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QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER

SPRING 2021 | VOLUME 66

WELCOME BACK! The Center reopens May 3, 2021 Visit jcccnc.org to learn more MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BOARD OFFICERS Welcome Back, Looking Back, Myron Okada | President Scott Okamoto | Senior Vice President Moving Forward Donna Kimura | Vice President Kelly Yuka Walton and Hillary Nakano | n May 3, 2021, when times as they shined bright Corporate Secretaries the Center officially when we needed it most. Robert Sakai | Chief Financial Officer, reopens its doors, O It also goes without saying Ex Officio we will have been closed for that our deepest gratitude unbelievable 417 days. Out BOARD OF DIRECTORS must go to the medical of the COVID-19 pandemic’s Terry Akiyama scientists and researchers. rising concern, we closed the Sherilyn Chew They worked tirelessly Center on March 12, 2020, five David Fukuda to develop a vaccine days before the mandatory Executive Director Judy Hamaguchi for one of the deadliest Chris Hirano Shelter in Place was put in PAUL OSAKI viruses in world history. Aya Ino effect. At the time, there were Stephen Katayama As we begin to see the light at the approximately 1,323 confirmed cases and Ryan Kimura 38 deaths in the United States (U.S.). end of the tunnel and get our lives Susan Kobayashi back to normal, we must remember No one thought or could have imagined Rumi Okabe the millions who lost their lives and that in the U.S. alone, over 40 million Allen Okamoto the loved ones they left behind. Marilyn Oshiro would become infected by the virus, Leigh Sata and the number of deaths would reach As much as I celebrate the reopening Teresa Serata of the Center, I do so with mixed nearly 600,000. Hundreds of thousands Jon Shindo of small businesses have permanently feelings knowing that many of the Nisei Kyle Tana closed and millions have been who walked through our doors just a unemployed this past year. The COVID- year ago may not be able to return. STAFF 19 pandemic will define generations In writing this message, I find a new Paul Osaki | Executive Director to come and has changed the course appreciation of family, friends and loved Lori Matoba | Deputy Director of world history. This makes the ones. I am also touched beyond words Marjorie Fletcher | Executive Assistant reopening of the Center bittersweet. by our many donors. They did not forget Mika Shimizu | Office Manager/ What will also be remembered is the about us despite our doors being closed Receptionist courage of our essential workers, many for over 400 days. As we reopen our Matt Okada | Director of Special Events of whom may have been taken for doors, we open to a new beginning. and Communications granted in the past. Perhaps none more Stephanie Doi | Development Manager As proud as I am about our building, Elena Nielsen | Membership Coordinator so than the medical doctors, nurses, our new Center now includes a virtual healthcare workers, administrative Jennifer Hamamoto | Director of Programs community. I have learned through Haruka Roudebush | Senior Programs staff and maintenance workers in our this pandemic that the Center is much Manager hospitals. Since damaging my spine in bigger than a physical space. It’s a state February 2011, I spent countless days of mind; it’s a place with no boundaries MISSION ミッション in the hospital and nursing homes. As and a community spirit that is endless. much as I appreciated everything they The Center is a non-profit organization Welcome back, everyone! which strives to meet the evolving needs have done for me, my admiration and of the Japanese American community by respect for their bravery and dedication programs, affordable services and to patient care have gone way beyond administrative support and facilities for other local organizations. The Center also just words of gratitude. This past year provides educational, cultural and recreational they put their lives on the line and Paul Osaki programs that meet and address the interests brought us hope during the darkest and concerns of the community. Our goals Executive Director remain rooted in preserving the Japanese American cultural and historical heritage as well as fostering the foundation for future generations of Japanese Americans.

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The Center is Reopening on May 3 with Limited Capacity!

San Francisco Vaccination Numbers (as of 3/20/21)

It is still hard to believe, but it will be over a 764,514 year since the Center closed its doors by the Estimated San Francisco population time you receive this newsletter. As mentioned over the age of 16 in the previous newsletter, we didn’t know when we could reopen. With the increase in the vaccination rollout and the decrease in infections, we will be reopening on May 3 with limited capacity while prioritizing the health and safety of our community.

ike many other cities, San Francisco was forced to shut down under California’s four-tier system after coronavirus cases and hospitalizations began increasing in the fall. San Francisco 283,156 Lis currently in the orange tier, and numbers are encouraging and dropping weekly. With a large number (37%) Received first dose of vaccinations being administered, we are optimistic of the continuing drop in the number of cases. We are ready and preparing every day to reopen on May 3. Your health and safety are important to us, and we want you to feel comfortable coming back. We will be using your participant surveys to inform 136,090 our reopening plan for our programs and events. (18%) Received complete vaccination — Stay connected! We have also updated our website, and you can now find our COVID-19 updates under the single and two dose “About Us” tab, along with our Reopening Overview and Center @Home Activities page. We hope you will continue to keep in touch with us virtually, and KEEP WEARING YOUR MASKS we hope to see you soon at the Center! Although you may have received your complete Website: www.jcccnc.org vaccination, please remember that while the Facebook: @LikeJCCCNC vaccine may prevent you from getting sick, it is Instagram: @jcccnc_sf unknown at this time if you can still carry and transmit the virus to others.

Spring 2021 3 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Meet our Newest Board Members

Aya Ino is a when the community thrives, when we community throughout history and San Francisco build together towards a single goal. today. The Center has really made Japantown There’s also another moment. When I it a priority to bridge communities. native. She fi rst joined as an offi cial staff member in That’s always what I’m about-- identifi es as Programs, I used to read Japanese books how do we bridge communities in a Shin-Nisei to Jordyn [daughter of Jennifer, Director Japantown and San Francisco and woman, as her of Programs] when she was in preschool. our Northern California communities parents are I feel like it ties into what the Center but also throughout the US and with from Saitama does. It’s cultural heritage; it’s the whole Japan? Seeing those connections and Prefecture language and culture side of me; it’s relationships grow stronger throughout and Fukushima in Japan. passing on tradition from generation to the years is a true testament to Aya fi rst became involved at the Center as generation: those key themes pop into the Center, especially under Paul’s a Nikkei Community Intern in 2005. After my head when I think of that happening. leadership. I’m excited to continue to college, she went on the JET Program in see the growth and how we continue to Shiga Prefecture, got her master’s degree bridge communities in this virtual world. in New York and returned to the Center Kyle Tana has been a 7th grade English to work in both the Development and and History teacher in Ravenswood City Q: What has been your most Programs Departments. Aya now works for School District memorable event or moment at the Autodesk on the Diversity and Belonging in East Palo Center? team to help employees adjust to a remote Alto for the A: I remember going to a Day of working environment, lead trainings on past 5 years. Remembrance event at the Center, racial injustices and make sure teams and Before that, honoring the Japanese American managers are prepared to have meaningful she worked internment camps, and being able to conversations. Aya is also a new mom to a for the Mural go with my mom and my great aunt 5 month old. Music and and uncle, who were both at Tule Lake, Arts Project as well as my younger cousins. It was a Q: What makes the Center’s consulting space where we could actually have a mission meaningful to you? and leading conversation and ask questions to my A: To preserve and promote the Japanese middle and high school students through great aunt and uncle about their camp and Japanese American cultural heritage the process of creating murals in the experience. I was in middle school when — that is one of the most meaningful communities of East Palo Alto and San I went to this event, and I just remember bullet points of the mission statement. Francisco. Kyle grew up in New York and it so vividly because it felt like the fi rst It relates to me, professionally and transplanted to the Bay Area when she was time we were having these conversations personally. It’s what I totally strive for 10. In middle school she started going to with my aunt and uncle sharing their in my career. Personally, that’s what I the Center for basketball tournaments and experiences. want to do, not only for myself and my events with her best friend, Alyssa. husband, but also for Seo, my son, to Kyle’s dad, a jazz musician, and her keep him connected to his roots and his mom, a public defender lawyer, made Originally from cultural heritage. social justice issues, equity, music Pasadena, Leigh Sata and art a key piece of her upbringing, is a longtime resident Q: What has been your most which directly impacted her career of San Francisco. He memorable event or moment at the today. attended UC Berkeley Center? and after graduation, A: The fi rst that pops into my head is Q: What makes the Center’s moved across the Tabemasho because I used to organize mission meaningful to you? bridge to settle in it. It is an event that holds a special A: I really see the Center as the San Francisco, where he became place in my heart because it is really cornerstone of Japantown and the involved in Japantown and the music scene

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through the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. about membership, they can contact her at His two sons attended Nihonmachi Little [email protected]! Friends (NLF) and Leigh’s family started stopping by the Center to take advantage Q: What are you most excited for of the events. Professionally, Leigh is a about joining the Center’s staff ? second-generation architect, and most A: I’m really excited for when we open recently worked on a project at the Peralta again, and I get to hang out with people! Community College District. I loved seeing people come in and getting to chat with staff or bother Matt. Q: What makes the Center’s Matt was my mentor and now he’s my mission meaningful to you? boss. I’m looking forward to those little A: We’re down to a few Japantowns in 1-to-1 or even small group interactions$ the entire country, so it’s really important with people. that the Center is the provider of the institutional and cultural art of the Q: What makes the Center’s mission Japanese American community. It’s vital meaningful to you? to remain connected to like-minded A: I think a lot of different organizations cultural institutions as a way of teaching talk about supporting the community in the valuable lessons that can be learned house. I know exactly what it is.” They their mission statement, but ever since I from our community’s experiences, stopped everything, and they announced was a Kase Program intern at the Center, especially WWII and afterwards. it. It was fun because it met the goal of it’s something that I felt immediately. why they even sponsored this event. It’s As soon as I started working at the Q: What has been your most a wonderful reminder of the institutional Center as an intern, I really felt that staff memorable event or moment at the importance of the Center and how did everything they could to welcome Center? it allows an avenue for us to connect me and make me feel like a part of the A: One was the movie Go for Broke Japanese Americans, both culturally and community. about the history of the 442nd shown a personally. few years back. I think particularly these Q: What is your vision for the days, there’s cultural relevance because Center and Japantown? All board member interviews have been we need to remember that we have edited for clarity and brevity, but the A: My vision for the Center and gone through this experience of being full length versions can be found on the Japantown is to give everyone the same singled out based on the color of our Center’s Facebook account (facebook. experience that I had coming in, where skin. We still have to continue thinking com/LikeJCCCNC) I felt immediately welcomed into this about that and educating people that the community. It didn’t take long for me to American experience is so much broader really feel like a part of Japantown. I want than just one type of experience. We’re Newest Staff Member everyone to feel like there is a space for all contributing to it. The other one that them, regardless of their background, was really memorable for me was an Elena Nielsen is our new membership whether they’re Shin-Nikkei or Yonsei, event called “Contested Histories” that coordinator. Born in LA and raised in like me, or LGBTQ or mixed. That’s was sponsored by the Japanese American the East Bay, Elena is a 28 year old half what I’m really passionate about, making National Museum (JANM). They brought Japanese American and half Scandinavian everyone feel that they’re not just an exhibit with several artifacts that were San Francisco resident. accepted into the community, made in camp to see if the community Elena is passionate about but that this community truly at large could identify some of these supporting Japantown represents them and their objects. In addition to the artifacts, local businesses and interests. there were several photo books. I was uplifting communities, fl ipping through them, and I saw a photo especially during the of my grandfather in the book making a pandemic. If people have piece of furniture. I told the JANM folks, any questions about “Hey, that’s my grandfather! I have that their membership or dresser! That dresser is in my parents’ want to know more

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Cherry Blossom Donations Donations made to the Center and our GoFundMe Campaign 35 U.S. States, 5 Diff erent Countries

Prior to the GoFundMe Campaign, we received a $10,000 gift from the Margaret E. Haas Family Fund. “Margaret’s gift came as a total surprise. I never thought about other people feeling as emotionally impacted as we were about the loss of our Cherry Blossom trees. Her concern and gesture of kindness gave us hope and inspired the GoFundMe drive that others might feel the same way.” —Paul Osaki

Anonymous (126) | Ted Goldstein and Jessica Bernhardt | Krstina Hamada-Wong | Laura Yoshii | Claude Waldbaum | Jason Allenstein | Simi Bhat | Mark Burpee and Machi Nakamura | Cherry Blossom Alumnae Association | Kelly Chiang | Stacie Court | Carol Anne Crawford | Jamie Dolkas | Ellen Kimura Eades | Janice Farley | Bryan Gaertner | Kate Griggs | Jenna Haines | Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Tokuichi Hama | Becca Henry | Jacqueline Hsiang Haddenham | Elisabeth Jay | John Knight | Keith and Priscilla Kojimoto | Rebecca McCartney | Adam Messinger | Shirley Murakami and Mika Chan | Arisa Nakamura | Mark and Alene Okazaki | Dwight Teague | Jennifer Waggoner | Robert Ward | Peter Whitehead | Austen Wianecki-Wang | Liane Yanase | Alan Gee | Tamara Kerr | Diana Rogers | Yasuko Fukuda MD | Hiromi Toyoshima | Glen Hayashi | Jon Marlowe | Patrick Austin | AshleyT | AJKaneSFO | Elisa Suetake | Becca Schlichtig | Michael Lewin | Derek Jentzsch | Trong Nguyen | Regina Costa | Jan N | Calvin F | John Tanaka | Kobe Farm | Kent Tayenaka | Hopkins | Chris Jensen | Yuri Yazaki Richardson | Ronald Davis and Robert Tsuda | Arezu | Satoko Kishi Hesp | Zane | María Niubó | Maho O | Brian Nagami | Grant Sugimura | Joseph Yoshino | Maria Leung | Steve Jensen | Lachlan Miner | Midori Yenari | Tony Lewis | Richard Wagner | Joan Connelly | Allison Murata | Cheryl | Shauna O'Donnell | Jeffrey and Lily Gin Chan | Judy and Nosuke Akiyama | Hanna, Caroline, and Alexis | Glynis Nakahara | Alexander JC Tsai | Kathryn M Kojimoto | Sarah Benjamin | Jun Makino | CAT | Mayo Tobita | David Weaver | Laurel Segel | Henry Chew | Shingo Ando | Jimmy and Ecky Kajikawa | David McBride | Arcadi Kolchak | Obana-Linn | Lauren Ito | Japan ESD Fulbright | Duane and Katherine Maeda | Keiko Sakamoto | Sean Nelson & Ayaka Nishi | L Maeda & D Beyette | Laura Royster | Justin Romaniuk | Shawn Martin | Mika C. | Susie Shek | Dr. Richard Brewer | Donna Kotake | Nicole R. | Felicia Pullam | Bettina M. Leong | Jennifer Tonge | Kim S | Marina Security Services | Oliver Truong | Mariko Ishikawa | Matt Ogawa | Bader Family | Sheila Collins | Chris H | Stefanie Krajnyak | Sherman Ng | Michael Hauptman | Carol Weinstein | Dan Davies | Kitty Moriwaki | Mark Wunderlich | Kaye Kikuchi | Steven Santa Maria | Yuko Oku | Erika A. | Steven Menasche | Yasuyo Satoh | Sharon Melmon | Ruth Cohn | Alyce Wilson | Bonnie Yee | Ali Kagawa | Ann Nakao | Kiri the Tiny Japanese Fire Truck | Lori Sato Floral Artistry | Susumu J. | Han Lin | Carole and Margaux Garcia | Madison Shaff er | Justine Duan | Thomas T | Cyndi Jang and Jon Louie | Lara Blom | Janice | Takigawa | Alexander Albertine | Eric Quon-Lee | Koji Ishii | Kaoru F Cruz | Namiko Chen | Melanie Regino | Kristine Hobe | Diane Pohl | Kasumi Dhakal | and Donnie Kajikawa | Allison Ishihara Fultz | Anita Arguello | E. Tong | Shinji Sogawa | CEG,Jr | Tom Sako | Peizhu Huang | Sandra Vittoria | Gerald Wright | Katie Tsukahara | Monica Brown | Rod Aoki | Koji Lau-Ozawa | Barbara Stevens Strauss | Alicia Toyooka | Margot S. | Laurel Casey | Clay Freeman | Scott Taniguchi | Claudia De Domenico | JD | Karen Hyde | CN+DL | A friend of the Center in Belgium | Sarita Escobar | Oakland | Gareth Evans | Sally Carlson | Caroline Gillis | Christine Huffard | Christina Yu | Deborah Clearwaters | barbara mow | Adelle Treakle | Asa De Sal | Terry Peckham and Bart Draper | Kristen Steck | Lisa Powers | Barbara Morino | K.Morimoto | Hironori Ohtsubo | Andrew | Marybeth | Naomi Manning | Christina Calbone | Siri Willoch | Adele Thies | The Hom Family | Jackson | Kerry L Konrad | Cherie Borbon | John Lim | Harold Okino | Jason and Amy Miniello | Alan Kitashima | Lauren Hitomi Bevand | Ross Yamamoto | Matthew Wagner | Tony Osumi | Michael Chang | Jacqui Shook | Takafumi Okubo | Craig So | Pamela A Okano | Daniel Gilmartin | Victoria Tullman | Jessica Quan Crabtree | Bella Knight-Weber and Tama Uyemura | The Ihara & Pemberton Families | Satoko Akuhara Boris | Nina Suetake | K Arikawa | Ivy Fox | Gabor Melli & Melissa Daymond | Matthew Crandall | James Nagareda | Helen Prusiner | Ted Lasker | Arlene Mori | Steven Knipping | Jorge A Rivera | Laird Archer | Mary Bitterman | Yamamoto Radle Family | Vivian Clausing | Owen Saito Lincoln | The Mendozas | Rose Eng | Ariela Haro von Mogel | Roberta Grady | Stan Robles jr | the Henmi and Minami families of Santa Maria, CA | Russell Henmi | Cecily Sample | Rhead Cannon | Eli Hamada McIlveen | Mike Furukawa | Ryan Cwiklinski | Keiko Hayashi | Richard Chiang & Gretchen Stanerson | Judy and Ida Fox | Rona & Tim Minami | Veronica Shinzato | Melissa Minato | S Yasukawa | Douglas Hanlin | Ian Meyer | Miyoko Oshima | Sutter & Nakata Family | Joshua Landy | Katharine Snyder | Sherman, Jeannette & Zack | Kazuo Maruoka | Kara Uchimura | Beth Cavaliere | Genevieve Ng | Paul and Shelly Iwamasa | Mia Kisako | Lori Fuchiwaki | Erwin Fung | The Kutney Family | Heidi Tanakatsubo | Ikeibi Films | María Guillen | Ken Chida | Roy & Karen Okuhara | Natsumi Inoue | Zac Gunnell | Erika Sim | Elle Allan | Robert Lee | Kiriko Lynch | Andrea Dudek | Masako Konishi | Jon & Naomi Shalowitz | Jon, Mary & Nick Lee | P Addington-White | Nan Carter | Peggy | Brandt and Joni Fuse | Man Grover | Jim Pohl | Kabayama Family | Emily Murase | Atsuko Jenks | Rich Baer | Alex Endo | Lauren Matsui | S. Nomura | Kirsten Lynn | Krystina Borak | Jennifer O'Keefe | Janet Mawdsley Offensend | Tyler Winter Mace | Maurice Toyama | Spencer | Kevin Xu | Douglas Suyemoto | Ethan A Kozaki | Annie Li | The Santini Family | Sara Jane | Nick Plezbert & Mary Ann Ring | Craig Matsumoto & Bích Tran | Dan Granoff and Marjory Kaplan | Andrew Farren | Alicia Tan | Marina Shrago | Taylor & Reina | Celestial | The Tsang Family | Joseph J Connelly | Mary Huth and Susan Butler | James Thomas | Cliff Trotta | Nicole Harada | Yuko Suruki | The Roman Family | Alexia Montibon-Larsson | M L Siemers | Les Kawamoto | Sam Than & Andy Coghlan | Cara Kuroda | Kiyonori Nagatani | Edward | Serene Dong | J. Patrick Finerty | John Fukumoto | Kristen Hewitt | Dick and Cindy Maier | Sandi Matoba | Jayson | Yuzu Kubota | Nina Woolf | San Francisco Sailor Moon Tsukinomari | Sharon Uyeda | Cassie Kifer and Kevin Adams | Takashi Mizohata | Barbara Armstrong | Lauren Matsumoto | Shirley Wing | Junko Suzuki | TheGateGuySF | Yaeko Naritomi | Don and Ada Sadler | Kristi Yawata | Byron Hawley | Sterling Hada | NikkeiWest | Russel Y Hash | Christel Chan | Tina More | The people of California | Richard K Hata | Yayoi Kushida | Todd Odagawa | Tadashi | Miki Kawasaki | Mikami Vineyards | Jaime Klein | Denise Teraoka & Keiji Imura | Bryana Wong | Wayne Chin | The Kojimoto-Humes | Jessica Huey | Terra Williams | Carrie Fudenna | Kelli Nakamura | Shintaku family | Sujishi Family | Mayumi Mori | Shakti Fleisher and Dan Marshall | Ota Family | Scott Kumagai | Kan Lew | Alan Kitashima | Masaya Sasaki | Grace Horikiri | Melissa Gordon | Diane Okubo Fong & Kenneth Fong | Ryan O | Josh Olins | George Su | Deborah Oken | Mark Fox and Angie Wang | Mary | Lowell and Donna Kimura | Vanessa | Matt Chew | Nora Proops | Barbara Jacobson | Ed Wood | Melissa Angel and Peter Counts | Teru Yokota Hirano | Leslie Coxon | Nancy Polcer | Diane Tokugawa | The Yoshida Family | Musubi Yoshioka | Kristi Yamaguchi | Julie Hiromi | Joyce Imazeki Yamamoto | Prie La-Touche | Heather Green | Al, Linda & Max Sugaya | Mark Yamanaka | Bonnie Lockhart | Albert Yang | Aaron Kitashima | Kenny Yue | Michael Rivera | Joyce Nakamura | Ortiz Family | Cara Takaha Scopazzi | Michael Webb | Zen Trenholm | Josh Klipp | Kevin Kim | Valerie Estes | Jordan Staniscia | Kristina Schneider | Matthew Goudeau | K Dooley | The Kellogg Ohana | Rev Masato and Alice Kawahatsu | John Ware | Tiffany Cheng | Tim C Booher | Eric Leeson | Vonnie Stadnyk | Karen Yamamoto | Scott Hedge | Judy Eng | Heather Wada | Gary Chew | Liz Brisson | Ross and Lu Masuda | Chie Benassi | Yasukawa | Lorianne Masuoka | Susan Siep | Karen Thomas | Heather Anderson | Diane Uyeda | Junji Hori | Misako Sack | Oriana Mc | Mary Syring | Joni Oliphant | Cameron Shimizu | John Tran | Laurie Handa | Chelsea Ozawa | Lauren Matsuno | Craig Matsuno | William Grady | Wilson Thomas Wolf | Emily L | Grayson Yokota | Diane Inaba | Cory Hayashi | Louise Yokoi | Liliane Borsuk | Bradley and Samantha Quan | Randy Kamiya | Stacey Hayashi | Paula | Kendall Tani | John Papagni | Erin Matsuoka Rodriguez | Charlene Stroberg | Supratik Lahiri | Gary Fleshman-Kubodera | Erica Okamura & Jegan Chen | Julia K | Etsuko Aoyama | Steve Furogawa | Celeste and Sam Tamura | Alissa Aungvibool | Edward Silva | Julie and Andrew Doupe | In honor of past, present, and future Northern California Cherry Blossom Co | 1995 SF Cherry Blossom Court | Yuki Takahashi | Arthur Yoshii | Ushiro Family | April Yarahmadi | Linda True | The Shimomura Family | Susan Julian Gates | Jessica Cole | Emily Chen | Elena Nielsen and Stephanie Doi on behalf of J. John Priola on behalf of the Svane Foundation | Tracy and Curtis Wong | Jewish Community Relations Council | Nobusuke and Fumi Fukuda | Dale Minami and Ai Mori | Leslie and Jerry Itano | Jeff rey Kawaguchi | Lori Shiotani | Colleen Whitlock | Kristina Hamada-Wong | Kumiko Ikeda

6 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Anonymous (126) | Ted Goldstein and Jessica Bernhardt | Krstina Hamada-Wong | Laura Yoshii | Claude Waldbaum | Jason Allenstein | Simi Bhat | Mark Burpee and Machi Nakamura | Cherry Blossom Alumnae Association | Kelly Chiang | Stacie Court | Carol Anne Crawford | Jamie Dolkas | Ellen Kimura Eades | Janice Farley | Bryan Gaertner | Kate Griggs | Jenna Haines | Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Tokuichi Hama | Becca Henry | Jacqueline Hsiang Haddenham | Elisabeth Jay | John Knight | Keith and Priscilla Kojimoto | Rebecca McCartney | Adam Messinger | Shirley Murakami and Mika Chan | Arisa Nakamura | Mark and Alene Okazaki | Dwight Teague | Jennifer Waggoner | Robert Ward | Peter Whitehead | Austen Wianecki-Wang | Liane Yanase | Alan Gee | Tamara Kerr | Diana Rogers | Yasuko Fukuda MD | Hiromi Toyoshima | Glen Hayashi | Jon Marlowe | Patrick Austin | AshleyT | AJKaneSFO | Elisa Suetake | Becca Schlichtig | Michael Lewin | Derek Jentzsch | Trong Nguyen | Regina Costa | Jan N | Calvin F | John Tanaka | Kobe Farm | Kent Tayenaka | Hopkins | Chris Jensen | Yuri Yazaki Richardson | Ronald Davis and Robert Tsuda | Arezu | Satoko Kishi Hesp | Zane | María Niubó | Maho O | Brian Nagami | Grant Sugimura | Joseph Yoshino | Maria Leung | Steve Jensen | Lachlan Miner | Midori Yenari | Tony Lewis | Richard Wagner | Joan Connelly | Allison Murata | Cheryl | Shauna O'Donnell | Jeff rey and Lily Gin Chan | Judy and Nosuke Akiyama | Hanna, Caroline, and Alexis | Glynis Nakahara | Alexander JC Tsai | Kathryn M Kojimoto | Sarah Benjamin | Jun Makino | CAT | Mayo Tobita | David Weaver | Laurel Segel | Henry Chew | Shingo Ando | Jimmy and Ecky Kajikawa | David McBride | Arcadi Kolchak | Obana-Linn | Lauren Ito | Japan ESD Fulbright | Duane and Katherine Maeda | Keiko Sakamoto | Sean Nelson & Ayaka Nishi | L Maeda & D Beyette | Laura Royster | Justin Romaniuk | Shawn Martin | Mika C. | Susie Shek | Dr. Richard Brewer | Donna Kotake | Nicole R. | Felicia Pullam | Bettina M. Leong | Jennifer Tonge | Kim S | Marina Security Services | Oliver Truong | Mariko Ishikawa | Matt Ogawa | Bader Family | Sheila Collins | Chris H | Stefanie Krajnyak | Sherman Ng | Michael Hauptman | Carol Weinstein | Dan Davies | Kitty Moriwaki | Mark Wunderlich | Kaye Kikuchi | Steven Santa Maria | Yuko Oku | Erika A. | Steven Menasche | Yasuyo Satoh | Sharon Melmon | Ruth Cohn | Alyce Wilson | Bonnie Yee | Ali Kagawa | Ann Nakao | Kiri the Tiny Japanese Fire Truck | Lori Sato Floral Artistry | Susumu J. | Han Lin | Carole and Margaux Garcia | Madison Shaff er | Justine Duan | Thomas T | Cyndi Jang and Jon Louie | Lara Blom | Janice | Takigawa | Alexander Albertine | Eric Quon-Lee | Koji Ishii | Kaoru F Cruz | Namiko Chen | Melanie Regino | Kristine Hobe | Diane Pohl | Kasumi Dhakal | Ken and Donnie Kajikawa | Allison Ishihara Fultz | Anita Arguello | E. Tong | Shinji Sogawa | CEG,Jr | Tom Sako | Peizhu Huang | Sandra Vittoria | Gerald Wright | Katie Tsukahara | Monica Brown | Rod Aoki | Koji Lau-Ozawa | Barbara Stevens Strauss | Alicia Toyooka | Margot S. | Laurel Casey | Clay Freeman | Scott Taniguchi | Claudia De Domenico | JD | Karen Hyde | CN+DL | A friend of the Center in Belgium | Sarita Escobar | Oakland | Gareth Evans | Sally Carlson | Caroline Gillis | Christine Huff ard | Christina Yu | Deborah Clearwaters | barbara mow | Adelle Treakle | Asa De Sal | Terry Peckham and Bart Draper | Kristen Steck | Lisa Powers | Barbara Morino | K.Morimoto | Hironori Ohtsubo | Andrew | Marybeth | Naomi Manning | Christina Calbone | Siri Willoch | Adele Thies | The Hom Family | Jackson | Kerry L Konrad | Tara Cherie Borbon | John Lim | Harold Okino | Jason and Amy Miniello | Alan Kitashima | Lauren Hitomi Bevand | Ross Yamamoto | Matthew Wagner | Tony Osumi | Michael Chang | Jacqui Shook | Takafumi Okubo | Craig So | Pamela A Okano | Daniel Gilmartin | Victoria Tullman | Jessica Quan Crabtree | Bella Knight-Weber and Tama Uyemura | The Ihara & Pemberton Families | Satoko Akuhara Boris | Nina Suetake | K Arikawa | Ivy Fox | Gabor Melli & Melissa Daymond | Matthew Crandall | James Nagareda | Helen Prusiner | Ted Lasker | Arlene Mori | Steven Knipping | Jorge A Rivera | Laird Archer | Mary Bitterman | Yamamoto Radle Family | Vivian Clausing | Owen Saito Lincoln | The Mendozas | Rose Eng | Ariela Haro von Mogel | Roberta Grady | Stan Robles jr | the Henmi and Minami families of Santa Maria, CA | Russell Henmi | Cecily Sample | Rhead Cannon | Eli Hamada McIlveen | Mike Furukawa | Ryan Cwiklinski | Keiko Hayashi | Richard Chiang & Gretchen Stanerson | Judy and Ida Fox | Rona & Tim Minami | Veronica Shinzato | Melissa Minato | S Yasukawa | Douglas Hanlin | Ian Meyer | Miyoko Oshima | Sutter & Nakata Family | Joshua Landy | Katharine Snyder | Sherman, Jeannette & Zack | Kazuo Maruoka | Kara Uchimura | Beth Cavaliere | Genevieve Ng | Paul and Shelly Iwamasa | Mia Kisako | Lori Fuchiwaki | Erwin Fung | The Kutney Family | Heidi Tanakatsubo | Ikeibi Films | María Guillen | Ken Chida | Roy & Karen Okuhara | Natsumi Inoue | Zac Gunnell | Erika Sim | Elle Allan | Robert Lee | Kiriko Lynch | Andrea Dudek | Masako Konishi | Jon & Naomi Shalowitz | Jon, Mary & Nick Lee | P Addington-White | Nan Carter | Peggy | Brandt and Joni Fuse | Man Grover | Jim Pohl | Kabayama Family | Emily Murase | Atsuko Jenks | Rich Baer | Alex Endo | Lauren Matsui | S. Nomura | Kirsten Lynn | Krystina Borak | Jennifer O'Keefe | Janet Mawdsley Off ensend | Tyler Winter Mace | Maurice Toyama | Spencer | Kevin Xu | Douglas Suyemoto | Ethan A Kozaki | Annie Li | The Santini Family | Sara Jane | Nick Plezbert & Mary Ann Ring | Craig Matsumoto & Bích Tran | Dan Granoff and Marjory Kaplan | Andrew Farren | Alicia Tan | Marina Shrago | Taylor & Reina | Celestial | The Tsang Family | Joseph J Connelly | Mary Huth and Susan Butler | James Thomas | Cliff Trotta | Nicole Harada | Yuko Suruki | The Roman Family | Alexia Montibon-Larsson | M L Siemers | Les Kawamoto | Sam Than & Andy Coghlan | Cara Kuroda | Kiyonori Nagatani | Edward Zen | Serene Dong | J. Patrick Finerty | John Fukumoto | Kristen Hewitt | Dick and Cindy Maier | Sandi Matoba | Jayson | Yuzu Kubota | Nina Woolf | San Francisco Sailor Moon Tsukinomari | Sharon Uyeda | Cassie Kifer and Kevin Adams | Takashi Mizohata | Barbara Armstrong | Lauren Matsumoto | Shirley Wing | Junko Suzuki | TheGateGuySF | Yaeko Naritomi | Don and Ada Sadler | Kristi Yawata | Byron Hawley | Sterling Hada | NikkeiWest | Russel Y Hash | Christel Chan | Tina More | The people of California | Richard K Hata | Yayoi Kushida | Todd Odagawa | Tadashi | Miki Kawasaki | Mikami Vineyards | Jaime Klein | Denise Teraoka & Keiji Imura | Bryana Wong | Wayne Chin | The Kojimoto-Humes | Jessica Huey | Terra Williams | Carrie Fudenna | Kelli Nakamura | Shintaku family | Sujishi Family | Mayumi Mori | Shakti Fleisher and Dan Marshall | Ota Family | Scott Kumagai | Kan Lew | Alan Kitashima | Masaya Sasaki | Grace Horikiri | Melissa Gordon | Diane Okubo Fong & Kenneth Fong | Ryan O | Josh Olins | George Su | Deborah Oken | Mark Fox and Angie Wang | Mary | Lowell and Donna Kimura | Vanessa | Matt Chew | Nora Proops | Barbara Jacobson | Ed Wood | Melissa Angel and Peter Counts | Teru Yokota Hirano | Leslie Coxon | Nancy Polcer | Diane Tokugawa | The Yoshida Family | Musubi Yoshioka | Kristi Yamaguchi | Julie Hiromi | Joyce Imazeki Yamamoto | Prie La-Touche | Heather Green | Al, Linda & Max Sugaya | Mark Yamanaka | Bonnie Lockhart | Albert Yang | Aaron Kitashima | Kenny Yue | Michael Rivera | Joyce Nakamura | Ortiz Family | Cara Takaha Scopazzi | Michael Webb | Zen Trenholm | Josh Klipp | Kevin Kim | Valerie Estes | Jordan Staniscia | Kristina Schneider | Matthew Goudeau | K Dooley | The Kellogg Ohana | Rev Masato and Alice Kawahatsu | John Ware | Tiff any Cheng | Tim C Booher | Eric Leeson | Vonnie Stadnyk | Karen Yamamoto | Scott Hedge | Judy Eng | Heather Wada | Gary Chew | Liz Brisson | Ross and Lu Masuda | Chie Benassi | Yasukawa | Lorianne Masuoka | Susan Siep | Karen Thomas | Heather Anderson | Diane Uyeda | Junji Hori | Misako Sack | Oriana Mc | Mary Syring | Joni Oliphant | Cameron Shimizu | John Tran | Laurie Handa | Chelsea Ozawa | Lauren Matsuno | Craig Matsuno | William Grady | Wilson Thomas Wolf | Emily L | Grayson Yokota | Diane Inaba | Cory Hayashi | Louise Yokoi | Liliane Borsuk | Bradley and Samantha Quan | Randy Kamiya | Stacey Hayashi | Paula | Kendall Tani | John Papagni | Erin Matsuoka Rodriguez | Charlene Stroberg | Supratik Lahiri | Gary Fleshman-Kubodera | Erica Okamura & Jegan Chen | Julia K | Etsuko Aoyama | Steve Furogawa | Celeste and Sam Tamura | Alissa Aungvibool | Edward Silva | Julie and Andrew Doupe | In honor of past, present, and future Northern California Cherry Blossom Co | 1995 SF Cherry Blossom Court | Yuki Takahashi | Arthur Yoshii | Ushiro Family | April Yarahmadi | Linda True | The Shimomura Family | Susan Julian Gates | Jessica Cole | Emily Chen | Elena Nielsen and Stephanie Doi on behalf of J. John Priola on behalf of the Svane Foundation | Tracy and Curtis Wong | Jewish Community Relations Council | Nobusuke and Fumi Fukuda | Dale Minami and Ai Mori | Leslie and Jerry Itano | Jeff rey Kawaguchi | Lori Shiotani | Colleen Whitlock | Kristina Hamada-Wong | Kumiko Ikeda

Spring 2021 7 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Messages from the Community

"We are so sad this happened. We are so grateful to the Japantown community and look forward to the day when the blossoms will bloom again."

Although we’re no longer living in SF, we remember many, many happy days in Japantown. We will meet again. Japantown is an important and cherished part of San Francisco. May its cherry blossoms always bloom.

8 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

I'm SO sorry to hear this atrocious incident! But I believe that beautiful cherry blossom will be there again.

"To J-town that has supported the community, my family and friends. Thank you to JCCCNC. Where they choose chaos, we create community."

Spring 2021 9 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Culture Desk Vandalized cherry blossom trees in S.F. Japantown receive $30,000 in crowdfunding

Reprinted from San Francisco Chronicle act and the destruction of a beautiful, Over the first four days, the Jan. 13, 2021 living symbol of San Francisco’s crowdfunding effort received close to Japantown, he felt sad and disturbed. $30,000 in contributions, dwarfing its $5,000 goal. Other donors have reached “I considered it kind of an assault or pectacular.” That’s the word Paul out separately, offering to replace an attack on our cultural heritage,” Osaki uses to describe mature the trees, including one $10,000 gift “ Osaki said, adding that the trees cherry blossom trees in full before the campaign went online. More “were significant not just to the flower. “They light up the sky.” than 500 people have contributed, center, but to the Japanese culture. S some from far beyond the borders So when a vandal destroyed two Cherry blossoms are synonymous of Japantown and San Francisco. of the three cherry blossom trees with the Japanese culture.” outside the Japanese Cultural and “These are people who don’t know who Now, they also represent solidarity. News Community Center of Northern we are, they don’t know the organization, outlets including The Chronicle picked up California, methodically returning they probably have never come by,” the story, and a Facebook note posted by over three nights to snap every Osaki said. “They just saw this story and the center about the vandalism received single branch, it felt personal to felt compelled to want to help. We’re a flood of support. When the nonprofit the center’s executive director. just overwhelmed with the support.” started a GoFundMe campaign last week First, Osaki was angry. Then, the more that promised “the cherry blossom trees There are other cherry blossom trees he thought about the violence of the will bloom again,” donations poured in. throughout Japantown — a third tree in

10 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

front of the cultural center and others edge. A lot are in jeopardy because along Post Street and in Peace Plaza of the rent they owe, he said. — but the two targeted were special. Losing even a portion of the mom-and- They were planted to commemorate pop ramen spots and gift shops that a visit to the center by the emperor draw Bay Area residents and out-of- and empress of Japan in 1994, only the town visitors to Japantown could have a second time the monarchy had visited reverberating eff ect on the historic area. the United States. They were also the “We’re a small community,” Osaki fi rst cherry blossom trees to be planted said. “Even if you lose 15 or 20 in Japantown after the San Francisco businesses, it’s going to have a Redevelopment Agency tore through the huge impact on Japantown.” neighborhood in the late 1950s and ’60s. Over the summer, the center created “When I was growing up, most of a program called Picnic in the Plaza, Japantown was dirt lots, like whole with tables and canopies and socially blocks, with chain-link fences around distanced seating for 200, an eff ort to it,” Osaki said. “Redevelopment revitalize the dining scene and draw also took out whatever plants or customers back to the neighborhood. trees were planted by the fi rst Open on Saturdays and Sundays, generation of Japanese.” the area drew 30,000 people before It took 17 months of planning and shutting down in November, Osaki construction to get the pair of cherry said. “It brought life back to Japantown. blossom trees planted outside the You started to see people come by.” center, where Osaki said they fi t in with Now, he’s looking to the cherry the building’s façade and had grown blossom trees as a symbol of hope for to 12 or 15 feet tall over 20-plus years. the future. Although Osaki doesn’t A third tree in front of the center was yet know how much it will cost to similarly damaged two years ago. tear up the sidewalk and remove the The community response to the trees’ damaged trunks, using the money destruction has been a bright spot from the GoFundMe campaign and during a tough year. In March, the other contributions, he hopes to have Japanese Cultural and Community These are people who new trees planted by spring so they Center shut down with the rest of can bloom along with the rest of the the city, and it has yet to reopen; its don’t know who we neighborhood’s cherry blossoms. income from activities and events has are, they don’t know In addition to replacing the pair vanished as the pandemic continues. that was vandalized, Osaki would Throughout the neighborhood, small the organization, they like to add a fourth tree outside the businesses are struggling to stay afl oat. probably have never cultural center along with some “It’s been incredibly diffi cult. Most of come by. They just kind of decorative barrier to protect Japantown’s restaurants and stores the trees from future damage. rely an awful lot on tourism dollars,” saw this story and felt “Having that fi nished — all the trees up Osaki said. For the last 10 months, compelled to want and some kind of design that creatively tourists have been largely absent. to help. We’re just brings it all together — would really The cultural center has been using help commemorate this outpouring of grant money to help small businesses, overwhelmed support that we’ve gotten from all over “but it’s nothing compared to what with the support. the place,” Osaki said. “That’s something they need,” Osaki said. He knew of we want to always remember. That several that had already closed and will be part of the story of the Japanese others that are teetering on the Cultural and Community Center.”

Spring 2021 11 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Remembering Tohoku Ten Years Later and Our Promise to Not Forget

March 11, 2021 marked the are over 23,000, but others who live in magnitude earthquake triggering an 10th Anniversary of the largest Tohoku say it is much higher than that. explosive tsunami is not limited to Northern Japan. If that same level In addition, over 200,000 persons earthquake ever recorded in of earthquake and tsunami hit San were forcibly evacuated from their Japan, followed by a powerful Francisco, the entire City would be homes because of the meltdown at the tsunami and the meltdown of a eliminated. Would we be prepared? Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Would we want people to forget? nuclear power plant. Some of the residents will never be able Today, it is commonly referred to return home even though their family That is not the only reason why we to as the Great East Japan had never lived anywhere else. should not forget. We should not forget the outpouring of immediate Earthquake, but it was much It is easy to forget about these concern, support and love expressed staggering statistics now that it is no more than that. by people around the world to want longer a regular topic on the news to help the residents of Tohoku. and new houses and buildings have or those of us who are old enough been built on the large acres of land When the Center created its fundraising to remember, we saw scene after that the tsunami had flattened. drive within hours after the disaster scene of houses, cars, buildings, occurred on March 11, the phones did fishing boats and other objects But, we should not forget. not stop ringing. Literally, thousands Fbeing forcibly pulled away from their And, why not? of people were calling to want to help. foundations and swept out into the What happened in Tohoku ten years Individuals drove into the City as far ocean. Official records note that the ago could happen anywhere in the away as Sacramento or Los Angeles death toll and those who remain missing world. A natural disaster like a 9.0 just to drop off donations. Parents used

12 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

the occasion of their child’s birthday to The Center led several delegations to do to further help. The answer was quite raise money for Tohoku, and one set of Tohoku to offer friendship, hope and simple: please do not forget us. We have sisters sold many of their well-loved toys support. The Center visited Tohoku on honored that promise and will continue because they cared what the children the 3rd Anniversary of March 11th and to do so even as the anniversary years of Tohoku would need and want. the 5th, and plans were underway to visit increase in number and those who were this March for the 10th Anniversary but directly involved are no longer with us. Sometimes it takes something as glaring halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. and as heartbreaking as a disaster for We have learned many things from this us to realize that we need to always While visiting many of the towns in experience: learning how to administer take the time to care for one another. Tohoku, we always asked what we could a massive fundraising campaign; making decisions on which nonprofit organizations to work with to directly help the residents of Tohoku; how to report our findings in a succinct yet informative way; and to know that we can do anything we set our minds to — or at least make a good attempt to do it. It was a great training ground for other projects we have encountered after this major project-- all of which has made us a little stronger, a little wiser and better able to look outside of our own world to help when needed. We will not forget you, Tohoku, and we look forward to the time when we can see and meet the residents once again. Center tour participant Liane Yanase gifting scarves to residents, Kesennuma, Miyagi (2014)

Center tour participants June Konno (seated) and Addie Fukuda (right) making calendars with Center tour participant Daisy Satoda with residents of Fukushima residing in temporary housing, Minamisoma, Fukushima (2016) Kazuki Kasahara of NPO Hamawarasu, Kesennuma, Miyagi (2014)

Spring 2021 13 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Telethon (phones) – Telethon hosted by NBC Bay Area raises over $417,000 (March 18, 2011)

Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (NJERF)

he NJERF campaign — a would require the most resources and *To view the complete NJERF Summary Report, community and volunteer- would evolve through the phases. go to: bit.ly/njerfsummary driven effort — grew It was also essential to focus on to become the largest the often-overlooked populations, TJapanese community-based relief the elderly, children and those fund in the United States. physically and mentally challenged. On March 11, 2011, the Center immediately established the What made the Relief Fund unique Through these photos (and others in our NJERF Summary Report*), we hope you Northern Japan Earthquake Relief and ultimately led to its success was its three-fold plan to support in phases can feel the heartfelt support from the Fund (NJERF), committing 100% the relief, recovery and rebuilding, thousands of donors and supporters, of the money received to citizen- along with the commitment to allocate see how the fund brought hope to to-citizen relief, recovery and 100% of the donations received directly those affected by the devastation and rebuilding following the Great to nonprofit and local community see how the Center has continued its East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami staffed organizations. Early funds were promise never to forget. Through 3.11 and Nuclear Disasters that distributed to meet the most pressing remembrances, visits to Tohoku and relief needs. From the experience of our commitment to building friendships devastated the Tohoku Region. the Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) earthquake in amongst the people in the Bay Area and 1995, the Center knew that the long- residents in the cities and towns, we will term recovery and rebuilding phases keep our promise and remember, always.

14 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

1 2

3 4

5 6

1) Kristi Yamaguchi, NJERF spokesperson at Giants game, rallied SF Giants fans to donate (June 3, 2011); 2) AAR Japan delivers vegetables to a welfare facility; 3) Center's NJERF donation wall with event flyers; 4) Shea Wakasa sold her toys to raise money; 5) SVA PunPunDani Book Project, girls with drawings; 6) Sendai YMCA representative delivering goods

Spring 2021 15 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Active listening sessions, one of the programs Update from the Association for Aid and Relief, Japan that the Center has continued to fund for the past decade, are held for the elderly living in the public housing complex Building Healthy (Minami Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture, Communities Project November 16, 2019) partnership with the Association for Great East Japan Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan), a Japanese nonprofit organization that provided direct services in Fukushima, Earthquake Recovery Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures following 3.11. AAR Japan’s main objective is to Initiative support the restoration of the daily lives of those affected by the Great ollowing the March 11, 2011 around five years to implement; however, East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. earthquake and tsunami, the we continue to support organizations for They started their efforts following Center established the Northern the recovery and rebuilding efforts and the disaster by delivering emergency Japan Earthquake Relief Fund receive updates from those continuing to and medical supplies; providing health- F(NJERF) with three main pillars of support the survivors of the 3.11 disaster. related services, mobile clinics and support for survivors: relief, recovery and mental health services; and supporting rebuilding. The Center initially estimated In the early stages of the relief temporary housing facilities and relief that the three-fold plan would take efforts for NJERF, the Center began a assistance. In the Tohoku Region

16 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

following the disaster, AAR Japan saw the devastation of the evacuees: the dismal housing conditions; death, suicide and mental health implications; and evacuation and resettlement issues. Nearly a decade later, many survivors have rebuilt their lives and livelihoods. Some, though, especially the vulnerable, like elderly persons, persons with disabilities and single parents with children, still require much support after the fallout of the disaster. Reports from the Reconstruction Agency of Japan estimate more than 40,000 individuals are still displaced from their hometown in the disaster hit area. Though construction of new public housing has been completed, many survivors were unable to occupy these spaces, and many areas in Fukushima Prefecture are still uninhabitable due to the radioactivity. It will take some time for all individuals to return to their homes. gatherings to prevent elders from feeling Massage sessions are popular with elderly persons AAR Japan started the “Building Healthy isolated. Lunch gatherings provide the due to lack of PTs and OTs in the area. (Otsuchi Town, Iwate Prefecture, December 7, 2019) Communities” (BHC) Project for opportunity for individuals to prepare, survivors in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima eat lunch and clean up. Participants also Prefectures to help improve the physical share food cooked in their own homes. programs on June 1, 2020 with updated and psychosocial conditions, as well Other recreational activities provide measures and guidelines to prevent the as the community relations among residents with interaction through craft spread of COVID-19 by using sanitizers, survivors, specifically those who are most classes, tea parties and health classes. wearing masks and keeping distance vulnerable. The BHC Project consists AAR Japan continuously innovates new between participants. Even with the of four main activities: rehabilitation programming to help bridge community suspension of programs due to COVID- through massage, physical therapy and among their participants. In 2016, AAR 19, AAR Japan has consistently delivered calisthenics; counseling services by Japan helped distribute 200 akabeko a range of activities to a large scale of qualified volunteer counselors; lunch created by the Center’s community to survivors. Over 1,200 participants have gatherings to share information; and residents in temporary housing, mostly participated in 61 events in Fukushima, A chiropractic therapist provides guidance for recreational events. AAR Japan provides seniors. One such akabeko was made Iwate and Miyagi prefectures. AAR physical and occupational therapists skeletal realignment at health promotion class by a youth in our community especially Japan promises to continue assisting with a stick made of newspaper (Kawamata to elderly persons living in the public for a senior. It is this special care and those affected by the disaster, especially Town, Fukushima Prefecture, June 10, 2020). or temporary housing complexes attention to detail that makes AAR the elderly, persons with disabilities who do not have the opportunity Japan’s continuous programming and and children through the BHC Project. to do much physical exercise. The efforts so exceptional and sustainable. Even after a full decade, AAR Japan physical and occupational therapists continues ongoing, weekly and monthly provide massages while listening to Due to the risks of the COVID-19 programming to provide opportunities their participants’ concerns. Qualified pandemic, AAR Japan suspended their for survivors to connect and care for one volunteer counselors also provide normal activities from March 1 until May another. They have effectively brought counseling services prior to and after 31, 2020 in accordance with the Japanese people together in the wake of one massage services. Participants talk about government’s State of Emergency of the worst disasters. The Center is daily and family issues of life before and declaration that was in effect from thankful and inspired by AAR Japan’s care after 3.11. AAR Japan also provides lunch April 7 to May 25, 2020. They resumed and concern in providing community.

Spring 2021 17 CULTURAL TRAIL MIX

Spring Cleaning Treasures In Japan, families undergo a massive cleaning of their homes to prepare for the start of the new year at the end of December. However, here in the U.S., many of us get the urge to do a little purging during our spring cleaning.

ut then, where did spring cleaning get its origins? Shopping around town According to the website, Fantastic Cleaners B(fantasticcleaners.com), the origins She lived on one of the US of spring cleaning follow the Persian bases in Japan with her family New Year called Nowruz which is right after World War II ended celebrated on the vernal equinox. but still had the opportunity There is an Iranian practice called to enjoy and observe life “as khooneh tekouni, shaking the house is” during that time. Luckily where the entire home is thoroughly for us, she included an wiped and polished. envelope of vintage photos so that we could get a glimpse Walking around town of everyday life during that era. Comparing those photos take the time during the spring season to what we experience today in Japan to clean out their homes and donate or gave us a chance to refl ect how rapidly throw away items that are unused or no life has changed in Japan’s largest cities. longer wanted. It must have been a huge transition for Sheltering in Place has added an extra many people who moved from rural incentive to want to clean your home communities to a city like Tokyo and because you are home more often. Some participated in the massive development of us have to share our home with many of buildings, apartments and factories other family members in a crowded that popped up after World War II. space. The photos provide us with a view of Before you get out your green trash a time before technology played a role bags to say goodbye to your items, we in how we shopped, ate, played and encourage you to step back and think socialized. Wonderful artisans at work about what may be useful to others. So before you pull out your trash bag, Recently, the Center was gifted a please take a few seconds to think about Others date spring cleaning back in number of items from an individual who whether those items that you own will history to the ancient Jewish custom lived in Japan during her youth in the have some use to others. Collections of thoroughly cleaning the house in early 1950s. you may own, items you have treasured preparation for the springtime feast of even though you do not know its original Passover. She felt it was time to clean out some of the things she had been holding onto for purpose, a photo of a period of time or Yet other websites say cleaning when the many years but wanted to fi nd a suitable a place, or things that have been in your weather gets better after a harsh winter home where her feelings for wanting to family for as long as you can remember is just a natural thing to do. Whatever preserve and pass on what she treasured may be items of value to someone else. origin you wish to believe, many people were understood. (Photos courtesy of Gretti Keith and her family )

18 Spring 2021 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS プログラムとイベント

Preserving Culture One Class at a Time What's Happening Online 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 off er. The fi rst class session is free for any fi rst-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 www.jcccnc.org, email [email protected] or call (415) 567-5505.

All in-person classes are temporarily cancelled until further notice with the exception of the classes listed here. Please make sure to visit our workshops/events on page 20-21.

MARTIAL ARTS AND FITNESS M = Members | NM = Non-Members KEY KARATE—MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY CLASS (VIRTUAL) ARTS AND CULTURE Karate is an Okinawan martial art meaning “empty hand.” Develop self-defense skills and Teaching ukulele online is a strengthen yourself mentally and physically. BEYOND BASIC ART CLASS (VIRTUAL) Our class is part of the International Karate very diff erent experience from This weekly art class is designed for both League (IKL) which instructs a modifi ed teaching in the classroom. intermediate and advanced students and will Shorin-Ryu style of karate. This class is open allow participants the opportunity to explore to all skill levels age 6+. After eight months of new media, subject matter and ways of Instructor: Craig Hamakawa teaching ukulele on Zoom, thinking. This class will use basic drawing, When: Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. painting concepts and subject matter, but will Cost: $25 M | $42 NM monthly I am so grateful for the also look to expand participant’s artistic Drop-in: $8 M | $13 NM horizons. The atmosphere of the class is very technology that allows us informal for creating art. to stay connected. There Instructor: Rich Tokeshi When: Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon defi nitely is a place for virtual Cost: $3o M | $4o NM monthly (virtual rates) ukulele instruction, even after Drop-in: $9 M | $12 NM (drop-in) the pandemic is over and we can all meet again! DANCE —Don Sadler, Ukulele 101 instructor YOSAKOI DANCING WITH ITO YOSAKOI DANCE GROUP (VIRTUAL) SENIOR CHAIR AEROBICS (VIRTUAL) Join the Ito Yosakoi Dance Group's weekly Designed for seniors who want to build basic MUSIC classes to learn the lively, energetic dance physical strength in a low-impact class. style of Yosakoi dancing! Yosakoi dancing Students will use a chair to participate in features choreographed group dances with exercises to increase fl exibility, muscle UKULELE – INTERMEDIATE (VIRTUAL) traditional movements mixed with modern, coordination and strength. Classes end with a Designed for ukulele players who have prior uptempo music to make for a captivating hands-on massage to relieve any lingering experience. This class will focus on learning dance style that is growing in popularity in stress. and reviewing chords, as well as songs and Japan and abroad! No dance experience is Instructor: Kaeko Inori strumming patterns. (New students with no necessary. Class members have the option of When: Thursdays, 10-10:45 a.m. prior experience should participate in the dancing with the class recreationally, or Cost: $3 M | $4 NM drop-in (virtual rates) Ukulele 101 workshop held twice a year to learning the group's repertoire to perform in cover basics such as tuning, basic chords and public. techniques.) When: Fridays, 7-9 p.m. Instructor: Don Sadler Cost: $12 M | $17 NM monthly When: Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Drop-in: $3 M | $5 NM Cost: $40 M/$60 NM/Monthly $12 M/$17 NM/Drop-In

Spring 2021 19 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS プログラムとイベント

Upcoming Workshops and Events See what exciting and enriching virtual 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!

COMMUNITY KITCHEN sport, how he established life in Japan VIRTUAL POTLUCK and more! Tuesday, once a month Ryan was born in New York City, (exact dates TBA) 6–8 p.m. but grew up in Belmont, CA playing Free, advance registration required basketball for San Mateo JYO and San Register: jcccnc.org/virtual-classes- Jose Ninjas. He attended Junipero Serra and-programs High School then played for New York While our in-person Community University for four years. KENJI’S KITCHEN MONTHLY Kitchen dinners are on hold due to the pandemic closures, our Community ONLINE COOKING CLASS Kitchen committee has gone online to Sunday, once a month (exact dates host a monthly potluck and discussion TBA) over Zoom! Cook a dish following each 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. month’s theme in advance, and share $7 Members | $10 General with other cooking enthusiasts what Instructor: Kenji Yokoo you’ve made and other aspects of Register: jcccnc.org/virtual-classes- Japanese foods and culinary practices and-programs during the discussion. While we aren’t Chef Kenji Yokoo of YouTube cooking able to cook together for now, we can channel Kenji’s Kitchen continues still eat together virtually! offering his monthly virtual cooking class with us over Zoom. Originally MEET PROFESSIONAL 3X3 SPRING KAISEKI VIRTUAL from Saga Prefecture in the southern BASKETBALL PLAYER RYAN TANA island of Kyushu, Kenji shares with us his April 24, 4 p.m. COOKING WORKSHOP skills and techniques inherited from his Free, advance registration required Saturday, May 1, 2-3:30 p.m. own grandmother’s kitchen and honed Register: bit.ly/RyanTana $7 Members | $10 General over years of fastidious practice. Kenji’s Instructors: Larry Sokyo Tiscornia classes are paced so you can cook along Did you know that 3x3 basketball is now and Kimika Soko Takechi at home, and a new recipe is selected an Olympic sport? Meet Ryan Tana, Register: bit.ly/kaisekimay2021 professional 3x3 basketball player and each month for you to add to your Our seasonal kaiseki cooking workshops Japanese cooking repertoire! co-owner of team Tokyo Crayola 3x3 in Japan! Learn how he got involved in the are back, in virtual format! A centuries-

20 Spring 2021 PROGRAMS AND EVENTS プログラムとイベント

old culinary tradition, kaiseki cuisine Civic leaders and ordinary people from all draws on infl uences from traditional tea walks of life in San Francisco cultivated ceremonies and the light cuisine of Zen and celebrated their city's ties with Japan monasteries, resulting in multi-course almost immediately after the Pacifi c meals comprised of aesthetically pleasing War ended, most notably with the and fresh and healthy courses made with construction of the Japanese Cultural fresh and colorful seasonal ingredients. and Trade Center in the Japantown Be sure to check our website for the neighborhood. This talk will explore exact menu of each workshop! the city’s many economic, civic and cultural relations with Japan, and the ways that the recent enemy became central to postwar San Francisco’s civic Our popular annual Children’s Day identity. We’ll look at examples such as School Visits program will be held the now-defunct sister-city relationship, virtually this year. Kindergarten through the precursor to the Asian Art Museum, 2nd grade classrooms are invited to Japanese restaurants, Japanese food engage in craft activities, storytelling imports and the role of Japanese and cultural lessons teaching about Americans in these transpacifi c relations. Japanese Children’s Day as well as Boys’ Day and Girls’ Day holiday traditions JAPANESE AMERICANS and practices. Please contact us if you AND AFRICAN AMERICANS are interested in providing this virtual IN WESTERN ADDITION learning experience to your young REDEVELOPMENT students. Thursday, May 20, 6–7 p.m Free, advance registration required SAN FRANCISCO JAPANTOWN Register: bit.ly/jtownhistorymay2021 HISTORY SERIES WITH DR. This talk will explore the contrasting MEREDITH ODA ways that redevelopment portrayed CO-SPONSORED BY NJAHS San Francisco Japanese Americans and Don’t miss our upcoming special 2-part African Americans, despite the quite lecture series by historian Dr. Meredith similar ways in which both groups sought Oda as she presents her research on San to carve out places for themselves in Francisco’s Japantown neighborhood their discriminatory city. We’ll look at and community post-WWII as featured examples of Japanese American and in her insightful 2019 book, The Gateway Black cooperation and confl ict with city to the Pacifi c: Japanese Americans and the offi cials (CANE, WACO, Nihonmachi Remaking of San Francisco. Q&A with Community Development Corporation, Fillmore Community Development the author to follow each presentation. SAVE THE DATE Lecture series co-sponsored by the Corporation) to see how redevelopment and city relations help to cast the VIRTUAL KODOMO NO HI National Japanese American Historical (CHILDREN’S DAY) FESTIVAL Society (NJAHS). two populations in opposing frames, despite the commonalities in tactics and May 1 | 11 a.m. Order books online ($35 + S&H): overarching goals. Watch on Facebook LIVE: bit.ly/jtownhistorybook facebook.com/LikeJCCCNC CHILDREN’S DAY VIRTUAL We will be holding our annual Children’s JAPAN AND SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL VISITS Day Festival virtually for the second year DURING THE EARLY COLD WAR April 1 – 30 in a row. Gather the kids for a virtual Thursday, April 22, 2021, 6 – 7 p.m. Free for K–2nd Grade classrooms program with storytelling, craft activities, Free, advance registration required Contact [email protected] cultural performances and more! Register: bit.ly/jtownhistoryapr2021 for teacher access to virtual content

Spring 2021 21 OUR DONORS 寄付者

Year End Annual Support Drive

We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our donors for their support in our Year End Annual Support Drive. Your support means more to us than ever before, with so much uncertainty this past year. We are humbled by the compassion and generosity of our community. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, our donors’ steadfast support has lifted our spirits and given us hope during these past several months. During this time of great uncertainty, we’ve been comforted, encouraged and humbled by the outpouring of support from our community. Despite the challenges and difficulties facing us well into 2021, our goal is to be a better, more dynamic organization than before the pandemic started. Donations toward our Year End Annual Support Drive received from August 1 – January 31, 2021 are listed below.

Platinum ($5,000+) Silver ($500 - $999) Mr. Minoru and Mrs. Suzanne Yamada Anonymous Mr. Mark K. Abey and Ms. Jeanne Hong Mrs. Agnes Yoshimura Ishizaki Family Trust Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Mr. Bradley Yee Mrs. Violet Tanaka Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Mr. Peti Arunamata Emerald ($250 - $499) Ms. Susan Cranna Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Akiko Arikawa Gold ($1,000 - $4,999) Ms. Marion Dietzen Mr. Jason Dillon and Mr. Aaron Rubel Mr. Sherman and Mrs. Dori Chan Ms. Florence Dobashi Mr. William J. Edick and Ms. Pamela Burns Mr. Todd Choy Mr. Steven Dung and Ms. Debbie Alcantara Ms. Nancy Fee Ms. Dianne Fukami and Mr. Gerry Nakano Ms. Yuriko Endo Mr. David Flemming Dr. James and Mrs. Cynthia Hayashi Ms. Kiki Goforth Mr. Shig Furuta Mr. Chris Hirano and Ms. Elayne Hada-Souza and Dr. Steven and Mrs. Mae Gotanda Ms. Chiyomi Kuroki-Hirano Mr. Thomas J. Souza Mr. Richard and Mrs. Ruby Hata Dr. Ronald and Mrs. Cynthia Hiura Mr. Craig and Mrs. Lyn Hamakawa Mr. Igor Justino Ms. Mikiko Huang and Mr. Marshall Stoller Mr. Don and Mrs. Christina Hirose Ms. Dana Kato Mr. Greg Ishizaki Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho Mr. Lewis Kawahara and Dr. Masashi Itano Mrs. Kazue Ihara Ms. Akiko Takeshita Ms. Janis Ito Mr. Tom Kawakami Mrs. Naoko Ito Ms. Kim Ina Mr. Ryan Iwasa Mr. Lowell G. Kimura and Ms. Patricia Ito Ms. Donna Ong-Kimura Mr. Masahito Kagawa Mr. Ryan and Mrs. Laura Kimura Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Ella Kitagawa Mr. Keith and Mrs. Priscilla Kojimoto Dr. Saburo and Ms. Joyce Hirota Kami Dr. Robert Kiyomura Mr. Kaz Maniwa and Ms. Masako Fukunaga Ms. Kuniye Koga Mrs. Esther Marks Mrs. Sadako Kashiwagi Mr. Ken Kong Mr. Colbert and Mrs. Gail Matsumoto Mr. Gary and Mrs. Barbara Kitagawa Mr. Nathan and Mrs. Julie Lau Mr. Bradley Menda Ms. Madeline Kitagawa Dr. David Lee and Ms. Colleen Oinuma Mrs. Alice Nakahata Ms. Sachiko Kjerbo Mr. Kazuo Maruoka Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Cindy Nakamoto Mr. Don Misumi Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun Ms. Janet Ninomiya Ms. Susan Muranishi Ms. Kay Nomura Mr. Scott and Mrs. Sandra Nakamura Ms. Sandi Matoba Mrs. Mickie Ochi Mr. Robert and Mrs. Delphine Obana Mr. Thomas Miyoko Mr. Van Okamura and Ms. Glynis Nakahara Mr. Myron Okada and Ms. Lynne Ogawa Mr. Bobby Nakata Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro Mr. Roy S. Okuno Ms. Irene Nakamura Dr. Quintus Sakai Ms. Joanne Otsuki Ms. Julie Nishihara Mr. Robert and Dr. Alicia Sakai Mr. Randy and Ms. Linda Shigio Mr. Roy and Mrs. Karen Okuhara Mr. George and Mrs. Doris Sasaki Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Joyce Shindo Ms. Colette Ono-Ko and Mr. Peter Ko Dr. Dale Shimasaki Ms. Midori Tabata and Mr. William and Mrs. Louise Osada Ms. Marumi Suyeyasu Mr. Charles M. Ingram Ms. Kinko Sakamoto Mrs. Lorraine Suzuki Mr. Russell and Mrs. Linda Takei Mrs. Haruko Sasaki Ms. Matty Taga-Allen Mr. Beau Timken Mr. George Shimizu Mr. Scott Tomioka and Ms. Irene Szeto Mrs. Setsuko Toyooka Mr. Jeffrey and Mrs. Pamela Suda Mr. Yasunari G. Yamada Dr. Reiko True Mrs. Yoko Sumida Mr. Peter and Mrs. Ayako Yee Mr. Keith and Mrs. Pam Uyeda Mr. Edward and Mrs. Estelle Tomoda Mrs. Marion Wake Dr. Ed and Mrs. Lori Wakil

22 Spring 2021 OUR DONORS 寄付者

Mr. Eddie Wong and Ms. Donna L. Kotake Mrs. Joyce Kuwatani Mrs. Mary Shin Mr. Douglas and Mrs. Betty Yamamoto Ms. Yaeko Kuwatani Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Joyce Shindo Ms. Marcella Yano Mr. Thomas Layton and Mrs. Keiko Spencer Mr. Jason Yasumoto Ms. Mabel T. Miyasaki Mr. Herman Tachera Mr. James Yonemoto Mr. Richard and Mrs. Janet Lee Mr. Guy Takahashi Mr. Collen and Mrs. Rose Low Ms. Laurie Takao Ruby ($100 - $249) Mr. Jerald and Mrs. Nina Lowe Mr. Vernon Takasuka Mr. Kenneth Abiko Mr. Frank and Mrs. Yoko Lum Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Michi Takata Ms. Karen Aizawa Mr. Michael Mak Ms. Atsuko Takeshita Mrs. Sumiko Akashi Mr. Drew Mametsuka Mr. Ben and Mrs. Fumiko Takeshita Mr. Eric and Mrs. Alice Akiyama Ms. Nina Mametsuka Ms. Louise Takeuchi Ms. Janice Aritomi Mr. Scott and Mrs. Kimberly Mamiya Mr. Teruo Takeya Mrs. Atsuko Awaya Mr. Greg Matoba and Mrs. Betty Tanaka Mr. Thomas and Mrs. BJ Baba Ms. May Tsang-Matoba Ms. Lucille Tashiro Ms. Traci Chee Mr. Hitoshi and Mrs. Joan Matsukuma Ms. Wendy Tokuda and Mr. John Norheim Ms. Stella Chu Mr. Jeffery Matsuoka and Ms. Akemi Takagi Mr. Ken and Mrs. Mary Tsuboi Mr. Jack and Mrs. Jun Dairiki Ms. Ria McIntosh Ms. Patricia K. Wada Mr. Dennis Fong and Ms. Nancy Moore Mr. Neal Miura Ms. Kelly Yuka Walton Mr. Franklin and Mrs. Nancy Fong Ms. Ella Miyamoto Dr. Aileen Watanabe Ms. Sharon M. Fujii Ms. Kay Mizuire Mr. Tim and Mrs. Jo Ann O. Wong Mr. Koichi Fukuda Ms. Claudine Naganuma and Mr. Joel Davel Ms. Madeline Wu Mr. Saburo and Mrs. Lucille Fukuda Mrs. Nanami Naito Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Anna Yamaguchi Mr. Lucky Fung Mr. Kiyoshi and Mrs. Tazuko Naito Mr. Gary and Mrs. Karen Yamamoto Ms. Ginger Furuta-Sera and Mrs. Joyce Nakai Mr. Jiro B. Yamamoto Mr. Michael Sera Mr. Michael and Mrs. Megumi Nakamura Mr. Ted Yamasaki and Mr. Brian Budds Mrs. Alyce Furuya Dr. Yoshio and Mrs. Jean Nakashima Ms. Janet Yokota Ms. Sandra Goto Mr. Daniel Neuburger Mr. Art Yoshii Reverend Nobuaki and Dr. Gary and Mrs. Hiromi Nomura Ms. Misako Yoshinaga Mrs. Ayako Hanaoka Ms. Susan Obata Mr. Jeff K. Yoshioka Ms. Laurie Hane Mr. Somao Ochi Ms. Komi Hata Ms. Harua Oda Donors ($0 - $99) Dr. Eddie K. Hayashida Dr. Linda Oda Mr. Jimmy Dieng Ms. Barbara Hedani-Morishita and Mr. Edward and Ms. Lois Oda Ms. Elaine Dong Dr. Leroy M. Morishita Ms. Yukiko Oka Mr. Saburo and Mrs. Lucille Fukuda Mrs. Mary K. Hidekawa Mr. Matt Okada Ms. Naomi Funahashi and Mr. Richard Lee Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Valerie Hironaka Mrs. Nancy A. Okano Ms. Kathleen Gee Dr. Jon and Mrs. Hiura Ms. Diane Okubo-Fong and Ms. Stephanie Gee Ms. Helen Hoy Mr. Kenneth Fong Mrs. Marina Giordano Mr. Francis and Mrs. Paula Itaya Mr. Steve Omori and Ms. Jenny Ha Mr. Cole Iwamasa Ms. Linda Sekino-Omori Mr. Jon and Mrs. Shelley Hatakeyama Mr. Owen Iwamasa Ms. Hanaes Ono Mrs. Kaye Higashi Mr. Tai Iwamasa Ms. Teresa Ono Ms. Diane Honda Ms. Christine R. Iwanaga Ms. Patricia Y. Orr Mr. Alfred and Mrs. Clarice Hoy Ms. Brenda Jow Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Kaeko Park-Li Ms. Dianne Ige Ms. Miyako Kadogawa Mr. Gary Sada Ms. Patti Iwasa Ms. Ali Kagawa Mr. Hiroshi Sakamoto Mr. Kenso Kagawa Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Mimi Kagehiro Mr. Randall Sakamoto Ms. Linda Kakinami Ms. Kathleen Kamei Mr. Giichi and Mrs. Nancy Sakurai Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato Ms. Hope Kamimoto Mr. Sam Sato Ms. Katnanhe Kato Mr. Russell and Mrs. Harumi Kishida Mr. Sim and Mrs. Tsuyako Seiki Mr. Kenneth Kawabata Mr. Lawrence Kitagawa Mrs. Harumi Serata Ms. Sumika Kawamura Mrs. Kikue Kiyasu Mr. John Sharp and Ms. Donna H. Onodera Ms. Megan Kitagawa Ms. Kikuko Koba Ms. Lisa Shigematsu Mr. Chuteh and Mrs. Yunice Kotake Ms. Kathy Kojimoto Mrs. Rosemary Shigematsu Continued on page 24 Mrs. Sharon Kotabe

Spring 2021 23 front

OUR DONORS 寄付者

Year End Ms. Lia Shigemura and Ms. Helen Zia back Support Drive Mrs. Marice Shiozaki continued from page 23 Ms. Jeanne Skybrook Ms. Barbara Suyehiro Mr. John Kozik Mr. Jimmie Takeuchi Mr. Larry Martinez and Mr. Kenji Tamaoki and Ms. Ms. Vera Poon Linda S. Yeung Ms. Cheryl Miyashiro Mr. Gregg Taniguchi Ms. Tiff anie Muraoka Mr. Neal Taniguchi and Mrs. Emiko Nakahiro Dr. Emily M. Murase Mr. Robert L. Nakamura and Ms. Denise Teraoka Ms. Linda Chen Mr. Anish Thakkar Ms. Yuki Nishimura Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Diane Ms. Joan Ochi Tokugawa Mr. James Okumura Mr. Matthew Tominaga Mrs. Sylvia Omoto Ms. Selena Tsang Mr. Grant Ono Mrs. Betty Tsugawa Ms. June Otaguro Ms. Sharon Tsukiji Ms. Courtney Pastrick Miss Saroya Whatley Mr. Peter Renteria Mr. Marcus Wong Mr. Alex Rodriguez Mr. Ken and Mrs. Nancy Woo Ms. Nami Saito Ms. May Yamamoto Dr. Fumio Shibata Mrs. Tamiko Yasuhara

Katachi SF Business card design 4.5.16

Visit

1581 Webster St. #275, San Francisco, CA 94115 sophiescrepessf.com (415) 929-7732 @sophiescrepessfca

24 Spring 2021 OUR DONORS 寄付者

Honoring the Special People in our Lives 2020 Year End 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 2020 Year End Annual Support Drive from August 1, 2020 to January 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 MUTSUMI HADA FRANK AND SETSUKO KANEKO Mr. Peter and Mrs. Ayako Yee, $1,000 Ms. Elayne Hada-Souza and Ms. Ria McIntosh, $100 Mr. Thomas J. Souza, $500 KAZUO AND JEAN ABEY SUMI KANZAKI Mr. Mark K. Abey and TOKUJI AND Mr. Ken and Mrs. Nancy Woo, $30 Ms. Jeanne Hong, $500 HARUE FRANCES HEDANI MUTSUO "MIK" KITAGAWA Ms. Barbara Hedani-Morishita and HATSURO AND AMEY AIZAWA Dr. Leroy M. Morishita, $100 Mr. Stephen and Mrs. Ella Kitagawa, $250 Ms. Nancy Fee, $150 JITSUO HIGASHI PETER AND MARGARET KITAGAWA KEIKO AKASHI Mrs. Kaye Higashi, $50 Mr. Gary and Mrs. Barbara Kitagawa, $500 Mr. Lewis Kawahara and Ms. Akiko Takeshita, $250 YO HIRONAKA CAL KITAZUMI Mr. Scott and Mrs. Kimberly Mamiya, $100 Mrs. Sumiko Akashi, $100 Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro, $1,000 Mr. Gregg Taniguchi, $50.00 Ms. Helen Hoy, $100 Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Valerie Hironaka, $100 Ms. Joan Ochi, $25.00 Ms. Brenda Jow, $100 UTA HIROTA Mrs. Emiko Nakahiro, $50 Dr. Saburo Kami and MITSUNOBU AND SADAME KOJIMOTO HARU BABA Ms. Joyce Hirota Kami, $500 Mr. Keith and Mrs. Priscilla Kojimoto, $500 Ms. Janet Yokota, $100 MICHIKO HORIO Ms. Kathy Kojimoto, $100 ELSIE CHUNG Ms. Janet Ninomiya, $1,000 GEORGE KUWATANI Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun, $50 SETSUKO ICHIMOTO Ms. Dana Kato, $250 Ms. Patricia K. Wada, $50 Ms. Marion Dietzen, $500 Mrs. Sumiko Akashi, $30 STEVEN AND CHARLOTTE DOI CHIZU IIYAMA PHILIP M. MIYAMOTO Dr. Ed and Mrs. Lori Wakil, $300 Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Ms. Ella Miyamoto, $100 TOMOHIRO ENDO Mr. Peti Arunamata, $250 EDDIE MORIGUCHI Ms. Yuriko Endo, $500 KAZUYUKI (KATIE) ITO Mr. Jeffery Matsuoka and Ms. Janis Ito, $250 MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH FEE Ms. Akemi Takagi, $200 Ms. Nancy Fee, $150 KIMIE ITO Ms. Patricia K. Wada, $50 Ms. Janis Ito, $250 TERRIE FURUTA BABE AND MARY MORINO Mrs. Ginger Furuta-Sera and TAKESHI PETER ITO Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Cindy Nakamoto, $333 Mr. Michael Sera, $200 Ms. Janis Ito, $500 MARY MORINO Mrs. Haruko Sasaki, $100 Mrs. Naoko Ito, $500 Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro, $1,000 Ms. Patricia Ito, $500 YAS FURUYA Mr. Nathan and Mrs. Julie Lau, $250 Mrs. Alyce Furuya Continued on page 26

Spring 2021 25 OUR DONORS 寄付者

Year End Tribute Gifts CHIYEKO ONO KATSUTO AND BESSIE TAKEI continued from page 25 Ms. Hanaes Ono, $100 Mr. Russell and Mrs. Linda Takei, $500 TOMI OSHIRO EDITH TANAKA Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro, $1,000 Dr. Masashi Itano, $1,000 GEORGE JUNICHI NAGANUMA Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Cindy Nakamoto, $333 YORI AND CHIYO WADA Ms. Claudine Naganuma and Mr. Joel Davel, $100 MISAO OTSUKI Ms. Patricia K. Wada, $100 The Otsuki Family, $500 HIROSHI NAKAI SACHIKO "MAMA" WOO Mrs. Joyce Nakai, $200 MARGARET SADA Mr. Greg Matoba and Mr. Gary Sada, $100 Ms. May Tsang-Matoba, $100 HIDEKO NAKAJIMA IWAO YAMASAKI Ms. Sumika Kawamura, $20 YUKI SEIKI Mr. Don and Mrs. Christina Hirose, $500 Ms. Teresa Ono, $75 JITSUZO AND FUSAYE NAKAMOTO Mr. Lowell G. Kimura and Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Cindy Nakamoto, $334 ELLEN SHIMASAKI Ms. Donna Ong-Kimura, $50 Dr. Dale Shimasaki, $1,000 HARRY AND FLORENCE NAKAMURA HATSY YASUKOCHI Mr. Scott and HARRY KATSUMICHI SHIN Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Mrs. Sandra Nakamura, $500 Mrs. Mary Shin, $100 Mr. Peti Arunamata, $250 VALERIE INOUYE NEISHI FRANK SHINDO Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun, $200 Mr. Kenneth Kawabata, $50 Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Joyce Shindo, $390 MARY YONEMOTO BARON AND ALICE NISHIHARA YUKI SORRELL Mr. James Yonemoto, $250 Ms. Julie Nishihara, $250 Ms. Susan Obata, $100 YONEO "BO" YOSHIMURA JEAN K. OKUBO MARY TAKAI Mrs. Naoko Ito, $500 Ms. Diane Okubo-Fong and Mr. George Shimizu, $250 Ms. Patricia Ito, $500 Ms. Janis Ito, $250 Mr. Kenneth Fong, $200 KAZUO TAKASUKA Mr. Vernon Takasuka, $100

In Honor of

SHERILYN AND PETI ARUNAMATA JCCCNC STAFF TIM KAWAKAMI Ms. Christine R. Iwanaga, $100 Ms. Mikiko Huang and Mr. David Flemming, $250 Mr. Marshall Stoller, $1,000 YUMI BERMAN DONNA KIMURA Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Ms. Sachiko Kjerbo, $500 Ms. Denise Teraoka, $50 Mr. Bradley Yee, $500 MARJORIE FLETCHER Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho, $500 ALAN KITASHIMA Ms. Patricia Ito, $200 Ms. Janis Ito, $250 Mr. Jerald and Mrs. Nina Lowe, $50 Dr. Linda Oda, $100 Ms. Patricia Ito, $200 KC MUKAI Mr. Neal Taniguchi and JENNIFER HAMAMOTO Mr. Alex Rodriguez, $20 Dr. Emily M. Murase, $25 Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Kaeko Park-Li, $100 HISAE NAKAMURA UYESUGI 2020 KASE INTERNS GARY HOSHIYAMA AND Ms. Susan Cranna, $500 Mr. Neal Taniguchi and PATRICIA WOOD Dr. Emily M. Murase, $25 CURT, JACKIE, KATE AND Ms. Kathleen Gee, $25 NAOKO ITO JESSICA NAKANO JCCCNC BOARD Ms. Janis Ito, $500 Mr. Todd Choy, $1,000 Ms. Patricia Ito, $100

26 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWSOUR センター DONORS ニュース 寄付者

PAUL OSAKI ALLISON TSUBOI Mr.Year Drew End Mametsuka, Tribute $100 Gifts CHIYEKO ONO KATSUTO AND BESSIE TAKEI Mrs. Alice Nakahata, $1,000 Mr. Ken and Mrs. Mary Tsuboi, $100 Ms.continued Nina Mametsuka, from page $100 25 Ms. Hanaes Ono, $100 Mr. Russell and Mrs. Linda Takei, $500 Mr. Shig Furuta, $300 Mr. Matt Okada, $100 YOSHIFUJI NEW YEAR'S TOMI OSHIRO EDITH TANAKA Ms. Kelly Yuka Walton, $100 DON SADLER Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Michi Takata, $100 Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro, $1,000 Dr. Masashi Itano, $1,000 Mr. Jeff K. Yoshioka, $100 Ms. Jeanne Skybrook, $60 GEORGE JUNICHI NAGANUMA Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Cindy Nakamoto, $333 NAOKO YOSHIMURA ITO YORI AND CHIYO WADA Mr.Ms. Jimmy Claudine Dieng, Naganuma $75 and Ms. Patricia Ito, $500 DON AND ADA SADLER Ms. Mr.Stephanie Joel Davel, Gee, $100 $70 MISAO OTSUKI Ms. Patricia K. Wada, $100 Mr. Herman Tachera, $100 Ms. Selena Tsang, $50 The Otsuki Family, $500 HIROSHI NAKAI SACHIKO "MAMA" WOO Mr. Peter Renteria, $25 Mr. Matthew Tominaga, $25 Mrs. Joyce Nakai, $200 MARGARET SADA Mr. Greg Matoba and MITSUE SHINDO In Recognition of Ms. Jenny Ha, $20 Mr. Gary Sada, $100 Ms. May Tsang-Matoba, $100 Mr. Jonathan and Ms.HIDEKO Yuki Nishimura, NAKAJIMA $15 YUKI SEIKI IWAO YAMASAKI Mrs.Joyce Shindo, $390 SAKE DAY Mr.Ms. Anish Sumika Thakkar, Kawamura, $10 $20 Mr. Don and Mrs. Christina Hirose, $500 Ms. Teresa Ono, $75 Ms. Nami Saito, $5 MINEKO TAKATA’S 99TH BIRTHDAY Mrs. Marina Giordano, $50 JITSUZO AND FUSAYE NAKAMOTO Mr. Lowell G. Kimura and Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Michi Takata, $100 Mr. Kaz and Mrs. Cindy Nakamoto, $334 ELLEN SHIMASAKI Ms. Donna Ong-Kimura, $50 PAUL OSAKI CHALLENGE Dr. Dale Shimasaki, $1,000 HIDEKO TAKESHITA Ms. Colette Ono-Ko and HARRY AND FLORENCE NAKAMURA HATSY YASUKOCHI Ms. Atsuko Takeshita, $150 Mr. Peter Ko, $250 Mr. Scott and HARRY KATSUMICHI SHIN Ms. Sherilyn Chew and Mr. Eric and Mrs. Alice Akiyama, $100 Mrs. Sandra Nakamura, $500 Mrs. Mary Shin, $100 Mr. Peti Arunamata, $250 DENISE TERAOKA Mr. Cole Iwamasa, $100 FRANK SHINDO Ms. Lori Matoba and Mr. Jeff Wun, $200 Ms. Dianne Ige, $25 VALERIE INOUYE NEISHI Mr. Owen Iwamasa, $100 Mr. Kenneth Kawabata, $50 Mr. Jonathan and Mrs. Joyce Shindo, $390 MARY YONEMOTO THOSE IMPACTED BY COVID, Mr. Tai Iwamasa, $100 YUKI SORRELL Mr. James Yonemoto, $250 ESPECIALLY NISEIS Ms. Ali Kagawa, $100 BARON AND ALICE NISHIHARA Ms. Sharon M. Fujii, $150 Ms. Julie Nishihara, $250 Ms. Susan Obata, $100 YONEO "BO" YOSHIMURA JEAN K. OKUBO MARY TAKAI Mrs. Naoko Ito, $500

/ Mr. George Shimizu, $250 Ms. Patricia Ito, $500

e Ms. Diane Okubo-Fong and t experience... i Mr. Kenneth Fong, $200 Ms. Janis Ito, $250 s KAZUO TAKASUKA . e

r Mr. Vernon Takasuka, $100 a u q s

M . 9 o 1 k o i 9 k

a In Honor of i 0 a m 7 e m f 5 e a 7 A f c a 5 a c h 1

h SHERILYN AND PETI ARUNAMATA JCCCNC STAFF TIM KAWAKAMI c 4 c t t Ms. Christine R. Iwanaga, $100 Ms. Mikiko Huang and Mr. David Flemming, $250 L a a L m m Mr. Marshall Stoller, $1,000 A T f s @ C YUMI BERMAN DONNA KIMURA Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Ms. Sachiko Kjerbo, $500 Ms. Denise Teraoka, $50 Mr. Bradley Yee, $500

5 MARJORIE FLETCHER Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho, $500 ALAN KITASHIMA 7

C 1 5 Ms. Patricia Ito, $200 Ms. Janis Ito, $250 Mr. Jerald and Mrs. Nina Lowe, $50 # 1 1 , Dr. Linda Oda, $100 Ms. Patricia Ito, $200 t 4 O KC MUKAI e 9 K

e Mr. Neal Taniguchi and I r

A JENNIFER HAMAMOTO Mr. Alex Rodriguez, $20 A t Dr. Emily M. Murase, $25 C

H S M

, Mr. Gordon and Mrs. Kaeko Park-Li, $100

r HISAE NAKAMURA UYESUGI o E e

c 2020 KASE INTERNS F t s

A GARY HOSHIYAMA AND Ms. Susan Cranna, $500 s i Mr. Neal Taniguchi and soft serve, C b c PATRICIA WOOD n e

A Dr. Emily M. Murase, $25 latte, a CURT, JACKIE, KATE AND W

A H r Ms. Kathleen Gee, $25 F C frappe, 1 NAOKO ITO JESSICA NAKANO T 8 n A a and more! 5 JCCCNC BOARD Ms. Janis Ito, $500 Mr. Todd Choy, $1,000 M 1 S Ms. Patricia Ito, $100

26 Spring 2021 Spring 2021 27 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

Let's Support Japantown!

San Francisco’s Japantown is he recent COVID-19 pandemic Through a generous grant by The Henri the oldest Japantown in the has made life very trying for and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable continental United States. It many businesses to stay open, Foundation (Takahashi Foundation), the Center was able to create two moved to its current location and it has been especially Tdifficult for our Japantown businesses. specific projects to bring people to after the 1906 earthquake and When the Shelter-in-Place Orders Japantown and to help merchants was a thriving self-contained went into effect last March, the main with immediate cash resources to community consisting of over commercial corridor of Japantown, the be able to restart their operations. 30 blocks prior to World War three Japan Center Malls, was forced One of the programs, Picnic at the II. After the war, it was able to shut down, as all indoor malls were Plaza (Picnic) accommodated more to rebuild, and even after the required to close. Limited operations than 30,000 people during its weekend City’s redevelopment plans are now allowed for the restaurants service, which ran from July to November to provide take-out service, and retail demolished many buildings in the 2020, constituting more than 70% of businesses can allow a few people in sales for some of the restaurants. community, calling them blighted their stores at one time, but these and uninhabitable, it was able restrictions make it very difficult for The other successful program, the to rebuild a second time. It is businesses to sustain the level of income GAMBARO Project, created the ability for the Center to purchase gift a community that has survived they need to stay afloat. Rent is still being charged; fixed costs do not go certificates from Japantown businesses many bumps and hills over the and then distribute them to direct course of its 115+ year history. away during a pandemic; and competion with online merchants has made it service nonprofit organizations in especially tough on the Japantown Japantown to help with fundraising merchants who pride themselves and other promotional efforts. in offering authentic, quality and The benefits of the project have personalized services to their customers. been two-fold. First, the Japantown

28 Spring 2021 THE CENTER NEWS センター ニュース

WAYS TO PROMOTE & PRESERVE JAPANTOWN

VISIT JAPANTOWN and consider making your purchases from a small business owner whose only income comes from the sales of products sold. Many Japantown small business owners no longer have the luxury of taking a day off from their store as they are often the only employee.

TELL THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS that you support them and their eff orts to continue to promote Japanese culture and traditions by selling the unique items.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY about this unique cultural district that has had an over 115-year history in San Francisco. businesses were able to receive a CONSIDER TAKING A guaranteed amount of money when CLASS to learn more about the gift certifi cates were purchased. the community through one of They were free to utilize these resources the Center’s online classes. in whatever way they needed to reopen and start anew. Second, the When it is once again safe to eat direct service nonprofi t organizations at a restaurant, please CONSIDER who have received the gift certifi cates MAKING A TRIP TO EAT at have been able to incorporate them one of the many restaurants into their fundraising plans to help that are waiting to serve you! supplement the great loss of income they suff ered when they were forced to close their doors for services. These projects would not have been any time learning and benefi tting from possible without the support of Masako the shops in the Japan Center Malls Takahashi and the Takahashi Foundation. into the daily practice of cleaning and other businesses in Japantown. and purifi cation at the Center when Picnic at the Plaza is now seen as The Center is very grateful to the it opens its doors to the public. a model for other communities to Takahashi Foundation for allowing duplicate to help small businesses in The GAMBARO Project has brought new us to conduct these programs and their area accommodate guests with shoppers and visitors to Japantown as the Japantown small businesses who a clean and safe place to eat their the gift certifi cates have been distributed have had to endure a very anxiety- meals. The safety protocols developed to a wide and diverse range of recipients ridden year of many unknowns but for Picnic will now be incorporated — many of whom have never spent still have persevered to stay afl oat.

Spring 2021 29 OUR DONORS 寄付者

Community Tributes

We would like to extend a special thank you to those who remember the Center when making unsolicited community gifts. These unsolicited 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 November 1, 2020–January 31, 2021 are listed below. Annual Support Drive donors are listed in the previous pages.

In Memory of

KEIKO AKASHI CANDACE KIKA SACHIKO WOO Mr. Kenneth and Mrs. Yoshiko Ho, $50 Mr. Ron Omori, $100 Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock, $50 Mr. Robert and Mrs. Gail Mametsuka, $50 MIK KITAGAWA JAU-FANG WU Mrs. Kay K. Onishi, $50 Mrs. Fumi and Mr. Nobusuke Fukuda, $50 Mrs. Gloria Wu Julien, $250 Mrs. Nancy and Mr. Giichi Sakurai, $50 Mrs. Kazue Ihara, $30 GEORGE KUWATANI PETER YAMAMOTO Mrs. Kay K. Onishi, $50 Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock, $50 RIICHI AND SUZU ASHIZAWA Mr. Don and Mrs. Ada Sadler, $50 Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and IWAO YAMASAKI Mr. Bradley Yee, $2,500 TERRY LEONG Ms. Dianne Fukami and Mr. Gerry Mr. Kenneth Kawabata, $50 Nakano, $100 ROY AND FUMI ASHIZAWA Ms. Minna Tao, $100 Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and VICKY MIHARA Mr. Milton K. Wong and Mr. Bradley Yee, $2,500 Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock, $50 Ms. Dianne K. Furuya-Wong, $100 MITZI HADA JOE AND YAE TONDO Mr. Eddie Wong and The Coxon Family, $100 Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato, $100 Ms. Donna L. Kotake, $75 Ms. Diane Matsuda, $50 GEORGETTE IMURA YORI AND CHIYO WADA Paul Osaki, $150 Ms. Carol Kawase, $50 HATSY YASUKOCHI Ms. Diane Matsuda, $50 Anonymous, $25 In Honor of In Recognition of

BENKYODO NB DEPARTMENT STORE NOBORU AND DOROTHY YAMANAKA Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock, $50 Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock, $50 Ms. Wendi Yamanaka, $100

JACK AND JUN DAIRIKI TERESA ONO COVID-19 Ms. Kazuko Hishida, $100 Ms. Mutsuko Arima, $50 Mr. Kazuo Maruoka, $500 Mrs. Margaret Kusaba, $100 JENNIFER HAMAMOTO DON AND ADA SADLER Ms. Mutsuko Arima, $50 Ms. Karen Mah-Hing, $100 Ms. Michiko Tashiro, $100

MORINO COFFEE SHOP ROBERT AND ALICIA SAKAI AND OUR LONGTIME 'CAL' FRIENDS Ms. Nancy Nagano-Lock, $50 LAUREN AND JOSH SAPPINGTON Mr. Raymond and Mrs. Mona Kitasoe, $50 Diane Matsuda, $600 JUNE-KO NAKAGAWA YOSHIFUJI FAMILY Anonymous, $100 YUKA WALTON Ms. Karen Boyden, $250 Mrs. Cynthia Bader, $40 Mr. Gary and Mrs. Sharon Kato, $100 Mr. Aki and Mrs. Michiko Kuramoto, $100

30 Spring 2021 OUR DONORS 寄付者

COMMUNITY DONATIONS Ms. Miyako Kadogawa Mr. Dii Lewis and Ms. Joyce H. Oishi $5,000+ Mr. Eric and Mrs. Vera Kawamura Mr. Robert and Mrs. Diane Matsumura Ms. Joyce Ashizawa-Yee and Reverend Roger and Ms. Audrey Metzger Mr. Bradley Yee Mrs. Christine Morimoto Ms. JoAnn Momono Cultural Heritage Fund Ms. Yukie Mino Mrs. Eva Monroe Ms. Jane Naito Mr. Tomokazu "Tetsu" Morikawa $1,000-$4,999 Ms. Kim Nakamura Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Deborah Nakamura Hoops for Friends, Inc. Nihonmachi Little Friends Ms. Lisa Nakamura Ms. Catherine Pantsios Ms. Kathy Nelsen $500-$999 Mrs. Harumi Serata Mr. Ross Sakamoto Ms. Marilyn C. Oshiro Ms. Kylie Tamura Mr. Donald and Mrs. Marian Seiki Mr. Kenji Yokoo Mr. Takayoshi Wiesner Ms. Michiko Yamamoto $250-$499 Ms. Donna Yoshida Castro Mrs. Dorothy Yanagi San Francisco Drakes Ms. Liane Yanase $0-$99 Mr. Hiroyuki Yumoto $100-$249 Ms. Ronnie Bartolome Ms. Masako Yumoto Anonymous Dr. Mary Bitterman Ms. Kazuko Hishida Mr. Lelandy and Ms. Eleanor Dong CORPORATE GIVING Miss Madison Eade Ms. Shirley Imamoto Bank of America Employee Campaign Ms. Hope Kamimoto Mr. Masao and Mrs. Setsuko Handa Blackbaud Giving Mrs. Jeanie Kashima Ms. Sato Hashizume Community Health Charities Mrs. Lyn and Mr. Brian Hirahara Mr. Albert Lau Ms. Brenda Jow Ms. Ibuki Lee

Katsura Garden 桂

Flowers

Plants

Bonsai

Japan Center 1825 Post Street Tel: (415) 931-6209 San Francisco, CA 94115 Fax: (415) 931-9395

Spring 2021 31 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