"100 Years of Community Service"
A Historical Overview of
the Japanese American Association of New York, Inc.
We are excited to celebrate our "100 Years of Community Service" this year. While the beneficiaries of JAA's services have evolved over the years and the organization has gone through numerous changes, it remains true to its original mission - to be a not for profit organization serving the Japanese and Japanese American community.
Originally established as the Japanese Mutual Aid Society (Nihonjin Kyosaikai) by Dr. Toyohiko Takami in 1907, the organization bought space in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in 1912 to provide a place to bury Japanese - Memorial Day Services continue to be held there each year. In 1914, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, Dr. Takami and other community leaders formed the Japanese Association of New York (New York Nihonjinkai) to take over and expand upon the goals of the Nihonjin Kyosaikai. While discontinued during World War II, after World War II the organization was reconstituted, During this time we collected and sent food and clothing to Japan through L.A.R.A. (Licensed Agency for Relief in Asia) which was established by the American Friends Service Committee. In 1950, as conditions improved in Japan, the organization's activities turned towards local needs, including those of Japanese Americans re-settling into the New York area after leaving the internment camps and newly arrived Japanese immigrants who came to the US for business, education or family reasons. In 1952 after merging with another group called the Japanese American Welfare Society (New York Kyousaikai established by Naohiro Sasaki), the organization was named the Japanese American Association of New York or "JAA".
Throughout its history, JAA has provided social welfare services to the Japanese and Japanese American community, through its network of dedicated volunteers. In 1994, with the construction of its new quarters on the eleventh floor of 15 West 44th Street, JAA has been able to expand its community activities, which among other things include free consultations on legal and health-medical matters, Keirokai (luncheon for over 100 seniors and lunch delivery to bed ridden seniors), Apple Kids Group activities for families with young children, classes on a variety of subjects and transmission of information for new comers and the general community. JAA also maintains archives of Japanese history in the New York area and provides over $40,000 of scholarship awards for graduating high school seniors and those in the music field. Recently, JAA organized the Committee on Aging Issues with the Consulate General of Japan in New York and other concerned organizations in the New York area for the purpose of researching and dealing with the increasing demands of the Japanese and Japanese American aging population.
Through these activities JAA hopes to continue to grow and serve the Japanese and Japanese American community as we face a new century of challenges.
Dr. Toyohiko Takami (1875 - 1945) - Founder of JAA
Pleaded for Mutual Aid, Believed in Service to Mankind
Toyohiko Takami was born in Kumamoto Prefecture on April 4, 1875, firstborn son to a samurai family in the service of the Hosokawa Clan. While still a boy he studied at the Toda School, along with other privileged children but managed to study English at a missionary school run by O.H. Gulick. There, he heard the story of Jo Niijima who had earlier violated a national prohibition against foreign travel and had gone to the U.S. to study. Deciding to emulate Niijima he planned with a cousin to earn travel funds in Osaka. At the end of spring vacation April, 1890 he left for school after saying goodbye to his parents, but took off for Osaka. At the time he was just 15 years old.
Having missed his boat he traveled overland and reached Osaka in June. He was able to calm an upset family's anxieties and continued studies in English and navigation. Then in March of the following year, he set sail as a crew member on a British ship, the Mogul. In October of 1891 he set foot on a pier in the East River of New York, and started a new life in the land of his dreams. While studying English he worked at the Brooklyn Navy Yard to earn his expenses. His superior Captain McLane introduced him to Nancy Campbell who became his mother figure and life-long mentor. Under her tutelage he completed his studies at Cornell University Medical College, finishing second in his class. It was doing this time that he happened to observe an autopsy on a nameless Japanese identified only by number. This led him to openly plead for mutual aid among the Japanese and the need to purchase of a burial plot for his countrymen.
After graduating, he opened a practice in Brooklyn. He spent much of his time in service to charity patients and was thus the object of considerable respect and admiration. On May 26, 1907 he formed the Japanese Mutual Aid Society, forerunner of the Japanese American Association. On July 3, 1909 he married Sona Oguri and had six children. In 1912, he purchased land at Mt. Olivet Cemetery to be used for Japanese burial ground, and in 1918 organized a credit union for the Japanese. Thus, his entire life work was dedicated toward his fellow man, based upon his firm faith in God and Christianity.
In 1940, Dr. Takami was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, sixth class. He passed away on May 17, 1945 at his home in Brooklyn.
(Based on Dr. Takami's autobiography, edited by Dr. Masahiko Ralph Takami)
Past Presidents after WW II
| 1946 - 1951 | Robert Homma |
| 1951 - 1961 | Tokichi Matsuoka |
| 1962 - 1963 | Hiroshi Matsuo |
| 1963 - 1965 | Kyuichi Sugihara |
| 1965 - 1967 | Stanley Tsugio Okada |
| 1967 - 1969 | Sokichi Sugimoto |
| 1969 - 1971 | Hisatake Hatano |
| 1971 - 1973 | Shig Kariya |
| 1973 - 1978 | George Yamaoka |
| 1979 - 1982 | George G. Shimamoto |
| 1983(Jan - Jun) | Toshi Miyazaki |
| 1983(Jun) - 1986 | Francis Y. Sogi |
| 1987 - 1988 | Robert K. Emy |
| 1989 - 1990 | Noboru Sato |
| 1991 - 1995 | Shigeru Inagaki |
| 1996 - 1998 | Jiro Murase |
| 1999 - 2001 | Sadahei Kusumoto |
| 2002 - 2004 | Toshio Kiso |
| 2005 - 2007 | Susan Onuma |
| 2008 - | Gary S. Moriwaki |
