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New Year’s Greetings It gives me great pleasure to extend my New Year greetings as the newly elected President of JAA. Since I was last President in 2005 – 2007, much has happened, the most impactful being the Great East Japan Earthquake of 3/11. JAA has raised over $1.4 million since 3/11 and continues to raise and give funds to organizations that nurture special projects or programs in the Tohoku area. In 2013, members of JAA visited affected areas of Tohoku on multiple occasions and met with some of the organizations to whom we donated funds. Our focus has been on projects and organizations which are sustainable into the future and with whom JAA can maintain a long term relationship. On the US side, JAA worked with other groups such as the Lions Club and the Hoshuko Alumni Association to help clean up areas of Staten Island that were still in great need of repair after Hurricane Sandy. When we see video footage of what happened in the Philippines recently, we are reminded all over again about the fragility of human life and the unpredictableness of the forces of nature. Providing hope for the future is an important role for JAA to play for those in our community who are most vulnerable – the elderly. When I was last President of JAA, the Committee on Aging Issues was established together with the Consulate General of Japan. It was started as a collaborative group of various individuals and organizations whose purpose was to share information and educate each other and the public about issues facing our senior population. Over the last seven years, the activities of this committee has grown significantly. We have a website that is viewed around the world, Senior Week in the fall was so successful that it launched Sakura Health Week in the spring. "Week" is actually a misnomer because the event actually goes on for over two weeks with over 1,500 people attending workshops, demonstrations and lectures on all aspects of leading healthy, productive and positive lives in the New York area. During the last census it was reported that there is a high number of young children of Japanese heritage living in the borough of Manhattan as well as a high percentage of single elderly women. Wouldn’t it be nice to put these two groups together as surrogate grandmothers and grandchildren? In 2014 we look forward to collaborating with other organizations to hold exhibits, panel discussions, screenings and other joint events for educational and intellectual exchange. Please join us on February 5 for the opening reception of our first exhibit of the year – “If They Came for Me Today.” And last but not least, we look forward to developing the next generation of young leaders in our community. Our Scholarship program has grown over the years and we are currently accepting applications for the Honjo Scholarship for graduate students. I thank you for your support and look forward to working with all of you in 2014! Together let’s make a difference. Together let’s make a difference. |
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| Exhibition of Japanese American Internment Project, If they came for me today, east coast stories, Seven Japanese Americans’ Stories have been shown at JAA Hall. |
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| They are Tomie Arai( Sansei, born New York), Natsu Ifill (Nisei, born in Concord California), Akemi Kochiyama (Yonsei, born in New York), Setsuko "Suki" Terada Ports (Nisei/Sansei, born in New York), Tadashi "Tad" Tsufura (Nisei, born in Los Angeles), Masako "Koho" Yamamoto (Nisei, born in Alviso, California) and Theodora "Teddy" Emiko Morita Yoshikami (Nisei/Sansei, born in Tule Lake, CA, one of the concentration camps) . On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066. This set into motion the removal of over 110,000 people Japanese ancestry, over 60,000 being American citizens, who lived primarily in coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington and part of Arizona. This was the first displacement (excluding Native Americans) in US history of Americans taken from their homes. JAA had lovely a reception on February 5, 2014 in JAA Hall with Ambassador Sumio Kusaka, Manhattan Borough President Ms. Gale Brewer and many guests. It was wonderful to have Akemi Kochiyama, Suki Terada Ports, Tad Tsufura, Koho Yamamoto and Teddy Yoshikami share their experiences. This exhibition will be shown through March 7. Please come to see these stories and read about the background of American’s concentration camps by those witnesses to Japanese Americans history in the U.S.A. |
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| Japan Disaster Relief – 1000 portraits of Hope Fund
Artist Naoto Nakagawa has drawn many portraits for this fund which raised $7,060.00 in 2013. We sent 300,000 yen to Badminton Team of Tomioka Daiichi Junior High School in Inawashiro (their temporary base) in Fukushima and Iwate Mirai Kiko in Morioka, Iwate. We are grateful for his effort to raise funds for Japan Disaster Relief.
Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Fund JAA will close the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief fund after donating $3,000.00 to New York Cares in Feb. Many thanks to our donors and volunteers who worked to help restore homes at the disaster site. We raised $36,156.00 which we sent to New York Cares and to Asian Americans for Equality. Relief Fund for Typhoon HAIYAN/YOLANDA JAA raised $5,235.00 as of 1/31/2014. We are accepting your donations until the end of February. |
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2014 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 9 at the Nippon Club with more than 250 people in attendance. Greetings were given by Ambassador Kusaka, Mr. Kawai of JCCI, Mr. Sugiura of Nippon Club and our President Onuma. |
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The 23rd Nippon Club’s New Year Party for Seniors This 23rd annual event “New Year Party for Seniors” was hosted by the Nippon Club in the Rose Room on January 23. The tables were beautifully spread with traditional New Year’s delicacies for the 80 senior guests. First, Mr. Motohiko Satoh, Executive Secretary gave New Year greetings to all in attendance. Guests enjoyed the performance of the Nippon Club Women’s Chorus and Jazz Concert by Kuni Mikami, Piano with Aki Saijo, singer who sang American and Japanese popular songs. JAA President Ms. Susan Onuma gave a thank you speech and presented a flower basket to Mr. Satoh. 30 packaged lunches were delivered to those seniors of JAA and JASSI who were unable to attend. |
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| JAA Annual General Meeting And Konshinkai | |||||
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We had our Annual General Meeting and Konshinkai with 45 members on January 23, 2014 at the JAA Hall. At this general meeting, the financial report was followed by the introduction of the Honorary Officers and Committee Chairpersons. All were approved. We also introduced our JAA officers for 2014. A big note of appreciation for delicious dinner boxes made by Chef Takayoshi Kato and Mr. Zenichi Yamaki. 2014 Honorary Officers, Officers, Directors and Chairpersons Honorary Advisor：Ambassador Sumio Kusaka – Consulate General of Japan in New York Officers President: Susan J. Onuma Directors Yuzuru Anzai, M.D., Yoshikatsu Aoyagi, Julie Azuma, Michiko Ito Crampe, Ken Egawa, Committee Chairs Standing Committees Special Committees |
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| 2014 Honjo Scholarship Awards for full-time students (except in the medical, music, or art field) who will be attending graduate schools in the greater New York area in the academic year 2014-2015 are invited to apply. Candidates don’t have to be JAA members. Dead-line is by noon of Monday, February 24, 2014. www.jaany.org/honjo_scholarship.html |
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| Obama Care
5th seminar and individual consultation led by navigator Ms. Minja Hong (KCS Public Health and Research Center) and Ms. Emi Kikuchi (Japanese interpreter) will be held on February 8, 2014 at JAA Hall and individual consultation will be held on February 8 again. March 31, 2014 is the dead line for 2014. For 2015, it will start from November 15 to January 15, 2015. You can find out your insurance information at Market Place as; |
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| Renewal of Membership for 2014
JAA membership renewal forms have been sent to you in January. We are organizing information of our members for emergency purposes and to upgrade our services. Kindly complete the renewal form if you have any changes, otherwise, please just return the form back with your membership fee. Members’ information will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to outsiders except in an emergency. We have been sending JAA News and information updates via email. It’s much quicker and less costly than regular mail. If you would like to receive your newsletter and other information by e-mail, please send your request to info@jaany.org. Don’t forget to include your full name when you email us. |
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| JAA Social Service Committee
February Kerokai on Feb. 13 at 12pm – Menu is "Chicken over Rice" "Potato Salad" "Clear Soup" and "Ice Cream". Ms. Mary Dob will speak on the Carter Burden Center for the aging, 1484 1st Ave. (East 77th St.) If you live in that area, please check out their programs. Hinamatsuri Keirokai on Feb. 27 12pm – "Eel over Rice Clear Soup" and "Milk Jelly" are on menu. 3/13 & 3/27 will be our Keiro Kai in March. |
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| Obituary
JAA member, Ms. Tazuko Hosaka passed away on December 14, 2013 at the age of 88. JAA member Ms. Mitsue Yakushiji passed away on December 27, 2013 at the age of 74. She was a JAA member since 1980 and was an active JAA volunteer in the 1980’s. We extend our condolences to their families. |
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| 2014 JAA Activities
Regular scheduled events & programs Schedule in 2014 Feb. 5 (Wed.)-March 7 (Fri.): Exhibition of Japanese American Internment Project, If They Came for Me Today East Coast Stories" Opening Reception on Feb. 5, 5pm-7pm *2014 Major fundraising event of Gala Dinner has not been scheduled yet. |
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Donation All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. Report from Membership Committee as 2/7/14 |
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We would like to share a Letter from Mr. Kenneth Nakazawa who was an awardee of the JAA- Cook Pine Capital Scholarship in 2010. It is inspiring to hear from our past awardees. Dear Ms. Yumi Kuwana and Cook Pine Capital, My name is Kenneth Nakazawa, and four years ago I was very fortunate to have received the Cook Pine Capital Scholarship via the Japanese American Association of NY. I am very sorry that I have not kept in touch throughout undergraduate years. I am currently about to start my last semester at Columbia University, majoring in applied mathematics (3.85 GPA). However during my sophomore year, I was actually accepted to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as part of a special early assurance program called SciMed (now called FlexMed). I have recently decided to matriculate this upcoming August 2014. I am very excited about pursing my medical studies. I currently conduct biomedical research at two laboratories, one at Columbia Medical campus with Dr. Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, and at Mount Sinai with Dr. James Iatridis. Aside from my studies at Columbia, I have been active with regards to the March 11th disaster that struck the Tohoku region. I am the current Vice President of Consortium for Japan Relief (CJR, http://nyjapan311.org), a united coalition that gathered together soon after the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. CJR is led by Dr. Shunichi Homma, Margaret Milliken Hatch Professor of Medicine and Associate Chief of Cardiology at Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Jeanette Takamura, Dean of the Columbia University School of Social Work, Kirsten Homma, Mailman School of Public Health student for the class of 2016, myself, and other student and faculty members in the NYC area. Last March, I organized and co-emceed a two-year commemorative symposium, titled "The Great East Japan Earthquake: Creative Responses and Social Imagination," which aimed to shed light on creative responses to Tohoku and stimulate critical dialogue for change across social, cultural, political, and economic boundaries. I thought it was very successful as we had over 300 registrants. For this year’s symposium, I am hoping that we highlight the ordinary lives of the current citizens of Fukushima, focusing on those who choose to stay despite worries about radiation and the struggling local economy. This past summer, I also had the great opportunity to travel Fukushima as part of the Nishimiya Fellows Program, a week-long program funded by the Japanese Medical Support Network (JAMSnet). I learned about disaster medicine, participating in seminars and training sessions and visiting community centers and areas most affected by the tsunami. It was such a great experience for me. I have actually shared a presentation I made on the Nishimiya Fellows website: Again, I would like to thank you and Cook Pine Capital for the scholarship I received four years ago at the JAANY dinner. The financial support has been such a big help. I have always remembered the goals I had written about in my application essay, that is, to be an active member in the Japanese-American community. If possible, I would like to continue to stay in touch with Cook Pine Capital. Thank you very much, |
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* New Vice President Shunichi Homma is Margaret Milliken Hatch Professor of Medicine, Associate Chief, Cardiology Division Director at Columbia University Medical Center, former President of Japanese Medical Society of America and President of Japanese Medical Support Network (JAMSNET).
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