Mission Statement
芸術と文化教育を通じて南カリフォルニアの多様なコミュニティをまとめながら、日本と日系アメリカ人の遺産と伝統を促進すること。


ナンシー大久保
共同実行委員長
二世週財団
President’s Message
二世週祭をサポートしてくださる皆様へ、
二世週財団を代表して、第80回二世週日本祭に皆様を歓迎いたします!今年、リトル東京で待望のお祭りを再び開催できることをとても誇らしく思っています。
過去2年にわたって二世週祭は対面での開催を見送りましたが、開催できなかったのは二世週の歴史で二度目のことでした。一度目は第二次世界大戦中(1941〜1948年)、日系アメリカ人が不当にもアメリカの強制収容所に送られていた時です。一度目も二度目も、リトル東京は不確かな経済の影響のみならず、政治的な混乱また人種問題の影響を大きく受けました。
この2年間リトル東京は、経済活動シャットダウンの影響を受けた人々に食事を提供するプログラムを作ったり、助成金を提供したり、地元のビジネスの利用を増やしたり、ヘイトや偏見、不公正に立ち向かう姿勢を取り続けながら、地域一丸となってその力強さを示してきました。
これらのチャレンジを超えて、ようやく対面で集まることのできる今年の二世週祭を、ぜひ一緒に思い出に残る祝祭にしてください。私たちのコミュニティーとお祭りがこれからも末長く続いていけるように。
二世週祭をご支援くださったスポンサー、ボランティア、コミュニティーの方々にお礼を申し上げます。また二世週祭の対面での実現のために尽力してきたボードメンバーにも感謝を。皆様が二世週祭で楽しいひとときを過ごしてくださることを願うとともに、その際にはぜひリトル東京の地元のビジネスをご利用くださいますようお願い申し上げます。
第80回二世週日本祭へのあたたかいご支援に感謝いたします。ぜひお祭りを楽しんでください!
おかえりなさい!


コリー・ハヤシ
共同実行委員長
二世週財団
取締役会
理事会は、二世週の遺産を継続するために自分の時間をボランティアのために提供する、コミュニティからの個人で構成されています。

Executive Committee
Co-Presidents
Nancy Okubo & Cory Hayashi
Immediate Past President
Nancy Okubo
VP Strategic Partnerships
and Community Relations
Randy Masada
Treasurer
Jerry Fukui
VP Development
Terry Hara
At-Large
Todd Odagawa & Helen H. Ota
Secretary
Joann Cordeiro
VP Marketing
Diane Suzuki
Board of Directors
Ashely Arikawa
Art Ishii
Mark Nishinaka
Michelle Suzuki
David Yamahata
Joyce Chinn
Nolan Maehara
Akiko Nishino
Kay Takano
Leiton Hashimoto
Masako Miki
Mike Okamoto
Jessica Tateishi
Keith Inatomi
Mark Nakagawa
James Okazaki
Tamlyn Tomita
Board Fellow
Brian Kohaya
二世週の歴史:リトル東京へのラブレター
グウェン・ムラナカ著:羅府新報、英文編集者
日系アメリカ人の希望、夢、そして願望は、毎年愛されてきた伝統である二世週日本祭りによって体現されています。二世週は、アメリカで最も長く続いている民族的祭りの一つです。しかし、これはどのように起こったのでしょうか?
一世の夢
二世週祭とロサンゼルスのダウンタウン地区にあるリトル東京の物語が絡み合っています。1886年に設立されたリトル東京は、コミュニティの基盤を築いた初代である一世たちの南カリフォルニアでの活動の中心地でした。
一世たちは、より良い生活を求めてアメリカへ旅立つために日本の遠く離れた家族を残しました。リトル東京は、南カリフォルニアに定住した人々にとって、日本人コミュニティの活動の中心地となりました。農民たちは畑で苦労し、ロサンゼルスのダウンタウンの市場で販売するために野菜と花を持ってきました。リトル東京の店舗に女性が集まり、食料品、衣料品、乾物を購入しました。川福カフェ、共同医薬品、梅屋、風月堂製菓、サンコウロウ、エントロ (Far East Cafe) などの名前で日本のコミュニティのために中小企業がオープンしました。キネマシアターとフジシアターが日本からのサムライ映画を上映しました。実家の味、匂い、名所がここにあったのかもしれません。
日曜日、日本人は最高の服を着て、合同教会、高野山仏教寺院、メリーノール、東本願寺、西本願寺で礼拝しました。リトル東京は単なる商売の場ではなく、神聖な集まりの場でもあります。一世がアメリカ人となる子供たち―二世を育てたとき、彼らは日本文化への愛情をどのように伝え、次に彼らが築いたコミュニティを強化するのか疑問に思い始めました。彼らが作成した制度は、適応し、変更する必要があります。
羅府新報や加州毎日などの新聞は、急速に成長している日本のコミュニティのニュースやイベントについて報道するために設立されました。 1925年、羅府は、成長する二世代目、二世にサービスを提供するために、ルイス・ススキの指導の下で英語欄を設立しました。最初はゆっくりと、一世は彼らの子供たちにリーダーシップを引き継ぎました。最初の二世週祭は、1934年に大恐慌の中で開催され、リトル東京に新鮮なアイデアと新しいビジネスをもたらす方法としてフお祭りを設立した二世の出現を表しています。
菅原六は1936年に次のように書いています。「彼ら(一世)は、子供たち(二世)に、優れた奥深い日本の伝統の豊かな遺産を遺しました。彼らは子供たちに正しい、立派な生き方を教えました。続けて、良き市民になり、素晴らしいコミュニティを発展させること。」勤勉な若い二世が祭典の中核をなしました。彼らは仕事の後の時間をボランティアし、今日まで続く多くのイベントを設立しました。ベビーショー、文化展や音頭です。田辺英二は、1934年に初代二世週祭の会長を務めました。翌年、二世週祭の女王とプリンセスたちがデビューし、アリス・ワタナベが女王に選ばれました。1934年の踊り子の中には、二世週祭のグランドパレードを何十年もリードしていた美しく優雅な先生がたである藤間勘須磨先生と花柳徳八重先生がいらっしゃいました。 2018年、勘須磨先生は100歳の誕生日のため、再びパレードを振り付け、コミュニティ全体への希望とインスピレーションの象徴であり続けました。
1941年8月、第8回二世週祭にリトル東京が集まった際には、悲劇的な悲しみがありました。この年、レイコ・井上が女王に君臨し、タナベが再び会長を務め、同時に戦争の暗雲が集まっていました。お祭りが再び開催されるのは8年後でした。1942年の春、ファースト・ストリートとセントラル・アベニューで、ちょうど数か月前に二世週で日系アメリカ人が祝った西本願寺の隣に、彼らはスーツケースを手にして強制収容所に送られるように並んでいました。
二世週祭は、1949年に再開され、30,000人の日系アメリカ人が南カリフォルニアに戻り、再び生活を再建しました。彼らのメッセージは成長と楽観主義の一つでした。リトル東京は前を向く:リトル東京は、大都市圏での再定住が広がっている都市自体の壮大な成長に歩調を合わせ、成長を続ける南部の日系アメリカ人コミュニティの中心になりました。
二世週祭戴冠式の華やかさは祭りのハイライトであり、それは長年にわたって変化しましたが、女の子はまだ自分自身が女王になることを夢見て通りに並んでいます。ペニー・タニ・サコダは、1960年に二世週祭女王の栄冠を獲得しました。彼女は二世週祭カーニバルでの感動的な夜を思い出しました。父親がハンバーガーを提供して有名だったキョウドウ・グリルのあったファースト・ストリートの見晴らしの良い場所からパレードを見ていました。市民は、地元の商店で配られたチケットで投票して女王を選びました。女王はビバリーヒルトンで開催された戴冠式で戴冠しました。 「あの頃は楽しかった!」とサコダは声を上げました。
ヘアスタイルとドレスの裾は年月を経て変化し、二世週祭の女王とプリンセスは、日系アメリカ人コミュニティの人口動態の変化を反映して、より多様化しています。今日、女王は面接のセッションと楽しいお披露目の後にコミュニティのリーダーと著名な個人で構成される審査員の決定が下され発表されます。
女王とプリンセスたちは、日本、ハワイ、サンフランシスコを行脚して、年間を通じて数多くのイベントにおいてコミュニティを代表しています。魅力の裏側は大変な作業です!エム・加藤・山田はしばしば「女王の中の女王」と呼ばれます。彼女は1952年に君臨し、写真は彼女がファースト・ストリートで堂々と乗っていることを示しています。 1984年に、エムはこの特別な友好関係を結びつける最初の年次女王同窓会を組織しました。そのメンバーは引き続きボランティアであり、二世週祭の成功に不可欠な部分です。女王のレガシーでは、最初の母娘の女王、フェイス・ヒグラシ・オノ(1959)と彼女の娘、ナオミ・オノ・ソグネフェスト(1993)が歓迎されました。
家族経営のビジネス
ビジネスリーダーたちは、何十年にもわたってお祭りをサポートするために注力してきました。お祭りは、最初からリトル東京で買い物、食事、演奏をする人々を呼び込みました。三河屋餅の会長を務めるフランシス橋本は、2012年に亡くなるまで数十年にわたり指導者を務めました。このお祭りは、彼女の功績を称えるためにフランシス橋本社会奉仕賞という名前を付けました。写真家アラン宮武と彼の娘、シドニーは、彼の祖父であるトウヨウ宮武とアランの父、アーチーによって始められた伝統を続けています。宮武家は当初から公式写真家として二世週祭を応援してきました。
文化堂の三代目オーナーであるアイリーン・ツカダ・シモニアンは、二世週祭が「リトル東京を存続させる」と説明しています。少女として、彼女と彼女の姉は二世週祭グランドパレードと音頭のすべてのダンスを覚えますが、彼女の叔母により参加を禁止されました。「私たちはすべての先生方に商品を販売しており、私たちがダンススクールの一つと提携していると、他のすべての人を混乱させると彼女は言いました。私たちは中立でなければなりませんでした」とアイリーンは笑いながら言いました。
お店では団扇やカチカチなどの音頭踊りの楽器を販売しており、日本との重要なリンクとして、入手困難な絶妙なアイテムを数多く取り扱っていました。彼女は、二世週祭の重要な部分は、キメコミ人形、生け花、茶道などの文化的展示であると述べています。「とても多くの工芸品が展示されています。工芸をしている人々、彼らはマスターであり、二世週祭は彼らにとって大きなことなのです」と彼女は言いました。
ハリウッドグラマー、Jタウンスタイル
チャーリー・チャップリンがゲストとして参加した1934年の最初の二世週祭から、日本祭りは常に特定の魅力とスタイルを持っていました。写真は、ハリウッドとJタウンのロイヤルティがつながった瞬間のワクワクする一瞬を捉えています。
チャップリンは着物姿の美しい踊り子に会いに来て、料理人が用意した照り焼きを楽しんだことを指摘しました。 1960年代から1970年代には、テレビ、映画、舞台の芸能人が、戴冠式に審査員として参加し、グランドパレードで要人を表彰しました。マミー・ヴァン・ドーレン、シャーリー・マクレーン、ウェイン・ニュートン、タブ・ハンター、ジェームズ・シゲタ、マーティン・ランダウ、マコ、ジョン・サクソンは著名な有名人の一部でした。日本映画で武士の役で有名な三船敏郎と勝新太郎も人気の二世週祭の要人でした。
サイレント映画スターの早川雪州は、1958年にパレードの最初のグランドマーシャルとして君臨しました。日本の伝説的な産業家でありパナソニックの創設者である松下幸之助は、1976年に二世ウィークの200周年記念パレードに名誉グランドマーシャルとして参加するために特別にお越しいただきました。数年後、空手キッドのノリユキ・ ”パット” ・モリタは1980年にグランドマーシャルでした。二世週祭は、空手キッド・パートIIでモリタと共演したタムリン・トミタの出発点となりました。オリンピック選手のクリスティ山口と長井未来、大相撲スーパースターの小錦、紅花レストランのロッキー青木、リンキンパークのマイク・シノダ、スター・トレックのジョージ・タケイ、ロサンゼルス・ドジャースのトミー・ラソルダ、エリソン・オニズカ中佐、そしてダニエル・K・イノウエ上院議員は、パレードを飾った著名な方々です。
全ボランティア精神
二世週祭の本質は、助け合いとボランティアの精神です。グランドパレードにおいて、8月の日曜日に一緒に参加する多くの参加者にそれが見られます。誇りを持って行進するボーイスカウトや高齢の退役軍人たち、カラフルな浴衣を着たダンサーたち、武道家や太鼓の演奏が楽しいリズムでパーティーを盛り上げます。それは、老いも若きも、新一世(第二次世界大戦後の第一世代の移民)、日系アメリカ人、そして非日系アメリカ人であり、私たちが故郷と呼ぶロサンゼルス市を反映しています。またそれは、何年も来ている家族や初めてリトル東京を訪れてその魅力に取り憑かれる人たちです。
二世週祭の本質は、助け合いとボランティアの精神です。グランドパレードにおいて、8月の日曜日に一緒に参加する多くの参加者にそれが見られます。誇りを持って行進するボーイスカウトや高齢の退役軍人たち、カラフルな浴衣を着たダンサーたち、武道家や太鼓の演奏が楽しいリズムでパーティーを盛り上げます。それは、老いも若きも、新一世(第二次世界大戦後の第一世代の移民)、日系アメリカ人、そして非日系アメリカ人であり、私たちが故郷と呼ぶロサンゼルス市を反映しています。またそれは、何年も来ている家族や初めてリトル東京を訪れてその魅力に取り憑かれる人たちです。
1974年からこのお祭りのボランティアとしてリトル東京の日米文化会館で献身的なチームと共に事務所を運営している、ジョイス・ワカノ・チンは、「二世週祭は私たちボランティアなしでは二世週祭ではありません」と言います。「二世週祭を始めた理由は、文化を存続させ、一世を尊重するよう方針を打ち出すことでした」とジョイスは続けます。 「今トーチは三世から四世に受け継がれるようになり、祭りは今日も続きます。太鼓のビートは、リトル東京で日本と日系アメリカの文化を祝おうと呼びかけています。私たちの豊かな二世週祭のレガシーは、拡大するコミュニティ全体と献身的なボランティア活動を通じて生き続けています。ボランティアの心には、祭りを成長させ、世代を超えて繁栄させる共有の精神があります。」
1934年頃の二世週祭日本祭りで音頭の踊り子が道に並んでいる
二世週祭最初の女王、渡辺アリス(中央)は1935年に戴冠した。
第二次世界大戦前の最後の祭である1941年の二世週祭女王井上レイノの正式な戴冠式。
1949年、第二次世界大戦後の二世週祭の復活。女王ホコダ・テリ(中央)は、プリンセスたちの先頭に立ってリトル東京の企業への訪問する様子。
1952年二世週祭パレードを楽しんでいる加藤エム女王が宮武東洋スタジオを通過する様子。
1963年二世週祭パレードでは、シャーリー・マクレーンがグランドマーシャルに。
1967年グランド・パレードでは「ミッション・インポッシブル」のハリウッドセレブのマーティン・ランドーとバーバラ・ベイン。
1985年二世週祭グランドマーシャルには、エリソン・オニズカ中佐。
年間を通しての二世週祭
Photos courtesy of Toyo Miyatake Studio.
Four generations of the Miyatake family have captured Nisei Week memories since 1934.
プレスリリース
Pioneer Spirit Awards
Press Release

80th NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL PIONEER SPIRIT HONOREES ANNOUNCED
LOS ANGELES – July 17, 2022 – The Nisei Week Foundation is excited to announce the 2022 Nisei Week Pioneer Spirit honorees who will be recognized during the 80th Nisei Week Japanese Festival (August 13-21) in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. The six Pioneer Spirit Award recipients are dedicated leaders and outstanding members of the greater Los Angeles Japanese American community. They will be honored at a special 2022 Pioneer Spirit Luncheon to be held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel (120 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles) on Wednesday, August 17 at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $75 per person or $750 per table of 10 and can be obtained by calling the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or by emailing info@niseiweek.org.
The 2022 Nisei Week Pioneer Spirit Honorees are:
Kenneth Sadao Hayashi – Nominated by the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council
Kenneth Hayashi was born in Ogden, Utah in July 1943 after his family was interned at Rohwer, Arkansas. They settled temporarily in wOgden until they were able to return to Los Angeles after the war.
Back in Los Angeles, Ken attended Dorsey High School and UCLA, where he graduated in 1966 with a degree in accounting. As a young man, he earned his Eagle Scout award and was active hanging out with his friends and cousins, playing basketball, baseball and mastering billiards.
In Sept. 1966, shortly after graduating, Ken was drafted and reported for active duty in the US Army. He went to basic training at Fort Ord in Monterey Bay, worked in the finance office at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and was a distinguished graduate of the Third Army NCO Academy in Fort McClellan, Alabama. Ken went to Vietnam in the summer of 1967, where he served in the 4th division through August 1968. He received the Army Commendation Medal and was honorably discharged upon his return to the United States in 1968.
Back from the war, Ken became an assistant administrator and CFO of City View Hospital and Keiro Nursing Home for the next 11 years, alongside his mentor and friend, Edwin Hiroto. Though he left to become a partner in an accounting firm (1979-1992) with his colleagues and brother, he cherished the work that Keiro was doing for the Japanese American community and became a founding member of the support group, Visions for Keiro. During this time, he also served as the vice chairman of the Pacific Heritage Bank board of directors.
Ken also spent much time volunteering as a Boy Scout and Indian Guide leader. He committed many years to running Yorba Linda basketball leagues and volunteering for Esperanza High School booster clubs. He also coached basketball and baseball, but mostly was an avid fan of his three children – supporting them in soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, musical pursuits and all of the other activities and charity work they were involved.
To do this, Ken wanted to be closer to home and in 1992 he opened his own CPA office just a short distance from home and a mile from the high school where he, his wife and his kids spent many hours.
Once his kids all graduated from high school, Ken left his own practice and became the CFO of Rogers Poultry, until his retirement in October 2018. Since then, he continued to stay busy. He and his wife remain heavily involved in the Nisei Week Festival and Hospitality committee, where his two daughters were court members and his son served as the foundation president. Last, and most personal to him – he commits most of his efforts to ensuring the legacy of Japanese American veterans. He is the chairman of the Japanese American Vietnam Veterans Memorial Committee and serves as the president of the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance, a 501(c)(3). This is truly his passion project: something he has dedicated years to building a foundation to ensure the structure and spirit of the Memorial Court is preserved for years to come.
Ken has been married to Colleen (Ishibashi) Hayashi for 47 years, residing in Yorba Linda for 35 years. They have three children, Kimberly (Elias), Kristyn and Cory. You can often find him with them at Dodger games, Clipper games, watching UCLA (and USC for his kids), spending time at and hosting family parties, traveling and taking his grand-dog Copper for walks!
Masao Morisaku – Nominated by the Southern California Gardeners’ Federation, Inc.
Masao Morisaku was born in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, in 1937 and moved to Los Angeles in 1966. He joined an industrial design firm in 1972. During his career with the firm, he contributed to designing many products that are still in use today.
In 1975, he joined the Edgewood Japanese Landscape Gardener Association to learn the profession of landscaping and gardening. He served as the association’s secretary and later, president for many years. During his time representing the Edgewood Association, Masao actively participated in volunteer activities of the Southern California Gardeners’ Federation (SCGF) to serve the Japanese American community, including his volunteer work to beautify the Keiro Retirement Home (Lincoln Heights), a project that began in 1974 and lasted for 34 years.
He served as the Japanese editor-in-chief of “Turf and Garden,” its monthly publication, from 2010 to 2020 and received an SCGF award. This newsletter, published monthly in both English and Japanese, is one of the few monthly publications of its kind in the Japanese American community, and plays a significant role in communicating SCGF members (over 1,000 in 2010). He currently serves as SCGF’s vice president.
Masao has also participated in other gardening clubs and organizations. He joined the American Plant Pruning Group in 1998 and spent time pruning pine trees at the East San Gabriel Japanese Community Center, City of Hope, among other places. In 2010, he and his colleagues started the Southern California Tree Trimming Club and served as its president in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He has also been involved in efforts to maintain Japanese gardens in and around Los Angeles by pruning pine trees, as well as giving demonstrations at the SCGF building.
In addition, Masao has been active with his family’s Kenjinkai and establishing ties between Ibaraki and Southern California. In 1978, he helped to establish the Hitachi-no-kai (Ibaraki Kenjinkai) and has served as president a number of times. He currently serves as an advisor. He was instrumental in establishing a sister park arrangement between “Kairakuen,” a famous Japanese plum tree garden in Mito, Ibaraki prefecture, and Schabarum Park in Hacienda Heights. Thanks to the support and donations from the people and businesses of Ibaraki prefecture, they were able to plant saplings of the Japanese plum trees in Schabarum Park. Even today, the beautiful flowers continue to bloom in early February.
Masao has been instrumental in promoting Japanese culture and Japan-U.S. ties through his hobby of “Shigin.” He has been reciting traditional Japanese poetry for over 40 years. He’s currently the senior instructor of the “Rafu Kokufu Kai.” As the 2011-2012 president of the Southern California Shigin Federation, he continued to promote this traditional Japanese cultural art in the U.S. He was also actively involved in organizing the Shigin Federation’s Japan relief fund sent to Japan during the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Masao’s wife, Noriko, is also active with the SCGF and serves as its Japanese editor and auditor.
Mike Ichiro Murase – Nominated by the Little Tokyo Service Center
Mike Ichiro Murase grew up in Okayama prefecture, northeast of Hiroshima. He moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was just nine years old, learning English as he attended school and adjusted to a new life.
He has worn many hats throughout his illustrious career – writer, photographer, activist, administrator, and attorney. Wherever Mike went, he created lasting positive change for the communities and people with whom he worked.
Since the 1960s, Mike was involved in community and political activism, making waves as a college student at UCLA. He co-founded the UCLA Asian American Studies Center, paving the way for students to learn about their Asian American heritage. Mike also co-founded GIDRA, an Asian American movement publication. He was also a leader in Asian Americans for Peace, Los Angeles Free South Africa Movement, and California Rainbow Coalition. Besides his involvement in the Japanese American community, he was an organizer in South Central Los Angeles for more than two decades. He was Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ district director for 13 years and served as Rev. Jesse Jackson’s campaign director during Jackson’s presidential campaign.
Mike was a part of the core group who founded Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC), a social service and community economic development agency serving Little Tokyo and greater Japanese American community throughout Los Angeles. Mike served as its board president for first five years. He remained involved in the Little Tokyo community before joining the staff of LTSC. He served as the director of service programs and the special projects manager of LTSC and also as campaign director of the Terasaki Budokan. He was instrumental in helping LTSC raise close to $30 million to make the more than 30-year dream a reality.
In addition, he advocated for members of Japanese Welfare Rights Organization, Little Tokyo People’s Rights Organization and the National Coalition for Redress and Reparations. He authored Little Tokyo: One Hundred Year History – a tribute to the rich history and growth of Little Tokyo.
On March 18, 2022, Mike retired from LTSC. A retirement celebration on April 14 brought more than 150 people from various stages of Mike’s life together to celebrate a lifetime of bridge-building and uplifting communities in Little Tokyo and in South Central. One of Mike’s longtime friends, poet Ronald Kartoon Antwine, said it best when he shared a heartfelt tribute to Mike. A portion of it reads:
You teach us all how to stand up
You teach us how to speak and never shut up
You taught so many how to fight
The injustices, the wrongs, negative things in life …
Mike stood up for Little Tokyo and has always fought to ensure that the voices and needs of the most vulnerable in our community were raised. As he steps away from his career at LTSC, he’ll continue to mentor young leaders to ensure Little Tokyo continues to thrive as one of the three remaining Japantowns in the United States.
Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura – Nominated by the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council
Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura is an influential man in many areas of his life, including his honorable service to the U.S. military, involvement in the creation of numerous key establishments, and in the arts.
In 1944, Yoshio was inducted in the Enlisted Reserve and reported for active duty from Gila River. After training at Camp Blanding, Florida he was sent to France to join the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and saw military action in Southern France and later in Italy to break the Gothic Line.
He received numerous recognitions for his military service such as the Bronze Star Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Presidential Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Congressional Gold Medal, European African Middle Eastern Ribbon with Three Battle Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, and French Legion of Honor Medal. He was one of five Nisei veterans chosen to ride on the “Go For Broke” float in the 2015 Rose Parade.
After his military service under the G.I. Bill, Yoshio attended the University of Southern California and received his B.F.A (Magna Cum Laude), and M.F.A. After receiving his degrees, he began his career as an educator. He started as an art teacher in the Fine Arts Department at Whittier High School and then went on to Rio Hondo College as a professor. At Rio Hondo, he was the founder of the Visual and Performing Arts department, administrator, and vice president. As in many other areas of his life, he has received many recognitions and commendations as an educator such as Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Educators of America, and Fellow of the College.
Yoshio and his wife, Grace, have also been active in the Japanese American community. They were active members of SELANOCO JACL. He helped host the initial formation meeting of the SELANOCO chapter at Rio Hondo College. He was also a founding member of the Go for Broke National Education Center and the Japanese American National Museum.
As an artist, he is represented in over 175 private, corporate and public collections including the Joseph Hirshhorn Collection of the Smithsonian Institute.
Heizaburo Okawa – Nominated by the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council
Born in 1939, Heizaburo Okawa was raised in Tokyo. He graduated from Chuo University in 1962. It was when Heizaburo started college at Chuo University that he saw fencing for the first time and became fascinated. One day, he finally asked if he could join the team. That moment marked the start of his influential journey in the fencing world.
At that time, Chuo University was ranked #1 nationally in fencing; Heizaburo’s chance of making the team was slim due to his late start in the sport. However, due to his natural talent and determination, Heizaburo made the school team and the even made the Japan team in 1960 Rome Summer Olympics. The 1960 Olympics was the first time that Japan was sending a fencing team to represent them in the sport.
In 1962, the Japanese Fencing Federation sent Heizaburo and a teammate to Paris to prepare for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics by studying at the National Institute of Sport for two years. While in Europe, Heizaburo won two prestigious international competitions: the Foil Challenge Duval in Paris and the Epee Challenge Martel in Poitiers, France.
Heizaburo’s hard work helped him achieve a spot as a member of the Japanese Olympic team three times: in 1960, 1964, and 1968. The team even won 4th place at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which was considered a significant accomplishment for a non-European team.
Heizaburo was the Japanese national champion three times in Foil (1960, 1963, 1964), twice in Sabre (1961, 1967), and once in Epee (1967). He was twice U.S. national champion in Foil (1967, 1968) and was also the head coach of the Japanese team for international competitions, including the World Championships (1969, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1998). In addition, he was chosen to referee at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
In 1966, his training brought him to Los Angeles, where he was coached by Torao Mori, a legendary kendo and fencing master. From 1969 to 1980, he was the head coach at Torao Mori Fencing Academy in Beverly Hills. During this time, he taught fencing to celebrities and choreographed dueling scenes for stage productions. He also was hired as the head fencing coach at University of California, Los Angeles (1974-1980) and California State University, Fullerton (1980-2006). In 2006, he retired from coaching.
In 2004, Heizaburo was inducted into the U.S. Fencing Association Hall of Fame and in 2019, he was inducted into California State University, Fullerton Athletics Hall of Fame. Being recognized as part of these esteemed groups truly showcased what a skilled and influential athlete he was to many in the sport.
Heizaburo not only represented his country with his talent in fencing, but also spent many years sharing his knowledge and skill with others around him. He helped other athletes perform to their potential and made a difference in their lives. Heizaburo’s accomplishments within the sport not only demonstrated his talent, but also served as a reminder that no matter someone’s background, with hard work and determination, anything is possible.
Heizaburo and his wife, Jeanie, have been married for 54 years and have three children and seven grandchildren.
Mario G. Reyes – Nominated by the Koreisha Chusoku Kai
Mario G. Reyes is the photo editor of the Rafu Shimpo newspaper, the 100-plus-year-old Los Angeles-based Japanese American publication. He first joined the Rafu in 1973 as a mail and pressroom worker while a senior at Roosevelt High School. In 1979, he moved to Mexico City to work at a film company that provided Spanish subtitles to American, Japanese, and Chinese movies.
He returned to the Rafu in 1989, and in short time, became the photo editor. Mario converted an unused storage room into a dark room and had appropriate cameras and lenses purchased for the staff. He also trained the staff on photo composition, light, depth of field, and cropping techniques.
In his spare time, Mario began to organize and archive the Rafu’s photo collection that had been, up to that point, haphazardly stored in file cabinets, unmarked boxes, and trash bins.
He is among the leading photographers to document the Japanese American community in Southern California. No Nikkei organization was too small to be ignored coverage, even if Mario had to sacrifice nights, weekends, and holidays to photograph them. And if a Nikkei organization could not afford to pay for his photographs, he did not charge for reprints.
Mario also does pro bono work for organizations such as Asians and Pacific Islanders with Disabilities of California (APIDC), Asian American Drug Abuse Program (AADAP), the Southern California chapter of the Asian American Journalist Association, among others.
He documented the evolution of the Manzanar Pilgrimage for close to 30 years and has covered the biennial Tule Lake Pilgrimage nearly 10 times. In the past 34 years he has photographed 32 young women crowned Nisei Week Queen, missing two because of the COVID-19 pandemic, covered countless obons around the southland and gained many friends in the process.
He also recorded the physical changes in and around Little Tokyo: including the completion of the Go For Broke Monument; veterans receiving their Congressional Gold Medals; visitors first walking through the Japanese American Nation Museum, and the emperors of Japan visiting the museum and capturing the look on Keiro residents’ faces when meeting them.
Highlights in Mario’s career include meeting his personal heroes: veterans, draft resisters, the folks who started and built “Nihon machi;” acquiring a taste for raw fish and becoming an honorary Terminal Islander that includes a special happi coat.
In addition to the Rafu, his photographs have appeared in Time magazine, People, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, LA Weekly, and all the major Japanese American publications.
Through the years, Mario has photographed world leaders and celebrities: Heisei Emperor and Empress of Japan, President Barack Obama, Toshiro Mifune, Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson, among others. He was also lead photographer George Takei’s and Brad Altman’s wedding. Notable events he has covered include: 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest, O.J. Simpson trial, 1994 Northridge earthquake, several presidential elections.
Among the recognitions Mario has received, he is most honored to have been the subject of Steve Nagano’s short documentary film, “More than a 1,000 Words.”
The 80th Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running cultural festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 13-21. For the festival schedule, visit NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org.
For more information:
Diane Suzuki
310.962.2698
diane.h.tanaka@gmail.com
Inspiration Awards
Press Release

NISEI WEEK ANNOUNCES 2022 INSPIRATION AWARD HONOREES – PATTY & STEVE NAGANO AND BILL WATANABE
Los Angeles – July 17, 2022 – The Nisei Week Foundation is pleased to honor three special individuals with the 2022 Nisei Week Inspiration Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify the spirit of Nisei Week by going above and beyond to volunteer their time and/or service or whose contributions have promoted the Japanese and Japanese American community and/or culture. This year community leaders Patty and Steve Nagano and Bill Watanabe will receive this award at the Nisei Week Awards Dinner to be held Monday, August 15, at the Double Tree by Hilton (120 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles). Starting at 6 p.m., individual tickets are $125 and tables of 10 are $1,250.
Also recognized at the Awards Dinner will be this year’s Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award honoree Fugetsu-Do. For tickets or information, call the Nisei Week Foundation at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org.
The following will receive the Nisei Week Inspiration Award:
Patty and Steve Nagano
Patty and Steve Nagano have been residents of Little Tokyo since 2011. Since the move, their involvement has increased with organizations in Little Tokyo, including: Visual Communications (VC), Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress (NCRR), Little Tokyo Historical Society, Nikkei Progressives and many others.
Patty (Ito) was born at the Japanese Hospital and grew up in Pasadena. She is a retired elementary school teacher who taught for over 32 years. Steve was born in Boyle Heights and formerly taught at Roosevelt High School.
They worked on the VC/NCRR production of the film Stand Up for Justice, the Ralph Lazo Story. Patty worked with the Japanese American National Museum and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center’s co-production video narrating the story of The Bracelet, by Yoshiko Uchida. She conducted many workshops for teachers on the implementation of both, to educate about the Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Patty assisted with Fandang Obon and was an organizer of Folding for Peace: Remembering Sadako Sasaki, Commemorating the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She also worked with Sustainable Little Tokyo and helped organize Little Tokyo Service Center’s Big Budokan Bash in 2016. During the Covid pandemic she worked with five Little Tokyo restaurants to have meals delivered to Teramachi residents for 70 weeks. It helped sustain these restaurants through the pandemic while feeding the residents.
Steve has been involved with the Visual Communications Digital Histories since 2011 and shown his film shorts in the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival yearly and at various community events and universities. He recently directed the project that made accessible the 23+ hours of testimonies (13 DVDs) before the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in Los Angeles in 1981, where 150-plus people testified about their experiences.
Annually Steve has volunteered many days/hours for the Tanabata Festival to set up the structure to hang the kazari. For the last seven years, he spearheaded the Little Tokyo Sparkle community-wide cleanup where more than 400 volunteers swept, raked, scraped gum, removed graffiti, washed windows and “sparkled” Little Tokyo from Los Angeles St. to Vignes Ave. He has represented Little Tokyo on the Neighborhood Council since 2011.
In addition, they attend and support various camp pilgrimages and events about the incarceration of Japanese during WWII. The unjust experiences of their parents and grandparents is one thread that binds all Japanese Americans and has a large impact upon who they are and what they stand for. Consequently, to learn and to educate against injustice plays a very large part of their lives.
They enjoy time with family and friends and look forward to traveling especially to Japan and enjoy living in Little Tokyo. They volunteered to assist in Tohoku in 2011 after the great Tsunami and feel lucky to live the life they are living in Little Tokyo!
They have been working to build the Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund that seeks investors to help preserve Little Tokyo as a Japanese American enclave to ensure it will be a place for future Nikkei to enjoy.
Bill Watanabe
Bill Watanabe was born in 1944 at the Manzanar concentration camp and transferred a few months later with his family to the Tule Lake concentration camp near California’s border with Oregon.
He is the son of an Issei father, Rokuro, and a Kibei Nisei mother, Katsuye, from Fukushima, who settled in the San Fernando Valley during the 1930s to grow and sell flowers.
With a bachelor’s degree in engineering that he earned from California State Northridge in 1966, Bill worked a year-and-a-half at Lockheed Missiles in Sunnyvale. From September 1967, he spent a year at the prestigious Waseda University in Tokyo.
Studying in Japan was one of the best years of his life, it was fun, and he enjoyed traveling around the country. Bill visited some relatives he had never met before in Fukushima. And he learned to speak Japanese fairly well, or as much as he could learn in nine months. He was 23 years old and had a great time.
Returning home, he worked two years as an engineer for the City of Los Angeles, and then earned his master’s degree in social work at UCLA in 1972. Following stints with Agape Fellowship (an urban Asian American Christian commune) and Japanese Community Pioneer Center, Bill founded Little Tokyo Service Center in 1980 and served as its executive director for 32 years. LTSC was founded to offer a comprehensive program of bilingual social services in the Little Tokyo area to Japanese and Japanese Americans residents.
During that time he guided its growth, in conjunction with the board of directors, from a one-person staff to a multi-faceted social services and community development program with 150 paid staff, many of whom are bilingual in any of eight Asian Pacific languages and Spanish. LTSC has renovated or constructed a number of projects that have helped to strengthen the Little Tokyo community including projects such as Casa Heiwa, the Union Center for the Arts, the renovation of the Far East building and the newly constructed Terasaki Budokan. Bill retired from LTSC in June 2012.
While at LTSC, Bill helped to establish a number of important service organizations in the Asian American community such as the Asian Pacific Community Fund, the Asian/Pacific Counseling & Treatment Center, and the Coalition to Abolish Slavery & Trafficking. In Little Tokyo, Bill founded or co-founded some key organizations that have had major impact in the historic ethnic neighborhood such as the Little Tokyo Community Council and the Little Tokyo Historical Society.
Bill has an MSW from UCLA, is married and lives in Silver Lake near downtown Los Angeles. While formally retired, Bill is currently the president of a new project called the Little Tokyo Community Impact Fund, a community-based real estate investment fund aimed to help heritage small businesses in Little Tokyo which may be threatened by the impact of gentrification.
The 2022 Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 13-21. For a calendar of events, log on to NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
For more information:
Diane Suzuki
310.962.2698
diane.h.tanaka@gmail.com
Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award
Press Release

NISEI WEEK FRANCES K. HASHIMOTO COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOREE ANNOUNCED
Los Angeles – July 17, 2022 – The Nisei Week Foundation is pleased to recognize Fugetsu-Do with the Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award. This award recognizes organizations for their outstanding contributions to the Southern California Japanese American community. The annual Awards Dinner will be held on Monday, August 15 at the Double Tree by Hilton (120 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles). Starting at 6 p.m., individual tickets are $125 and tables of 10 are $1,250.
Also recognized at the Awards Dinner will be this year’s Grand Marshal George Sugimoto; Parade Marshals Olympic medalists Maia and Alex Shibutani; Honorary Parade Marshal Kellyn Acosta; Inspiration Award recipients Patty and Steve Nakano, and Bill Watanabe. For tickets or information, call the Nisei Week Foundation at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org.
About Fugetsu-Do:
Opening of the Kame restaurant in 1884 at the current site of Bunkado, was the first Japanese business in Los Angeles, and sparked the creation of Little Tokyo. Soon after, in 1903, Seiichi Kito, who immigrated from Gifu, Japan, opened his Fugetsu-Do Sweet Shop on Weller Street. Fugetsu-Do later moved to First St., and as Fugetsu-Do flourished, so did Little Tokyo. As the oldest family-owned business in Little Tokyo, next year will be its 120th birthday.
During the holidays, comfort foods are in high demands. Manju and mochi are customary Japanese gifts, and during the few weeks before New Year’s Day, the entire Kito family (and nowadays friends too) work around the clock to fill the large number of orders.
Seiichi operated the shop until 1941, when the family was forced to relocate to Heart Mountain concentration camp until the end of World War II. After the war, Seiichi’s youngest son, Roy, re-opened Fugetsu-Do on Boy’s Day, May 5, 1946, with the help of the Tanahashi family.
Fugetsu-Do had to move to Second St. for a couple of years, when the shop’s building was slated for demolition. It returned in 1957 to the current location at 315 E. First St., with Roy as the sole owner.
In 1980, Roy’s youngest son, Brian, took over the family business. Under Brian’s leadership, Fugetsu-Do has continued to emphasize quality and craftsmanship of its products. Fugetsu-Do now sells three types of mochi: traditional, modern versions with a twist, and snacks. The traditional type, range from daifuku to ohagi, while the modern twists incorporate fruit and chocolate with the traditional white or red bean paste. Fugetsu-Do caters beyond the Japanese community, and now has a broader customer base throughout the city.
Through three generations of family ownership, the Kitos have weathered a series of unimaginable challenges from the incarceration to depressions, riots and pandemic, eminent domain from City expansion, and the ever-present threat of gentrification. Fugetsu-Do has an impressive story of resilience and survival and its significance to the community has made it an unquestionable icon of Little Tokyo and the City of Los Angeles. Fugetsu-Do in many ways is Little Tokyo, given that it’s still in existence since the Nisei Week festival started in 1934.
Many times over the past several years, Brian has contemplated remodeling the shop. However, he hesitates. Though the shop looks old and dated, that’s what his customers remember. He recalled a story of a woman who had lived in Los Angeles more than 30 years ago. She was back visiting Little Tokyo and almost burst into tears when she entered Fugetsu-Do. “Everything I remember about Little Tokyo is gone-except Fugetsu-Do. Nothing has changed; the store is just as I remembered it.”
Thus, the Nisei Week Foundation is recognizing this legacy business, its contribution to Little Tokyo history, and its services to the Japanese American community, with the Frances K. Hashimoto Community Service Award.
The 2022 Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 13-21. For a calendar of events, log on to NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
For more information:
Diane Suzuki
310.962.2698
diane.h.tanaka@gmail.com
Queen Candidate Debut
Press Release

2022 NISEI WEEK QUEEN CANDIDATES DEBUTED
Queen Coronation Set for August 13
LOS ANGELES – July 17, 2022 – The 2022 Nisei Week queen candidates took center stage for their first official public appearance at the Opening Ceremony event held Sunday, July 17, at the Japanese American National Museum. The seven candidates will vie for the title of Nisei Week Queen on Saturday, August 13, 3 p.m., at the Queen Coronation at the Aratani Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
Upon official coronation, the queen and court will represent the Nisei Week Foundation at this year’s 80th Nisei Week Japanese Festival and other community events locally and nationally throughout the year. General admission tickets are $85 per person.
The 2022 Nisei Week queen candidates are:
Amanda Akiko Hiraishi (East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center)
Amanda Akiko Hiraishi is 25 years old and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. She earned a Master of Public Health and a Master of Business Administration from Claremont Graduate University. Amanda currently works as the program coordinator at the Health Consortium of San Gabriel Valley. In her free time, she enjoys taking videos and photos for her food blog, going to the farmer’s market to sample all the various loaves of bread, and playing basketball. This year, she will support the Japanese American Citizens League as her platform.
Emily Shigeko Kumagai (San Fernando Valley Japanese Community Center)
Emily Shigeko Kumagai is 20 years old and graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in Allied Health. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Health at Azusa Pacific University and aspires to become the first medical doctor in her family. When she has spare time, she enjoys dancing and singing to K-pop and J-pop, training in Shotokan karate, and learning new languages including Korean, Spanish, and Japanese. The platform she has chosen to support is the Japanese American Medical Association.
Lorie Hatsuko Meza (Pasadena Japanese Cultural Institute)
Lorie Hatsuko Meza is 22 years old and earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from Willamette University. She currently works as a paralegal and aspires to obtain her ABA paralegal certification. Lorie loves all things Marvel and Star Wars and spends her weekends volunteering as a princess or superhero for children battling illnesses or living in low-income communities. The platform she has chosen to support is Okaeri.
Audrey Emi Nakaoka (Gardena Evening Optimist)
Audrey Emi Nakaoka is 25 years old and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies. Currently, she works as an account representative at Aiya America, a Japanese matcha company. During her free time, she enjoys playing piano, especially Korean pop-ballads, and classical music such as Chopin. She also loves watching college basketball and rooting on her favorite team, the UCLA Bruins. This year she will support Kizuna as her platform.
Faith Sumiko Nishimura, (Venice Japanese Community Center & Venice-West Los Angeles JACL)
Faith Sumiko Nishimura is 21 years old and currently pursuing a degree in Marketing with a double minor in Asian and Asian American studies at Loyola Marymount University. She aims to work at the intersection of technology and storytelling, while continuing to advocate for the AAPI community and beyond. In her spare time, she enjoys debating, rock climbing, sewing, and upcycling clothes. For her platform, she will be supporting Nikkei Progressives.
Kristine Emiko Yada (Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council)
Kristine Emiko Yada is 23 years old and earned her bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from the University of California, Davis. She recently graduated from California State University, Long Beach, with a master’s degree in Nutrition Science. Kristine is currently completing her supervised practice hours to become a registered dietitian. When she has free time, she enjoys cooking at home, hiking, and stream fishing in Mammoth when she can get away. The platform she has chosen to support is Changing Tides.
Maile Tabata Yanguas (Japanese Restaurant Association of America)
Maile Tabata Yanguas is 24 years old and graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences. She currently works as a talent sourcer at a startup technology company called eduMe and hopes to become a recruiter or manager for the company. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, eating at new restaurants, hip hop dancing, watching musical performances, and editing videos of her Disney World adventures. The platform she has chosen to support this year is the Veterans Memorial Court Alliance.
The Queen Coronation is set to be a memorable event with co-hosts actor Tamlyn Tomita and ABC7 Eyewitness News anchor David Ono. For tickets, contact Keith Inatomi at keithi100@aol.com.
The 2022 Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 13-21. For a calendar of events, log on to NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
For more information:
Diane Suzuki
310.962.2698
diane.h.tanaka@gmail.com
Grand Parade
Press Release

2022 NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL GRAND PARADE
80th Parade to be Led by Grand Marshal George Sugimoto, Entrepreneur and Community Leader,
Parade Marshal Maia and Alex Shibutani, Olympic Bronze Medalists, and
Honorary Parade Marshal Kellyn Acosta, LAFC Soccer Player
LOS ANGELES – July 17, 2022 – The Nisei Week Foundation proudly hosts its 80th summer event with free cultural activities for all ages. The Nisei Week Japanese Festival features a Grand Parade as part of its first weekend of events, which will make its way through the streets of Little Tokyo on Sunday, August 14, starting at 4 p.m. The parade will be led by the 2022 Grand Marshal, George Sugimoto, Entrepreneur and Community Leader, Parade Marshal Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani, Olympic Bronze Medalists, and Honorary Parade Marshal Kellyn Acosta, LAFC Soccer Player. The parade procession will start at Central Avenue and head west on 2nd Street, turning north on San Pedro Street, turning east on 1st Street, then turning south and ending on Central Avenue.
The Nisei Week Grand Parade will feature traditional Japanese taiko drum performers, local community groups, high schools, elected officials and representatives, and the newly crowned 2022 Nisei Week queen and court.
The three will be honored at the Nisei Week Awards Dinner on Monday, Aug. 15. For more information, visit niseiweek.org.
Grand Marshal – George K. Sugimoto
George K. Sugimoto was born in Parlier, Fresno County in June 1926. Living in the San Joaquin Valley in the 1920s and 30s was a hard life for the family who had nine children to support. His parents worked as day laborers in farming communities to make ends meet.
George discovered an interest in aviation at a very young age. This passion motivated him to go into avionic electronics. He completed one year at Fowler High School before Executive Order 9066 incarcerated the family in the Gila Relocation Center.
An older brother was drafted and served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. George was drafted after answering “yes, yes” to two loyalty questions and entered military service in March 1945. After completing basic training at Camp Fannin, TX, in August 1945, he was sent to Korea to serve with the 6th Army Occupational Forces. After his honorable discharge, he returned to California.
In 1947, he attended the American Institute of Television Technology in Chicago. In 1950, received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. Later, George completed his flight instruction and became an instrument-rated pilot. His passion for flying was fulfilled with his command of a Piper Turbo Aero aircraft for 30 years.
George married Ruri Hirano in September 1951 in Fresno and soon after their marriage moved to Pasadena. George received his professional electrical engineer license for the State of California and began his career as an electrical engineer and at one point elevated to chief engineer. Realizing that working for others limited his creative and financial opportunities, he started his own business.
George’s home and garage in Pasadena were the beginnings for the design and manufacture of avionic components. KGS Electronics has been in operation for over 62 years and now occupies a 50,000-square-foot space in Arcadia and a facility in Upland. KGS provides products to civil aviation, general and military aviation to Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) customers worldwide. Cessna Aircraft, EADS Airbus, Boeing Aerospace, Learjet Inc., and Robinson Helicopter are some of the many aircraft and aerospace companies KGS serves.
Although George is semi-retired, he is in the office almost every day. He also enjoys volunteering his time and supporting many community organizations: JACCC, Go For Broke National Education Center, Japanese American National Museum, Little Tokyo Service Center, the former Keiro, Rafu Shimpo Foundation, Rob Fukuzaki’s Heads-up Youth Foundation Tournament, Aurora Foundation Tournament, Suburban Optimist Tournament, East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center, and Akimatsuri Tournament are some that benefit from his generosity.
George and Ruri have two children, Lisa and Nathan. Lisa retired after serving 35 years with California community colleges. She is married to Don Nose and they are parents to Garrett. Nathan is the president and chief financial officer for KGS Electronics. He and wife, Christine, have three children, Lindsay, Alyssa, and Aaron.
Lisa, Nathan, and their families admire their father’s and grandfather’s resilience, courage, entrepreneurial spirit, and his enduring love and unwavering support of family and community.
Parade Marshals – Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani
Siblings Maia Shibutani and Alex Shibutani are two-time Olympic bronze medalists. They are also three-time World medalists, Four Continent Champions, two-time US National champions, six-time Grand Prix gold medalists, and two-time members (2014 and 2018) of the U.S. Olympic team.
They made history when they became the first figure skaters of Asian descent to win medals at the Olympic Games in ice dance. In PyeongChang, they also became the first sibling ice dance team to win two Olympic medals.
The siblings made their debut as authors in 2020 with the release of “Kudo Kids: The Mystery of the Masked Medalist.” The second book in their middle grade series, “Kudo Kids: The Mystery in Manhattan” was released in 2021. Their next literary project will be a picture book – the planned release of “Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All” is spring 2023.
Maia and Alex were named Sports Envoys for the U.S. State Department in 2017. Since then, they have traveled throughout Asia to connect with young people at goodwill events. They are also Athlete Ambassadors for the global organization, Right To Play. In 2021, Alex was named to the LA28 Athletes’ Commission.
They are AAU Sullivan Award finalists, five-time Team USA Team of the Month winners, recipients of the Asia Society Game Changer award, and Gold House A100 list honorees.
Honorary Parade Marshal – Kellyn Acosta
Kellyn Acosta is a 26-year-old defensive midfielder who plays for the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) of Major League Soccer (MLS). He also plays on the United States Men’s National Team and featured on the roster that recently helped the United States clinch a spot in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. If he is rostered for the global tournament in November, Kellyn would be the first player of Japanese heritage to represent the United States in a World Cup.
Originally from Plano, TX, Kellyn is a homegrown product of the Dallas Football Club (FC) academy where he signed with the Dallas FC first team at the age of 16 (2012), making his debut as a professional in Major League Soccer the following year. Kellyn is a two-time MLS All-Star (2016, 2017), two-time Concacaf Gold Cup Champion (2017, 2021) and Concacaf Nations League Champion (2021), Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Champion (2016) and MLS Supporters Shield Winner (2016).
Kellyn is known for his fashion sense and would likely be voted “best dressed” across the league. He is part Japanese, and recently had an incredible experience touring the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles with both his dad and grandmother, who was born in Japan. When he’s not on the pitch, he is busy being a father to a curious and energetic toddler, getting involved in the local community, shopping for new kicks, discovering a new wine or exploring Los Angeles. You may even find him at the nearest coffee shop enjoying a latte.
The 2022 Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 13-21. For a calendar of events, log on to NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
For more information:
Diane Suzuki
310.962.2698
diane.h.tanaka@gmail.com
Ondo and Closing Ceremony
Press Release

80TH NISEI WEEK JAPANESE FESTIVAL ONDO AND CLOSING CEREMONY AUGUST 18
Los Angeles – July 17, 2022 – The Nisei Week Japanese Festival is proud to finally be celebrating its 80th year from August 13-21. As tradition goes, the nine day festival will conclude with the Ondo and Closing Ceremony on Sunday, August 21. The public is welcome to come enjoy the live entertainment and participate in the Ondo “traditional Japanese street dancing”, followed by the Closing Ceremony. This event will begin at 4 p.m. and is held on 1st Street, between San Pedro Street and Central Avenue. This year’s two parade songs are “Kawachi Otoko Bushi” and One Wish.” The public dance practice schedule can be found on NiseiWeek.org. Questions should be directed to Miles Hamada at mileshamada@yahoo.com.
The 2022 Nisei Week choreographer is Kikusue Azuma, who was born in Los Angeles. She earned a bachelor’s degree in math/computer science from UCLA, a master’s degree in computer science from USC and worked for 11 years as a software engineer, but eventually realized that teaching was her passion.
She studied Nihon Buyō for many years under Sumako Azuma II and earned her natori (master) and shihan (instructor) degrees from the Azuma School headquarters in Tokyo. After receiving her shihan degree, she started teaching dance classes to a few students, and her classes quickly grew through word-of-mouth.
She currently teaches more than 60 students from Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties and 15 students in Kapa‘a and Līhu‘e, Kaua‘i.
She also volunteers for many community organizations, writes a monthly children’s Japanese culture column for the Hawai‘i Herald, and works as an editor and math tutor. She is married and has three children.
Over the years, Sumako, Kikusue and their students have performed both at professional venues – including the Greek Theater, Hollywood Bowl and Universal Amphitheater – and at benefit performances for community and nonprofit organizations.
While still teaching the Japanese dance classics, they broke new ground artistically, reaching out to the Sansei, Yonsei and Gosei by blending traditional Japanese dance techniques with modern influences. Unfortunately, Sumako Azuma II passed away in July 2020, but Kikusue continues Sumako’s legacy. Through their efforts, the Azuma School in the U.S. continues to grow and perpetuate Japanese culture through the art of Japanese dance.
The 2022 Nisei Week Japanese Festival is a nine-day event first held in 1934 and is recognized today as one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States. This event will take place in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district from August 13-21. For a calendar of events, log on to NiseiWeek.org, call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213.687.7193 or email info@niseiweek.org. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
For more information:
Diane Suzuki
310.962.2698
diane.h.tanaka@gmail.com