lillian Bloom, $50 Mrs. Ayako Nishimoto, $100

GEORGE AND TAE IKENAGA EDDIE MORIGUCHI Ms. Mary H. Ikenaga, $100 Ms. Gail H. Gee, $100

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 26 7/9/21 9:29 AM OUR DONORS 寄付者

In Honor of

CENTER BOARD, STAFF AND JENNIFER HAMAMOTO MYRON OKADA VOLUNTEERS Ms. Eiko Aoki, $100 Ms. Donna Yoshida Castro, $100 Ms. Nancy K. Nakai and Ms. Yasuyo Satoh, $100 Mr. Dale Spink, $5,000 PAUL OSAKI Ms. Janis Ito, $1,000 JAPANTOWN COMMUNITY Mr. Stephen and Mrs. LeAnn Katayama, $300 Mr. John and MEMBERS WHO HAVE WORKED Mrs. Marge Tsukamoto, $1,000 CONTINUOUSLY THRU PANDEMIC Dr. Mary Bitterman, $250 TO KEEP OUR NONPROFITS IN Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Mr. Bradley Ms. Eiko Aoki, $100 Yee, $500 PLACE DON AND ADA SADLER Ms. Kazuko Hishida, $250 Mrs. Mary Ishisaki, $500 Ms. Elayne Hada-Souza and Mr. Alan and Mrs. Sylvia Kitashima, $250 AL KITASHIMA Mr. Thomas J. Souza, $300 Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato, $200 Mrs. Karen Wong-Lee, $500 Ms. Lily Chan, $100 MIKA SHIMIZU MIKA AKEMI CHAN'S 21ST Ms. Yasuyo Satoh, $100 BIRTHDAY MR. AND MRS. JONATHON LOW Mrs. Shirley Murakami, $1,000 Ms. Elaine Low, $100 SHARON UMENE Ms. Jessica Kawamura, $50 SHERILYN CHEW AND PETI KALISA AND TALIA LOW ARUNAMATA Ms. Elaine Low, $100 VOLLEYBALL TEAM TACO TUESDAY Ms. Christine R. Iwanaga, $100 Mr. Timothy Huey, $500 LORI MATOBA MARJORIE FLETCHER Ms. Eiko Aoki, $100 Every effort is made to include gifts to Mr. George Kobayashi, $250 our Spring Annual Support Drive received Ms. Kelly Yuka Walton, $250 DIANE MATSUDA between March 1 – May 31, 2021, but if Ms. Eiko Aoki, $100 Ms. Eiko Aoki, $100 a name has been inadvertently omitted, Ms. Jacqueline Octavio, $100 Ms. Amy Hanamoto, $100 please let us know at (415) 567-5505 or Paul Osaki, $100 Ms. Yasuyo Satoh, $100 email: [email protected]. All unsolicited donations and tributes are MATT OKADA recognized on pages 32-33. Ms. Eiko Aoki, $100

Trivia Answers

1) Wataru Misaka

2) Hisako Higuchi in 1977 won the LPGA Championship

3) Los Angeles in 1905

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 27 7/9/21 9:29 AM THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

The Center Census The Center started collecting its Census data last year to help us better understand the demographics, interests, communication methods and patterns of our constituents. We are grateful to have received 211 responses. We will continue to delve deeper into the responses to help us become more efficient and effective in our planning and programming. The data has also allowed us to update our demographic statistics and share them with foundations and granters for possible funding opportunities. Here are some charts and graphics on some of our findings.

Generations and Age Ranges Race and Ethnicity

Shin- 2.43% Issei 80-89 (24%) 0.97% Nisei 80-89 (52%) 0.49% 11.17%

Sansei 70-79 (36%) 10.19% Yonsei 18-24 (31%) Japanese Korean Gosei 18-24 (60%) 85.44% White Chinese 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Latinx

< 18 18-24 25-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 Other

50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-79 80-89 90+

▲ This graph shows the comparison of age ranges by generation. ▲ Although we know that the Japanese American Please note that shin refers to new generations of Japanese/Japanese community is becoming more diverse, this graph from our Americans. So, depending on their age, you can see that many Shin-Issei census result shows that most of those who responded likely immigrated post-World War II. identify as being Japanese/part-Japanese (85%).

How Often Do You Visit the Center? ◀ When asked “What factors prevent you from participating in Center programs,” the two most selected choices were distance (too far) (48%) and never 15.28% (11) once a week being too busy (43%). A pandemic-positive has been 18.06% (13) the number of our programs that were created and are available online. Many of our ongoing classes like 2-3 times karate, ukulele, art and chair aerobics moved online. a week We began hosting online craft and cooking workshops, 4.17% (3) once a year book talks and topic-based community discussions 29.17% since April of last year. Since then, we have welcomed (21) 6,000 online participants for our virtual programs. Our once a month 6.94% (5) Program staff is hard at work increasing our program outreach to participants all over the U.S. and some international countries. We have resumed in-person quarterly 26.39% (19) programs but will continue to offer virtual and hybrid options.

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State of Membership Summer 2021

he data below reflect our membership numbers as of The Center was envisioned to meet the evolving needs June 4, 2021. A majority of our members reside of the community while promoting and preserving the in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area (92%), Japanese American cultural and historical heritage. with a small percentage living elsewhere in California Membership is the most meaningful way to instantly T(5%). About 3% of our membership lives outside of California. become part of our Center family. Let us help you carry on the With the introduction of virtual programming last year, it is culture, traditions and values of your family and provide a place easy for members to access our range of educational, cultural for you and your loved ones to call a second home. We offer and social classes and events from all over the country. Since different membership levels to fit the diverse needs of most the beginning of this year, we have also seen an increase in anyone. If you know someone who might be interested, please upgrades to our Sustaining level memberships, possibly due to have them contact us at [email protected] or call the Covid-19 pandemic. We thank all of our members for their (415) 567-5505. generous support, especially during this past year.

Membership Demographic Membership Demographic by by Residence Level 1% 2%

5% 3% 4% 12%

28%

33% 13%

59%

10%

22% 8%

San Francisco (59%) Sustaining: Platinum (4%) Senior Couple (8%)

Surrounding Bay Area (Peninsula, East Bay, Sustaining: Silver (13%) Senior (28%) North Bay and South Bay) (33%) Other California (Northern, Central, Central Sustaining: Gold (12%) Other (2%) Coast and Southern California) (5%) Individual (22%) Student (1%) Out of State (3%) Family (10%)

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Sustaining Members

Membership is a significant way to show your support for the Center. Joining us as a Sustaining Member means, in addition to receiving special benefits and offers, that you are supporting the Center beyond the general membership level. We thank our sustaining members of June 30, 2021.

PLATINUM Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Mr. Bradley Menda Ms. Frances Berriman Mr. Bradley Yee Mr. Dale Minami and Ms. Ai Mori Mr. Nobusuke and Mrs. Fumi Fukuda Dr. Emily Brewer Mr. Thomas Miyoko Dr. James and Mrs. Cynthia Hayashi Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Mrs. Sachiko Mizuhara Ms. Yoneko Higashigawa Mr. Peti Arunamata Mrs. Alice Moriguchi Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho Dr. Glenn and Mrs. Robin Fujinaka Mr. Charles and Mrs. Naurie Morimoto Mrs. Mary Ishisaki Mr. Hiroshi and Mrs. Janice Fukuda Mrs. Shirley Murakami Mr. Tom Kawakami Mr. Saburo and Mrs. Lucille Fukuda Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock Ms. Kumi Kawashiri Ms. Chiyomi Funabiki Pearson Ms. Jane Naito Mr. Gary Kitahata and Ms. Arlene Kimata Dr. Steven and Mrs. Mae Gotanda Mr. Scott and Mrs. Sandra Nakamura Ms. Susan M. Kobayashi and Ms. Elayne Hada-Souza and Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Gail Nanbu Mr. Charles S. Han Mr. Thomas J. Souza Mrs. Nell Noguchi Mr. Keith and Mrs. Priscilla Kojimoto Reverend Nobuaki and Mr. Daniel and Mrs. Anita Nunotani Mrs. Ayako Hanaoka Mr. Don Misumi Mr. Lawrence Kern and Ms. Sato Hashizume Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Joy Morimoto Ms. Karen Nunotani-Kern Mr. Kyle Tatsumoto and Dr. Roger and Mrs. Christine Morimoto Mr. Edward and Ms. Lois Oda Ms. Carole Hayashino Dr. Leroy M. Morishita and Mr. Myron Okada and Ms. Lynne Ogawa Mrs. Lyn and Mr. Brian Hirahara Ms. Barbara Hedani-Morishita Ms. Diane Okubo-Fong and Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Christine Hiroshima Mr. Frederick and Mrs. Joan Nicholas Mr. Kenneth Fong Ms. Kazuko Hishida Mr. Allen and Mrs. Patricia Okamoto Ms. Thelma Ong Dr. Ronald and Mrs. Cynthia Hiura Mr. Van Okamura and Mr. Duane Ong Ms. Glynis Nakahara Mrs. Kazue Ihara Mr. Victor K. Ono and Mr. Greg Yee and Ms. Karen Ono Mr. David Inouye Ms. Jennifer Tambara-Ono Mr. Gordon Shiozaki and Mr. Edward and Mrs. Cynthia Ishizaki Mr. Tak Onishi Ms. Dona Fuchiwaki-Shiozaki Mr. Greg Ishizaki Mr. Dana and Mrs. Misako M. Sack Ms. Matty Taga-Allen Ms. Patricia Ito Mr. Don and Mrs. Ada Sadler Mrs. Emelita Takahashi Ms. Janis Ito Mr. Robert and Dr. Alicia Sakai Mrs. Violet Tanaka Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Mimi Kagehiro Mr. Ross Sakamoto Mr. John and Mrs. Marge Tsukamoto Mr. Eric and Mrs. Vera Kawamura Mr. Wilfred Lim and Ms. Susan Sakuma Dr. David L. Walton and Mrs. Mitsuko Kawashiri Mr. Giichi and Mrs. Nancy Sakurai Ms. Machiko Nakatani Mr. John and Mrs. Ruby Kobayashi Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Gayling Sakuyama Mr. Peter and Mrs. Ayako Yee Mr. Eddie Wong and Ms. Donna L. Kotake Mr. George and Mrs. Doris Sasaki Ms. JB Yee Mr. Bernie and Mrs. Ginger Lee Mrs. Kiyo Sasaki Dr. Craig Yonemura and Mr. Greg Low Mrs. Daisy Satoda Ms. Pamela K. Matsuda-Yonemura Mr. Jonathon and Mrs. Janet Low Mr. Henry and Mrs. Adelina Serata Mr. Kaz Maniwa and Mr. Charles Kagay and Ms. Teresa Serata GOLD Ms. Masako Fukunaga Mrs. Harumi Serata Mr. Tony Aganon and Mr. Gary Masada Mrs. Rosemary Shigematsu Ms. Frances Tiongson Mr. Greg Matoba and Mr. Takeo Shirasawa Ms. May Tsang-Matoba Mr. Thomas and Mrs. June Sugihara

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Ms. Marumi Suyeyasu Ms. Patricia Horikawa Ms. Nancy Satoda Mrs. Lorraine Suzuki Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Akemi Ina Mr. Steve Omori and Mr. Tom and Mrs. Marilyn Swartz Mr. Jeff and Mrs. Leslie Inokuchi Ms. Linda Sekino-Omori Dr. Karl Takabayashi Mr. Frank Wu and Ms. Carol Izumi Mr. Randy and Mrs. Linda Shigio Ms. Kyle Tana Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Linda Joo Mr. Edward and Mrs. Ruth Shikada Mr. Neal Taniguchi and Ms. Brenda Jow Mr. Robert and Nanayo Silver Dr. Emily M. Murase Mr. Stephen and Mrs. LeAnn Katayama Mr. Ko and Mrs. Hisako Takemoto Mr. Glenn Smith and Ms. Yuko Terasawa Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato Ms. Connie Taniguchi Mrs. Miyoko Tomura Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Ella Kitagawa Ms. Michiko Tashiro Dr. Jamie Totsubo and Mr. Tim Hamano Mr. Alan and Mrs. Sylvia Kitashima Ms. Karleen Tindall Mr. Ken and Mrs. Mary Tsuboi Mr. Boku Kodama Ms. Diane Tokugawa Dr. Himeo Tsumori Mrs. Joyce Kuwatani Mr. Gary M. Tom and Mr. Leo Joslin Mr. David and Mrs. Teruko Turner Ms. May Kuwatani Mr. Yoshimitsu and Mrs. Takeko Toya Mr. Minoru and Mrs. Suzanne Yamada Ms. Yaeko Kuwatani Mr. Keith and Mrs. Stacey Tsuchiya Dr. Jim and Mrs. Carole Yamaguchi Mrs. Lillian and Mr. David Lau Mrs. Betty Tsugawa Mr. Dick and Mrs. Elaine Yamamoto Ms. Mary Leong Ms. Kelly Yuka Walton Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Betty Yamamoto Ms. Barbara Lim-Fung Mr. Tim and Mrs. Jo Ann O. Wong Mr. Brad Yamauchi and Mrs. Yoko Maeda Mr. Jones and Mrs. Michele Wong Ms. Diane Gunderson Ms. Karen Mah-Hing Mr. Ken and Mrs. Nancy Woo Ms. Marcella Yano Mr. Robert and Mrs. Gail Mametsuka Mr. Ken Wu Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Annabelle Yasuda Mrs. Esther Marks Mr. Ron and Mrs. Emiko Yamada Mr. Benjamin and Mrs. Candace Yee Mr. Jim and Mrs. Darlene Masamori Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Anna Yamaguchi Ms. Donna Yoshida Castro Ms. Sandi Matoba Ms. Wendi Yamanaka Mr. Robert and Mrs. Diane Matsumura Mr. Mark Yamanaka SILVER Ms. Ria McIntosh Mr. James Yonemoto Ms. Penelope Aiu Mr. Yasuaki and Mrs. Mutsuko Miura Ms. Karen Aizawa Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Edith Miyaki Ms. Katherine Aizawa Ms. Cynthia Miyashita Ms. Mutsuko Arima Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Patricia Mizuiri Mr. Brett Azuma Ms. Piper Murakami Dr. Mary Bitterman Mr. Fred S. Yung and Ms. Lily Chan Ms. Jane Muramoto-Yung Mr. Jason Dillon and Mr. Aaron Rubel Mr. Seiki and Mrs. Lynette Murono Mr. Dean Osaki and Ms. Diane Endo Ms. Haruko Nagaishi Mr. Koichi Fukuda Mrs. Emiko Nakahiro Mr. David and Mrs. Hiromi Fukuda Mr. Robert L. Nakamura and Ms. Naomi Funahashi and Mr. Richard Lee Ms. Linda Chen Mr. Paul Gamba Ms. Julie Nishihara Ms. Gail H. Gee Mr. David Nishimoto Mr. Brandon Gillis Mr. Alan and Mrs. Yvonne Nishio Ms. Patricia Golumb Dr. Gary and Mrs. Hiromi Nomura Mr. Simon and Mrs. Kristen Goodfellow Mr. Ricky and Mrs. Glenda Okamura Ms. Amy Hanamoto Mr. Tak Onishi Mr. Masao and Mrs. Setsuko Handa Mrs. Linda Ono Ms. Aya Harada San Francisco Enchantees Mr. Stephen Harding San Francisco Kendo Dojo Mrs. Kaye Higashi Dr. Leigh Sata and Ms. Wendy Chin

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Community and Memorial Gifts

We would like to extend a special thank you to those who remember the Center when making community gifts. We are especially grateful to those who acknowledge the hardship caused by COVID-19. These gifts remind us how important the Center is to many in the community who appreciate the work that we do— whether it is a place for them to socialize with friends, share cultural traditions with their children or grandchildren or a place where they can feel comfortable coming to in the community. We thank you for thinking of us and allowing us to share in remembering or honoring the special people in your life. Gifts received from February 1 – May 31, 2021 are listed below.

In Memory of

KEIKO K. AKASHI Mr. Paul Osaki, $100 Mr. Ted T. Yamasaki and Ms. Nancy K. Nakai and Ms. Dianne Fukami and Mr. Brian M. Budds, $200 Mr. Dale Spink, $200 Mr. Gerry Nakano, $50 Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun, $150 Ms. Grace Marselis, $50 Mr. Eddie Wong and Mr. Henry Nakata, Jr., $150 Mr. Paul Iwamasa and Ms. Donna L. Kotake, $25 Mrs. Nadyne Orona, $150 Ms. Shelly Onishi-Iwamasa, $50 KANAME NAKAMURA Mr. Robert and Dr. Alicia Sakai, $150 Mrs. Joyce Kuwatani, $30 Ms. Tsuruko Nakamura, $500 Mrs. Lorraine Suzuki, $150 Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun, $30 Mr. Kosaku and Mr. Kyle Tatsumoto and Ms. Arly N. Fong, $25 Mrs. Shirley Nakamura, $500 Ms. Carole Hayashino, $125 Christ United Presbyterian Church, $100 VIOLET ASANO SALLY OSAKI Mr. Byron and Mrs. Jan Der, $100 Mr. Saburo and Mrs. Lucille Fukuda, $50 Ms. Masako Takahashi, $1,000 Fukami/Nakano Family, $100 STEVEN J. DOI Mr. Michael Okagaki and Ms. Naomi Funahashi and Mr. Will and Mrs. Myrna Tsukamoto, $50 Ms. Wendy S. Hanamura, $500 Mr. Richard Lee, $100 Mr. Wayne and WEYMAN M. FONG Mrs. Christine Hiroshima, $500 Ms. Elayne Hada-Souza and Ms. Arly N. Fong, $100 Mr. Thomas J. Souza, $100 Mr. Charles Kagay and Mrs. Judy Hamaguchi, $100 YUKIO ISOYE Ms. Teresa Serata, $500 Ms. Jennifer Hamamoto and Mr. Will and Mrs. Myrna Tsukamoto, $50 Ms. Laurel Kisliuk, $500 Mr. Phil Owyoung, $100 Mr. Kazuo Maruoka, $500 SATORU IWAMASA Mr. Tim Hamano and San Francisco Japantown Foundation, $500 Ms. Nancy K. Nakai and Dr. Jamie Totsubo, $100 Ms. Kristi Yamaguchi and Mr. Dale Spink, $100 Mr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Julie Haskell, $100 Mr. Bret Hedican, $500 Mr. Richard and Mrs. Ruby Hata, $100 GEORGE KUWATANI Mr. Bruce Chan, $250 Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Mary Hayashi, $100 Dr. Ronald and Mrs. Cynthia Hiura, $50 API Council Community Youth Ms. Nancy K. Nakai and Center, $250 Mr. Jeff Higaki, $100 Mr. Dale Spink, $30 Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Christine Hiroshima, $100 EDDIE I. MORIGUCHI Mr. Peti Arunamata, $250 Dr. Jon and Mrs. Ema Hiura, $100 Mr. Will and Mrs. Myrna Tsukamoto, $50 Ms. Naomi Funahashi and Mr. Richard Lee, $250 Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho, $100 TATS NAGASE Ms. Phyllis Osaki, $250 Mr. Satoru and Mrs. Carolyn Hosoda, $100 Ms. Arly N. Fong, $100 Ms. Louise Renne, $250 Mrs. Diane Inaba, $100 KAZ NAKAMOTO Mr. Shig Furuta, $200 Ms. Aya Ino and Mr. Gaku Ito, $100 Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro, $250 Mrs. Mary Ishisaki, $100

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Mrs. Naoko Ito, $100 Dr. Jim S. and Ms. Mika Shimizu, $50 Ms. Debbie Iwamasa, $100 Mrs. Carole Yamaguchi, $100 Ms. Marumi Suyeyasu, $50 Rm. Tom and Mrs. Irene Jodry, $100 Mr. Jerry Ono, $97.60 Mrs. Lorraine Suzuki, $50 Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato, $100 Ms. Cookie Wong, $75 Ms. Joan Suzuki, $50 Mr. Kenneth Kawabata, $100 Mr. Nosuke and Mrs. Judy Akiyama, $50 Mrs. Mineko Takata, $50 Ms. Marcia Kawabata, $100 Mrs. Mutsumi Angevine, $50 Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Michi Takata, $50 Mr. Lowell G. Kimura and Ms. Mutsuko Arima, $50 Mr. Roger and Mrs. Marilyn Tanaka, $50 Ms. Donna Ong-Kimura, $100 Ms. Karen Boyden, $50 Mrs. Violet Tanaka, $50 Dr. Robert Kiyomura, $100 Mr. Sherman and Mrs. Dori Chan, $50 Ms. Denise Teraoka, $50 Mr. Eddie Wong and Mrs. Marjorie Fletcher, $50 Ms. Rosalyn Tonai and Mr. Grant Din, $50 Ms. Donna L. Kotake, $100 Mr. Franklin and Mrs. Nancy Fong, $50 Ms. Barbara Wada, $50 Mr. Kaz Maniwa and Mr. Matthew Fukuchi, $50 Mrs. Lori Worthen, $50 Ms. Masako Fukunaga, $100 Mr. Saburo and Mrs. Lucille Fukuda, $50 Mr. Minoru and Mrs. Suzanne Yamada, $50 Ms. Grace Marselis, $100 Ms. Teru Hirano, $50 Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Anna Yamaguchi, $50 Ms. Sandi Matoba, $100 Mrs. Kazue Ihara, $50 Mrs. Sumiko Akashi, $30 Ms. Diane Matsuda, $100 Mr. Donald Y. Inaba and Ms. Eiko Aoki, $30 Mrs. June Matsueda, $100 Ms. Kumiko Inui, $50 Ms. Kumi Kawashiri, $30 Ms. Ranko Yamada and Mr. Bob and Ms. Janis Ito, $50 Ms. Nancy K. Nakai and Mr. Ken Matsueda, $100 Mr. Stephen and Mr. Dale Spink, $30 Mrs. Norma and Mrs. LeAnn Katayama, $50 Ms. Nancy Ogami, $30 Mr. Guy McCormack, $100 Mr. Gerald Kika, $50 Ms. Stephanie Doi, $25 Mr. Robert and Mrs. Marisa Mizono, $100 Mrs. Kikue Kiyasu, $50 Reverend Masato and Mrs. Nanami Naito, $100 Mr. Isao and Mrs. Merrily Kobashi, $50 Mrs. Alice Kawahatsu, $25 Mr. Scott and Mrs. Sandra Nakamura, $100 Mr. Aki and Mrs. Michiko Kuramoto, $50 Ms. Joyce Nakamura, $25 Ms. Hillary E. Nakano and Ms. Joan Lubamersky, $50 Mr. Lane Okimura, $25 Mr. Stuart Gwynn, $100 Mr. Robert and Mrs. Gail Mametsuka, $50 Mr. Elson and Mrs. Karen Seiki, $25 Mr. John and Mrs. Diane Noguchi, $100 Mrs. Alice Moriguchi, $50 Mr. Richard Eijima and Ms. Rose Oda, $100 Dr. Roger and Ms. Tami Suzuki, $25 Mr. Mitsufumi and Mrs. Rumi Okabe, $100 Mrs. Christine Morimoto, $50 Ms. Sharon Umene, $25 Mr. Matt Okada, $100 Mr. James Nagareda, $50 Ms. Amy Hanamoto, $20 Mr. Myron Okada and Ms. Janet Naito, $50 Mrs. Nell Noguchi, $20 Ms. Lynne Ogawa, $100 Mrs. Alice Nakahata, $50 YAEKO TONDO Mr. Allen and Mrs. Patricia Okamoto, $100 Mrs. Emiko Nakahiro, $50 Mr. Aki and Mrs. Michiko Kuramoto, $100 Mr. Ricky and Mrs. Glenda Okamura, $100 Mrs. Cindy K. Nakamoto, $50 Mrs. Mineko Takata, $100 Mrs. Kay K. Onishi, $100 Mr. Edward and Ms. Lois Oda, $50 Ms. Teresa Ono, $100 Ms. Setsuko Ogami, $50 EDISON UNO Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro, $100 Mr. Keith R. Onishi, $50 Mr. Will and Mrs. Myrna Tsukamoto, $50 Mr. Giichi and Mrs. Nancy Sakurai, $100 Mr. Richard Untalan and EUGENE VAN DYK San Jose Buddhist Temple, $100 Ms. Kerry Onishi, $50 Mrs. Elizabeth Atkinson, $100 Mr. Jeff and Mrs. Gale Sasagawa, $100 Mr. Paul Iwamasa and YORI WADA Mr. Hiko and Mrs. Susan Shimamoto, $100 Ms. Shelly Onishi-Iwamasa, $50 Mr. Will and Mrs. Myrna Tsukamoto, $50 Mr. Al Suen and Dr. Jerry and Mrs. Eleanor Osumi, $50 Ms. Caroline Satoda-Suen, $100 Mr. David and Mrs. Cindi Sasaki, $50 JANE HARA WONG Mr. Ko and Mrs. Hisako Takemoto, $100 Mrs. Haruko Sasaki, $50 Mrs. Sumiko Akashi, $50 Dr. Reiko True, $100 Ms. Joy Sasaki, $50 Mr. Ken and Mrs. Mary Tsuboi, $100 Mr. Steve Omori and Union Bank, $100 Ms. Linda Sekino-Omori, $50 Ms. Patricia K. Wada, $100 Mrs. Harumi Serata, $50 Continued on page 34

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Community and Memorial Gifts continued from page 33 COMMUNITY DONATIONS

$250-$499 In Honor of Ms. Laurie Hane Mrs. Kazue Ihara

IWAO YAMASAKI JCCCNC STAFF $100-$249 Mr. Paul Osaki, $150 Mrs. Joyce Yamamoto, $100 Mr. Kazuyuki and Mrs. Alice Adachi Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun, $30 ELAINE LOW Mr. Marcus and Mrs. Debbie Aiu STEPHANIE M. DOI Ms. Sophia Hanifah, $25 Miss Renee Gabella Ms. Gail H. Gee Mr. Giichi and Mrs. Nancy Sakurai, $25 DIANE MATSUDA Ms. Ann Iwamasa MARJORIE FLETCHER Mr. David and Mrs. Cindi Sasaki, $100 Mr. Larry Martinez and Ms. Vera Poon Dr. Jamie Totsubo and Mr. Shig Furuta, $50 Mr. Mark and Mrs. Lisa Melnick Mr. Tim Hamano, $100 Mrs. Nancy and Mr. Giichi Sakurai, $25 Mr. Pierre and Mrs. Gail Morin NOBU FUKUDA'S 88TH BIRTHDAY DON AND ADA SADLER Ms. Elizabeth Nguyen Fumi, Tracey, Peter, Nick, Emma, Steven, Mr. Bernard and Mrs. Emi Tom, $100 Ms. Marianne Seiki Candace, Bryce, $500 Ms. Kristine Vu JENNIFER HAMAMOTO Correction from Special Tribute Gifts in Mr. William and Mrs. Irene M. Wu Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Kaeko Park-Li, $100 previous newsletter: Mrs. Patricia and Mr. Takeshi Yamamoto Mr. David and Mrs. Cindi Sasaki, $100 IN HONOR OF JARED WONG Ms. Wendi Yamanaka Mr. Shig Furuta, $50 Mr. Milton K. Wong and $0-$99 Ms. Dianne K. Furuya-Wong, $100 Mr. Ivan Avila Ms. E. Leilani Fox Ms. Kaoru Fu In Recognition of Dr. Eddie K. Hayashida Mrs. Alice Kashiwagi Mr. Bryan Maekawa CENTER REOPENING LOTS OF LOVE FROM NYC-BAY Ms. Karen Mah-Hing Mrs. Nell Noguchi, $50 AREA NATIVE Ms. Sola Morrissey Anonymous, $5 COVID-19 PANDEMIC Mrs. Rita Robinson Mrs. Harumi Serata, $935 MARJ'S PARTY Mr. Henry Sue Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho, $500 Mr. Gerald Kika, $100 Mr. Kenneth Takahashi Ms. Chiyo Tashiro Mr. Tom Kawakami, $200 NJERF Ms. Alice Thomas Ms. Yaeko Kuwatani, $100 Mr. Thomas and Mrs. June Konno, $100 Mrs. Lorraine Suzuki, $100 Mr. Marcus Wong VACCINATION HELP Mrs. Betty Tsugawa, $100 Ms. May Yamamoto Mrs. Haruko Sasaki, $150 Mr. George Yin Mr. Jim and Mrs. Lynn Yonashiro *denotes deceased Every effort is made to include gifts received in the period between February 1–May 31, IN-KIND GIFTS 2021, but if a name has been inadvertently omitted, please let us know at (415) 567-5505 Mr. Jim and Mrs. Lynn Yonashiro or email [email protected]. All Spring Annual Support Drive donations and Ms. Cynthia Lee tributes are recognized on pages 24-27.

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The 26th Annual Nikkei Open Golf Tournament

he 26th Annual Nikkei Open Golf Tournament was held on Saturday, June 5, 2021, at the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links. 120 golfers joined us for a beautiful day of golf while celebrating our first in-person event since March of 2020. We want to thank our sponsors, Thole sponsors, tournament prize donors and participants for helping to make the return of our first in-person fundraising event a success. This year golfers were placed in either the Ninja or Tako flights of competition sponsored by SumoFish. Each foursome was awarded a prize valued between $200-$1,400. Thanks to our generous raffle prize donors, we were able to raffle additional prizes. Thank you to everyone who came out, golfed and purchased raffle tickets. We hope everyone enjoyed their prizes and the friendly competition, and we look forward to seeing you next year. To view photos and a complete list of winners, visit our website at jcccnc.org.

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E208761_Summer 2021 Newsletter Vol67_Rev.indd 35 7/9/21 9:29 AM NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE 1840 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115-3220 PAID (415) 567-5505 | Fax (415) 567-4222 Permit No. 10383 [email protected] | www.jcccnc.org San Francisco, California

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 1840 サター通り サ ン フ ラ ン シ ス コ 市 、カリフ ォ ル ニ ア 州 94115 (415) 567-5505 ファックス ：(415) 567-4222 Eメール ：[email protected] ウエブ サイト：www.jcccnc.org

THE CENTER'S ANNUAL SPONSORS

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