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Gardena Valley
Newsletter of the
Spring 2015
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
Bring the Family for a Fun Filled Day at the
2015 GVJCI Carnival-Matsuri!
June 27 & 28, 2015
Saturday, noon to 9:00 pm
Sunday, noon to 7:00 pm
Food
Games
Indoor/Outdoor Entertainment
Martial Arts Demonstrations
Hourly Raffle Drawings
Cultural Arts Displays
Hands-on Activities
Nursery & Produce Sale
Crafts & White Elephant Sale
Bingo
Please come out and support one of our most
popular fundraising events
Food & Game booths—Where the FUN
begins! Community organizations and classes
that are housed at GVJCI lend their volunteer
support to run a variety of booths, which
includes fun games for the young and old—
Jingle Board, Basketball, Pachinko, Bingo &
a photo booth! Mouthwatering dishes will be
sold from udon, cold somen, teriyaki, yakisoba,
imagawayaki, chili hot dogs & rice, tamales,
chashu bao, spam musubi, to Okinawa andagi,
lau lau, and shave ice. We are excited to offer
boba drinks, iced coffee, and a new tamale
dish this year!
Performances— Grab some food, relax and be
entertained by the many classes and programs
held at the GVJCI! Taiko, hula, ‘ukulele, line
dancing, as well as, guest performers will
perform throughout the weekend.
Martial Arts Demonstrations— Come and
observe the various martial artists in action!
GVJCI’s martial arts classes will be featured
each day: Shotokan Karate, Naginata, Judo,
Kendo, Shorinji Kempo, Kyudo Renmei.
Outdoor Nursery and Produce Sale— Visit
GVJCI’s own Farmer’s Market! Supporting
nurseries and produce businesses generously
donate fresh vegetables, fruits, and beautiful
plants for our Carnival-Matsuri sale. Come see
what we have!
Cultural Arts— Japanese Language School
students’ display, senior’s art and crafts, and
children’s art will be displayed in the upstairs
classrooms. Come and visit the origami handson activities creating fun and innovative shapes
by folding paper.
The Bridge: JCI Heritage Center— Pay a
visit and come see what we have upstairs!
Visit our Japanese and Japanese American
cultural heritage library, computer interactive
educational games, & special tokonoma display.
Once again, the CERT & GEPRC community
organizations will be hosting a booth upstairs.
Come learn about disaster preparedness &
basic first aid. They will have FREE giveaways
too! Finally, once again there will be a PONG
tournament! Bring your friends and sign up
upstairs!
Bingo— Try your luck at Bingo! Games begin
at 5pm on Saturday, and 4pm on Sunday with
chances to win cash prizes!
Raffle Prize Drawings— Don’t forget to turn in
your raffle stubs! The raffle is held hourly on
both days of the Carnival-Matsuri, with prizes
being donated by various businesses and
individuals throughout the community. Drawing
winners need not be present to win.
Presale-Carnival Coupon Books— Come by
& purchase your tickets! Tickets are currently
being sold by GVJCI programs and supporting
organizations, as well as, the GVJCI office for
$10 per book prior to the Carnival-Matsuri. The
ten $1.00 coupons can be used as scrip at
all carnival booths, as well as raffle drawings
eligibility.
For information and coupon books purchase,
call GVJCI office at 310-324-6611 or email
[email protected].
In This Newsletter...
GVJCI News............................. 2
Community News.................... 2
Of Interest to All...................... 3
Youth Programs...................... 5
Senior Programs..................... 6
Raffle Donations Needed
GVJCI is looking for a variety of prize donations
from individuals and businesses for the hourly
GVJCI Carnival-Matsuri raffle drawings. Prize
donors will be identified at the time of prize
drawings or remain anonymous upon request.
Please contact the GVJCI Office, if you would
like to donate prizes for these drawings.
Also needed are handicraft items for our Crafts
booth, and new, UNUSED items for the White
Elephants booth. We will begin to take such
donations in May. Please bring all items by
Friday, June 12th to the GVJCI Office.
Itadakimasu!
We are excited to partner with a
Japanese “Home Style Cooking” Restaurant! @ Home Kitchen has an array
of delicious dishes from tempura, sushi,
sashimi, bento boxes, to name just a
few! Mark your calendars for our next
restaurant fundraiser!
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
2:00pm – 11:00pm
@ Home Kitchen
16814 S. Vermont Ave.
Gardena, Ca. 90247
PLEASE NOTE: You will need to present
a flyer with your order. You can either
come by the front office to pick one up,
or visit our website at jci-gardena.org.
The parking lot is small. Take out may
be ideal. CASH ONLY establishment.
Thank you for your continued support!
Community News &
GVJCI News
GVJCI Board Welcomes Newest Members
The
GVJCI
Board
of
Directors is pleased to
welcome two new members,
Richard Ames (right) and
Steven Awakuni (left).
Gardena Nisei Memorial VFW Post 1961
Message from Steve Moriyama, Commander
Aloha Everyone, On behalf of the officers and members of the
Gardena Nisei Memorial Post 1961, we congratulate C/Col
Courtney Gregoire of Verdugo Hills High School JROTC for the
outstanding job she did representing us, the LAUSD JROTC
Program and the 4th District VFW. C/Col Gregoire was one of
fifteen students, VIP’s and chaperones attending the Voice of
Democracy Scholarship Program competition in Sacramento,
California.
C/Col Gregoire’s written and oral essay on “Why Veterans are
Important to our Nation’s History and Future” was selected to
represent the 4th District from approximately 150 entries.
The festivities began with a Dinner hosted by the Nisei VFW
Post 8985, commanded by Loren Ishii. The time-honored
welcoming dinner was started many years ago when Comrade
Jim Suzuki, Department Voice of Democracy Chairman and
Comrade Shig Shimazu, Nisei Post 8985’s Voice of Democracy
Chairman, began having the Sacramento Nisei VFW Post
host the dinner for the Department’s Voice of Democracy
Contestants.
After a fun-filled day, she attended the Voice of Democracy
Banquet Friday evening, where she was escorted by 4th District
Commander, Lamont Duncan and 4th District Ladies Auxiliary
President, Sharonda Lewis. At the awards ceremony, C/Col
Gregoire learned the judges were so impressed and inspired
by her presentation, that she was named one of the top five
finalists in the State of California. (Her entry was one of the top
five entries from approximately 3,000 entries considered, state
wide).
Congratulations C/Col Gregoire, thank you for so graciously
representing us. We salute and wish you success in all you
set out to do.
We are now conducting meetings on the third Saturday of the
month at the Blue Star Restaurant, located in Los Angeles near
the Patriotic Hall. In order to form car pools to the Blue Star
Restaurant, we meet at the GVJCI at 9:30 am. We have an
excellent five star buffet lunch at 11:00 am and conduct an
informal meeting directly after. If you are interested in attending
please contact me. (contact information listed below). Our
next meeting will be on April 18, 2015 @ 11:00 am.
Once again, we would like to express our appreciation to the
Ladies of the VFW Women’s Club for all their support. We
appreciate all you do for us. Also, we would like to extend our
thanks and appreciation to the staff of the Gardena Valley
Japanese Cultural Institute for their support and patience with us.
Information regarding Voice of Democracy courtesy of:
LTC, U.S. Army (Retired) Robert Huntly, LAUSD JROTC
Programs
Steve Milano, Department of California VOD Chairman
Loren Ishii, Commander, Nisei Post 8985, Sacramento, CA
Lamont Duncan, Commander, 4th District VFW, Department
of California, Post 2122
Milton Laughlin, VOD South, Chairman, 4th District VFW,
Department of California, Post 7243
Contact information for Post 1961:
Steve Moriyama, 1127 W 213th Street, Torrance, CA 90502.
Tel: 310-533-8987, Email: [email protected]
2
Richard Ames is a Vice
President, Private Banking/
Relationship
Banking
and
Financial
Planning for Union Bank.
He brings over 25 years of
banking experience to the board serving on the Finance Committee. His prior
board experience includes the South Bay Chapter of the Japanese American
Citizens League. Richard was born in Connecticut to U.S. Navy Captain
(ret.) Richard and Tatsue (Tanaka) Ames. He speaks Japanese fluently and
understands some French. Richard and his wife, Hiroco, have two children,
ages 14 and 18.
“I believe the Japanese culture is the most precious and it must be
preserved. That is a task not simply accomplished, especially if acting
alone. I hope my voice can add strength to this commitment in light of
the diverse society we live in.”
Steven Awakuni is a partner in the law firm of Torii & Awakuni, L.L.P., in
Torrance. He continues to be appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court
to represent individuals in conservatorship matters. He also served as a
volunteer prosecutor for the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office and senior
vice president of Pacific Heritage Bank and California Federal Bank. He brings
his extensive legal and banking expertise to the board serving on the Finance
Committee. His prior board experience includes the Japanese American
Cultural and Community Center, the Japanese American Optimist Club and
the Japanese American Optimist Club Foundation. Steven has a long list of
community involvement and currently serves on the City of Gardena Rent
Arbitration Panel. Steven and his wife, Sharon, have two children, one in
college and one in graduate school.
“I do have a long history with the JCI. During the fundraising campaign
for the 2-story building, I served on the Sensei Committee, headed by
Karl Nobuyuki. I actually worked at the JCI on a grant funded by Los
Angeles County as a youth liaison back in the early 70’s… My goal is to
start taking off work on Thursday afternoon to play ukulele at the GVJCI.”
2015 GVJCI Raffle Winners
The GVJCI would like to thank everyone who generously purchased raffle
tickets or who made additional donations. Once again, the money raised
through the raffle went towards our building fund. Your support helped to fund
a new roof for our Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall building…thank you!
This year we are happy to report, through your generosity, we exceeded last
year’s totals. The net raffle proceeds were $17,425 with $29,706 in additional
donations! Once again, thank you for your support!
Congratulations to the 2015 raffle winners! The drawing took place on January
30th during our Senior January Birthday program and bento.
1st Prize $1000: Setsue Iinuma
2nd Prize $500: Jim Morishige
3rd Prize $250: Robin Arakaki
4th Prize $250: Myrtle Kaneshiro
3
Of Interest to All
May 7th- June 18th
Sansei Stories
Write and tell your
Sansei Story.
As the Sansei
generation approaches (or has
reached, or has
gone beyond) the
Golden Years, it’s
time to record
and memorialize
the experiences
of these Sansei Baby Boomers. The stories
could be about anything; stories about
growing up in East LA, West LA, Crenshaw,
Gardena, about dances, cars, music,
college, the 60’s, about getting married (or
not), having children (or not), about taking
care of aging Nisei parents. The sky’s the
limit!
This 6-week workshop is designed to help
new and experienced writers develop an
idea, character or story about the Sansei.
Each session includes a warm-up writing
exercise, reading and discussion of works in
progress. The workshop will culminate in a
public reading of stories.
Although the subject is Sansei, the workshop
is not limited to Sansei; participants can
include anyone with Sansei parents, Sansei
children, or Sansei friends. Class is limited to
8 people, so reserve your spot early!
Workshop will be conducted by Tim Toyama,
award-winning playwright of “Visas And
Virtue,” “Independence Day,” “Memorial
Day,” “Yuri and Malcolm X,” and “Bronzeville.”
Join us from May 7th to June 18th
(Thursdays) from 7 - 9:30 pm in the 2nd floor
Classroom #202. The fee for this class is
$30.00. Register with Michelle Yamashiro at
[email protected] or call
310-324-6611.
May 9th
Mottainai: Think Green!
The Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) &
Sustainable Little Tokyo will come together
for the “Mottainai: Think Green!” workshop.
In conjunction with “Energy Upgrade CA”,
we will present different energy saving tips,
as well as, culturally sensitive ways to waste
less and make your life more “green”. We
will also be discussing what small changes
are being made to make Little Tokyo more
green, and a fun Do-It-Yourself green
project! Being Sustainable doesn’t end in
Little Tokyo!
Join us for this “green” workshop on Saturday,
May 9th at 2 pm – 4 pm in the GVJCI Nisei
Veterans Memorial Hall.
Admission is
free, but registrations are recommended.
Registrations and questions will be handled
by LTSC at 213- 473-3035.
May 16th
Naomi Hirahara in
Conversation with Amy
Uyematsu
(See Another View From the Bridge on the next page)
May 22nd
Prensa Nikkei Visit: Japanese
Peruvian Culture Exchange
GVJCI is welcoming INTERNATIONAL guests!
Join us on Friday, May 22nd from 10 am – 2
pm in the GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall
to meet, greet, and share with the Japanese
Peruvian group, Prensa Nikkei. They will be
at GVJCI from 10 am – 2 pm and learn more
about the JA history in Gardena. We welcome
anyone who would like to meet and talk with
them at this FREE and wonderful event.
June 7th
Shibori Workshop
Hayashi sensei and her shibori workshop is
back! This time
with a dye called
KUSAKIZOME.
Kusakizome
fabrics are dyed
with plant juices
extracted from
flowers, leaves,
stems and roots.
One large and one standard size silk
handkerchiefs will be provided. This
workshop will take place Sunday, June
7th, 2015 from 1–3 pm in the GVJCI Nisei
Veterans Memorial Hall. The cost for this
workshop (which includes all materials
and dye) will be $25.00. There is only
room for 30 students, so make sure you
sign up quickly before all the spots are taken
up! To sign up, email us at [email protected]
or call us at 310-324-6611.
July – September
Fresh Asian Veggie DropOffs at the GVJCI!
The Asian Pacific
Islander Obesity
Prevention
Alliance (APIOPA)
in partnership with
GVJCI continues
to bring fresh,
sustainably grown,
and pesticide free
Asian produce
to the GVJCI each month through our Roots
Community Supported Agriculture (Roots
CSA) program!Roots CSA, in a nutshell, is a
grassroots program in which we partner with
small local Asian American farmers to bring
fresh Asian produce to local communities
throughout Los Angeles County. The next
growing season to sign up for is July–
September.
Why participate in the Roots CSA program?
•Support small local farmers and get to know
the people who grow your food
•Satisfaction of knowing how your food was
grown and a stronger appreciation of what
it took to grow it (Sustainably, pesticide free,
preservative free, GMO free)
•Reconnect to your food by eating with the
changing seasons, utilizing produce you may
have never used before, and trying out new
recipes!
For more information about Roots CSA please
visit: www.rootscsa.org
How do I sign up for the South Bay CSA program?
To sign up please visit:
www.rootscsa.org/locations/south-bay/
or contact Kyle Tsukahira (APIOPA Program
Coordinator) by email at
[email protected] or by phone
626-872-4801.
June 12th
July 19th
Disaster Preparedness
Workshop
Healthy Eating Cooking
Workshop with APIOPA
Are you prepared if a disaster strikes? Do you
have the supplies you need? Do you know
what to do in the event of a disaster? You will
receive guidance about how to work through
these questions and more. Being prepared
when a disaster happens can give you some
peace of mind before it happens. Be prepared
the next time disaster strikes.
Join us for this free seminar on Friday, June
12th from 1:30 – 3:30 pm in the DISKovery
JCI computer lab located upstairs in the
GVJCI Building. Space is limited; please
call the GVJCI office to reserve a seat at
310-324-6611, or email [email protected].
We are pleased to bring a SECOND cooking
workshop! This time our recipes will allow you
to be a chef as well! We will have HANDS-ON
recipes that you can follow along and make
with us, and eat at the end! The recipes are a
raw Zucchini sushi and Swiss chard wrap! In
addition to these two recipes, we will be giving
out a recipe for pickling Swiss chard stems!
Our Program Manager Michelle Yamashiro
will be leading this workshop and giving you
some more info on healthy veggies and other
healthy eating tips!
The cost for this workshop is only $10.00
and includes all cooking materials! Join us
on Sunday July 19th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
in the GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall!
Register by July 15th.
Of Interest to All cont.
July 22nd
Chirashi Mixer
Are you a young professional looking
to network and meet more young
professionals in the South Bay area?
Come to our first joint Chirashi mixer
with Japan Alliance! This mixer will be
held on Wednesday, July 22nd from
6:30–9 pm in the GVJCI Nisei Veterans
Memorial Hall. In addition to meeting
new people, there will also be some
mini-games and ice breakers, as well
as, raffles! The entry cost for this mixer
is only $15.00 and includes free snacks
and refreshments, and a full Chirashi
plate made by Japan Alliance’s professional Chef. Come join
our Chirashi mixer for a mix of seafood and a mix of people!
New Taiko Classes with PROTA Taiko!
Join our new community taiko class taught by Prota Taiko.
Prota is a ragtag ensemble of taiko performers based in the
Los Angeles area. With diverse backgrounds and experiences,
Prota strives to bring innovative, high-energy taiko performance
to a wide variety of venues―
parties, festivals, banquets,
and any other event without
noise restrictions!
Prota members hail from
taiko groups all over the
country: UCLA Kyodo Taiko,
UCI Jodaiko, Stanford
Taiko, Yukai Daiko, and
Cornell Yamatai. Their experience levels range from a few
years to more than a decade, and they are constantly pushing
the boundaries of what taiko means to them.
Taiko classes are every Saturday in the GVJCI Nisei
Veterans Memorial Hall from 1–3 pm. Class fees are $40.00
for an entire month, what a steal!
For more information email
Michelle Yamashiro at: [email protected]
SSJAM
Second Sunday JAM Sessions
Join us on the second Sunday of each month for our Second
Sunday Jam Session, or SSJAM. You will experience music,
spoken word performances, and other forms of art. Artists
will range from seasoned professionals to amateurs; music
will range from classical to contemporary. If you have the
performance bug, then come on down and be a part of the
show!
We will be having SSJAM on June 14th, July 12th and
August 9th in the GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall from
4–6 pm. Admission is $3.00 per person, $1.00 for students.
Another View from the Bridge
by Debbie Mochidome
We have a busy couple of months coming up at the Bridge!
Here's what we can look forward to:
•Naomi Hirahara in Conversation with Amy Uyematsu
Saturday, May 16th, 2-4 p.m. GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall
Our dear friend, mystery writer, Naomi Hirahara will discuss our community,
identity, writing, and other fascinating topics with our new friend, celebrated
L.A. poet, Amy Uyematsu. Naomi's latest book is Grave on Grand Avenue,
her latest mystery featuring LAPD Bicycle Officer, Ellie Rush. This time, an
innocent chat with a gardener leads to a series of unfortunate and mysterious
events that Ellie must unravel. There isn't a lot of information online yet about
Amy's latest poetry collection, The Yellow Door, but I personally love her
poems. To me, they're like koans, complex lessons about life and the world
around us told in a way that's both approachable, and often very cool.
•Sansei Stories
Thursdays, May 7th - June 1st (Also see under the Of Interest to All listing)
Have you ever thought you'd like to write your own life story, but were totally
overwhelmed and stressed out by the process? Then, Tim Toyama's Sansei
Stories class is the place to do it. Under Tim's kind and supportive guidance,
people can start putting bits and pieces of their life experiences together in
writing. I'm having a great time in Tim's class, and you will too. In my opinion,
Tim's topics are interesting—and fun to write about. (So far, I've written
about my grandma's umeboshis and how I got the scar on my chin amongst
other things). We read our stories to our—also very kind and supportive—
classmates, and everyone is welcome to comment (or not) on each other's
work. Highly, highly recommended!
•Tanoshii Tanka
3rd Thursday of each month, 7-9 pm, 2nd Floor Classroom #204, $5.00
per meeting, $3.00 for GVJCI Tomo No Kai members.
Ahhhh, one can never write enough! If you're a poet, or you're a poet and don’t
even know it, our beloved yogini, Genie Nakano's, class will inspire you to
take your ideas and insights and transform them into tanka, a form of classical
Japanese poetry. I've taken a class and thought it would be hard and maybe
intimidating, but it totally wasn't! Genie is an excellent teacher who makes the
whole tanka-writing process comfortable for everyone, and she nurtures and
encourages you every step of the way. No, you don't have to write about Mt.
Fuji and cherry blossoms—though you can if you want to ☺—people have
written about their dogs, missed connections with enigmatic strangers, and in
my case, a pair of shoes. Just bring a pen, a notebook, and your imagination!
•Friends of the Bridge Book Club
Wednesday, May. 6, 7-9 p.m., 2nd Floor Classroom #208
Join us for our bimonthly gathering—with yummy snacks! We'll be discussing
The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama. This selection was
recommended to us by two of our current BCers, and it concerns a school
where sumotoris refine their wrestling skills. They said it's not just about sumo,
though. Apparently, there's some good ol' romantic stuff going on too (probably
involving the school owner's daughter… I just started the book, so I can't tell
you more). Anyhow, chances are, we'll have a blast just like we did last time,
so come and join us! You can find the book at Barnes and Noble or from
amazon.com. See you then!☺
5
Youth Programs
Homework
Help Thursdays
If your child is in need of
homework help and/or is looking
to improve their academic skills,
join the GVJCI and Girl Scout
Troop 4345 on May 7th, May
21st, and June 14th from
4:30-6:00 pm in room #206
for homework help! We will be
helping students from grades
1st-5th. Tutoring will be done
by middle school and high
school students. This tutoring is FREE! Space is limited to only
15 students, so reserve your spot today!
2015 Camper’s Information
TANOSHII Fun Camp’s mission is to “Promote the Legacy of the Japanese
American Culture and Heritage to our Youth.” Now in its eighth year, the
TANOSHII Fun Camp sponsored by the South Bay JACL and the Gardena
Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) will be held on July 13 to July 17,
2015 at the GVJCI.
Camp hours are from 9am-3pm. Enrollment is open to all students 7 to 10 years
old at the start of camp, and limited to 50 campers.
Camp enrollment fee: $200.00 per camper.
SPACE IS LIMITED, REGISTER NOW at: www.tanoshiifuncamp.org
Camp Counselor’s Information
What are the Requirements to be a Camp Counselor?
•Must be a college student or high school student entering his or
her junior or senior year in the fall of 2015.
•Should have knowledge/experience with Japanese American
culture and heritage.
•Upon acceptance of your application, interviews will be scheduled.
•Must attend 10 hours of training 2 weeks prior to the start of camp.
What are the Camp Counselors’ Responsibilities?
•Must be willing to work with elementary school-aged students and
help promote the legacy of Japanese American culture and heritage.
•Will be assisting in presentations, preparation and execution of activities.
•Will supervise, as well as, serve as mentors and role models for
the campers.
How Do You Apply?
Application for Camp Counselors is posted on our web now at:
www.tanoshiifuncamp.org
For questions, please visit the TANOSHII Fun Camp website at
www.tanoshiifuncamp.org or contact the TANOSHII Camp Director, Ray
Shibata by email at [email protected] or inquire at the JCI Office.
May Deadline for 2015 GVJCI Scholarships
The GVJCI will be awarding scholarships to 2015 high school seniors, and
GVJCI Japanese Language School graduates (may live outside of the
South Bay area). Emphasis will be placed upon GVJCI and other community
involvement, volunteerism, and future goals. High school students must have a
minimum of a 2.5 GPA and have post-secondary educational plans.
Applications will be available on our website: jci-gardena.org. Submission
deadline is May 18, 2015, and award announcements will be made in June
2015 at the GVJCI Carnival-Matsuri.
The annual Gary Hori Memorial Scholarship and other GVJCI scholarship
awards were established in 2004 through generous donations. In addition, a
Gardena Valley Chapter, JACL Scholarship was established in 2013 making
available an annual $1,000 award. Please contact the GVJCI Office if you are
interested in donating to a Legacy Scholarship.
Contact us to register/for more information at: 310-324-6611 or
[email protected]
May 8th Children’s Day
Following our successful girl’s day event, we’re
having a Children’s Day celebration! Children’s
Day, Kodomo no Hi, is traditionally celebrated
on May 5th. Families usually display carpshaped flags (called koinobori), because of a
legend that is about a carp who swam upstream
and became a dragon. Koinobori looks like the
carps are swimming in the wind. Kodomo no
Hi celebrates the happiness of all children.
In celebration of this day, we will be making
colorful koinobori and kites! Csome join us on
Friday, May 8th in the GVJCI Breezeway
(outdoors) from 5-7 PM. You can register
online (at jci-gardena.org) for only $5.00!
Senior Programs
Senior Weekday Bento Program
GVJCI continues to provide bento (Japanese-style box lunch)
Monday through Friday catered by the California Rice Center
(CRC). CRC provides fresh, healthy and delicious Japanese
dishes conveniently packaged for dine-in or take-out orders.
The bento menu includes a main dish (beef sukiyaki, tempura,
inari/futomaki, saba, chicken teriyaki, or salmon, etc.), rice,
vegetables, and tsukemono. Bento price is sold at CRC’s cost
with no mark-up.
Orders for bento must be received 3 business days or more in
advance by coming to GVJCI or calling between 9am to 12pm
Monday to Friday. Pay same day when you receive your bento.
You may eat in or take out. If you do not come to GVJCI by
11:45am that day, your bento will be sold.
Special delivery service available to JCI Gardens Apartment
residents. Please call the GVJCI Office for more information.
Bento Dine-In
11:15am – 12 pm
Bento, with tea and occasional treats served, donations
appreciated.
GVJCI is a Wi-Fi HotSpot.
Tomo No Kai Corner
Thank you to all of the new or renewed 2015 Tomo No Kai (TNK) members
totaling 633 members so far! The annual $10 TNK membership covers the
period of January through December, but you can join at any time during the
year. Age requirement is 50 and above.
Unfortunately due to conflicts in community schedules, we have decided
to cancel the TNK Spring Party this year. But save the date for the annual
Christmas Party on December 5, 2015!
TNK program fees collected from classes, activities, and membership to
GVJCI: $13,337 for 1st quarter 2015.
==========================================================
Established on May 31, 1979, the GVJCI Tomo No Kai or Senior Citizen
Friendship Society was formed to promote and support programs at the
GVJCI for the senior community, as well as, to provide recreational and social
activities, such as, the monthly senior birthday luncheon, and the annual Spring
and Christmas parties. Your membership dues, class participation fees, and
donations support the senior programs and GVJCI facility operations. Thank
you very much for your participation and support! For more information and
class listing, see GVJCI’s website:
http://jci-gardena.org/cc5/prog/seniors/tomo-no-kai/
Chronic Disease Self-Management Program Keiro Lifelong Learning Course
Bento Take-Out
11:15am – 11:45am
**If you do not pick up your bento by 11:45am that day, your
bento will be sold.
The GVJCI is cosponsoring a Keiro Lifelong Learning Course about chronic
disease self-management. Do you have diabetes? Maybe you are bothered
by arthritis. Perhaps you have issues with high blood pressure. Maybe
you are living with another chronic condition. You can learn to manage these
conditions by attending this free six-week course.
To Order
Monday to Friday, 9am – 12pm
Orders or cancellations must be received 3 business days or
more in advance by coming to the GVJCI or calling (310) 3246611.
This course will take place in the GVJCI 2nd Floor Classrooms #207-208
on Wednesdays, April 29th – June 3rd, 9:30 am–12 pm. The workshop is
free, but pre-registration is required. To register, please contact Kanako
Fukuyama at 213-873-5709 or email [email protected]. Students that
attend at least 5 of the 6 sessions will receive a $5 Whole Foods gift card.
Payment
$3.25 bento. Pay same day when you receive your bento.
DISKovery JCI
Birthday Bento & Entertainment Program
(Jan, Mar, May, July, Sept, Nov)
Usually the last Friday at 11am. Dine in and be treated to live
entertainment and complimentary piece of cake provided with
bento order.
Menu
Monthly menus are available at the GVJCI Office or can be
downloaded from our website: jci-gardena.org.
Little Tokyo Service Center Announces Weekly
Social Service Hours in the South Bay
Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) has provided
social services to South Bay residents for
many years through phone assistance,
home visits, workshops, and support groups.
Now, in partnership with the GVJCI, LTSC
will hold weekly office hours to provide oneon-one consultations regarding government
benefits, family concerns, and a variety of other issues.
A bilingual social worker will be available from 10 am to
noon every Thursday at the GVJCI beginning March 26,
2015. Calling in advance for an appointment is highly
recommended, but drop-ins will be seen on a first come,
first served basis as time permits. Please call LTSC’s Social
Services Department at 213-473-3035 for more information or
to make an appointment.
We are excited to inform you that the DISKovery JCI
Computer Lab has a new instructor! Cayme Momita
will be joining us and bringing along her knowledge and
experience with computers and teaching. Welcome
aboard Cayme!
The DISKovery JCI Computer Lab is now seeking
a Japanese translator/teacher assistant. This is a
volunteer position that will require working knowledge of
the Windows operating system. Interested individuals can
contact the GVJCI office at 310-324-6611, or [email protected].
Sign up for a DISKovery JCI computer class and DISKover how to do things on
your computer you always wanted to know how to do. Register at the GVJCI
Office (registration must be made in person). Discounted fees and free
public access hours are available to GVJCI Tomo No Kai members ($10
calendar year membership fee). You can download the current schedule of
classes by pointing your browser to: www.jci-gardena.org/prog/discovery-jci
or visit the GVJCI office for a printed copy.
Downsizing Your Home
As we age, we accumulate many things in our home. Although we know we
need to get organized, it can be overwhelming because of sentimental reasons.
Another challenge can be downsizing from a family home to a smaller home,
apartment, or assisted living facility. On May 30, Little Tokyo Service Center
(LTSC) and Clear Home Solutions, an accredited Senior Move Manager, will
speak about how to downsize and make the transition as easy as possible.
This informative workshop will be in the GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall
on Saturday, May 30th from 2–4 pm. Admission is free, but registrations are
recommended. LTSC will be handling questions and registrations at
213-473-3035.
7
Senior Programs cont.
A New Way to Subscribe
Fall Prevention: It’s A Matter of Balance!
Keiro Vitality Forum
Falls can affect us physically, financially and psychologically.
Fear of falling can limit our activity levels which can lead to
isolation and depression. Learn about risks of falls and how
you can reduce them and manage fear of falling through selfmanagement. Mei Kameda, Program Coordinator at Keiro, will
facilitate this forum.
This Keiro Vitality Forum will take place on Saturday, July 11th
in the GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall from 2–3pm.
Admission is free, but pre-registration is suggested. To
pre-register and for more information, please contact Kanako
Fukuyama at (213) 873-5709 or email [email protected].
Alzheimer’s Association Workshop
Memory Loss & Aging
A New Direction
A New Choice
Learn how memory works, the changes in memory as we age,
and tips on how to maintain and improve memory. Kimiko Kelly,
the Asian Pacific Islander Services & Community Education
Manager of the Alzheimer’s Association California Southland
Chapter, will be our speaker for this presentation. She has
worked with the API community for many years in outreach and
education in various areas of health and wellness.
eNewspaper (online version) of
The Rafu Shimpo (print edition) now available
Subscriptions start at $5.95 per month
This workshop will take place on Saturday, July 18th in
the GVJCI Nisei Veterans Memorial Hall from 2–4 pm.
Admission is free and no reservations are required.
rafu.news.com
1 5 0
Y E a r S
o f
D o i n g
r i g H t
You arE part
of a grEatEr
communitY.
Union Bank® believes in the power of partnerships. That’s why we
partner with communities and organizations to make a positive
difference in the places where we work and live. To us, building a
strong community is the most valuable investment of all.
unionbank.com
©2014 MUFG Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Union Bank is a registered trademark and brand name of MUFG Union Bank, N.A.
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Gardena, CA 90247
PERMIT NO. 75
1964 West 162nd Street
Gardena, California 90247
Phone: (310) 324-6611
Fax: (310) 324-3223
Email: [email protected]
Website: jci-gardena.org
Like & Connect:
www.facebook.com/GVJCI
OR CURRENT OCCUPANT
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community center providing various classes, programs, services,
and facilities to the South Bay area. We also provide affordable housing through the JCI Gardens Apartments, the adjacent senior housing property.
The GVJCI’s roots date back to 1912, when it was known as the Moneta Gakuen, a Japanese language school. In 1967, it was formally incorporated
as the Gardena Valley Japanese Language School. Then, in 1968, the corporation changed its name to the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural
Institute to incorporate the broader services and functions the organization offers. In 1971, Compton Gakuen, Gardena Gakuen, and Moneta Gakuen
merged, opening its doors officially as the GVJCI’s Japanese Language School. The GVJCI has a very proud history spanning over 100 years.
Today, we continue to provide a variety of activities, programs, and services. We are truly fortunate to have an active and well-utilized center serving
people of all ages. We thank you, the community, for your active participation and for your support through donations and volunteerism that enables
the GVJCI to continue.
Mission Statement:
The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute serves the needs of the Japanese American community of the South Bay area through educational,
cultural and social programs by:
• Providing programs and activities, sensitive and relevant, to the needs of our senior citizens and youth;
• Offering use of facilities and support to community organizations which foster the best interests and welfare of the community
• Striving to create an environment for better inter-generational understanding, for perpetuating the ethnic heritage of
Americans of Japanese ancestry, and for promoting cultural pride and respect for all humanity.
Board of Directors
Charlie Oyagi, President
Bob Horii, Vice President
Marilyn Tsuge, Secretary
Miles Akiyama, Treasurer
Richard Ames
Steven Awakuni
Larry Hada
Teri Kuwahara
Jeff Murakami
Helen Nakano
Grant Nakaoka
Cheryl Nakata
Ray Shibata
Emeritus Board of Directors
George Ajioka
Dan Ashimine
Eiji Inouye
Helen Kawagoe
Paul Koshi
Glenn Tachibana
Terry Terauchi
Administration & Program Staff
Alison Kochiyama, Executive Director
Dale Inafuku, Office Manager/Programs & Tech. Specialist
Michelle Yamashiro, Program Manager
Sharon Sawai, Events & Fundraising Coordinator
Facility Staff
Debbie Oba, Facility Operations Manager
Brian Hoshiko, Maintenance Custodian
Yasu Sakamoto, Maintenance Custodian
Gerald Mayewaki, Facility Assistant
Eddie Motonaga, Facility Assistant
Japanese Language School
Larry Hada, Principal
Atsuko Vorreiter, Vice Principal
& Teacher
Kyoko Kawakita, Teacher
& Adult Conversation Teacher
Emily Nelson, Teacher
Naoko Okamoto, Teacher
Sakiko Tokunaga, Teacher
Eriko Yamamoto, Adult Class Teacher
Tomiko Akamine, Clerical
JCI Quarterly Newsletter Layout and Design by Kayleen Segawa