Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Los Angeles

Press Release

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Diane Tanaka
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67TH ANNUAL NISEI WEEK GRAND MARSHAL JACK NAITO AND PARADE MARSHAL AZUMAZEKI OYAKATA ANNOUNCED

(Los Angeles - July 15, 2007) - The Nisei Week Foundation is pleased to announce the 67th Annual Nisei Week Japanese Festival's Grand Parade will be held in Little Tokyo on Sunday, August 19 starting at 6 p.m., later this year to accommodate the spectacular Nebuta float from Aomori, Japan, which is a spectacular, giant 24-foot-long Samurai warrior made out of colorful paper and lit with hundreds of lights. The 2007 Grand Marshal is Jack H. Naito, chairman of SBD Group, Inc., and long-time community leader, especially in the Orange County area. The Parade Marshal is Azumazeki Oyakata, a pioneer and sumo legend in Japan and Hawaii who formerly competed by the name Takamiyama.

The parade route begins at Central Avenue traveling west on 2nd Street, north up Los Angeles Street, then east on 1st Street and finishes at Central Avenue. In addition to the Nebuta float, parade participants will include the newly crowned 2007 Nisei Week Queen and court, many local community groups, high schools, elected officials and representatives from Nagoya, Los Angeles' sister city, the Mayor of Aomori who is traveling with a delegation representing the Nebuta Festival, as well as queen and court members from Hawaii, San Francisco and Seattle communities.

"The Nisei Week Foundation believes that it is important to recognize individuals who are remarkable pillars in our community and stand to educate a greater understanding of U.S.-Japan relations on a local and international level," said Keith Inatomi, president of the Nisei Week Foundation. "We are pleased to be honoring Jack Naito and Azumazeki Oyakata this year. They both truly represent the best of U.S. and Japan community and we are honored they are a part of this year's Nisei Week Festival."

Grand Marshal - Jack H. Naito
Jack H. Naito, chairman of SBD Group, Inc., was born on July 1, 1926 in Hyogo, Japan. He came to the U.S. in February 1956. He moved to California in 1960 after completing service management school at Northwestern University in Chicago, working for Rockwell International Corporation for 18 years. In 1978, Naito joined SBD International, Inc., which later became SBD Group, Inc., an international real estate company engaged in acquisition, development, and asset management.

His life's work has been to be an "ambassador of good will" between the U.S. and Japan. The Emperor and government of Japan recognized Naito for his work when he received the "Kunsho Jokun Award" for his role in serving as a link within the cultural and business sectors of Japan and the United States. In 2001, Naito received the Nisei Week Pioneer Award for his long and dedicated service to the community. He was also awarded the Honoris Causa, Doctor of Humanities degree from Lambert University in fall 2001.

In May 1986, he was instrumental in organizing the Kojima Lions Club in Kurashiki City, Japan, starting the "Twinning" sister-club relationship with the Garden Grove Lions Club and the student exchange program. Naito organized the annual three-week Southern California exchange with more than 200 Japanese and European students involved in the International Lions Club Youth Exchange Program. He is also a host family for orphans and students raised by a single parent.

Naito has been involved with the Orange County Japanese American Association, where he served nine consecutive years as president, and is now chairman of the board. His community service also includes: past president of the Kansai Club, Inc.; International Lions Club Youth Exchange; Ambassador Council, Japan America Society; Japanese American Cultural Community Center; Japanese American National Museum; Japanese Chamber of Commerce; Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogi-Kai; Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council; Orange County Japanese Agricultural and Heritage Museum; Japanese American Citizens League, Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu Kai (Calligraphy); Southern California Ikebana Kyoju Kai; and Minyo Kikuta Kai.

Naito has been married for 60 years to his wife Kaya. He has two grown sons who work with him at SBD Group, Inc.

Parade Marshal - Azumazeki Oyakata
Jesse Kuhaulua, known professionally as Azumazeki Oyakata, is a living legend in Japan and Hawaii for his participation and contribution to the sport of sumo wrestling. Kuhaulua, who was born and raised in Maui, Hawaii, left in 1964 to pursue a career as a sumo wrestler in Japan. His initial intention was to enter the world of sumo to strengthen his legs to play football, as he had been an all-state tackle during his years in high school.

Though he endured hardships being an American pioneer in sumo, his career lasted 19 years and his accomplishments are unparalleled. Wrestling professionally under the name of "Takamiyama" (high lofty mountain), he was the first foreigner and American in sumo history to win a tournament championship, capturing the title at the 1972 Sumo Tournament in Nagoya, Japan.

When he retired from sumo in May 1984, Kuhaulua held (and continues to hold) nearly every all-time individual sumo record for endurance or the iron-man category. His records include: most consecutive matches (1,231) in the "makunouchi" division (highest sumo division); most career matches (1,653); and most consecutive tournaments (97) in the makunouchi division. Additionally, he received numerous performance awards and gold stars in his sumo career in the makunouchi division.

Following his retirement he opened his own sumo stable in Tokyo, named Azumazeki Beya, in 1986. As a stablemaster or "oyakata," he is responsible for the overall proper care of his wrestlers by training, feeding and housing them in his stable as he would his own family.

As "Azumazeki Oyakata," Kuhaulua achieved further prominence by coaching and developing one of his wrestlers, also a native from Hawaii, Chad Rowan to become the 64th Yokozuna (grand champion) in January 1993. Rowan, wrestling professionally as "Akebono" (new rising dawn), became the first foreigner and American to achieve sumo's highest rank of Yokozuna.

Currently, Azumazeki Oyakata has popular sumo wrestler, Takamisakari and Ushiomaru, both wrestling in the makunouchi division.

For more information about the Nebuta float, go to www.Nebuta-LA.org. The Nisei Week Festival, the longest running ethnic festival in the U.S., has been attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year since its inception in 1934 (except during WWII from 1942 - 1948) to Little Tokyo to enjoy a Japanese American arts and cultural experience and this year Nisei Week organizers - who are all volunteers - hope to draw even more to the community. The 2007 Nisei Week Japanese Festival takes place in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo District from August 18-26. For calendar of events and volunteer information on the 67th Nisei Week Festival, please log onto www.NiseiWeek.org or call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213/687-7193. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, Calif., 90012.

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