Back To Top

Ms. Onuma, Mr. Moriwaki, Abbot of
Chan Meditation Center Guo Xing at Temple

JAA Japanese Disaster Relief
Fund

JAA has received donations from the following organizations and
individuals. $68,673.00 from the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist
Association (Founder, Master Sheng Yen graduated Risho University
in Japan), $4,500.00 from ANA NY Senior-Kai Charity Golf Tournament,
$3,333.00 from Korean American Community Foundation and more from
Birchland Park Middle School (MA), Liberty Montessori Intユl School,
NY METS Japan Heritage Night, Harrison High School Charity Jazz
Concert organized by Kayana Jean-Philippe and friends. JAA appreciates
those thoughtful gifts, thank you very much. Also, we received
a donation of $21,535.90 from NY Miyagiken Jinkai (president Mr.
Kenjiro Sasaki) on Aug. 16.
The JAA Committee on Japan Disaster Relief Fund held a meeting
on August 15 and has decided to fund the following NGOs working
in the Tohoku region:

(1)$125,000.00 -Japanese Organization for International Cooperation
in Family Planning (JOICFP) for the support of women, pregnant
women and babies residing in Tohoku region. www.joicfp.or.jp

(2)$125,000.00 to Peace Boat for support and relief of residents
of Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture www.peaccebaot.org

(3) $100,000.00 to NPO Jidai no Souzou Kobo for Civilian Relief
& Recovery Support Team "Shintakujuku in Tohoku"
to fund a series of weekend programs that provides character and
leadership education and aspirational hope for children and their
parents in the Tohoku region. www.jidai.or.jp

JAA has previously sent out $265,000 for support of Japan Disaster
Relief- Fukushima Rescue Fund $100,000, Miyagiken (NY Miyagikenjinkai)
$70,000, and the Red Cross (NBC Dine Out Japan Relief) $60,000.
In total, we will have sent out $615,000 from JAA Japan Disaster
Relief Fund.
We continue to perform our due diligence and are investigating
NGOs in the Tohoku region that focus on the needs of elderly as
well as mental health issues. Several JAA representatives including
our president Mr. Gary S. Moriwaki will visit Tohoku in September
and will report back to our members.


Dr.Takano & JAA members

On July 6th, Dr. Chiyoshi Takano from Koriyama city in Fukushima
visited JAA to receive a banner with the message "UNITY &
HOPE", which JAA members inscribed at recent Keirokai. Dr,
Takano had worked and volunteered for many critically injured
and depressed patients at Izumi Sonritsu Hospital and Kuwano Kyoritu
Hospital, both of which sheltered victims of the Earthquake and
Tsunami. She emphasized the need for the fund to rebuild damaged
hospitals. The Unity & Hope project was made possible by the
efforts of Ms. Pamela Sugihara and Ms. Aileen Yamaguchi.


The
5th Senior Week

It will be held from Sept.15 to Sept.25 at JAA . It is
co-sponsored by JAA Committee on Aging Issues (Ms. Susan J. Onuma,
chair) and JAMSNET (Dr. Shunichi Homma, President) and supported
by the Consulate General of Japan in New York.
Over 50 events for all ages are; consultation on Wills, Immigration,
Tax, Medicaid & Medicare, Social Security and Mental health,
lectures for healthy eating and happy retirement, Medicaid and
Home Care Services, dementia, massage and exercise and more. More
details can be seen at www.agingjaa.org
and www.jaany.org.

Please make your reservation at JAA.

Dr. Matsumoto’s Talk on Dementia
The lecture on "Dementia" will be held on Oct.15th .
Dr. Isho Matsumoto of the Matsumoto Clinic in Japan will visit
JAA to give this informative lecture.


The18th
JAA Charity Golf Tournament

Our Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, October
17th, 2011 at Knoll West Country Club, 990 Greenbank Road, Boonton,
NJ 07005.
Itinerary for the day will be: Registration at 11AM, Orientation
at 11:30AM and at 12.15PM -Play begins by "Shotgun"
Rules per the New Peoria System

Fee: $250 includes Green fee, Cart fee & Dinner. 
$100 will be Tax deductible
Maximum Participants: 100 entries

There will be many wonderful prizes. The Grand Prize is roundtrip
ANA Business Class tickets between NY-Tokyo. Other prizes include
a cash ($10,000) Hole-in-One prize on four holes. There is also
a sumptuous After-Play Buffet Dinner.
Please Join Our Popular Charity Golf Tournament and support this
most big fund raising event of JAA! The dead line for entry is
September 30th.


A
Special Night for Friends and Supporters of JAA

JAA will hold its 2nd Special Fund Raising Dinner on Nov. 16th
(Wed.) at Sony Club (550 Madison Ave. 35th Fl.NYC). Cocktails
start at 6PM and Dinner at 7PM. Entertainment: Jake Shimabukuro
– the world famous ukulele player. Fee: [Individual] $1,000 –
Supporter, Friend – $500 [Company] One table (10 people) $10,000
– Benefactor, $5,000 – Patron. Your great support for this event
will be highly appreciated!!


Mini Flea Market for Keiro
Kai

JAA has been struggling financially. In order to support the activities
of Kairo Kai, we held a Mini Flea Market on Aug. 6, from 10am
to 2pm at JAA Hall. Although we did not have many shoppers at
the opening, gradually our customers came in. The final gross
was $6,000. We really appreciate our donors, shoppers and volunteers.
Keirokai has been a very popular program at JAA. Our volunteers’
home made dishes, fresh beautiful flowers at each table, very
good music, useful lectures and free consultation on heaths, legal
matters, translations and other activities are really appreciated
by our seniors We should keep this rich and important program
for seniors.


JAA
Social Service

Keirokai in July

July 14: For the Tanabata Keirokai, the Hall was decorated
with Kaede tree branches brought by Ms. Rie Shirakawa with small
origami written with membersユ prayers and wishes. Curry Rice,
Mini Salad and Ice Cream was on the menu. After the lunch, a music
performance was given by the pianist, Mr. Maxim Anukushin, followed
by Senior exercises led by Mr. Kentaro Kikuchi. Our house band,
K. Iwaki Band played nice music. Attendants: 83 seniors, lunch
deliveries 25, volunteers 15.

July 28: Unagi Kabayaki : Baked Eel on Rice, Sesame string
beans and Tea Jelly were on the menu for this summer Keirokai.
After the lunch, Dr. Kinichi Shibuya gave a talk on メHeat Strokeモ.
A musical performance by Mr. Maxim Anukushin, was followed by
exercises led by Mr. Kikuchi. K. Iwaki Band provided musical entertainment.
Attendants: 105 seniors, 28 lunch deliveries, 18 volunteers.


26th
JAA Foreign Minister Cup
Baseball Games

Tournament of Championship Games to be held on July 21st was postponed
due to heavy rain. We hope to have nice weather on July 28th for
the championship games.
Our committee members are Mr. Shunji Kato (Honorary Chairman of
JAA Baseball), Mr. Shunsuke Takahashi and Mr. Keisei Chin.


JAA
Committee on Aging Issues

Lecture on Senior Facilities and system in Japan on July 6,
at JAA Hall.
Dr. Kazuomi Takigawa, Mr. K. Kusunose, and Mr.
Hirokazu Tarumi of Issei Fukushi Kai in Aichi gave a lecture on
"Medicaid for housing in Japan". Over 80 people came
to this event. After the lecture attendants enjoyed the lunch
donated by "Shabu Shabu 70" restaurant.



ANA New York Senior Kai

Japanese Press Groups

Donation

To JAA
Mitsui USA Foundation $12,000.00
Sojitz Corp. of America $1,000.00
Japanese Press Groups $1,000.00
ANA New York Senior Kai $9,000.00
New York Japanese-American Lions Club $500.00
Shigeyuki Hirakawa $500.00

Thank you very much!


Save the Date

September 15 (Thurs.) – 25 (Sun.) : the 5th Senior Week
October 15 (Sat.) : Lecture on "Dementia"
October 16 (Sun.) : Japanese Language Committee Workshop
October 17 (Mon.): The 18th JAA Charity Golf Tournament@
Knoll West County Club
November 5 (Sat.) : Annual Grand Bazaar
November 16 (Wed.) : JAA Special Night for Friends &
Supporters of JAA @ Sony Club
November 17 (Thurs.) : Thanksgiving Day Keiroaki
December 2(Fri.) : Annual Year End Dance Party
December 15(Thurs) : Year End Keiro-Kai


News
in the Community

  • Turkish Culture Center in Queens invited JAA members to their
    after Ramadan Dinner on Aug.29.

  • After 22 years of dedicated work as HIV/AIDS advocator and
    educational service organization, Family Health Project will
    close their door on Oct.1st.

  • New Go (a Japanese game ) club started at JAA.They meet every
    1st and 3rd Tuesday at 1:30PM.

  • The 52nd Convention of Nikkei and Japanese Abroad will be
    held in Tokyo from Oct.26th to 28th.This year’s title is “Let’s
    strengthen the Social Bonds with Japan!”. Please see www.jadesas.or.jp
    for more information or call JAA.

  • Information

  • For information regarding your Social Security, please visit
    www.socailsecurity.gov
    .

  • Senior Housing Available at Council Towers VI, 155-25 71st
    Avenue, Queens, New York, NY 11367
    Eligibility Requirements: One or two – person Household, one
    person must be at least 62 years old and income limits apply,
    more information and application at www.metcouncil.grg/housing,
    tel: 917-281-6810 more information is also available at JAA
    office.

  • Obituary

    Mr. Steve Shigeo WADA–Steve Shigeo, 93, passed away on
    July 5, 2011. Steve was last seen at JAA Keirokai on June 9th
    with his friend Mr. Ralph Iwamoto. Please read more about Mr.
    Wada on "The Face of JAA" in this issue. The memorial
    service was held at the Japanese United Church on July 31.

    Mr. Joe Harada, 77, passed away on July 31. He was a long
    time member of JAA and worked at Otagiri Company for 36 years.

    Mr. Tokuaki Fujita, 70, passed away on July 7. He was an
    owner of Mt. Fuji Restaurant in Hillburn, NY. He was a member
    of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics wrestling team. He came to the U.S.
    in 1965 influenced by Rocky Aoki to open Japanese Steak House
    in USA. He sponsored JAA keiroukai at his restaurant Mt. Fuji
    several times when Mr. Inagaki was JAA president. He was also
    a big supporter of the JAA Charity Golf Tournament.II


    Vol.67
    STEVE SHIGEO WADA (93)


    WADA Steve Shigeo, 93, passed away on July 5, 2011. Born
    on Oct. 3, 1917 in Loomis, California, Steve was raised in Hiroshima,
    Japan, and served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He studied
    art on the G.I. Bill of Rights, at the Chicago Art Institute,
    the Art Students League of New York, and the Atelier Fernand Leger
    in Paris. In addition to being recognized as one of the finest
    dental ceramists in the country, he was an artist in media including
    drawing, painting, calligraphy, graphic art, and photography,
    and showed his work in one-person and group shows. He was a member
    of the Art Students League of New York, Artists Equity of New
    York, Japanese Artists Association of New York, and the Sumi-E
    Society of America. Also, he had been one of the regular artists
    of JAA Art Exhibition of Japanese and Japanese Americans for 16
    years. He was beloved by his extended family and a wide circle
    of friends for his artistry, his warmth and cheerfulness, and
    his zest for living. He is survived by his wife, Takako, daughters
    Stephanie and Jennifer, and grandchildren Esther and Christopher,
    who love him and miss him very much. A gathering for family and
    friends was held with 100 of family members and friends on Saturday,
    July 30, at the Japanese American United Church, 255 Seventh Avenue.