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Annual
JAA Scholarship Dinner of the 40th Scholarship Awards
and 4th Honjo Scholarship Awards
The JAA Scholarship Awards Dinner was held at the Harvard Club
on May 27, 2010. We were honored to have Actor George Takei as
the keynote speaker.
Deputy Consul General Mamoru Shinohara, Ms. Kiyo Matsumoto, a
district judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of New York and Gary Moriwaki, President of JAA headed
the list of 150 guests and members who attended the event. Thirteen
high school recipients (total of $44,500 and two Japan Airlines
tickets) of the 40th JAA Scholarship Awards and four graduate
school recipients (total of $20,000 from the Honjo Foundation)
of the 4th Honjo Scholarship Awards were honored.
The ceremony began with MC Koji Sato, co-chair of the Scholarship
Committee, then a welcome by JAA President Moriwaki, followed
by Deputy Consul General Shinohara's greeting. After the dinner,
keynote speaker Mr. George Takei gave a wonderful speech that
inspired not just the students but all who were present. He talked
about how the science fiction TV series and film "Star Trek"
were early models for promoting diversity. He further spoke about
his own experience in the internment camp and the young men who
joined the 442nd Regimental Combat Team while their families remained
behind barbed wire. He congratulated the students and encouraged
them to do their best and to be proud of their Japanese and American
heritage.
After the key note speech, Mr. Koji Sato and Ms. Suki Terada Ports,
co-chairs of Scholarship Committee presented the awards. Aelita
Rose Parker, recipient of the Bingham McCutchen Murase Award,
spoke on behalf of the other high school recipients, expressing
her gratitude to JAA, Sayaka Chatani concluded the evening as
she represented the Honjo Scholarship recipients and expressed
her appreciation in receiving the award.
Dinner table sponsors are Bingham McCutchen Murase LLP, Cook Pine
Capital LLP, Fox Rothschild LLP, Yosuke Honjo (Ito En North America,
Inc.), J.C.C. Fund of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
in New York, Susan J. Onuma, Esq. and Orient Corporation of America.
The Scholarship Committee consisted of Co-Chairs Suki T. Ports,
Koji Sato, Julie Azuma, Michiko Ito Crampe, David Hiromura, Makoto
Iwahara, Frederick Katayama, Yumi Kuwana, Gary S. Moriwaki, Satoru
Murase, Robert Norton, Susan J. Onuma. Members of the JAA Honjo
Scholarship selection committee consisted of Susan J. Onuma, Gary
S. Moriwaki (Chair), Joe Oshima and Katsuo Takeda.
40th JAA Scholarship Awards
1:Bingham McCutchen Murase Award
($6,000 plus Japan round trip ticket courtesy of Japan Airlines)
Aelita Rose Parker
Piscataway High School to University of Pennsylvania
2:Dr. Soji Tomikawa Award ($5,000)
Daniel Ken Tahara
Edgemont High School to Yale University
3:Dr. Soji Tomikawa Award ($5,000)
Midori Takasaki
Rye Neck High School to Harvard University
4:Cook Pine Capital Award ($5,000)
Kenneth Ryohei Nakazawa
Baruch College Campus High School to Columbia University
5:Mitsui USA Award ($3,500)
Kunihiko Nagakura
The Dalton School to Princeton University
6:Orient Corp. of America Award ($3,500)
Fabiel Sayaka Jean-Philippe
Harrison High School to University of Pennsylvania
7:TV Japan Award ($3,000)
Alexa Yunako Koike
Trinity School to University of Pennsylvania
8:Sakae & Shigeyuki Nishioka Award ($3,000)
Haru Zenda
United Nations International School to Oberlin College
9:Miyoko & John Davey Award ($3,000)
Arison Theodore Than
Leonia High School Academy for Science and Technology to Brown
University
10:Toyota Motor North America Award ($2,500) @
Jun Shepard
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School to Harvard University
11:Sanada Award for Arts ($2,000)
Haruko S. Hashimoto
John L. Miller-Great Neck North High School to Brown University
12:Michiyo & Hiroshi Wada Award ($2,000)
Louise Everett Balsmeyer
United Nation International School to Trinity College
13:Japan Travel Award
(Round trip ticket courtesy of Japan Airlines plus $1,000 donated
by Furumoto Realty)
Komo Yamashita
Wyoming Seminary Upper School to University of California Los
Angeles
The 4th JAA of Honjo Scholarship Awards
Sayaka Chatani-PhD. candidate in history at Columbia University,
goal is to shift largely Euro-centric scholarship to include the
Pacific and promote richer research and teaching on Japan in the
American academic world $7,500
Tomomi Fujita-MA candidate at The City College, City University
of New York, MA expected May 2011; focus is on the experiences
of Japanese immigrants and the impact of their cross-cultural
experience in their lives and intercultural relationships $5,000
Rei Kobayashi-MBA candidate at Baruch College, Zicklin
School of Business, degree expected February 2011; interested
in helping Japanese companies navigate compliance and other international
accounting and tax regulatory issues while acting as a role model
for the local Japanese community $2,500
Justin Kraemer-PhD candidate at Rutgers, the State University
of New Jersey, research focuses on inter-cultural trust-building
behavior and how, by identifying trust-building behaviors, Japanese
and Americans can construct positive inter-cultural relations
$2,500
Miki Tomaru-PsyD candidate at Ferkauf Graduate School of
Psychology of Yeshiva University, doctorate expected May 2013;
interest is in understanding the different patterns, common beliefs
and acceptable behaviors of Japanese and American cultures, and,
in working with the Japanese community, exposing the two cultures
to each other's perspectives $2,500
 Keynote
Speaker
George Takei
GEORGE TAKEI, best known for his portrayal of Mr. Sulu in the
television and film series Star Trek, has more than 40 feature
films including six Star Trek films and hundreds of television
guest-starring roles to his credit. He is currently a recurring
character on NBC-TV's Heroes.
Born in Los Angeles, Mr. Takei and his family were sent to internment
camps in Arkansas and California at the outbreak of World War
II. He received both a BA and MA in Theater from the University
of California, in Los Angeles. His later studies included the
Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England, Sophia
University, Tokyo, Japan, and Hollywood's Desilu Workshop.
Mr. Takei is Chairman Emeritus of the Japanese American National
Museum's Board of Trustees; a member of the US-Japan Bridging
Foundation's Board of Directors; and served on the Board of the
Japan-United States Friendship Commission under President Clinton.
Mr. Takei is also a member of the Human Rights Campaign and spokesman
for their Coming Out Project. He is a member of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts and
Sciences, Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, and
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.
In recognition of his contribution to the Japan-United States
relationship, His Majesty the Emperor of Japan conferred the Order
of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette upon Mr. Takei in 2004.
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Census
2010
The Census is only half over. Census takers are knocking on doors
in your neighborhood to make sure everyone is counted correctly,
so please open the door to Census Takers. They can be identified
by their official Census Badges and they will never ask for your
social security number, immigration status, or donation. Your
Census information is confidential. If you feel you have been
missed by the Census, you can submit your Census information over
the phone by calling 1-866-872-6868.
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2010
JAA Baseball Tournament
The 25th JAA Foreign Minister's Cup tournament which started on
May 2 has been progressing smoothly on three fields in New York
and New Jersey. Results up to the five week of the preliminaries
are very competitive, A block is led by Boko Boko with victories
from the start, Jokers and Badmen, B Block is led by Hamakko,
Junks, and Radiators.
This year's committee: Honorary chairman Shuji Kato, Chairman:
Shig Nakanishi, members: Shunsuke Takahashi, Takashi Kawaguchi,
Shin Shinohara.
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Memorial
Day Ceremony
@ the Japanese Cemetery in Mt. Olivet Cemetery
On a beautiful day, Memorial Day Services (Bosankai) were started
from 11 AM on May 31 at the Japanese Cemetery at Mount Olivet
Cemetery in Queens. Services were held under trees due to strong
sunshine. The affair, sponsored by the JAA with the support of
the New York Buddhist Church and the Japanese American United
Church was conducted by JAA Director Shigeaki Nakanishi
First, Rev. Kenjitsu Nakagaki of the Buddhist Church, read from
the Sutra while incense and flowers were offered to the pioneers
who had contributed so greatly to the present standing of Japanese
and Japanese American Community.
Mr. Gary S. Moriwaki, JAA President gave a greeting and expressed
our appreciation to our pioneers who were buried here and veterans
who fought for Japanese Americans and USA. The following veterans
who were in attendance, Mr. Eiichi Kuwayama, Mr. Kazu Yamaguchi
and Mr. George Mukai (442) were then introduced. Rev. Nakagaki
and Rev. Yugo Suzuki of Japanese American United Church each performed
services. Following greetings by Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya
of Consul General of Japan in New York, Mr. Tomoyuki Mitsui, principal
of Greenwich Japanese School of NY and Mr. Toru Okamoto, principal
of the Japanese ChildrenÕs Society each gave a heartfelt talk.
JAA members, Teachers and pupils from the Greenwich Japanese School
of New York and parents were also present, making a total in attendance
of some 150.
Wreathes 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 and three organizers. |
The 150th Anniversary of the
First Japanese Delegation to New York City
Amb. Nishimiya announced that it is the 150th anniversary of the
first Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States and its
enthusiastic reception in New York City on June 16, 1860. The
Samurai paraded on Broadway which were packed with hundreds of
thousands of New Yorkers. Consulate General of Japan is promoting
two events of Samurai Parade in Japan Day @ Central Park on June
6 and Exhibition of "Samurai In New York: The First Japanese
Delegation, 1860" at the Museum of the City of New York at
the Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., at 103rd
St. New York, NY 10029 from June 25 to Oct. 11, 2010 Visit website
www.mcny.org
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Exhibition
of Japanese and
Japanese American Artists in New York 2010
The 15th annual Art Exhibition (Chairperson Yoko Sasaki) of the
Japanese and Japanese American Artists in New York were held from
May 6 to 15. The 30 artists (two new artists, Francis Shingo and
Masaki Takizawa) displayed their 56 art works at the JAA Hall.
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The opening reception was held at 5 P.M., on the 6th, attended
by Deputy Consul Mamoru Shinohara, Mr.& Mrs. Motoatsu Sakurai
of Japan Society, Mr. Tsutomu Karino of JCC and Nippon Club, the
artists and JAA members and guests. The attendees enjoyed delicious
food which our social services volunteers made and drink, with
much happy conversation surrounded by unique international art
works,.
Nine artworks were sold and the amount of $5,670.00 was raised
of which 50% was donated to the JAA.
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4th Japan Day @ Central
Park
 On
a beautiful Sunday, June 6, 2010, 50,000 people were gathered
at East Meadow in Central Park for the fourth annual Japan Day.
In early morning, the 4 Mile Japan Run was held with 5464 runners.
The gates were opened at 10A.M. New Yorkers enjoyed Japanese cultures
and foods on the grassy lawn. Samurai Parade led by Ambassador
Shinichi Nishimiya Japanese Saxophonist Sadao Watanabe anchored
Japan Day with many childrenÕs singing. Volunteers from JAA calligraphy
class (Instructor: Fusako Otsubo) demonstrated their beautiful
and skillful brush work to 2,800 New Yorkers. The booth was so
popular that we ran out of ink and papers! "Japan Day:"
was held to express gratitude towards New York City for their
hospitality towards the Japanese community residing in the area.
With beautiful weather, a wonderful time was had by all who attended. |
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Haiti
Earthquake Relief Fund and
JAA Business Women Committee (BWC)
On June 10, Journalist Keiko Tsuyama and Mrs. Michiyo Noda presented
a JAA check, in the amount of $2,000.00 of JAA Haiti Earthquake
Relief Fund to Mr. Jim Luce, founder & CEO of Orphans International
Worldwide which has been helping orphans and building up new schools
in Haiti. Pease check their website www.oiww.org
Ms. Tsuyama, a freelance Journalist visited Haiti after the earthquake
in March and reported it at BWC's April meeting and raised $1,500
for JAA Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. JAA also received $500 from
our members. We therefore donated a total of $2,000 to this organization.
Ms. Tsuyama said she will report to JAA on what they will use
our donation.
As this organization still needs funds for children, please support
the JAA Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
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Social
Service Committee
Keirokai-Luncheon for Seniors
May 13, Menu was raw fish over sushi rice which was
brought by Mr. Robin Kawada, president of Takesushi restaurant.
Dr. Kinichi Shibutani talked on "Emergency Treatment"
May 27 Menu was rice with bamboo shoots. Reona Ito,
music director/conductor lectured on "Chopin's Life"
with solo pian by Maxin Anikushin.
 June
4 It was Rakugo Keirokai. Story Teller Sanyutei Kintoki
performed Rakugo and short comic dance which really entertained
all in attendance. Isabella House donated for this luncheon.
Ms. Leona Chen made a greeting and said Isabella has been offering
Summer Special for housing. Menu was Fried fish and shrimps.
Every keirokai, K. Iwaki and group have been holding "Karaoke"
at JAA Hall.
June 24 is next Keirokai, menu is cold noodle Chinese
style and nata de coco.
Report from JAA Committee on Aging
Issues Visit ŌGood Shepherd Medical Adult Day Center in NJ On
June 3, ten JAA members and Mrs. Michiyo Noda and Dr. Tsunetaka
Yoshida visited Good Shepherd Medical Adult Center in NJ. RN,
dietician and social workers are on -site to supervise participants'
physical and mental health from 8am to 1pm. The program is covered
100% by Medicaid. Private pay will be $80per day. It is located
at 725 Valley Brook Ave., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071, please contact
201-681-4523 (Hiromi) for more information.
4th Senior Week will be
held from September 11 to September 26 at JAA Hall for all ages.
More events will be scheduled.
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Donation
5/1/2010- 6/15/2010
To General Account
Estate of late Mrs. Ruriko Okada $1,000
Anonymous $2,000
To Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
Total $2,000 from JAA Business Women's Committee ($1,500),
Nancy Alexander, Hisashi Kobayashi, Alyce Matsumoto,
Tomoko
Okajima, Kyoko Ohnishi, Masako Ryder, Akio Shirakawa,
Yoshiko
Takahashi, Akemi Takeda and Reizo Yoshida
To Sakura Matsuri
Mrs. Chieko Inagaki $7,780.00
DRL Books Inc. (Julie Azuma) $800.00
Report from Membership Committee
from 5/1/10-6/15/10
Individual membership
Silver($500): Yuzuru Anzai, Susan J. Onuma, Joe Oshima
Corporate Membership
Ajinomoto U.S.A., Inc. American Airlines, NA,
Bingham McCutchen Murase LLP, Brother Int'l Corp.
Fujisankei Communications Inc. Ito En (North America), Inc.,
JFC Int'l Inc., JTB, Konica Minolta Business Solutions USA,
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America, Mitsui USA,
NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc. Nippon Express USA, Inc.,
Orient Corp. of America, Sojitz Corp. of America,
Sony Corp. of America, Sumitomo Corp. of America,
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ,
The Japanese Educational Institute of NY
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Members
Ryu Goto, Violinist (recipient of 2006 JAA Mitsui USA
Scholarship) had his sold out debut at Carnegie Hall on May
4.
Suki Terada Ports vice president of JAA received 2010
Pioneer Spirit Award by Asian Americans for Equality on May
27, 2010 at New York University's Kimmel Center.
Reona Ito (Music Director and Conductor) and JAA Chorus
held Reona Ito Choral Concert on May 29 at the Church of St.
Paul and St. Andrew with packed audience. They really enjoyed
Mozart' Coronation Mass and Schumann "Piano Concerto".
Katsumi Oneda, vice president of JAA celebrated his
new book "Success Story of Katsumi Oneda" with over
100 guests including friends, JAA members and Committee of Social
Services and Business Women's Committee on June 14 at JAA Hall.
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For
Your Information
Japanese Immigrants in the USA and the War Era has been
exhibited at the National Museum of Japanese History in Japan
from March 16, 2010 to April 3, 2011. If you will visit Japan,
please visit it.
Website www.rekihaku.ac.jp |
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