Tohoku students at Dinosaur BBQ

JAA Japanese Disaster Relief
Fund

As reported earlier, Past President Susan Onuma, Mr. Kuwana
and President Gary Moriwaki recently visited Tohoku. While Sendai,
the largest city in Miyagi prefecture, is experiencing an economic
"bubble," the second largest city, Ishinomaki, looks
essentially unchanged since the early days of the disaster.
The same can be said of Rikuzentakata and other coastal towns
such as Ofunato and Onagawa. In the past JAA has funded organizations
such as JOICFP and Peace Boat and we have received periodic
reports on their progress. (The reports are available at the
JAA office and on line.) These organizations have done a tremendous
job in tending to the needs of children, young mothers and the
elderly on a day to day basis.

More recently JAA has allocated additional funding for the Kizuna
Foundation and is considering proposals from Beyond Tomorrow.
We will also coordinate funding to assist with mental health
issues in the Tohoku region. Eighteen months after the terrible
events of March 11, our focus is on revitalizing the economy
and on supporting forward looking organizations that concentrate
on education and developing leadership. Through the efforts
of Satoshi Kitahama and his colleagues, the Kizuna Foundation
is encouraging those involved in the fishing industry to develop
new, sustainable ways of fishing that can be scaled to encompass
larger groups of fishing associations. Kizuna Foundation is
also involved in rebuilding sports fields, including a baseball
field in Ofunato where the local team is known as the Red Sox.
Our good friend, Bobby Valentine, has been very supportive in
this effort. Our aim is to support those who are working hard
to reestablish themselves.

Beyond Tomorrow, which was created in June 2011, aims to support
young victims via leadership training and scholarship programs.
JAA is working with the US Japan Council to provide funding
for scholarships to young people wishing to study abroad, both
at the high school and college levels. On August 15, several
board members and other community leaders hosted a dinner for
10 students sponsored by Beyond Tomorrow at Dinosaur BBQ. The
students were visiting various US cities, including New Orleans,
Boston, Washington, D.C. and New York. We were very impressed
with the work they are doing with the young students of Tohoku
and plan to stay in touch with this organization to better understand
their needs and how JAA can help them most effectively.

Going forward, with funding raised by the Inaugural, JAA Japan
Rising Golf Tournament underwritten by Morgan Stanley and MUFG,
we will keep up our efforts in the months and years to come.
This is website of this golf tournament.
www.regmadeeasy.com/btmu/jaa/japan-rising-golf-tournament

Dine Out for Japan


ANA NY Senior-Kai Charity Golf Tournament


Gohan Society


Kenjinkai Golf Tournament

JAA has received donations from the following organizations
and individuals this year: $19,070.02 from "Dine Out for Japan"
which was held in March, $4,500.00 from ANA NY Senior-Kai Charity
Golf Tournament which was held June 25th, $1,500.00 from Gohan
Society and $1,500.00 from Kenjinkai Golf Tournament.
JAA appreciates these thoughtful gifts. Thank you very much.

 



Yoga

Keirokai

The 6th Senior Week
FREE

The Senior Week will be held from Sept.10 to Sept.23 at JAA. It
is co-sponsored by JAA Committee on Aging Issues and Japanese
Medical Support Network with support of the Consulate General
of Japan in New York.
About 70 programs for all ages include: 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, Exercise and
more. We will show the DVD "442-Live with Honor, Die with
Dignity" on Sept. 16. More details can be seen at www.agingjaa.org
and www.jaany.org .
Please make your reservation at JAA.


The19th
JAA Charity Golf Tournament

Our Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, September
17th, 2012 at Knoll West Country Club, 990 Greenbank Road, Boonton,
NJ 07005.
Itinerary for the day will be: Registration at 11AM, Orientation
at 11:30 AM and at 12.15PM -Play begins by メShotgunモ Rules per
the New Peoria System
Fee: $250 includes Greens fee, Cart fee & Dinner. 
  $100 will be Tax deductible
Maximum Participants: 100 entries 

There will be many wonderful prizes. The Grand Prize: roundtrip
ANA Business Class ticket 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 our
largest fund raising event of JAA! The dead line for entry is
August 31.


105th
JAA Gala Dinner

JAA will hold its 105th JAA Gala Dinner on Sat., Nov. 17th at
Apella (450 East 29th Street, 2nd Fl. NYC). Cocktails start at
6PM and Dinner at 7PM. Our Keynote Speaker will be The Honorable
Daniel K. Inouye. Please join us to celebrate his 88 years Beiju
birthday! Dinner for an individual is $500.00, Company: Gold support-
One table (10 people) and full page B/W Ad in the Dinner Journal
is $10,000, Silver support – One table (10 people) and half page
B/W Ad in the Dinner journal is $5,000. Your support for this
event will be highly appreciated!! Additional Ad space for the
Journal is available. Please contact JAA office for more information.
info@jaany.org


27th
JAA Foreign Minister Cup Baseball Games
JUNKS win! It is their 6th championship

Champion: Junks

2nd Place: Bees

3rd Place: Boko Boko

The Championship Game was held on Sunday, August 19th at Central
Park North Meadow Field #3. Junks beat out Bees, 2 to 0, capturing
the Foreign Minister Cup for this year. This became their 6th
victory of the JAA Baseball Games! An Awards Presentation and
Closing Ceremony followed the Games with Deputy Consul General
Fumio Iwai and Consul Kentaro Ando of Consulate General of Japan
and JAA President Mr. Gary S. Moriwaki, Ms. Riki Ito (JAA director)
and Mrs. Michiyo Noda (Executive director) JAA presenting the
awards to the Champions and the other winners.
We received メgood jobモ e-mail from Mr. Bobby Valentine (Red Sox)

The following awards were presented:
Champion: Junks
2nd Place: Bees,
3rd Place: Boko Boko
4th Place: NY Jokers
MVP : Richi Cotto (Junks)
Best Pitchers (6W): Masa Shinoda (Boko Boko) and Ivan Mendez (Jokers)

Most RBI (12H): Shinji Kamimura (Sarugunndann), Yoshimasa Shibata
(Pigges)
Most Home runs (3H): Hiroyuki Saito (Orega)
JAA Sprit: Keiichi Naoe (Black Yankees)
Special Award for his 18 years effort for JAA Baseball : Shunsuke
Takahashi (NY Jokers)
It was a great season. Our committee members were Mr. Shunji Kato,
Honorary Chairman of JAA Baseball, Mr. Shunsuke Takahashi , Mr.
Kasei Chin and Mr. Suzuki.



Mini Flea Market for Keiro Kai

JAA has been struggling financially. In order to support the
activities of Keiro Kai, we held a Mini Flea Market on Aug.
4, 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 $7,800. We really appreciate our donors, shoppers
and volunteers.
Keiro Kai has been a very popular program at JAA. Our volunteersユ
homemade dishes, fresh beautiful flowers at each table, good
music, useful lectures and free consultation on health, legal
matters, translations and other activities are much appreciated
by our seniors. We want to continue this rich and needed program
for our seniors.

Thanks to the Takeshige Family
JAA received $2,700.00 from the Takeshige Family who asked us
to use it for the Senior Luncheon program. Mrs. Yoshiko Takeshige
is a dancer who raised three daughters, Matsuko, Takeko and
Umeko who all became doctors. Thank you very much Takeshge Family.


JAA
Japanese Women’s Committee (BWC)

Film Director Ms. Hisako Matsui was a guest speaker for the July
monthly meeting on July 25th. Ms. Matsui talked about her recent
movie "Leonie" which is based on the life of Leonie
Gilmour who is the mother of the famous sculptor Isamu Noguchi.
She took 7 and a half years to complete this film.
It was shown at Japan Society on July 27th and received rave reviews.


SAVE
THE DATE

Sept. 9 (Sun.) -23 (Sun) the 6th Senior Week
Sept. 17 (Mon.) the 19th JAA Charity Golf Tournament @ Knoll Country
Club
Oct. 20 (Sat.) & 21 (Sun) Japanese Language Education Workshop
Nov. 3 (Sat.) Grand Bazaar
Nov. 17 (Sat.) 105th JAA Anniversary Gala Dinner @ Apella
Dec. 7 (Fri.) JAA Year End Dinner
Dec. 13 (Thurs.) Year End Keirokai

JAA Social Service

Keirokai in July
・July 12
: For the Tanabata Keirokai, the Hall was
decorated with Bamboo tree branches brought by Ms. Toshiko Kobayashi
with small origami written with membersユ prayers and wishes.
Pork Ginger on Rice, Mini Salad and Ice Cream were on the menu.
After the lunch, a lecture メJapanese Manji Symbolモ was given
by Dr. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, our house band, K. Iwaki Band played
wonderful music. Kaede tree was donated by Ms. Rie Shirakawa.
In the morning, free consultations were given by the two attorneys,
Ms. Helen Irie and Ms. Reiko Takikawa.
Attendance: 83 seniors, 15 volunteers and 25 lunch deliveries
to the homebound.

・July 26: Unagi Kabayaki
(Baked Eel on Rice), Sesame broccoli and Coffee Jelly were on
the menu for this summer Keiro Kai. After lunch, a musical performance
by the JAA Chorus, conductor: Mr. Reona Ito, was followed by
the K. Iwaki Band. Attendance: 112 seniors, 18 volunteers and
28 lunch deliveries to the homebound. It was also a farewell
party for Mrs. Madeleine Tomikawa who will return to her home
country, Switzerland after living in the US for 61 years!

・There were no luncheons for seniors in August.

Trip to Storm King Art Center on June
21.

Fifty senior members of JAA went to this art center which
is a museum that celebrates the relationship between art and
nature located on over 500 acres of landscaped field. They enjoyed
great art which includes Isamu Noguchi’s "Momo Taro".
This Bus trip was supported by Goldman Sachs. We appreciate
the generosity of Goldman Sachs. Thank you very much!


News
in the Community

You can apply for Low Income housing on-line. Please visit www.nyc.gov/housingconnect
to register.


Donation
Thank you very
much for your support of JAA !

6/15/2012 – 8/15/2012

General Fund
Mitsui USA Foundation $3,000.00
Fujisankei Communications $500.00
Canon U.S.A. Inc. $1,000.00
ORIX Corp. $500.00
Mitsubishi Corp. (Americas) $1,500.00
Kajima Foundation $500.00
Sony Corp. of America $1,500.00
Sumitomo Corp. of America Foundation $1,000.00
Eisai USA Foundation, Inc. $2,000.00

Individual
Dr. Takeko Takeshige $2,000.00
Dr. Umeko Takeshige $700.00
Mr. & Mrs. Miyoko Davey $650.40

To: JAA Committee on Aging Issues
ANA New York Senior-Kai $4,500.00
Mitsui U.S.A. Foundation $2,000.00
JAMSNET $2,000.00
NY Japanese-American Lions Club $500.00


Obituary

・Mr. Momoji Matsumoto, 79, passed away on June 26th in
Japan. He moved to New York in 1970, kept active with paintings,
photography and writing. He published many books about New Yorkユs
wild life and animals. He was a regular artist for JAA Annual
Art Exhibition. He went back to Japan last September to receive
treatment at the Kashiwa Cancer Hospital. Funeral was held on
July 1st in Japan.

・Mr. Yoshikazu Aono, 74, passed away on July 5, 2012.
He was a Photo-Journalist. Funeral was held on July 16th at
Beaugard Funeral Home in NJ. Read more about Mr. Aono on "The
Face of JAA" in this issue.

・Mrs. Hiroko Kawakami, 77, passed away on July 23. She
was a long time member and volunteer of JAA and active member
of Handcrafts Club.

・Mrs. Yasuko Cristobal, 84, passed away on July 21. She
volunteered for the Keiro Kai lunch delivery service.

・Mrs. Yoneko Morimoto, 82, passed away on August 2. She
taught at Japanese Weekend School for a long time. The memorial
service will be held at JAA Hall on Saturday September 8.

・Mr. George Mukai, 91, passed away on August 12 at home.
His wife, Lillian said that he was suffering from dementia.
He didn’t have to go to a nursing home or stay in a hospital
for a long time and did not suffer. Viewing was held on 8/18.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.


Vol.68
Yoshikazu Aono


Yoshikazu Aono

As a Photojournalist, he witnessed the turbulent 60’s, and the
social landscape of the 70’s. through his camera’s lens.
Born in 1938 and raised in Yokohama, Japan. Yoshikazu went by
the nickname Aochan early in life. Growing up near the train tracks
of Yokohama, he cultivated a llifelong passion for steam locomotives.
He also became fascinated with all things American through James
Dean and John Wayne movies. These impressions would shape his
personal and professional character during this lifetime.
In 1961, he started his career as a photographer, assisting foreign
photojournalists in Tokyo. Early in his career, he won an award
as one of the top rookie photographers in Japan. He proved himself
as a professional photographer working for Life Magazine at the
1964 Tokyo Olympics.
In 1964 he met his lifelong partner, Eiko Honjo. The two of them
would start a 47 year adventure that led them from the homeland
to the United States of America. They landed in New York City
during the turbulent sixties. Together they created roots, raised
a family and surrounded themselves with like-minded people. He
spent a career in photography documenting historic events of the
sixties and seventies with photos published in Life Magazine,
Newsweek amongst many others. He experienced what most people
describe as the American dream.
In 1975, they moved to River Edge, New Jersey where Aochan enjoyed
family and friends in the suburbs of New York City. He reconnected
to his passion by photographing US steam locomotives and serving
on the National Railroad Historic Society. In his later years
he felt deep satisfaction with his involvement in the River Edge
Cultural Center and Historical Commission.
He passed away on July 5th, 2012 after a full life of 74 years.
The Aono family received a proclamation honoring Yoshi Aono from
the Borough of River Edge.