Center of Northern California

JAPANESE CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CENTER OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WINTER 2007, CENTER VOLUME 15 Executive Director’s Message Fifty years ago, San Francisco Mayor George Christopher made history when, at the suggestion of President Dwight Eisenhower, he sent a four-member delegation from San Francisco to Osaka to establish the nation’s first sister city relationship with Japan. This year, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City relationship, the JCCCNC in cooperation with the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association will be organizing three tours to Osaka to help strengthen and improve new relations between our two cities. The first will be the official trip of Mayor Gavin Newsom and a 44-member delegation in February to help promote friendship and the revitalization of Japantown. The second is the Shinzen Nikkei Youth Sports Exchange Program which will bring 20 youth and their families, totaling about 90 participants, to encourage youth to become grassroots ambassadors. The third is the San Francisco-Osaka Culinary Tour which will bring a delegation of 75 representing the finest in San Francisco’s culinary arts in an effort to promote cultural exchange between our two cities. As we look forward to the 50th Anniversary activities, we hope to make this year a historical event by bringing together our two cities most valuable resources – the citizens of San Francisco and Osaka. The mission of these citizen ambassadors is to learn, share and dialogue with the people of Osaka so that we may continue to improve understanding and develop new relationships toward enduring friendship and peace. The JCCCNC is proud to have been part of the development of the growing friendship and appreciation between citizens of San Francisco and Osaka. And as strong as the relationship is at the government-to-government level, and between U.S. and Japanese corporations, it’s even better at the citizen’s level. There’s no question the main reason for grassroots goodwill starts with people-to-people exchanges that link the two societies, led by this sister city relationship. The City of Osaka and the City and County of San Francisco will be organizing many other 50th Anniversary events in San Francisco this year. I hope you will join us in celebrating this milestone. - Paul Osaki, Executive Director From San Francisco To Osaka We are not afraid from all communities, of joy, built by our hands, amidst spinning it, like threads of steel tenements and teepees, concentration camps, sweeping arches of our towers of marble and steel, Golden Gate Bridge, streets as colorful as our faces, this city of diversity, burnished like a sunset. and multi-ethnic hands Beneath it, the wind with open palms, reach in friendship’s clasp push ships through the Pacific. to Sisters, nested in Japan. We are unafraid We are unafraid of love, to reach out and the light it brings us, to Nations language is revealed of all nations, where homelands as we begin in our listening are part of memory, to know ancestry, what we hear. where from we have come The gates are opening, the transplanted, escapees, adventurers, our arms are a bridge, spanning. Those who came with hands like The wind fills our sails toward shovel, sicle and hoe, Osaka’s port. cleared a new world, The light calls out many flowers, hands that delivered us, and our hands generations of America like eternal camellias, will blossom at her door. We rise like waterwells, spreading through this soil, ~ Janice Mirikitani Copyright 1997 Akemashite omedeto gozaimasu! In the Japanese and Japanese American culture, New Years is one of the most important festivals of the whole year. Here are a few traditions observed during New Years: Mochitsuki Board Officers A traditional family or community activity, mochitsuki, or mochi pounding, involves the pounding of steamed rice to make soft Kaz Maniwa mochi cakes. It’s usually performed at the end of the year. Chairman Donna Kotake President Kadomatsu Rumi Okabe A traditional decoration usually Senior Vice President made of pine and bamboo, which Ted Yamasaki represents longevity and wealth. Vice President Usually placed in front of the house from the first week of the New Kyle Tatsumoto Year, they are considered temporary housing for the kami (gods) at Corporate Secretary New Years. Teresa Serata Chief Finance Officer Allen Okamoto Nengajyo Ex-Officio A traditional custom of sending New Year’s Day postcards to friends and Directors relatives. Postcards are delivered by the billions in Japan, usually decorated with Terry Akiyama a picture of the animal representing the Sherilyn Chew New Year according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. The sender Shari Fujii Dianne Fukami includes a brief, handwritten message to express thanks for the David Fukuda assistance received during the past year with wishes for continued Scott Hayashi support in the new year. Lynn Higa Yo Hironaka Kagamimochi Daro Inouye A traditional decoration for the New Year for inside the Andy Ishibashi home is made of two large, flattened balls of mochi rice Bob Kawamoto cakes, with a mikan (tangerine) on top. This decoration Donna Kimura Jeff Maruyama is displayed in a prominent place in the home, and after Kurt Osaki the new year, is eaten Charlene “Chuck” Shimada by the whole family. Jonathan Shindo Shimekazari Staff A traditional decoration made of Paul Osaki rice husks for the doors of homes and shops during the New Executive Director Marjorie Fletcher Year, and serves as a charm against evil spirits. The sacred Executive Assistant Shinto rope is hung to indicate a purified place for receiving Susan Haramoto divinities. The shimekazari is made by attaching good luck Director of Membership & charms like bitter oranges, ferns and lobster. Public Relations Lori Matoba Director of Programs Teresa Ono Director of Development Mission Statement Ruby Hata JCCCNC is a non-profit organization which strives to meet the evolving needs of Accountant the Japanese American community by offering programs, affordable services and Jennifer Hamamoto administrative support and facilities for other local service organizations. JCCCNC Programs Associate also provides educational, cultural and recreational programs that meet and address Ken Maeshiro the interests and concerns of the community. Our goals remain rooted in preserving Special Events Coordinator the Japanese American cultural and historical heritage as well as fostering the Miki Matsumoto foundation for the future generations of Japanese Americans. Intern/Receptionist 2 Winter 2007 - Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California JCCCNC COMMUNITY Eddie Moriguchi Receives 2006 Takeo Okamoto Community Leadership Award The 2006 Takeo Okamoto — parents Kinjiro and Japanese American Community Leadership Award Eiko, brother Jack and Historical Society and was presented to Mr. Eddie sister Betty — moved Parents Association of Moriguchi of San Francisco to Esparto, California. Boy Scouts Troop 12. during intermission of the Merced Assembly Center He has also coached “Nihonmachi: The Place To was the stop on the way basketball for the San Be” musical at the JCCCNC on to Amache, Colorado Francisco Juniorettes, August 25. in 1942. Moriguchi San Francisco Dots and relocated to Utah in the Boy Scouts Troop 12. This is the third year that the summer of 1943, then award was presented to an returned to San Francisco “All the organizations individual who embodies a spirit to attend Lowell High and the people that I that is modest, scholarly and School in the fall of 1945. have been involved with who has positively impacted has been a joy to be the Japanese American He entered UC Berkeley with,” said Moriguchi. community through their long- in 1946, then served two (LEFT TO RIGHT) JCCCNC BOARD PRESIDENT DONNA term commitment. Created years during the Korean KOTAKE, EDDIE MORIGUCHI AND ALLEN OKAMOTO, SON “The Okamoto Family by his children, this award War in the Signal Corps OF TAKEO OKAMOTO. photo courtesy of J.K. Yamamoto deserves a special place honors the memory of Takeo at Camp San Luis Obispo in the community for the Okamoto who is renown for and 5th Army headquarters in He is currently president of entire family’s contributions,” his leadership and dedication Chicago. To support his college Hokka Nichi Bei Kai and the he continued. “It is very rare to to the community, consistently education, he learned the art Japanese Benevolent Society see such a commitment to the exemplifying a strong, yet quiet of Chick Sexing for seasonal of California, treasurer of community by more than one and unassuming manner. Past work in Colorado, Kansas, the Nihonmachi Merchants generation of a family.” award recipients include Mr. Iowa, Nebraska and California. Association, board member of Wallace Nunotani, Mr. Shigeru He graduated in 1955 with an the Japanese American Korean He also acknowledged his Thomas Kizuka, and Ms. Mary accounting major, then returned War Veterans, accountant of the wife and children. “Most of all Jo Kubota-Arcarese. to Berkeley for graduate school. Japanese American Religious thank you Alice, Edie and Mark Moriguchi began his CPA career Federation, various leadership for understanding and forgiving Eddie Ichiro Moriguchi in 1956 and has worked for roles in the JACL, Japanese my many trespasses. There was born in 1929 in Salinas, several prestigious CPA firms. Chamber of Commerce of are not many who would have California and raised in San Today, he considers himself Northern California, JCCCNC, tolerated 50, or nearly 50, years Francisco. In 1940 his family “semi-retired.” Nisei Voters League, National of ups and downs. Thank you.” Chris Hirano Resigns from JCCCNC “Chris 2000 Conference, the Japanese has American Sports Hall of Fame, The JCCCNC announced make. As a person who grew been an “Salute to the Stars,” the Save the resignation of Chris Hirano, up in J-Town, the Center has incredible Japantown Bowl campaign, as Director of Community and fulfilled me both personally and asset well as many other monumental Corporate Development.

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