President Greeting
Gary S. Moriwaki

It is my pleasure to greet you and wish you all a peaceful and Happy 2010. We begin this new decade with much to be concerned about, from troubling financial issues to armed conflicts around the world. Yet we are also filled with renewed hope that the world's economies are on their way to recovery. There also seems to be a renewed commitment to solving the issues of climate change both globally and in the US. JAA's commitment to serving our community remains as strong as ever, and we face the new year in a strong financial position, thanks especially to all of our generous donors and supporters. Of course, we owe the most to our dedicated core of volunteers, who, along with our Executive Director, Mrs. Noda, are the true heart and soul of JAA. We continue to work closely with our Japanese and American neighbors, including the Consulate General, JCCI, the Nippon Club, the Japan Society, JAMSNET, JASSI, JACL, JAJA and many other organizations. We had so many successful events at JAA over the past year, including Senior and Health weeks, which attracted over 1700 members of our community. We hope more of you join us and attend our events in the year to come.
JAA was founded 100 years ago to provide support to new Japanese arrivals in New York City. Over the years, our focus has shifted with the changing Japanese and Japanese American population, but our mission has remained the same - to serve the needs of our community. Today, the community is predominantly born in Japan. We provide a wide range of services that include Social Services programs (twice a month luncheons and lunch deliveries) , and free legal , tax, insurance and medical consultation, Apple Kids (workshops and events for newly arrived families with young children), scholarship awards for high school and college graduates, music scholarships, arts and cultural events, and the Committee on Aging Issues. We provide networking opportunities for young professionals and entrepreneurs and sponsor fun events such as the Foreign Minister Baseball League, the Annual Golf Tournament and year End Dinner.
We are also encourage your participation in Census 2010. You should be receiving a Census survey around March 15 of this year. Please take the time to complete it and return it to the Census Bureau. It should be completed whether you are a citizen, permanent citizen (green card holder) or here on some other visa. The results of the survey will have great significance for all of us as they will determine federal funding support for our community-so it is very very important for all of to make sure we are counted!
We at JAA would love to hear from you and welcome both your comments and participation. Please visit us on the 11th floor at 15 West 44th Street as well as our website, www.jaany.org & www.agingjaa.org .
We hope you will be inspired to participate and give your time and energy.
JAA Annual General Meeting &
Get Together Party

We had our Annual General Meeting &Get Together Party at the Nippon Club, Rose Room on January 26, 2010. We started with the financial report followed by the nomination of Officers and Committee Chairpersons which were all approved. We also introduced our JAA officers and new directors for 2010. Our president Mr. Moriwaki and Deputy Consul General Shigeyuki Hirakawa made their greetings followed by a toast by Ms. Susan J. Onuma, JAA Honorary president to start the Get Together Party. After a delicious dinner, we enjoyed a musical performance by Ms. Miho Mitsueda (Violin- awardees of JAA Music Scholarship 2008 and JAA Nishioka Scholarship 1997) and Ms. Hitomi Fukuda (piano). The M.C. was Mr. Koji Sato. Ms. Seiko Oshima advised on the menu of the dinner box and each table was decorated with flower arrangement by Ms. Tomo Onishi.

Officers 2010
Honorary Officers
Honorary Advisor: Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya
Consulate General of Japan in New York
Honorary Members: Michihisa Shinagawa
President of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (JCCI)
Masaaki Fujita (President of the Nippon Club)
Life Trustees: Robert K. Emy, Jiro Murase,
Seiichi Shimomura, Francis Sogi, George Yuzawa,
Advisor: Noboru Sato, Toshio Kiso
Honorary Director: Sadahei Kusumoto
Honorary President: Susan J. Onuma

Officers
President: Gary S. Moriwaki
Vice Presidents: Keiko Ishida, Makoto Iwahara, M.D.,
Yusuke Iwasaki, Tsuneko Mitsunaka, Satoru Murase,
Katsumi Oneda, *Joe Oshima, Seiko Oshima,
Suki Terada Ports, Koji Sato, Katsuo Takeda
Secretary: Koji Sato
Assistant Secretary: Robert Norton
Treasurer: Tetsuya Fujita
Assistant Treasurer: Kenichi Komeno

Directors
Masazumi Adachi, M.D., Yuzuru Anzai, M.D., Roy Ashikari,
M.D., Julie Azuma, , Michiko Ito Crampe, Ken Egawa,
Robert K. Emy, M.D., Tetsuya Fujita, Tak Furumoto,
Kumiko Hasegawa, Keiichiro Hayashi, Shigeyuki Hirakawa,
*David Hiromura, Shunichi Homma, M.D., George Horishige,
Koji Ichida, Saeko Ichinohe, Keiko Ishida, Nobuhisa Ishizuka,
Mozart H. Ishizuka, Masaharu Isogai, Riki Ito,
Makoto Iwahara, M.D., Yusuke Iwasaki, Tsutomu Karino,
Shuji Kato, Toshio Kiso, Nobuko Kodama, Kenichi Komeno,
Emiko Lindsay, Kuni Mikami, Tsuneko Mitsunaka,
Gary S. Moriwaki, Jiro Murase, Satoru Murase,
Kenjitsu Nakagaki, Rev. Shigeaki Nakanishi,
Nobuko Cobi Narita, Michiyo Noda, Robert Norton,
Shigetaka Ogihara, Toru Okamoto, Katsumi Oneda,
Hiroko Onoyama, Susan J. Onuma, Joe Oshima,
Seiko Oshima, Suki Terada Ports, Yoko Sasaki, Noboru Sato,
Koji Sato, Kinichi Shibutani, M.D., Matsuko Shibuya,
Hiromi Shinya, M.D., Toshiteru Tada, Michi Tahara,
Katsuo Takeda, Setsuji Uematsu, Aileen Yamaguchi,
Chieko Yamamoto

Committee Chairs
Standing Committees
Planning & Finance: Susan J. Onuma
Membership-Corporate: Satoru Murase
Susan J. Onuma
Membership-Individual: Tsuneko Mitsunaka
Robert Norton
JAA News: Koji Sato, Michiyo Noda
Archives: Julie Azuma, Michiyo Noda
Social Service: Seiko Oshima, Aileen Yamaguchi
Scholarship: Suki Terada Ports, Koji Sato
House: JAA Office
Legal: Koji Sato
Special Committees
External Affairs: Susan Onuma, Katsuo Takeda
Audit: Toshio Kiso, Kumiko Hasegawa
Music Awards: Joe Oshima
Year End Dinner Dance: Seiko Oshima,
Tusneko Mitsunaka, Hiroko Onoyama
Art Exhibits: Yoko Sasaki
Sports: Shuji Kato
Memorial Day Service: Shigeaki Nakanishi
Japanese Language: Nobuko Kodama
Charity Golf: Michi Tahara
Baseball Tournament: Shigeaki Nakanishi
Bazaar/Flea Market: JAA Office
Sakura Matsuri at Flushing Meadow, Corona Park:
Suki Terada Ports, Yusuke Iwasaki, Hiroko Onoyama
Committee on Aging Issues: Susan Onuma
Business Women's Committee: Keiko Ishida
Apple Kids: Hiroyuki Takenaga
Nominating: pending
Census 2010: Susan Onuma
2010 New Year's Greetings Party

This annual event sponsored by the Consulate General and cosponsored by the JAA, the Nippon Club and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of NY was held on January 7 at the Nippon Club with more than 200 people in attendance. Our President Moriwaki and ten directors from JAA were present.
The 19th Nippon Club's New Year Party for Senior

　This 19th annual event "New Year Party for Seniors" was again offered by the Nippon Club in the Rose Room on January 20. The tables were beautifully spread with traditional New Year's delicacies for the 80 senior guests. All in attendance enjoyed the performance of Hawaiian Dance by Naoko Matsuo. Then everyone was entertained by the beautiful voices of the Nippon Club Female Chorus (led by Yoko Ojima). Finally, JAA President Mr. Moriwaki gave a thank you speech to and presented a flower basket to Mr. Tsutomu Karino, Executive Vice President of the Nippon Club. 25 packaged lunches were delivered to those seniors of JAA and JASSI who were unable to attend.
Please help!

We have established the "JAA Haiti Fund". Please send us your donation ( payable to JAA, also please write "Haiti Fund" on the check) by mid. March. JAA will send the total amount to the Mayor's Fund or the Red Cross.
2010 Honjo Scholarship Award

Guidelines and Application forms for the Honjo Scholarship Award are presently available. The Scholarships to be awarded for full-time students in non-medical, music, or art field who will be attending graduate schools in the NY area this Fall. Candidates don't have to be JAA members. Also not limited to Japanese descents. See our web site www.jaany.org Dead line is March 1, 2010.
2010 JAA Activities

Regular scheduled events & programs
  • Keirokai:Twice a month 2nd & 4th Thursday
  • Apple Kids (www.applekidsnyc.org) and Japanese Business Women's Committee (www.bwcjaa.org) will make monthly events.

    Free Consultation
    JAA provides free consultations by professionals for all the people in the community.
  • Free ConsultationFree Consultation on Medical and Social welfare
    by Dr. Robert K. Emy & Ms. Aileen Yamaguchi. on the days of Keirokai
  • Free ConsultationFree Legal Consultation on Wills and other topics
    by Helen Irie, Esq. and Reiko Takikawa, Esq.
    2nd Thursday on Odd Months
  • Free ConsultationFree Legal Consultation on legal problems (excluding immigration law) by Reiko Kasano, Esq.
    2nd Thursday on Even months
  • Free ConsultationFree Legal Consultation on Immigration Law
    by James Nolan Law Office, James Nolan, Esq.
    3rd Thursday of every month
  • Free ConsultationFree Consultation on Tax
    by Joe Oshima, CPA on Jan.28 & Feb. 18
    • JAA Activities
    March Census Consultation
    March 13 Japanese Language Workshop in Spring
    April 10 (Sat.) Spring Flea Market
    April mid- 24th Sakura Health Fare
    April 24 (Sat.) The 6th Sakura Matsuri @ Flushing Meadow Corona Par
    April to August Sunday morning The 24th JAA Foreign Minister Cup Baseball Tournament
    April to November 2nd & 4th Thursday JAA Golf
    May 2 (Sun) Asian American Heritage Festival
    May 6 (Thurs.) to 15(Sat.) Art Exhibition
    May 31(Mon.) Memorial Day Services at Japanese Cemetery
    May ﾐ June The 40th Scholarship Dinner
    June 6 (Sun) Japan Day@ Central Park JAA will have Calligraphy Corner
    Sept. 15 to end of Sept The 4th Senior Week
    Sept. 21 (Tues.) The 17th Charity Golf Tournament
    Oct 9 (Sat.) Japanese Language Workshop in Fall
    Nov. 6 (Sat.) Annual Bazaar
    Dec. 10 (Fri.) the 53rd Year End Dinner
    Medicare 2010
    Medicare 2010 Part A Part B Part D
    　 Hospital Insurance
    		Medical Insurance
    		Prescription
    Monthly Premium
    		 ＄0 ＄96.40 if your income is $85,000 or less (or for joint filers, your joint income is $170,000 or less). Depends on your insurance plan.
    Deductible
    		 ＄1,100.00　per benefit period (or " spell of illness") ＄155.00
    per calendar year    		 Depends on your insurance plan.
    Coinsurance
    		 Hospital:
    Days 1-60 : $0 per day
    Days 61-90: $275.00/day
    Days 91-150: $550.00/day
    You will have to pay all hospital costs beginning day 151 and beyond, or after all your lifetime reserve days (60 days) are used.

    Skilled Nursing Facilities
    Days 1-20: $0 per day.
    Days 21-100: $137.50/day
    You will have to pay all Skilled Nursing Facility costs beginning day 101 and beyond.     		You pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for services. Depends on your insurance plan.
    **NYS EPIC
    MedicareRx(PDP) of
    United Healthcare,
    United, AARP,
    and Private insurance Companies.
    Contact Social Security Office Social Security Office ** contact private insurance co. or EPIC
    1） Part A premium is $254.00 per month for people having 30-39 quarters of Medicare covered employment and $461.00 per month for people who have 29 or less quarters of Medicare-covered employment.

    2） If your incomes is above $85, 000 (single) or $170,000 (married couple), your Medicare part B premium maybe higher.

    3） For this benefit, Medicare requires that the patient be hospitalized for at least three (3) consecutive days, excluding the day of discharge, prior to being admitted into the Skilled Nursing Facility.
    this is advised by Helen Irie, Esq.
    JAA Social Service Committee:

    Keirokai in February: Held on February 11, "Curry Noodle" "Pickled Japanese Nappa" "Ice Cream" were on the menu. After the lunch, there was a talk on home care services and other activities of "Visiting Nurse Service of New York/VNSNY"

    The Hinamatsuri Keirokai will be on February 25. "Eel Chirashi" "Pickled vegetable" and "Sweet Red beans" will be on the menu. Mr. Osamu Kubota from Japan will show his art works, "Kirie art".

    Please make reservations to attend a luncheon/ or consultations and lunch deliveries.
    Donation to JAA
    (for General Fund from 12/25/09-1/15/10)

  • Satoru Murase $3000.00, Pat Yuzawa $500
  • 150 shopping certifications (good for $50.00 worth of Japanese food & goods) from President Tadao Yoshida of the Sun Rise Mart.
  • H1N1 Vaccination (Swine Flu Shots and Spray) were donated from the Nippon Clinic. Services were given on 2/8, 12, 18 and 19 for children & adults at the Nippon Clinic, 10th Floor of JAA building, 15 West 44th St..
    • Report from Membership Committee as 2/5/10

    Platinum ($2,000): Teruhiko Kawase,
    Toshio Kiso, Jiro Murase, Nobuko Cobi Narita,
    Katsumi Oneda, Tadao Yoshida (Sun Rise Market)

    Gold ($1,000): Robert K. Emy MD, Chieko Inagaki,
    Gary S. Moriwaki, Satoru Murase,
    Shigeaki Nakanishi, Hiroko Onoyama, Noboru Sato

    Silver ($500): Hitoe Hayashida, Keiko Ishida,
    Makoto Iwahara MD, Tsuneko Mitsunaka,
    Michi Tahara, Hiromi Shinya MD
    Kumiko Hasegawa

    Supporting ($300): Tomoo Abe, Michiko Ito Crampe,
    Junko Emy MD, Tomoko T. Hanway,
    Mozart H. Ishizuka, Masaharu Isogai, Riki Ito,
    Yoshio Ito, Tsutomu Karino, Philip Katz, Keiko Kato,
    Philip Katz, Teresa Kiso, Hisashi Kobayashi,
    Kuni Mikami, Tatsuji Namba,, Kiyoshi Nasu,
    Michiyo Noda, Shigetaka Ogihara, Toru Okamoto,
    Seiko Oshima, Motoatsu Sakurai, Yoko Sasaki,
    Tamiko Sato, Yoshiko Schilt, Kinichi Shibutani, MD,
    Matsuko Shibuya, Toshiteru Tada, Katsuo Takeda,
    Ayako Uchiyama, Setsuji Uematsu, Chieko Yamamoto
    Koji Sato, Reona Ito
    Member's News

    Mr. Reona Ito, music director of JAA Chorus will give a lecture on the history of music from the late Edo period to the Meiji period in Japan using the songs from that era with JAA Chorus on Friday, February 19 at 7:30pm at Church for All Nations, 417 West 57th St. (9th & 10th Ave.,).

    Ms. Katsuko Suzuki published her English book ﾒ the Fishmongerﾕs Daughter-the True Story of a Woman with a passion to succeedﾓ. She donated three of her books to the JAA library. Thank you!
    JAA Committee on Aging Issues

    The 35th Committee Meeting (the first meeting was April 14, 2005) was held on Feb. 10 at JAA Hall and the following plans for 2010 were discussed;
    1.Support the U.S. Census in March
    2.The 2nd Sakura Health Fair in Spring
    The 4th Senior Week in September
    3.Community Education and Support for the families and friends of Dementia ( Alzheimer's disease)
    4. Information regarding Home care and workshops for those who need such services.
    CENSUS 2010

    JAA will apply a grant from the Asian American Federation to support Census 2010. The short questionnaire is coming in March to every residence. This is SAFE. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share your answers with anyone, including federal, state and local agents. It is very important for new hospitals, schools, better transportation, and social services. JAA will provide space for Be Counted sites and Questionnaire Assistance Centers. Please support the Census by informing your friends and relatives.
    Vol.50
    Mr. Haruo Ito


    Mr. Haruo Ito will celebrate becoming 98 years old on April 15, 2010. He was born the second son of Jihyoe and Kume Ito on April 15th 1912 in Seattle, U.S.A
    He was raised by his grand parents in Ichinomita City, Aichi prefecture until high school when his father asked him to return to the U.S. because he worried about the safety of Japan after the Manchurian Incident occurred. During WW ・he entered Manzanar Internment Camp in Los Angeles.
    After two years in the Camp, he moved to New York at age 32. He worked very hard with his younger brother, Mitsuo at restaurants in New York. He made enough money to open his own coffee shop "Tokyo Coffee" near Times Square in NYC. He and his newly wedded wife, Meiko worked hard at this small 10 seat shop where hamburgers & hotdogs were very popular and packed with people all the time. They moved the shop to lower Manhattan and when the World Trade Center took thesite, they moved again to the Wall Street area.
    He retired at 65 years of age. Haruo and Mieko (Marry) then enjoyed traveling and visited many foreign countries. His health is fine despite an operation for Stomach Cancer 10 years ago. After he lost his wife 4 years ago, his joy now is talking with people at the JAA Keirokai. He is living with his daughter Riki.