(from left) Mr. Akizawa, Mr. Valentine,
Mr. Moriwaki
JAA Japan Disaster Relief Fund
Report from President Gary S. Moriwaki

　At the end of September 2011, Mr. and Mrs. Eiich Kuwana, Bobby Valentine and I visited with Jidai no Souzou Koubou (JSK), Peace Boat and the Japanese Organization for International Family Planning (JOICFP). We presented checks to them for $125,000; $100,000 and $125,000 respectively. During the same trip we met groups focusing on entrepreneurialism including Entrepreneurial Training for Innovative Communities (ETIC) and All Hands, represented by Eiich Kuwana's friend, Henry Takata. We also visited Ishinomaki City and witnessed the tremendous progress they have made on the clean up and relief effort fronts. However, we also saw how far the area has to go, particularly in respect to business rejuvenation. For example, although shops are cleaned up, many of them remain closed or are only getting business from the volunteers in the area. JAA has focused more on business and jobs since business revival is the primary long term solution for the Tohoku area, benefiting everyone, young and old.

On November 28th and 29th we visited Tohoku again. We attended a fundraiser with Bobby Valentine one evening to raise funds for Tohoku area kids to enable them to have a travel abroad respite. The next day we accompanied him to Sendai, where we visited with officials of Tohoku Daigaku Hospital. Two on-the-ground Americares staff joined us, as well as physicians and officials from the hospital. We had an excellent exchange of ideas.
During the first week of December, the Kuwanas and I met with Diet members, Peace Boat, ETIC, Henry Takata, Keiko Kiyama of Japanese Emergency NGOs (JEN) and Japan Platform. Of particular concern to many, aside from economic issues, was the mental and physical well being of the displaced elderly, young children and unemployed workers who are suffering from the effects of the triple disaster.

We are now thinking about how to coordinate our efforts to plan symposia, other awareness and fundraising events during and around the first anniversary, March 11th, 2012. Our work goes on. We will have a Committee Meeting of the JAA Japan Disaster Relief Fund on Dec. 22nd, 2011.

(from left) Amb.Hiroki, Mr. Ito, Mr. Moriwaki,
Ms. Riki Ito (daughter of Mr. Ito)
Congratulations!
Mr. Haruo Ito - 100 years old - April 2012

Amb.Hiroki, Mr. Ito, Mr. Moriwaki,Ms. Riki Ito (daughter of Mr. Ito) On December 15th, 2011, Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki presented an award and gift from Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to Mr. Yoshio Ito for his 100th Birthday. A longtime resident of New York City, Mr. Ito enjoys JAA's senior programs.
54th Annual JAA Year End Dinner

On the evening of December 2nd, JAA held its 54th Annual Year- End Dinner Dance Party with over 120 guests at the Crowne Plaza, Times Square. Following Chairperson Ms. Seiko Oshima's opening remarks, was a welcome from JAA's Honorary President, Ms. Susan Onuma and an introduction of Mr. Shinji Kokuma, a member of the House of Councilors and Mr. Katsuji Seno of the Blue Sky Project, both representing Fukushima. They expressed their appreciation to JAA and New Yorkers for their generous disaster relief efforts. All of the attendees participated in a candle light service to pray in silence for the victims of Tohoku and for our JAA pioneers, Ms. Mitsu Kurahara, Mr. and Mrs. George Yuzawa, Mr. Francis Sogi and Mr. Steve Wada and others who passed away recently. Dinner began with a "Kanpai-toast" by former president Mr. Toshio Kiso. Wines at each table were generously donated by Mr. Katsumi Oneda. Mr. Katsuo Takeda, MC for the dinner, introduced Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki of the Consulate General of Japan in NY. He appreciated JAA's effort for Japan Disaster and encouraged JAA to continue their activities and announced the plan for the 2012 of "Centennial Celebration of the Gift of Trees" to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japan's gift of planting Sakura trees in US. Dr. Kinichi Shibutani was presented with this year's award for his long time devotion and support of JAA and especially for his volunteer lecture presentations and for his free consultations at Keirokai. Kuni Mikami and "The Swing Five Band" played familiar old stand-by songs for dancing. Also, many people enjoyed the TANKO BUSHI led by Momo Suzuki.
Raffle drawings began at 9:30pm. Grand prizes of AA Domestic tickets for two donated by IACE Travel won by Ms. Masako Hontani and Ms. Tomiko Taylor won other Grand Prize of the China Airlines NY/Osaka round trip ticket. Mr. Masuo Ichida's auction gift followed. More than 60 door prizes were given to the lucky winners. Again this year, Mr. Oneda invited 10 Keirokai volunteers for this event.

(from left) Ms. Susan Onuma,
Dr. & Mrs. Shibutani, Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki
Photos by Masao Katagami

（from left）Ms. Ishida, Ms. Hontani, Ms. Taylor、Ms. Chang

All of the attendees participated in a candle light service to pray

People enjoyed the "TANKO BUSHI" led by Momo Suzuki
Photo by Masao Katagami
Annual Grand Bazaar

On November 5th, the JAA Annual Grand Bazaar was held at the JAA Hall with eager shoppers waiting at the door before 10am! We raised $14,486! The Grand Prizes of the raffle, American Airlines US Domestic tickets went to the lucky winners Ms. Nancy Alexander and Mr. Akio Shirakawa. Thank you to all our volunteers, donors and eager shoppers.

lucky winners （center）and
Mr. Moriwaki（right）
JAA's "DORAYAKI"
many shoppers!
A Special Night for Friends and Supporters of JAA

Jake Shimabukuro at the Dinner

Amb.Hiroki (right)

A special Fundraiser was held on November 16th, 2011 at the Sony Club attended by Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki, his daughter Rumi, Mr. & Mrs. Mitsuhiko Kawai (Mitsui & Co., U.S.A.), Mr. Masaaki Tanaka (Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ Bank), Mr. Hiroyuki Watanuki (Tokio Marine Management Inc.), Mr. Yosuke Honjo (Ito En North America), Mr. Tsutomu Karino (JCCI) and 90 other guests enjoyed the evening. Everyone was impressed by the performance of the genius ukulele player, Jake Shimabukuro, a 5th generation Japanese American from Hawaii. This year JAA had a Silent Auction. The successful fund raiser raised $65,000. We are grateful for the kindness of Ms. Hiroko Onoyama, the Sony Club and its staff. The Dinner Committee: David Hiromura, Gary S. Moriwaki, Michiyo Noda, Hiroko Onoyama, Susan Onuma and Suki Terada Ports. Jake Shimabukuro's signed CD, "Peace Love Ukulele" was given with our sincere thanks to all of our guests.
(All Photos by Masao Katagami)
Election of Officers and Directors for 2012　

At the General Election meeting of November 28th, officers and directors for the year 2012 were nominated and elected. Mr. Gary Moriwaki was re-elected as President. This will be his 5th term as President of JAA. Ms. Julie Azuma and Mr. David Hiromura were elected as new Vice Presidents. Vice President, Mr. Katsumi Oneda and Director, Mr. George Horishige resigned. JAA thanks them for their long years of dedication.

Our Officers for 2012
President: Gary Moriwaki
Vice Presidents: Julie Azuma, David Hiromura,
Keiko Ishida, Makoto Iwahara,
Yusuke Iwasaki, Tsuneko Mitsunaka,
Satoru Murase, Joe Oshima,
Seiko Oshima, Suki Terada Ports,
Koji Sato, Katsuo Takeda
Secretary: Koji Sato
Assistant Secretary: David Hiromura
Treasurer: Tetsuya Fujita
Assistant Treasurer: Kenichi Komeno
New Directors:
The complete listing of all directors will appear in the next issue of the JAA News.
JAA Annual General Meeting & the New Year Get Together Party will be held on February 1, 2012. Further details will be announced soon.
Renewal of Membership for 2012

JAA membership renewal form has been sent to you in the end of December. We are organizing information of our members for emergency purposes and to upgrade our services. Kindly complete the renewal form if you have had 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.
Social Service

November 10th, Thanksgiving Day Keirokai
A total of 160 delicious Thanksgiving dinners were prepared and generously donated by Chef Takayoshi Kato who spent three days in preparation at JAA's kitchen. The tender roast turkey and creamy delicious pumpkin pie were enjoyed by all. After the lunch, Ms. Yoko Furuta sang some beautiful Japanese songs and Kokatsu Mimasuya gave a performance of Rakugo-Story telling. K・Iwaki band played music and sing along songs to end this happy event.

December 15th, Year End Keirokai
Toshikoshi Soba and Osechi were served at the Year End Keirokai. 180 obento boxes were prepared by our volunteers who worked for three days for Osechi. Ambassador Shigeyuki Hiroki awarded Mr. Haruo Ito with the 100 year old celebration gift from Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. He will be 100 years old in 2012. Dr. Kinichi Shibutani talked on "Season & Health" and the K. Iwaki Band played popular music of USA and Japan.

Shopping Coupons of $50 from Sun Rise Mart's President, Tadao Yoshida were presented to JAA members. Through out the Keiro-kai, K. Iwaki band brought beautiful music and Karaoke. Mrs. Michiru Oguri, member of K. Iwaki Band has been sick. We hope she will have a speedy recovery and come back to join us at Keirokai in 2012.
Donations

Thank you very much for your support of JAA !
We wish you every happiness this Holiday Season and Throughout the Coming Year!

54th JAA Year End Dinner
Eiko Aono, Namie Suzuki Appelbaum, China Airlines, Daiei Trading,
Ken Egawa, Reiko Seo Hsia, IACE Travel, Masuo Ichida, Chieko Inagaki,
Masayoshi Ikuta, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, KOKORO, Chizuko Korn,
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical America, Yoshie Mooney, Cobi Narita,
Katsumi Oneda, Hiroharu Okamoto, Motoatsu Sakurai, Sakura Shoji,
Masako Sakai, Yoko Sasaki, Kinichi Shibutani, the Takeshige Family,
Setsuji Uematsu and Teruko Yamagata.

Nov. 16 Fund Raising Dinner:
Benefactors ($10,000 and up)
　Mr. & Mrs. Shigeo Kida
Patrons ($5,000 and up)
　Japanese Medical Society of America, Inc.
　ITO EN (North America) Inc.
　Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry
　NRS Logistics Inc.
　Hiroko Onoyama
　Susan J Onuma/Gary S. Moriwaki
　Tey Enterprises, Inc. (川廷秀敏)
Supporters ($1,000 and up)
　The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ
　Cook Pine Capital LLC
　Different Roads to Learning,
　Robert K. Emy
　Kumiko Hasegawa
　Chieko Inagaki
　Alyce Matsumoto
　David & Lisa McCullagh
　Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.
　NHK Cosmomedia America
　Pasona NA
　Tokio Marine Management
Friends ($500 and up)
　Gregory Fukutomi, Ann Harakawa, Kimiko Inouye, Keiko Ishida,
　Tsuneko Mitsunaka, Michiyo Noda, Fusako Ohta, Kozo Osaki,
　Hazue Tamura Rogers, Nobuko & Motoatsu Sakurai,
　Maysuko Shibutani, Michi Tahara & Kenji Yoshikawa
Others
　Tetsuya Fujita, Mary Ito, Toyokazu Matsumoto, Fumi Raith
Silent Auction donors:
　American Airlines, King Pacific Lodge, Shinichi Doi, Wine of Japan Import, Inc./Robb Report
　Sophia Grineva, Katya Grineva, Ito-en (North America), Inc. Kikuichi New York, Inc.
　Mr. and Mrs. Bon Yagi, Hiroko Onoyama, Susan J. Onuma

Donations to General Fund
$1,000 from Tomiko Sakazume
$1,000 from Mr. Haruo Ito
$661.00 from Ms. Michi Tahara

Corporate Supporters as 12/20/11 *
Ajinomoto North America
Brother Int'l Corp.
Canon USA, Inc.
EISAI USA Foundation　
Ito En (North America), Inc.
JFC Int'l Inc.
Kajima Foundation
Kawasaki Heavy Industry
Mitsui & Co., (U.S.A.), Inc.
Kajima Foundation
Orient Corp. of America
Pasona N.A.
Sojitz Corp. of America
Sumitomo Corp. of America Foundation
Toshiba America, Inc.
The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ

Donation in memory of Mr. George Yuzawa
Alyce Matsumoto, Louise & Gershon Locker
Donation in memory of Mr. Francis Y. Sogi
Julie Azuma, George Mukai, Yumoto, Ota & Miyazaki Law Office,
Sanyo Corp. of America, Dr. Camilo T Uy, Kelley Drye & Warren,
YKK Corp. of America
Donation to Hartman Sakazume Scholarship Fund
$4,000 from Tomiko Sakazume

･20 tickets donated by The New York Mixed Chorus's Annual Concert on Nov. 19 at New York Society for Ethical Culture Concert Hall.
･20 tickets donated by the Men's Glee Club of New York 12th Concert on Dec. 3 at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church
News of the Members

  • Mr. Shinichi Doi, former Conservator of Metropolitan Museum of Art was honored with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for his outstanding contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture through art. The ceremony was held on September 6th at the Ambassador's Residence.

  • Ms. Saeko Ichinohe, founder, Director, Choreographer and dancer of Ichinohe & Co., held the 40th Anniversary Performance on December 3rd, 2011 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. It was a very successful night.


    (from left) Mr. Yoshinaga, Mr. Mukai, Mr. Yamaguchi
  • Our members Mr. George Mukai, Mr. John Yoshinaga, Mr. Kaz Yamaguchi, Ralf Iwamoto and Mr. Yoshio Ito were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, presented to members of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Services by the United States Army on November 2nd, 2011 at Emancipation Hall, of the United States Capitol Visitor Center.

    We are thankful they all survived and are a part of our history of Japanese Americans in WW11. We thank them and honor their lives.

    JAA Archive's committee will schedule the film "Go for broke!" so we can see the brave history of the 442nd.

    Congratulations to all of you!
    • Obituary

  • Mr. George Yuzawa passed away on October 8th at age 96, and his wife Kimi passed away on November 26th, at age 94. Their celebration of life was held on November 28th at the Japanese American United Church and JAA Hall and on the 29th at the Isabella home. Please see more information in "George & Kimi".

  • Mr. Francis Y. Sogi passed away on November 3rd in Hawaii, at age 88. He was President of JAA from 1976-79. He was very active at the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles. His bio will be in the next JAA News.

  • Mr. Yoshio Ito passed away on November 15th at Isabella, age 88. He was born in Brooklyn. He served in Italy and France as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and won a Purple Heart when his leg was wounded. After WW11, he learned watch mechanisms and finally owned his own jewelry shop in the Pan Am Building, 200 Park Ave. after he made money as a yellow cab driver. He met his wife Mary in Toronto in 1960. He was unable to attend the Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony. They lived at Isabella House.

  • Mrs. Kazuko Lily Kamitsuka, wife of Reverend Arthur Kamitsuka, passed away peacefully in her Isabella home at age 89.

  • Mr. Nobu Yamaguchi passed away at Isabella on December 6th at the age of 97. He was a close friend of George Yuzawa.
    We pray for them and their families.
    		•
    George Katsumi Yuzawa
    (February 21, 1915 - October 8, 2011)
    Kimiko Yuzawa
    (March 21, 1917 - November 26, 2011)

    George Katsumi Yuzawa, New York City, originally of Los Angeles, CA, passed away peacefully on October 8, 2011 at the age of 96. Shortly thereafter, his wife of seventy-one years, Kimiko "Kimi" (Hattori), age 94, also passed away on November 26th. Loving parents of Gene (Wyckoff, NJ) and Pat Yuzawa-Rubin (Wilmette IL); in-laws to JoAnne and Jack; grandparents to Seth and Emiko Rubin, and James Yuzawa.

    George was born in 1915, the eldest of two children of a successful florist in the Los Angeles area. Influenced by his father, George participated in numerous school and community programs. George and Kimi (from Boyle Heights and from a family of five children) wed in 1940. The WWII evacuation of Japanese Americans forced the Yuzawa family to move to the Amache Relocation Center in Granada, Colorado. There, George acted as education liaison and helped develop the Center's school system. In 1944, he was released from "camp" and volunteered for the US Army(MIS), serving in Tokyo until his discharge in 1946. He returned to the States, moved his family to NYC and established a florist business with his father. He owned Park Central Florist until he retired in the 1980s. Busy as he was, he always found time to continue his community service. George was instrumental in the formation and nurturing of many organizations such as: the JAA; the JACL NY (charter member); JAHFA, Asian American Mental Health, West Side Federation for Senior Housing, Asian Americans for Fair Media, the Nisei Investors of NY, the Japanese American Lion's Club of NY, and the Special Ministry to the Japanese. George introduced many of our senior members to the Isabella residential services, and helped establish an exchange program between Isabella and eldercare professionals from Japan. In 1981, George served as a member of the East Coast Japanese Americans for Redress and helped organize the commission hearings in NYC.

    Along the way, George served the JAA in many capacities: vice president, board member, and committee chair, as well as organizing numerous Japanese cultural, educational, and preservation activities in New York City. He helped establish the annual spring Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom Festival at both the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Flushing, NY. In the late 1960s, George also helped design the interior of the Japanese American United Church building, where he also provided years of leadership as chair, member of the board of directors, and, later, as one of its elders.

    George received recognition and many commendations for his years of service, including being named JACL (NY) "Man of the Year" ('75) and receiving its Lifetime Achievement Award ('01); named a consultant to the U.S.Commission on Civil Rights ('80,) resulting in an invitation to the White House by President Jimmy Carter; recognized and decorated by the Emperor of Japan, (receiving the Order of the Sacred Treasure, fifth class, for his service on behalf of both Japanese and non-Japanese people, '83); receiving the Isabella Geriatric Center's leadership/Lifetime Achievement Award ('97); and the Governor's Award for Excellence from NY Governor George Pataki for work in the Asian American Community.

    George and Kimi resided in NYC until the mid-1950s when they moved their family to Dumont, NJ. They lived there for almost fifty years. Throughout the years, Kimi always supported George's numerous and varied activities while caring for work, home and family. In 2005, they moved Isabella.

    As the year comes to a close, we are saddened to say goodbye to our friends, George and Kimi. JAA honors them both.