New
Year’s Greetings
from JAA President Gary S. Moriwaki

As we approach our 105th anniversary, we note the passage of 2011
with sorrow, but also with a sense of hope. Our Executive Director,
Mrs. Michiyo Noda, and I were both in Tokyo on that terrible day,
March 11. We experienced firsthand the terror of the experience
but we also witnessed the tremendous dignity and perseverance
with which our Japanese family and friends responded to the triple
disasters of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdowns. In
keeping with JAA’s tradition of responding to tragedies such as
the 1995 Kobe earthquake, Hurricane Katrina, the Haiti earthquake
and the tsunami in Indonesia. we mobilized our resources and worked
closely with the rest of the Japanese and Japanese American community
to raise funds for Japanese disaster relief.

To date JAA has raised $1 million, with about 60% disbursed to
various NGOs working on the ground in the Tohoku region. Emissaries
from JAA have visited places such as Ishinomaki, Kessenuma, Minami
Sanriku, Sendai, and Soma shi to meet with NGOs working in the
disaster area and to observe the progress these organizations
have made. We were all so inspired by the level of commitment
and wisdom the volunteers and staff of the NGOs exhibited, especially
among the young. Reports of over 1 million volunteers traveling
to Tohoku to give their time, resources and moral support gave
us hope for the future of Japan. We observed a growing recognition
of the importance of coordination and cooperation among government
representatives, private business and the non profit sector in
Japan.

We witnessed so many examples of hope and accomplishment. During
one trip to Ishinomaki we were fortunate to meet the owner of
a sophisticated fish processing plant who, encouraged by the volunteers
of Peace Boat, was on the verge of re-opening his plant and putting
people back to work. We heard the story of "Can chan"
who led an effort to clean hundreds of thousands of cans of processed
fish, which were then available for sustenance to so many in need.
And yet, there is so much more work to be done. We also saw mountains
of debris 100′ high; we saw stores that, although cleaned up and
ready for business, had no customers. We saw destruction from
horizon to horizon. Our belief is that long term recovery is dependent
on economic recovery, and that will be one of our focuses in the
months and years to come. Going forward, we will work with other
organizations in the New York area to commemorate the first anniversary
of March 11 and will strive to keep the needs of the people of
Tohoku on everyone’s minds.

In the meantime, the work of JAA goes on. Our Sakura Matsuri at
Flushing Meadow Corona Park, Senior and Health Weeks drew in a
record number of participants. We continue our scholarship programs,
baseball and golf events, and our concentration on aging issues.
Our fundraiser at the SONY Club featuring Jake Shimabukuro was
sold out. We hope that you will continue to support our efforts
and look forward to deepening our relationships with our friends
and members. We wish you a safe and healthy 2012.



Gary S. Moriwaki (left) and Mr. Kaz Yamaguchi

Attendance watched the documentary DVD produced by "Peace
Boat"

JAA Annual General Meeting
&
Get Together Party

We had our Annual General Meeting & Get Together Party on
February 1, 2012. We started with the financial report followed
by the introduction of the Honorary Officers and Committee Chairpersons
who were all approved. We also introduced our JAA officers and
new directors for 2012. Nomination for a new director, Mr. James
Nolan was approved. Then Mr. Kaz Yamaguchi who was in the MIS
during World War II, was introduced. He received the Congressional
Gold Medal from President Obama as did all of the Nisei soldiers
from the 100tth Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team known
as "Go for Broke" and the MIS (Military Intelligence Service)
during World War II. Kaz generously donated his Medal and DVD
entitled, "Nissei solders of World War II Go for Broke" including
the medal ceremony to JAA’s President Mr. Moriwaki. Born in Long
Island City, he grew up in Ozone Park where his family owned the
large nursery with the tall red brick chimney with Japan Nursery
written on it and it could be seen for miles. Mr. Katsuo Takeda
was the M.C. for the Konshin-kai, "Get Together Party". After
dinner, which was prepared by Chef. Kato, we watched the documentary
DVD produced by "Peace Boat" to which JAA donated $125,00.00 for
their volunteer effort in the Tohoku disaster area. Dr. Ramani
reported on his impression of his visit to the disaster area in
Japan. He noted the importance of supporting the mental health
of the Japanese people in the damaged area. Each table was decorated
with a flower arrangement by Ms. Chizuko Korn. Our volunteers,
Ms. Keiko Nakano, Ms. Yoko Sasaki, Ms. Rie Shirakawa ( this trio
made such delicious Inari !) Mr. Kuni Mikami, Ms. Kyoko Hada,
Ms. Shizuko Kato, Ms. Terry Saito and Ms. Hiroko Shimizu helped
to make this party so successful.



2012 Honorary Officers, Officers,
Directors and Chairpersons

Honorary Officers
Honorary Advisor:Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki
Consulate General of Japan in New York
Honorary Members:Seiei Ono – President of Japanese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of New York
Takashi Kano – President of the Nippon Club
Life Trustees:Robert K. Emy, Jiro Murase, Seiichi Shimomura,

Advisor:Noboru Sato, Toshio Kiso
Honorary Director:Sadahei Kusumoto
Honorary President:Susan J. Onuma

Officers
President: Gary S. Moriwaki
Vice Presidents:
Julie Azuma, David Hiromura, Keiko Ishida, Makoto Iwahara, M.D., Yusuke Iwasaki,
Tsuneko Mitsunaka, Satoru Murase, Joe Oshima, Seiko Oshima, Suki Terada Ports, Koji Sato,
Katsuo Takeda
Secretary: Koji Sato
Assistant Secretary: David Hiromura
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.,
Koji Ichida, Saeko Ichinohe, Keiko Ishida, Mozart H. Ishizuka, Masaharu Isogai, Riki Ito,
Makoto Iwahara, M.D., Yusuke Iwasaki, Tsutomu Karino, Shuji Kato, Takayoshi Kato,
Toshio Kiso, Nobuko Kodama, Kenichi Komeno, Emiko Lindsay, Rev. Hoshu Matsubayashi,
Kuni Mikami, Tsuneko Mitsunaka, Gary S. Moriwaki, Jiro Murase, Satoru Murase,
Nobuko Cobi Narita, Michiyo Noda, James Nolan, Robert Norton, Shigetaka Ogihara,
Toru Okamoto, Hiroko Onoyama, Susan J. Onuma, Joe Oshima, Seiko Oshima, Suki Terada Ports,
Kamal Ramani, M.D., 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, Robert Yanagisawa M.D.

*New Director Mr. James Nolan: he has been a member of
JAA for over 20 years and has offered free Legal consultations
on Immigration law at JAA for over 15 years and helped many people
in our community. Born and raised in Chicago, he enjoyed living
in Japan for two years as a businessman for the Nikko Security
Company Co., Ltd. and has lived in New York City for more than
25 years with his wife and two bi-lingual children who are attending
NYC public high schools. In 2011 Mr. Nolan and his wife Yumiko
created Japan U.S. Creative, www.japanuscreatives.com , an on-line
community where people interested in Japan & America can find
one another and exchange information about what they are doing.

*Long time director Mr. Shigeaki Nakanishi resigned the
JAA’s board of directors

Committee Chairs:
Standing Committees
Planning & Finance: Tetsuya Fujita, David Hiromura, Susan J. Onuma
Membership-Corporate: Satoru Murase, Susan J. Onuma
Membership -Youth: Robert Norton, Kamal Ramani
JAA News: Koji Sato, Michiyo Noda
Archives: Julie Azuma, Michiyo Noda
Social Service: Seiko Oshima, Aileen Yamaguchi
Scholarship: Makoto Iwahara
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: Masuo Ichida, Adam Moriwaki
Advisor: Seiko Oshima
Art Exhibition: Yoko Sasaki
Sports & Baseball Tournament: Shuji Kato
Memorial Day Service: Katsuo Takeda
Japanese Language: Nobuko Kodama
Charity Golf: David Hirohama, Michi Tahara
Bazaar/Flea Market: JAA Office
Sakura Matsuri at Flushing Meadow Corona Park:
Yusuke Iwasaki, Suki Terada Ports, Katsuo Takeda
Committee on Aging Issues: Susan Onuma
Business Women’s Committee: Keiko Ishida
Apple Kids: Hiroyuki Takenaga


2012 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 250 people in attendance. Greetings were given by Ambassador
Hiroki, Mr. Ono of JCCI, Mr. Kano of Nippon Club and our President
Moriwaki who also led the Kanpai.


The
21st Nippon Club’s New Year Party for Senior


Mr. Ito (left) and Mr. Karino

Mr. Moriwaki(left)

This 21st annual event "New Year Party for Seniors" was
again offered by the Nippon Club in the Rose Room on January 26.
The tables were beautifully spread with traditional New Year’s
delicacies for the 75 senior guests. All in attendance enjoyed
the performance of the Nippon Club Women’s Chorus (led by Ms.
Yoko Ojima) and Ukulele comedian Mr. Tsuyoshi Minamoto. Finally,
JAA President Mr. Moriwaki gave a thank you speech and presented
a flower basket to Mr. Tsutomu Karino, Executive Vice President
of the Nippon Club.30 packaged lunches were delivered to those
seniors of JAA and JASSI who were unable to attend.


JAA
Disaster Relief Fund continues

We received donations to JAA Japan Disaster Relief Fund from funds
raised by the NY Rakugo Kai’s performances of the Japanese Lion
Dance and Samisen music at the Port Authority Terminal, NYC. on
9/24, contributions from the JAA Art Exhibition and from the Miyagi
Kenjinkai which donated $3,014.53 ( it’s their 3rd donation!).
JAA sent their donation to the Miyagi Prefecture Government in
January.


2012
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 have monthly events.

Free Consultation
JAA provides free consultations by professionals for all the people
in the community.
* Free Consultation on Medical and Social welfare
By Dr. Kinichi Shibutani and Ms. Aileen Yamaguchi
on the days of Keirokai
* Free Legal Consultation on Wills and other topics
by Helen Irie, Esq. and Reiko Takikawa, Esq.
on 2nd Thursday on Odd Months
*Free Legal Consultation (excluding Immigration law)
by Reiko Kasano, Esq.
2nd Thursday on Even months
* Free Legal Consultation on Immigration Law
by James Nolan Law Office, James Nolan, Esq.
3rd Thursday of every month
* Free Consultation on Tax
by Joe Oshima, CPA on Jan.26, Feb. 9 & 23

JAA Activities in 2012
Mar. 31 (Sat.) Japanese Language Workshop
Apr. 7 (Sat.) Spring Flea Market
Apr. 21 (Sat.) The 8th Sakura Matsuri @ Flushing Meadows
Corona Park
Apr.14 (Fri.) to April 22nd The 4th Sakura Health Fare
Apr. to August on Sunday mornings
The 27th JAA Foreign Minister’s Cup Baseball Tournament
May 3 (Thurs.) to 12 (Sat.) 17th Art Exhibition
May 13 (Sun.) Japan Day @ Central Park.
JAA will have Calligraphy booth
May28 (Mon.) Memorial Day Services
@Japanese Cemeteries at Mt Olivet Cemetery
May 31 (Thurs.) The 42nd Scholarship Dinner
Aug. 4 (Sat.) Mini Flea Market
Sept. 13 to Sept. 23rd
The 6th Senior Week & Heath Week
Sep. 17 (Mon.) The 19th Charity Golf Tournament
Oct. 20 & 21 Japanese Language Fall Workshop
Nov. 3 (Sat.) Annual Bazaar
Nov. 15 (Thurs.) Thanksgiving Day Keirokai
Dec. 7 (Fri.) the 55th Year End Dinner
Dec. 13 (Thurs.) End of the Year Keirokai
Dec. 19 (Wed.) Volunteers Thank you reception
2012 Major fundraising events have not been scheduled yet.


JAA
Social Service Committee

Toshikoshi Soba Luncheon Mr. Shuho Yagi, president of T.I.C
group invited 30 JAA Seniors to his restaurant “Sakagura” in NYC
for Toshikoshi Soba on December 28, 2011.

February Kerokai on Feb. 9 at 12pm Menu was "Chicken
over Rice" "Potato Salad""Clear Soup"
and "Ice Cream". K. Iwaki & K. Ichida provided musical
entertainment.
Hinamatsuri Keirokai on Feb. 23 12pm "Eel over Rice"
"Clear Soup" and "Milk Jello" are on menu.

3/8 & 3/22 will be our Keiro Kai in March.
Please make reservations to attend a luncheon/ or consultations
and lunch deliveries.


The
History of the Cherry Trees
in Flushing Meadow Corona Park

The 21st Century New York Cherry Blossom Project began on Arbor
Day, April 24, 1992 at City Hall Park, when cherry tree seeds
were presented by Shigeru Inagaki, then President of JAA, to New
York City. The Yamazakura and Somei-Yoshino cherry tree seeds
were donated by the Cherry Association of Japan.
On April 3rd, 2001, 168 cherry trees, nursed from those seeds
in the greenhouses of Van Cortland Park were presented to the
City of New York. The first Sakura Matsuri was celebrated on April
12, 2003, and this has become an annual event. As the cherry trees
flourish, they will be an everlasting symbol of friendship and
harmony between Japan and the United States.


2012
Honjo Scholarship Award

Guidelines and Application forms for the Honjo Scholarship Award
are presently available. The Scholarships will be awarded for
full-time students (except in the medical, music, or art field)
who will be attending graduate schools in USA. Candidates donユt
have to be JAA members. Not limited to students of Japanese ancestry.
See our web site www.jaany.org Dead line is March 1, 2012.


Donations

Thank you very
much for your support of JAA !

Thanks to Corporate Supporters
Ajinomoto USA, Inc. / All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
American Airlines / Bingham McCutchen Murase
Brother International Corp. / Canon U.S.A.
Cook Pine LLP / Eisai USA Foundation
Fujsankei Communications Int’l / IACE Travel
Japan Foundation of New York / ITO EN (North America) Inc.
Japan Airlines / JCCI Fund of Japanese Chamber of Commerce and
Industry of NY, Inc.
JFC International, Inc. / Kajima Foundation
Kawasaki Heavy Industries / Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America, Inc.

Mitsui USA Foundation / Mitsui & Co., (U.S.A.), Inc.
NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc. / NRS Logistics Inc.
Orient Corp. of America / Pasona NA, Inc.
Sojitz Corp. of America / Sony Corp. of America,
Sumitomo Corp. of America / Sunrise Mart
Tey Enterprises, Inc. / The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.

T.I.C. Group Tokio Marine Management / Toshiba America Inc.
Toyota Motor North America / Wine of Japan Import, Inc.

Report from Membership Committee as 2/6/12
Platinum ($2,000):

Jiro Murase
Satoru Murase
Gold ($1,000):
Robert K. Emy / Chieko Inagaki / Toshio Kiso
Gary S. Moriwaki/ Hiroko Onoyama/ Joe Oshima
Noboru Sato
Silver ($500):
Julie Azuma / Yuzuru Anzai / Kumiko Hasegawa
Hitoe Hayashida / David Hiromura / Keiko Ishida
Makoto Iwahara / Tsuneko Mitsunaka / Motoatsu Sakurai
Hiromi Shinya / Chris Tsutsui
Supporting ($300):
Tomoo Abe / Roy Ashikari / Michiko Ito Crampe
Ken Egawa / Junko Emy / Tetsuya Fujita,
Tomoko T. Hanway / Keiichiro Hayashi / Mozart H. Ishizuka
Masaharu Isogai / Riki Ito / Yusuke Iwasaki
Tsutomu Karino / Keiko Kato / Takayoshi Kato
Tokuo Kawamoto / Teresa Kiso / Yuichiro Kuwama
Alyce K. Matsumoto / Kuni Mikami / Tatsuji Namba
Masaki Noda / Michiyo Noda / Shigetaka Ogihara
Toru Okamoto / Fusako Ota / Yoko Sasaki
Koji Sato / Tamiko Sato / Yoshiko Schlit
Kinichi Shibutani / Toshiteru Tada / Michi Tahara
Raymond Taylor / Ayako Uchiyama / Setsuji Uematsu
Robert T. Yanagisawa / Seiko Oshima and anonymous

Thank you very much!

Member’s News

JAA Honorary President, Susan J Onuma will be in Japan to visit
several disaster affected cities this March as a member of ten
Japanese American delegation and will be a panelist at a symposium.


Renewal Form
for the Members

JAA appreciates the continual support from our members. If you
didnユt receive our renewal form by now, please contact JAA office.
Names of Supporting members are at page #5

Obituary
Dr. Seiko Shimizu Chamberlin passed away on April 20th at the
age of 88. She has worked as a pediatrician for more than 30 years
in the New York area.

FRANCIS YOSHITO SOGI
June 9, 1923-November 3, 2011

International Lawyer, Leader in the Japanese American Community
and Philanthropist.
Susan Onuma and Koji Sato attended the memorial service of former
JAA President, Francis Y. Sogi held at the Japanese Cultural Center
in Honolulu, Hawaii on December 11, 2011.
Born to Japanese immigrants in Kona, Hawaii, Francis Y. Sogi rose
to prominence as an attorney licensed to practice both in New
York and Japan. He served with the Military Intelligence Service
(MIS) of the United States Army and subsequently went to Japan
with MacArthur’s occupation forces from 1946-1947. Upon his separation
from service, he used the GI Bill to attend and graduate from
the University of Hawaii (B.S.) in 1949 and Fordham Law School
(J.D.) in 1952. On June 17, 1949, shortly after his arrival in
New York City, he married his high school classmate from Kealakekua,
Sarah Mukaida.
In the years after World War II he represented many of the Fortune
500 companies in Japan and Japanese companies in the United States
and throughout the world. Starting with Hill Betts & Nash,
he was also a partner of his own firm, Miller Montgomery Sogi
& Brady and spent the latter half of his career as a partner
with the law firm Kelley Drye and Warren, LLP where he had served
on the Executive Committee. His work took him on global travels
and he loved to say he had been around the world on business seven
times.
In 1989, Mr. Sogi was invited to the enthronement of Emperor Akihito
of Japan. Emperor Akihito later awarded Mr. Sogi the Order of
the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his contribution
to improving the relationship of Japan and the United States in
the postwar era. In 1998, President Clinton invited the Sogis
to attend the formal State Dinner in honor of Prime Minister Obuchi’s
visit to Washington.
In 2004, Mr. Sogi published his memoirs, "Riding The Kona
Wind".
He was a generous philanthropist and an active member of the Japanese
and Asian American community. In addition to JAA (where he served
on the board and as President), Mr. Sogi contributed to many organizations
and was one of the founding board members of the Asian American
Federation of New York and trustee of the Japanese American National
Museum in Los Angeles. He was also a Commissioner of the Japan
– U.S. Friendship Commission, President of the Pan American Nikkei
Association and served on the school board and was President of
the Pocantico Hills Elementary School District.
Mr. Sogi is survived by his wife of 62 years, Sarah Makiko Sogi;
son, Jun James Sogi and his wife Sarah Smith; grandchildren Kimberly
Makiko Sogi and Kenneth Tadashi Sogi and brother, Harold Isamu
Sogi.