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Major Events for 2010
2010 TRI-CHAPTER INSTALLATION
Congratulations to the Tri-Chapter officers and board members who were installed by the Hon. Judge Joseph F. Biafore, Jr. (photo below) on Sun. Jan. 24 at the San Juan Oaks Golf Course.
San Benito County JACL’ s officers are President Kurt Kurasaki, who will be assisted by VP Jon Yamanishi; Rec. Sec. Phyllis Teshima; Corr. Sec. Jung-A Kim; Treas. Craig Yamaoka; Membership Chair & Official Delegate Tony Boch; Historian Jean Shingai; and board members Kenneth Teshima, Ruby Yamaoka, and Tony Yamaoka.
Gilroy’s 2010 officers are: President and Sec. Michael Hoshida; VP Public Relations and Past Pres. Teri Hinmon; VP Activities Lisa Sheedy; VP Membership June Muraoka; Treas. June Otaguro; Official Delegate Lily Kawafuchi; Board Members at Large Nancy Kawamoto & Allan Kawafuchi; Scholarship Chair Gena Sakahara.
W-SC JACL’s officers, led by Jeanette Hager, were included in our January 2010 issue. The full text of W-SC JACL President Jeanette Hagar’s message will be included in next month’s newsletter.
Congressman Mike Honda bravely fielded difficult questions from the audience on the lack of success of bipartisanism in the Congress, future of the Democratic Party, health care, Social Security’s financial problems, status of our many current wars, revisiting Southeast Asia (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia), campaign contributions by corporations, unions, and others (Supreme Court decision), jobs and employment, US torture policies against suspected terrorists, education reform, and others.
While National JACL President Larry Oda spoke on the future of the JACL, Mas Hashimoto, of the W-SC JACL, asked for support of the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism commemorative stamp.
Michael Hoshida, President of the Gilroy JACL, presented the annual Community Service Awards to its dedicated JACLers Ray and Judy Yamagishi.
We thank Kurt Kurasaki, President of San Benito County JACL who planned and organized this year’s wonderful installation. Over 80 enjoyed the delicious lunch and program. Thank you, Inako Johnson, for obtaining cases of Ozeki Sake donated by President Kozo Yamamoto.
We wish to thank Betty Arao, Joe and Christine Bowes, April Goral. Tom Graves, Jeanette Hager, Mas and Marcia Hashimoto, Nancy Iwami, Kitako Izumizaki, Inako and Roland Johnson, Carol Kaneko, Takeshi Kaneko, Kimi Kimura, Victor Kimura, Carter Kimura, Nicole Kimura, Karen Graham-Garcia Kimura, Gary and Cindy Hirokawa Mine, Mike Mikawa, Fred and Betty Oda, Jim and Bobbi Jo Palmer, Sam and Yaeko Sakamoto, Phil Shima, Ben and Yoko Umeda, and Iwao Yamashita for attending this year’s installation.
OUR “2010 DAY OF REMEMBRANCE”
We are grateful to the 100 attendees from the Monterey Bay region who gathered on Sun. Feb. 22, 2010 in Salinas to participate in our annual Day of Remembrance Observance. The members and friends of the five Monterey Bay area JACL chapters—Gilroy, Monterey Peninsula, Salinas Valley, San Benito County, and W-SC--have respectfully observed the event at the site of the “Salinas Assembly Center, April 27, 1942 to July 4, 1942” for the past 30 years.
A steady drizzle canceled the outdoor dedication of the new Memorial plaque at the Japanese American Memorial Garden.
The program began indoors where Shari Higashi, Vice President of the host SV JACL, welcomed everyone.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Casey Kawahira, President of the SV Jr. JACL.
A long time friend, Rev. George Doyal of the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church, delivered the invocation.
The new bronze plaque to commemorate the Day of Remembrance Memorial Garden was presented by Chairman Paul Ichiuji of the SV JACL who was assisted by Casey Kawahira and Kyle Gilbert of the SV Jr. JACL (photo above). The plaque will compliment the California Historical Marker that was dedicated on Feb. 19, 1984. Yes, that was 26 years ago!
W-SC JACLer Joe Bowes, a retired California Highway Patrol Officer, was presented with a gift for his devotion to our garden. He made 223 concrete pegs to replace the disintegrating wooden pegs of dry river bed in the Day of Remembrance Memorial Garden.
Joe and Gary Mine visit the garden to clean it before major community events in Salinas. Bonsai sensei Iwao Yamashita prunes the trees and other plants of this beautiful Japanese styled garden on a regular basis. All are W-SC JACL board members.
The members listened with great interest to keynote speaker, Greg Marutani, a member of the National JACL Education Committee and the SF JACL, who spoke on “The Art of Gaman.” He, and other interested parties, have been gathering original artifacts and the stories behind the artifacts which were made by the internees while in “camp” during World War II. He expressed his gratitude to the SV JACL when its members brought forth artifacts for recording.
He treated everyone to the premiere showing an 18-minute DVD, “The Art of Gaman.” This outstanding DVD featured author Delphine Hirasuna; Jane Oka; Hedy Oka-Matsuno; Kimi Kodani Hill, granddaughter of Chiura Obata; Ruth Okimoto, PhD and former Poston III internee; and Jimi Yamaichi, Tule Lake internee and curator of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose.
Reporter Kimber Solana of the Salinas Californian covered the event with this front page article:
Mas Hashimoto was only 6 years old when he was sent to the Salinas Rodeo grounds to live in a horse stable for three months.
"They called it the Salinas Assembly Center," he said. "But they really should have called it the Salinas Prison Camp, because that's what it was."
Hashimoto was one of 3,608 Japanese and Japanese Americans who stayed at the Assembly Center (the same site where the arena for the California Rodeo Salinas sits today) waiting to be placed in one of ten, major concentration camps during World War II.
Now 74, the Watsonville historian and retired teacher joined about 85 people at the Salinas Community Center to remember one of the hardest times for many Japanese Americans living on the West Coast.
It was Feb. 19, 1942 — about two months after the attack on Pearl Harbor — when President Franklin D Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, forcing more than 120,000 Japanese Americans to stay in 10 internment camps placed around in the U.S.
"But the camps weren't built yet," recalled Lawson Sakai, president of Friends & Family of Nisei Veterans. "So everyone was put in temporary housing, an assembly center ... basically a prison. They were guarded by U.S. soldiers and had bare necessities."
Hashimoto remembers that his father had just died before he came to the Salinas Assembly Center with his family. And during a freak accident, he said, his 14-year-old older brother became one of two deaths at the Assembly Center while playing baseball.
"A train then came, took 500 at a time, and took us to Poston, Ariz.," he said.
It's in Arizona, Hashimoto said, where he lived for three years and three months. His brother's ashes were left in Salinas, he said.
During Sunday's event, young and old attended the annual Japanese American Citizens League's Day of Remembrance — 68 years after the initial order. Representatives from the JACL chapters in Gilroy, Monterey Peninsula, Salinas Valley, San Benito Co. and Watsonville-Santa Cruz attended.
Keynote speaker Greg Marutani presented a video that featured artwork from the Art of Gaman exhibit due to open at the Renwick Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. It showcased the artwork Japanese Americans created to pass time during their stay at the camps.
Event committee chairman Paul Ichiuji presented a plaque that will be added to a garden of memories situated near the Rodeo grounds.
"Sharing our stories is what this is really about," Sakai said. "From the immigrant of the Japanese people to the day of Dec. 7 and on, we let people know what happened to the Japanese people."
For Hashimoto, he remembers the years he spent in Salinas and Arizona as a time of "great racism" on the West Coast, citing that about 158,000 people of Japanese decent living in Hawaii were left alone by the U.S. government.
However, although it's important to not forget those days, Hashimoto said he's happy those days are long gone.
"We live in one of the most progressive parts in the country," he said. "A lot of changes have taken place."
2010 JAPANESE CULTURAL FAIR
The 2010 Japanese Cultural Fair in Santa Cruz will be held on Saturday, June 19, at the Mission Plaza Park, Santa Cruz. Admission is free.
2010 JACL COMMUNITY PICNIC
The 2010 JACL’s Annual Community Picnic will be held on Saturday, June 26, at the Aptos Village Park.
Major Events for 2009
75th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Please read our coverage of the 75th Anniversary celebration by clicking onto “Newsletter,” “JACL Newsletter November 2009.
Installation of Officers Luncheon
On Sunday, January 25,
the installation of the 2009 officers of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz, Gilroy, and San Benito County JACL
Chapters took place before 80 attendees at the Masonic Hall, 380 W. Dunne Ave. in Morgan Hill, CA. Keynoter
was Congressman Mike Honda, and special guest speaker was 442nd RCT veteran Lawson Sakai. Retired Superior
Court Judge Joseph Biafore, Jr. installed the officers.
Seated: National President Larry Oda, Judge Joseph Biafore, Congressman Mike Honda, W-SC JACL President
Marcia Hashimoto, and Mas Hashimoto. Back row: Carol Kaneko, Paul Kaneko, Jeanette Hager, Victor Kimura,
Cindy Mine, Iwao Yamashita, Kimiko Kimura, Joe Bowes, Gary Mine, Tosh Tanaka, and David Kadotani.
Absent were board members April Goral, Philip Shima, and Bobbi Jo Palmer.
The San Benito County JACL Chapter will host the 2010 installation on Sunday, January 24, 2010.
The Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL Senior Center Meetings
The Seniors meet on Thursdays from 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm at the Tokushige Kizuka JACL Hall, 150 Blackburn Street, Watsonville, CA 95076.
Mr. Tokushige Kizuka started the Senior Center in 1971 as a weekly gathering place for our aging Issei pioneers who
were now retired. They first met at the Hayashi boarding house at 27 First Street. Needing a larger and more permanent
meeting place, Mr. Kizuka initiated a proposal to have the JACL establish a community center. The old Toyo Hall on Union
Street had been deeded to the Watsonville JACL. In 1977, Mr. Kizuka got the JACL to start a fund-raising campaign to buy
a vacated Christian church on Blackburn Street. Combined with the sale of Toyo Hall, the JACL's successful campaign was
completed, and the hall was dedicated in 1985.
Today, our Senior Center members, retired and semi-retired, number nearly 80 members. Nineteen are 90 years of age and older.
Each week 50 to 60 members regularly attend to sing God Bless America in honor and memory of Kate Smith, the singer who supported
the Nikkei community during World War II, and to play friendly games of bingo. Each month birthdays are celebrated with cake and
ice cream on the third Thursdays. All the major holidays are celebrated, including New Year's, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Hanamatsuri,
Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Bonenkai (year-end) Party. Special one-day trips to historic sites, museums, casinos,
musicals or plays (Lion King, Holiday on Ice skating) and longer trips (Las Vegas, Branson, Manzanar, et al) are enjoyed by the Seniors.
The Senior Center members are very active, and all are welcome to join. For membership and more information, contact Carol Kaneko at
(831) 476-7040, or email at tsktsk_95062@yahoo.com.
Senior Center elders, front: Ray Sako (92), George Hoshiyama (97), Masako Miura (94), Sueko Okamura (95), Fujiye Idemoto (94),
Louise Sako (91), Frances Hoshiyama (92), Olive Yamakuchi (91), and Lorraine Enomoto (91). Back: Nancy Iwami (93),
Yoshino Matano (93), Haruko Yoshii (91), Miye Yamashita (90), and John Tsukiji (91). Absent: Masano Yamashita (96),
and Hiroko Shikuma (94).
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OBSERVANCE
Nearly 100 attended this year’s event on Feb. 22, 2009, at the Salinas Community Center, site of the Salinas Assembly Center of 1942. With Kurt Kurasaki of the San Benito County JACL as the host and Tony Boch serving as the master of ceremonies, the observance was celebrated in fine style.
Rev. Andy Rasuch of the Northminister Presbyterian Church, substituting for Rev. George A Doyal, gave the invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Gordon Nakagawa, retired Vietnam War veteran.
Mr. Jojiro Takano spoke of the plans for the Military Intelligence Service Historic Learning Center in Building 640, Crissy Field, Presidio of San Francisco, with the completion date set for Nov. 1, 2011, exactly 70 years after the establishment of this top secret language school in 1941. MIS veteran, Marvin Uratsu, related the personal struggles experienced by the MIS soldiers in the combat zone.
Historian Emeritus of Cabrillo College, Sandy Lydon, carefully outlined the many important projects of historical significance in and around the Monterey Bay region. They included the Gilroy Hot Springs, the Castroville Japanese Language School, the Redman-Hirahara House, the history of the Salinas Valley Nikkei, the Monterey Maritime Museum, and the reenactment of the 1942 evacuation.
We are grateful to the many JACLers from all five chapters who baked cookies and brewed the tea and coffee. They were so good and tempting; participants began munching before the program began!
Next year, the Salinas Valley JACL Chapter will host this event on Sunday, February 28, and we look forward to their presentation.
The clean-up crew from the five JACL chapters at the Salinas Assembly Center’s California State Historic Marker.
JAPANESE CULTURAL FAIR REFLECTIONS
by Carol Kaneko
The 23rd annual Santa Cruz Japanese Cultural Fair took place on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Mission Plaza Park, Aikido of Santa Cruz Dojo on Mission
Street, and the Zen Center on School Street. The fair, one of the most comprehensive presentations of Japanese culture on the Central Coast, was
attended by thousands of enthusiastic people interested in learning about Japanese culture and experiencing all things Japanese.
Performances this year included: Watsonville Taiko, San Jose Kendo, Kagami Kai’s Mochitsuki, Akebono Kai, Rakugo by Toshiro Suzuki from Shingu,
Marimo Kai, Bon Odori by Chieko, Okinawan Dance by Ohtori Kinsen-Kai, and San Francisco Taiko Dojo.
Martial arts demonstrations were ongoing at Aikido of Santa Cruz, and the Zen Center had demonstrations
of ikebana, kimono dressing, bonsai, and tea ceremony.
Our JACL chapter was again a co-sponsor of the event, and our booth sold delicious strawberries, organic cucumbers, hot and cold green tea, and new,
this year, were three types of bento boxes prepared by Aloha Island Grille. The event was very successful for our chapter and brought together a
fun-loving group of JACL members who manned the booth, increased our chapter’s visibility in the community, and raised some much needed funds.
Thanks to the many friends and local businesses that generously donated to our booth: Paul Tao for organic strawberries; General Manager Tom
Simmons of Watsonville Berry Bowl Co-op; Bill Kajihara and Steve Kajihara; and Driscoll’s Strawberries for strawberries; and Nagamine Farm for
the organic cucumbers.
Many thanks to the following people who worked at our JACL booth: Jeanette Hager, Kimi and Jenny Kimura, Victor Kimura, Joe Bowes, Phil Shima,
Bobbi Jo Palmer, Marcia and Mas Hashimoto, April Goral, Cindy and Gary Mine (also for donating ice), Tosh Tanaka, Takeshi Kaneko, and Carol Kaneko.
Thanks to Iwao Yamashita for bringing several bonsai trees for display and to Phil Shima for making two beautiful signs and taking photos. A very
special thank you goes to Joe Bowes for providing the transportation to and from Watsonville for all our equipment and supplies, and to Gary and
Cindy Mine and Victor Kimura for helping load and unload the truck.
Again we thank Milo Yoshino and Tomoko Roudebush of Diablo Valley JACL for representing the Asian American Donor Registry Program and being part of
our JACL booth. They underestimated the amount of interest in their program as they ran out of their swab kits and could not register all who were
interested.
Spotted having fun at the fair were George and Frances Hoshiyama, Inako and Roland Johnson, Jim Palmer, Mitsuyo Tao, Paul and Kim Tao and family,
Jean Akiyama, and Hide Nagamine.
To everyone: Domo Arigato! See you next year, same time, same place!!
JACL 2009 COMMUNITY PICNIC REPORT
by Marcia Hashimoto
On behalf of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL, I would like to thank everyone who helped, donated to, and attended our annual community picnic
on Sat. June 27, 2009, at the Aptos Village Park. Nearly 200 participants enjoyed the beautiful, fun-filled day which included a variety of races
for children and parents; exciting free bingo for our Seniors; a terrific performance by our Watsonville Taika, a fabulous BBQ chicken lunch with
strawberry shortcake and ice cream: jon ken pon contest; and an outstanding raffle.
For many years, Glenn and Judy Nagamine have conscientiously taken care of all the details and preparation of our lunch. The
tremendous amount of time and effort they put forth before, during, and after this event is remarkable, and we are most grateful to Glenn and Judy.
We also extend our thanks to the following committee members and friends whose assistance made this year's picnic marvelous in every way.
Paul, Kim, Melissa and Alex Tao; Sara Nagamine; Paul, Carol and Takeshi Kaneko; Joe Bowes; Tosh Tanaka; Jeanette Hager; Iwao Yamashita;
Sunao Honda; Bobbi Jo and Jackie Palmer; Cindy and Gary Mine; Kimi and Jenny Kimura; Victor and Carter Kimura; David and Jeanni Kadotani;
Dr. Stuart Sakuma; Chiye, Bobby and Nancy Tamaki; Phil 5hima; Aimee Mizuno; Debbe Chan; and Mas Hashimoto.
To anyone who helped or donated whose name was unintentionally omitted, I apologize. Please contact me at (831) 722-6859 or email
hashi79@sbcgobal.net.
2009 PICNIC Donations
We are extremely grateful for the generous donations from, the following individuals, businesses, and
organizations to our picnic and raffle.
We encourage everyone to support the businesses listed:
A Nagamine Nursery, Akira and Glenn Nagamine
Art Hayashi, DDS
Bonnie Chihara
Clyde and Kimi KiMura
East Lake Village Hardware, Rodney Misumi
Eugene and Emiko Hirano
Flowers by Tashi, Ryoko Kozuki, www.flowersbytoshi.com/
Gary and Cindy Mine
Hong Kong Garden II
Imura Restaurant, Jee Kajihara
Inako and Roland Johnson
JACL Senior Center
Jim and Bobbi Jo Palmer
Jiro and Jane Sugidono
JoAnn and Tad Kato
Kato Cut Flowers, www.katocutflowers.com
Mas and Marcia Hashimoto
Miyukl Restaurant, Yasuo and Janet Sakaguchi
Ozeki Sake USA, Inc. Kozo Yamamoto, President
Paul and Kim Tao
Shiatsu Clinic, Ben and Chiyoe Yamaguchi
Tamaki Sisters--Chiye and Mabel Broader
Union Bank of California, Irene Recht, V. P.
Victor Kimura
Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL
Willie and Joanne Yahiro
Yamashita Market, Goro Yamashita
Special thanks to the donors of our raffle grand prize, a Sony 32" flatscreen TV:
Dr. Gerald Kondo
Dr. Brooke Kondo
Dr. Reed and Nancy Kuratomi
David and Jeanni Kadotani
Yukio and Edna Nagata.
The lucky winners are
Gary and Cindy Mine.
The support and participation of our community at this annual family event are appreciated. We look
forward to seeing you at our picnic next year on Sat. June 26, 2010, at the Aptos Village Park.
PACIFIC RIM FILM FESTIVAL (PRFF)
The Watsonville-Santa Cruz JACL is the proud sponsor of the film, Patsy Mink: Ahead of the
Majority, which will be shown twice--once in Watsonville and again at the Rio Theatre in Santa
Cruz. It is the story of the late Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii, who was the first woman of
color elected to the House of Representatives in 1965. She was the driving force behind Title IX, the
landmark legislation that transformed women’s opportunities in high education and in athletics.
She fought racism and sexism in business and in government. She was “ahead of the majority (women were
in the majority but treated like a minority). A woman for all the people, she was a pioneer, a patriot,
and, at one time, an outcast. She furthered the ideals and the spirit of Americanism. We encourage
everyone to view this film with their family.
George Ow Family Properties and the PRFF Steering Committee proudly announce the 21st film
festival’s schedule of films—from Fri. October 16th through Wed. Oct. 21st. Check www.pacificrimfilmfestival.org for the films’ synopses.
All the presentations are FREE OF CHARGE (thanks to the generous support of many local
organizations and businesses) and seating is on a “first-come, first-served” basis. The final film of
the film festival, Toward Living Pono, will be a benefit presentation. Tax deductible
donations are appreciated and can be made payable to Pacific Rim Film Festival and mailed to P. O. Box
8220, Santa Cruz, CA 95061.
Schedule of Films for 2009
Fri. Oct. 16—Del Mar Theatre, SC
7 pm The Third Wave, (USA ‘07, 96”)
9:30 pm Up the Yangtsze, (Canada ‘07, 93”)
Sat. Oct. 17—Del Mar Theatre, SC
1 pm Cave of the Yellow Dog (Mongolia/Germ, ‘05, 93”)
4 pm The Third Wave
7 pm Tuya’s Marriage (China ‘06, 96”)
9:15 pm Like a Virgin (S. Korea, ‘06, 116”)
Watsonville Center, Cabrillo College
6:30 pm Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority (USA ’08, 57”)
8 pm Sleep Dealer (US/Mex. ’08, 90”)
Sun. Oct. 18—Del Mar Theatre
1 pm Treeless Mountain (USA/S. Korea ’08, 89”)
4 pm All About Dad (USA, ’09, 90’)
7 pm Sin Nombre (USA/Mex. ’08, 96”)
9:15 pm Cave of the Yellow Dog
Mon. Oct. 19—Del Mar Theatre
1 pm Up the Yangtze
4 pm Gone Shopping (Singapore, ’07, 100”)
7 pm Calavera Highway (USA, ’07, 83”)
9:15 pm Ping Pong Playa (USA, ’07, 96”)
Tues. Oct. 20—Rio Theatre
2 pm Patsy Mink: Ahead of the Majority
3 pm Hawai’i: A Voice for Sovereignty (USA, 83’)
7 pm Black Grace (New Zealand, ’07, 56”)
8:15 pm Water (Canada/India, ’05, 117’)
Wed. Oct. 21—Rio Theater, 1205 Soquel Ave.,
7 pm Toward Living Pono, (60”) stars Jason Scott Lee;
Hawaiian Halau performance.
PRFF’s only benefit movie.
$15 tickets are available at Bookshop Santa Cruz, Logos Books and Records, and Aloha Island
Grille and brownpapertickets.com.
Our 75th Anniversary Celebration (1934-2009)
Please join us for this special luncheon event which will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2009 at the Seascape Golf Course,
610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos, CA 95003. Program plans are underway carrying out the theme, Honoring Our Past … Defining Our Future.
Further details will be forthcoming. For more information, please call Marcia Hashimoto at (831) 722-6859 or
email at hashi79@sbcglobal.net.
Other Chapter Activities and Programs
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For the Sake of the Children--an on-going effort to interview and document as a historical record the life stories of our Nikkei seniors.
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Teacher Training Workshops on the internment.
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Speaker's Bureau: Retired high school social studies teacher and former internee, JACLer Mas Hashimoto, makes frequent presentations to
students (elementary to college age) regarding the evacuation during WWII and the importance of protecting our civil rights. Support is
through the chapter's "Day of Remembrance Education Fund." Call Mas at (831) 722-6859 or email at hashi79@sbcglobal.net.
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Chapter Newsletter. Comprehensive, informative, monthly newsletter. Click onto Newsletters.
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Monitoring of Civil Rights and Constitutional Issues.
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Youth Group.
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Disaster Relief. Assist people affected by personal, local, or regional tragedies or events.
Major Awards and Accomplishments
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First to present diplomas to the Nisei graduates of Watsonville High School’s Class of 1942 with graduation ceremony on June 12, 1942.
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Reenactment of the 1942 Evacuation--Liberty Lost . . . Lessons in Loyalty, April 27, 2002. Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and
Agriculture’s Special Event of the Year. DVD of the event is available for a donation to the Day of Remembrance Education Fund.
Email Mas Hashimoto at hashi79@sbcglobal.net.
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Assisted in the Emmy Award winning production by KTEH-TV, a PBS station, on Return to the Valley, the story of our homecoming in 1945.
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Assisted in the restoration of the Castroville Japanese School project in Monterey County.
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Veteran Recognition-Development of a WW II Nisei Veteran's Honor Roll dedicated on November 10, 2002 which lists over 200 Nisei veterans
who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. This "Honor Roll" measures 3' by 6' and is on display in Kizuka JACL Hall in Watsonville.
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Organized and sponsored the screenings and discussions of the film: A Most Unlikely Hero-the Bruce Yamashita Story in Watsonville and
Santa Cruz on April 17, 2004.
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JACL Chapter of the Biennium, 2004 Honolulu National JACL Convention.
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2004 Japanese-American of the Biennium: Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, co-author of Farewell to Manzanar, Honolulu National
JACL Convention.
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Veteran Recognition-Development of a WW II Nisei Veteran's Honor Roll dedicated on November 10, 2002 which lists over 200 Nisei veterans
who served in the Armed Forces during World War II. This "Honor Roll" measures 3' by 6' and is on display in Kizuka JACL Hall in Watsonville.
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JACLer of the Biennium: Mas Hashimoto, 2004, Honolulu National JACL Convention.
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Performance of Camp Dance: The Music & the Memories by the Grateful Crane Ensemble, in Watsonville on April 2, 2005.
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Brought the talents of Watsonville native, cartoonist Jack Matsuoka, Poston II, Block 211 to the Santa Cruz County Fair in September
of 2005 to the delight of thousands of children and fairgoers.
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Support of cultural activities such as Kokoro no Gakko (cultural summer school for youth), Watsonville Taiko, and
Watsonville Bonsai Club.
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Future Events
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