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Annual JAA Scholarship Dinner of 45th Scholarship Awards and 9th Honjo Scholarship Awards All photos by Masao Katagami |
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The 45th JAA Scholarship Awards Dinner was held at the Harvard Club on May 28th, 2015. Consul General and Madame Reiichiro Takahashi; Mr. and Mrs. Motomu Takahashi, President and CEO of Mitsui Co. (U.S.A.); Mr. Yosuke Honjo, President and CEO of ITO EN (North America); and Mr. Motohiro Satoh, Vice President of JCCI headed the guest list of 130 donors, awardees, their families and JAA members. A total of $56,000 was given to thirteen high school recipients along with three round trip air tickets by ANA and Delta Air Lines. Five graduate school students received a total of $30,000 from the Honjo International Foundation. Dr. Makoto Iwahara, co-chair of the Scholarship Committee, greeted the guests as MC. He was followed by remarks from JAA President, Ms. Susan J. Onuma, and a thoughtful greeting by Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi, the Consul General of Japan in New York. Ms. Takara Satone, recipient of the Murase Family Scholarship, and Ms. Stephanie C. Kato, recipient of the Honjo Foundation Award, gave gracious acceptance speeches on behalf of their respective groups. Ms. Kato spoke of her experience as a volunteer at JAA over the past year. She recounted coming across a copy of the memoirs of the original founder, Dr. Toyohiko Takami, stating how Dr. Takami’s altruistic nature and concern for the welfare of the Japanese community deeply impressed upon her the importance of giving back. To conclude the ceremony, Mr. Gary S. Moriwaki thanked the donors and guests. 2015 Annual JAA Scholarship Dinner Benefactors The scholarship committee consisted of co-chairs Makoto Iwahara and Gary S. Moriwaki, with committee members Yuzuru Anzai, Yuki Kaneshige, Frederick Katayama, Satoru Murase, Susan J. Onuma, Joe Oshima, Nozomi Terao, Koji Sato, and Katsuo Takeda.
②Delta Air Lines Scholarship ③Mitsui USA Foundation Scholarship ($5,000) ④Mitsui USA Foundation Scholarship ($5,000) ⑤Mitsui USA Foundation Scholarship ($5,000) ⑥Dr. Soji Tomikawa Scholarship ($5,000) ⑦Dr. Soji Tomikawa Scholarship ($5,000) ⑧Orient Corp. of America Scholarship ($3,500) ⑨Toyota Motor North America Scholarship ($3,000) ⑩TV Japan Scholarship ($3,000) ⑪Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya Scholarship ($3,000) ⑫Hartman-Sakazume Scholarship ($3,000) ⑬ANA Japan Travel Scholarship 9th JAA Honjo Scholarships Awardees (for graduate students) ・Carolina A. van der Mensbrugghe ($7,500) ・Stephanie Chiaki Kato ($5,000) ・Joshua Evan Schlachet ($5,000) ・Allen Koji Ukai ($5,000)
JAA Scholarship Dinner
Keynote Speaker Kaoriko Kuge Journalist and Senior Anchor at Fujisankei Communications International (FCI) Ms. Kuge is a broadcast journalist in New York City. She works as a reporter and anchor for Fuji Television’s subsidiary, Fujisankei Communications International NY. She reports for Fuji’s program in Japan and anchors a daily news show that caters to Japanese living abroad. Kaoriko began her career as a simultaneous interpreter for Simul International. She then switched professions and had a brief career as an actress! For two years, she starred in a long-running NHK drama called "Chugakusei Nikki (Diary of a Junior High School Student)". She decided to change careers again, this time pursuing a career in journalism. She anchored news programs at NHK BS7. Following that, she co-anchored the Sunday morning political show on Fuji Television, "Hodou 2001". Kaoriko has produced three documentaries on the history of Japanese Americans that aired in Japan and the United States. The first documentary she made was about a politician in the state of Colorado named Ralph Carr who supported Japanese- Americans during WWII. She followed that up with biographies on two of the highest ranking Japanese-American politicians on Capitol Hill, former U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta and the Senate President Pro Tempore, Senator Daniel Inouye. Born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, Kaoriko moved to New York in 1998. She and her husband, live in Manhattan with their son. |
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New JAA Honorary members
Mr. Yasuyuki Sugiura was named new JAA honorary member after becoming president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New York on April 22, 2015. |
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SAVE THE DATES!
On August 1, Summer Flea Market at JAA Hall |
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The 7th Sakura Health Fair
The 7th Sakura Health Fair at JAA was Co-Sponsored by JAA Committee on Aging Issues and JAMSNET and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in New York. This event was held at JAA Hall from April 8 to April 27 with more than over 50 program sessions covering a variety of topics from Yoga, Flower arrangements, Safety Measures in New York by NYC Police Department and Consulate General, Child Education and Senior Living. It was for all ages with more than 1800 participants. It was deemed a huge success by those who attended. Many thanks to all the volunteers and speakers who provided informative and expert advice.
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11th JAA Sakura Matsuri
JAA members and friends enjoyed our 11th Sakura Matsuri held at Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday, April 18th, a gorgeous day with beautiful cherry blossoms. Guests included Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi, Consul-General of Japan in NY, and Ms. Janice Melnick, Administrator for Flushing Meadows Corona Park. More than 500 people attended, including JAA President Susan J. Onuma and Mrs. Chieko Inagaki, widow of former JAA President Mr. Shigeru Inagaki. The Program started with Soh Daiko, performing traditional Japanese Taiko, the JAA Chorus led by Ms. Mari Takagi, Okinawa Dance and Sanshin Uta by Ms. Junko Fisher, along with Folk Dances by the Japanese Folk Dance Institute. A tea ceremony was held on the lawn. A tree was planted in appreciation of the Inagaki family’s continuing and generous support for Sakura Matsuri since 2001. We greatly appreciated donations of $5,850.00 from Mrs. Chieko Inagaki, $1,000 from Ms. Hiroko Onoyama, as well as teas from ITO EN (North America). The Sakura Committee Co-Chairs were Susan Hamaker, Hiroko Onoyama and Suki Terada Ports, and the volunteers were Masao Katagami, Jasmine Wilson, Yuki Kaneshige, Kaori Eda, Shuji Kato and Michiyo Noda. The Parks Department staff, led by Mr. Danny Miller, Director of Special Events, once again worked very hard to set up the tents and ensured a seamless program |
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Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists in New York 2015
The 20th annual Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese American Artists in New York was held from May 7 to May 15. Thirty-nine artists (including four new artists and two deceased artists) displayed their 69 works at the new JAA Hall. JAA greatly appreciated those who bought art, as a portion of the proceeds were donated to JAA. Thank you to Mr. Shigeru Aoki, Ms. Yumiko Morimoto, Mr. Katsuo Takeda, Ms. Reiko Osumi and Mrs. Yoko Sasaki. Art Show Co-chairs: George Hirose and Yoko Sasaki. Members: Eiko Aono, Chizuko Korn and Shizuko Kato |
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Memorial Day Ceremony Memorial Day Services (Bosankai) were held on May 25, 2015 at the Japanese Cemetery at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Queens. The event, sponsored by JAA, with the support of the New York Buddhist Church and the Japanese American United Church (JAUC), was conducted by Mr. Katsuo Takeda, Vice President of JAA. The ceremony began with Pastor Kaz Takahashi from the JAUC, who performed music, and Rev. Earl Ikeda from the Buddhist Church, who read from the Sutra. Participants offered incense and flowers to the pioneers who had contributed so much to the Japanese and Japanese American Community. Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashi expressed his appreciation to the Japanese pioneers who had promoted good relations between the U.S. and Japan. Ms. Fukuko Fujimoto, Principal of the Greenwich Japanese School of NY spoke of attending this memorial services for the past 37 years, and Mr. Toru Okamoto, Principal of the Japanese Children’s Society, gave a heartfelt speech. They both spoke of their hope that students from their respective schools will become leaders for a peaceful future. Mr. Nobuo Miki, president of Japanese American Lions Club, spoke of having appreciation and respect for Japanese immigrants aspiring to be good American citizens. MIS member Mr. Kaz Yamaguchi and Vietnam veteran Mr. Stanley Kanzaki were among the 150 people in attendance. We thank the staff of Japanese Children’s Society and members of Japanese Lions Club for their cleanup of the cemetery on the days before and after the event. Wreaths were offered by the Consulate General of Japan in New York, Nippon Club, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New York, Japanese Lions Club, Japanese Medical Society of America, JAA, JACL, and the New York Buddhist Church. |
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The 30th JAA Foreign Minister’s Baseball Tournament
The tournament began on April 26, 2015 with 18 teams at Randall’s Island North field and Central Park North Meadow. The six weeks of preliminaries have been very competitive. "A" block includes the teams Jokers and Radiator, "B" Block consists of the teams OREGA, Bees and Hamakko. Please visit www.jaabaseball.blogspot.com for the most recent scores. Team Matsui, one of Nippon Club Baseball teams, consists of members of JAA baseball. We are very excited to see who will be the champion of this year’s JAA baseball tournament and the Nippon Club baseball tournament. |
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9th Annual Japan Day @ Central Park
On Sunday, May 10, 2015 more than 55,000 people gathered at the Band Shell area in Central Park. Volunteers from the JAA calligraphy class demonstrated their beautiful and skillful brush work to more than 2,000 New Yorkers. The booth was so popular that they ran out of ink and paper! Our volunteers were Yumiko Abe, Masako Gibeault, Yuri Ishizuka, Atsuko Imaizumi, Ayako Ishizuka, Terue Saito, Namie Suzuki, Chizuko Yamaguchi, Shuji Kato, Michiyo Noda, the calligraphy class, staff members from JETRO New York, and students from Stuyvesant HS. |
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Thank you to Takara Belmont USA JAA has offered free haircuts for seniors every month since 2002, when the first hair stylist, Ms. Michi Tahara, started volunteering. Now, four hairstylists volunteer their services to more than 20 seniors each month. |
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Congratulations!
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Social Service Committee
Keirokai-Luncheon for Seniors
May 14:
We held Keirokai on June 11 and 25.
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We need your assistance!
JAA needs 100 people to take part in a survey on Community Health Resources and Needs Assessment by NYU Center for the Study of Asian American Health. Please keep in mind: Please contact JAA office for survey sheets. Thank you for your participation! |
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OBITUARY
JAA member Miyano Tokita passed away at Bellevue Hospital on April 25, 2015 at the age of 79. Her Memorial service was held at United Church on May 24, 2015. Our condolences to her family. |
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Remarkable Contribution to Mr. Okamoto was born in 1949 in Takaoka City, Toyama. He loved to draw pictures since childhood. He enrolled at the Tokyo University of the Arts to study Japanese Painting and after graduating in 1973, he briefly worked as an elementary school teacher. Then he moved to Mexico to study Mexican Muralists at the National University of Mexico. He became an art teacher there and at the Iberoameriana University. In 1979, Toru met Mrs. Miyoko Niwa on a visit to New York. He then helped to establish "Yoiko no Gakuen." After the passing of Mrs. Niwa, Toru succeeded in running the business of the school. At the same time, the landlord asked the school to move from the premises. Amid the crisis of losing the school, the Tanaka Ikueikai educational organization based in Japan offered to finance funding a new school building in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. The school was re-established as the NY Ikuei Gakuen (the Japanese Children’s Society) in 1989. The school taught students from preschool to 6th Grade under Mr. Okamoto’s leadership. For 35 years, he generously kept up with the needs of the children in the Japanese Community. More than 3000 students graduated from his school. He plans to open the new nursery/ kindergarten "Tanpopo" on West 103rd Street in Manhattan this autumn. He has been a member of JAA since 1984 and has served on the Board of Directors since 1997. He lives in NJ with Rieko, his wife of 17 years, and their three children. |
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