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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
November– December
M/M John Ciranna $125
Tobis Matsumura $23.48 (Truist)
Todd Mathes $65 (Truist)
M/M Akira Watanabe (Merchandise)
M/M Yuso Kurihara (Merchandise)
Carmen Maranon $50 in memory of
Roy Okimoto Sr.
Nobuyo Saito $60 (50th Anniversary)
C.T. Masuo $100
Ms Monica Delanty $500 (life membership)
Mrs. Shirley Oshiro $50
M/M Dan Ikemoto $200 (NDC)
M/M Yuso Kurihara $500
Mr. Joey Hosoda $40
Mrs. Miki Okimoto $300
Anonymous $1,000 in memory of
Dolphine Umeda
M/M Paul Ogasawara $100
Norwalk Kendo Dojo $500
Ms Margaret Saito $250 in memory of
Tom Saito
Rusty’s Automotive $140
Thank you for your kind generosity
and continuing support..
友
達
Southeast
Carnival is just around the corner (July 25th and 26th). For those who would like to
Tomodachi
Tomodachi
P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E
Volume 19, Issue 1
January 2014 Newsletter
Southeast Japanese School & Community Center
14615 S. Gridley Rd. Norwalk CA 90650
Website: www.sejscc.org 562-863-5996
Hi Everyone!
I hope everyone enjoyed their Holidays. I just can’t believe the year
2013 has come and gone and the year 2014 is upon us already.
SEJS had their Advisory Committee meeting in December with a
dinner to say thank you to all the hard working volunteers at the Center.
It’s all of the volunteers that make the Center the way it is now. SEJS is
very appreciative. Thank you.
As you may know the SEJS did not have the annual meeting in De-
cember. The annual meeting has been moved to June 1 due to the fiscal
year end report.
Attention, all graduating seniors! We will be accepting applications
for the NERIO/SEJSCC Scholarship. The form is available on the SEJS
website (SEJSCC.org). The deadline for the Scholarship will be on
March 1, 2014. The scholarships will be presented at the annual Recog-
nition Dinner on Sunday April 13, 2014. Scholarship winners must be
present, at the dinner, to receive their award.
This year center clean up will be held on Sunday, March 23 from
9:00 to 12:00. The center would like several volunteers from each organ-
ization to help out. We will be working outside and cleaning inside.
Bring your gloves, rakes, buckets and cleaning supplies etc. The Center
appreciates all the help it can get to make this a wonderful center.
Richard Shinomoto IN THIS ISSUE
President’s Message p. 1
Japanese School p. 2
Hikari Taiko p. 3
Norwalk Dance Club p. 4
Norwalk Kendo p. 5
Nikkei Seniors p. 6
Calendar p. 6
Norwalk Karaoke Club p. 6
Norwalk Youth Sports p. 7
Norwalk Judo p. 8
Happy New Year
2014
Year of the Horse
Please support Japanese School
Purchase Marukai Gift Certificates Available in $10 denominations
Ask any Board member Also available at the Monthly Bingo
Page 2 Tomodachi
明けましておめでとうございます。
Thanks to all our supporters, our school had another
successful year. 2014 is the year of the horse. Our
school will begin January 4th.
Thanks to the Judo members, the students experi-
enced mochitsuki and tasted fresh made mochi. On
the last school day of the year, a very special visitor
from the North Pole came to school and visited all the
students and brought presents. On the first day of
school students will again experience culture with a
taste of ozooni, a tradition of mochi eating on New
Year's Day. The students will also listen to the story of
how the 12 animals were selected to represent the
years.
All students participated in the annual nengajo con-
test. The cards are on display in the hallway. Stu-
dents will vote for the best card in each age category.
A few of our best ones were sent to the national con-
test. In the past we had a number of winners from our
school.
After two long weeks of winter break, the students will
be ready for the end of the first semester. We will be
preparing for the mid-term examinations to be held at
the end of the month.
The annual New Year celebration dinner will be held
on January 25th at 6:30 PM in the dojo. It will be a
potluck. All students of the school will provide the en-
tertainment. Mark your calendars.
The Japanese School is planning a trip to Japan in
June. A group of students and some parents will be
participating. The parents are planning a series of
fundraising to help with the cost. The first event was a
bento sale. It was very successful. The bento sale is
scheduled for once a month. Check our calendar for
the next bento sale. Silent Auction and white elephant
sale will be conducted at the New Year Party January
25th. Please donate items for sale.
J A P A N E S E S C H O O L
Tomodachi Page 3
Mary Jane Mayeda
Happy New Year and a healthy, safe and prosper-
ous 2014 to all. The year 2013 has been very good to
Hikari Taiko. We ended it with a great Christmas party
on December 15th.
We thank the Judo Dojo for putting up the mats
and for Japanese School for leaving their Christmas
tree in that room so we can use it for our party.
We hope that this New Year will bring goodness
and success to all the organizations. We are truly
blessed to have such a great foundation and communi-
ty center with their loyal leaders to keep us going.
On a sad note, we will miss Kiyoko Tanaka who
passed away on Friday, December 13th. We will miss
her very much. Her vibrant energy, smile and determi-
nation to do all she loves is so remarkable. She was
with Hikari Taiko for 5 years and also in the Karaoke
Club and Ikebana Club. She even wrote a music piece
with her cat as an inspiration.
We wish her family deep sympathy but knowing
she is with her husband now in heaven. Thank you
Kiyoko for your inspiration.
We congratulate Yoko Kawamura for receiving the
Tak Murata award for 2013.
I also want to thank the Christmas committee who did
a great job decorating the judo dojo for our party. Sha-
ron Esparza and her mother, Kurt Hamra and his moth-
er Doris, Angela & Juve, Lou and Sharon, Helen, Lilly,
Linda, Harriet, Joyce, Mercedes, Jean, Gladys, Julie,
Michael and all the rest who stayed behind to clean up.
Happy New Year to all!
Reminder... Feb. 1 Host: Taiko
Serving lasagna
BINGO Mar 1 Apr 5 Host: NYS
6:30 pm
Dinner served at 6 pm
First Saturday Of the month
Come join us!
H I K A R I T A I K O
Tomodachi Page 4
Connie Ciranna
Norwalk’s November 23rd Dance
Another wonderful evening of 77 dancers
from Gardena, Langley, NDC, & friends attending!
Thanks to chairperson, Helen Hikiji, & her kitchen
helpers – Dennis & Aileen Muraki, Jean Ikemoto,
Sonita Seng, & Irene Yip, who prepared our snack for
the evening. On each plate they put on a slice of piz-
za, green salad, & a slice of delicious pumpkin
cheesecake roll.
To top off the evening, Harriet Yamada tested the
group by playing a Trivia Quiz Game with a Thanks-
giving theme. One question was “How many pilgrims
came over on the Mayflower? & What team started
the first Thanksgiving football game in 1934?” The
winner was King Yee with runner-ups.
Their prize was a dance coupon.
Oh, our DJ for the evening was Jim Noe, playing
music prepared by Yuso Kurihara who was having
fun with his wife Edna in Las Vegas. Thanks Jim!
N O R W A L K D A N C E C L U B 2013 New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance
Norwalk Dance Club
Harriet, Helen, & Edna did a fabulous job in
making this year-end dance such a success! As the 98
guests enjoyed a Buffet Dinner by Unique Catering,
they were also able to enjoy the decorations around the
room. The evening included not only dancing to the
music of our DJ, Yuso, but we were treated with special
performances by Laurin Tiangco (9 yrs.) & Alex Bannykh
(10yrs.), champion Latin Dancers, Kenny & Chiemi
Yukimasa (waltz), & Frank Trapp, Keiko Isshiki, James
& Andrea Gutman (Christmas Segue). There were also
line dances, door prizes, & a fun game called “Kleenex
Box Boogie”.
The countdown to midnight began with a toast
to the New Year & then … The balloons from the ceiling
falls. Everyone scrambled to get a balloon with money
inside. What a scene! 2014 is here!
The Norwalk Dance Club wants to thank all
those who came to the dance & especially those who
volunteered with all the decorations! Geoff & Karen
Chow, Richard & Gloria Sakoda, Betty Oshiro, Kenny
Yukimasa, Lori & Katie Sunahara, Richard Shinomoto,
Doris Yarwood, Kurt Hamra, Helen, George, Edna, Yuso,
Jim, Harriet, & Ben. Last but not least, thanks to all the
generous Door Prize donors! Happy New Year!
Tomodachi
N O R W A L K K E N D O D O J O
Henmi Morihei sensei has been our chief advisor
since last year, after Yamaguchi sensei passed away
and Koh sensei retired back to Taiwan. Just shy of 80
years old, Henmi sensei was practicing kendo regularly
(and regularly beating us all up!), not to mention main-
taining an awesome golf game. So we were very
shocked when he announced he would be retiring from
kendo at the end of this year.
Henmi sensei joined Norwalk Dojo in April 1973 at
the age of 39. He received shodan in 1974 and ad-
vanced rapidly, receiving 7 dan in 1995. As an extreme-
ly serious and dedicated student of kendo, he devoted
his evenings and weekends to not only practicing ken-
do, but also studying kendo books and videos from Ja-
pan. He was head instructor of Norwalk Dojo from about
1985 to 2001, and it is largely due to his influence that
Norwalk Dojo places such a heavy influence on solid,
basic kendo today.
Our year-end party on December 20th was therefore
touched with sadness, as it was Henmi sensei’s last
Christmas party with us as an official member of our
teaching staff. We appreciate all he has done for us,
and are really going to miss him. While we wish him all
Page 5
the best in his retirement, we also hope he stays a
part of the Norwalk Kendo Dojo family in the years
to come!
We will have a full year in 2014, with many
events including the U.S. Kendo Championships in
June. It is also an important membership year, so
we hope all current kenshi return next year, and
that we have both new members and former mem-
bers (re)joining us at the dojo.
Norwalk Kendo Dojo practices Mondays from 7:00
to 8:30 pm and Fridays from 7:30 to 10:00 pm. We
also practice iaido from 9 to 10:30 pm on Mon-
days. New members are welcome; beginners are
accepted at the start of each odd month. Please
see our website at http://www.eanet.com/norwalk
for information about Norwalk Kendo Dojo, includ-
ing upcoming and past events as well as how to
join, or send email to [email protected].
Norwalk Kendo Dojo kenshi and parents, in one last group photo with Henmi Morihei sensei (photo by Dennis Ralutin)
Tomodachi Page 6
CALENDAR
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
Nerio Scholarship Applications
Download at sejscc.org
Application Deadline March 1, 2014
Operating Bd Mtg-1st Wed Monthly 7pm
Center Bd Mtg-2nd Wed Monthly 7 pm
Jan 4 Monthly Bingo 6:30 pm
25 Monthly Dance 6:00 pm
25 Japanese School New Year Party
Feb 1 Monthly Bingo 6:30 pm
15 CAJLS Seminar 9:00-4:00
22 Monthly Dance 6:00 pm
Mar 1 Nerio Scholarship Application Due
1 Monthly Bingo 6:30 pm
15 NYS Jr Banquet
23 Center Clean up 9:00 am
Apr 13 Recognition Dinner 5:00 pm
N O R W A L K K A R A O K E C L U B
It is with regret and sadness that the Norwalk
Karaoke Club has decided to terminate our class at
the Norwalk center effective on January 1, 2014.
Founded in 1987 by Rose Ozawa and Tokuishi
sensei, the group flourished under their guidance
together with the leadership of our late president
Kaz Miyake. We have many wonderful memories
participating in the many activities at the center.
However in recent years, our class has fallen into
hard times with declining membership due to
death, old age, our inability to attract new members
and general lack of interest. In an attempt to at-
tract more members, we will be relocating to a
more centralized area in Orange County. We thank
the Norwalk Community Center for allowing us to
participate at the Center for all these years. We
leave with many fond memories.
N I K K E I S E N I O R S
Toby Fusato
The Nikkei Seniors enjoyed their many activi-
ties for this 2013 year and look forward to
more of the same for 2014 with new activi-
ties. Under the Co-chairs of HARRIET SUGITA,
ARLENE TAKESHITA, BETTY OSHIRO and
BECKY SHINOMOTO, the Nikkei Seniors en-
joyed a delicious Christmas luncheon held at
the Tokyo Buffet and some lucky game win-
ners won wonderful prizes.
A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY
NEW YEAR to all from the Nikkei Seniors.
S E J S C C
B O A R D M E M B E R S
If you wish to contact any of the board members, please call the Center and leave a message. Jim Niiro
Calvin Chang
Lynn Chang
Linda Kusuda
Kimie Matsumoto
Fred Matsumoto
Mas Onoda
Richard Shinomoto
Tosh Teramoto
Bob Yamada
Carrie Nakatani
Ted Yoshimura
“Tomodachi”, 14615 Gridley Rd.,
Norwalk CA 90650.
Tel: 562-863-5996. Published 6 times annually by
the Southeast Japanese School and Community
Center. A no charge newsletter informing all
participants of activities on a one per household
basis. Bulk Mail Postage Paid at Norwalk, CA.
Editor: SEJSCC Staff; Advertising & Mailing:
SEJSCC Staff, Mas Onoda, Gakuen PTA and
Norwalk Nikkei Seniors.
Southeast Japanese School & Community Center Activities List
If you are interested in any of the activities at the Center, please contact the person listed below
Southeast Gakuen: Kimie Matsumoto 562 926.2536 Hikari Taiko: Mary Jane Mayeda 562 924.1454
Shuji (Calligraphy): “ “ “ Norwalk Nikkei Seniors: Toby Fusato 562 .860.7368
Ikebana (Flower Arrgmt): Ogawa Sensei 714 893.1245 Guitar Class: Yuji Hata 562 695.1908
Japanese Classical Dance: Akemi Jensen 562 691.2764 Na Wahine ‘O Kawena: Karen Toyoshiba 562 863-5996
Norwalk Youth Sports: Rich Tamaki [email protected] Hawaiian Karaoke Club: Stan Shimomura 562-865-9672
Kendo: Jean Kodama Sensei email: [email protected] Ukulele Class: Kamaki Keawe 714-928-7157
Karate: Brock Nishimura 714 826.9128 Norwalk Dance Club: Edna Kur ihara 714 847.1173
Judo: Bill Matsubara 562 483 9374
Tomodachi Page 7
N O R W A L K Y O U T H S P O R T S
Santa’s Elves in Royal Blue and White
In the spirit of giving, NYS Blue Angels and Blue
Diamonds joined forces on Sunday, December
15th, 2013 at Garden Grove High School during
the SEYO League games in a fundraiser to help
fulfill another child’s wish for his mother.
Thirteen year old Jacob Manetta’s only wish for
his mother, Shawna who has stage IV breast can-
cer, is to take her to Italy before she passes away.
Jacob reached out to friends and family back in
November 2013 asking for any donations
(recyclables, loose change, etc.) to help him raise
money for the trip. Madeline Jacobe of the NYS
Blue Diamonds is good friends with Jacob’s sister,
Emma, and wanted to do something to help. After
obtaining permission from the SEYO Board to hold
the fundraiser at Garden Grove High School on
two Sundays during the SEYO Winter League,
Madeline asked her team, Blue Diamonds, and
her sister’s team, Blue Angels, to help with the
fundraiser.
The Blue Angels and Blue Diamonds packaged
baked goods and treats to give out with each $5
donation received. With much energy and enthu-
siasm, the two teams took turns during the hours
between their games to walk around the gyms
with their baskets of goodies asking for donations.
The girls were touched by the generosity of the
SEYO Community, who helped make the first day
of the fundraiser a huge success. The second
By Ngoc Tram Vu
day of the fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, January
19, 2014.
Thank you to the NYS Blue Angels and Blue Diamonds
and to the entire SEYO Community for your generous
support!!
By June Uyekawa N O R W A L K J U D O D O J O
Page 8 Tomodachi
As we look forward to the coming year with hope,
optimism and good fortune, let us congratulate those
individuals that were awarded for their accomplish-
ments this year.
First and foremost, a big DOMO ARIGATO to those
who pounded, rolled, packed over 300 lbs of mochi
this year.
Saturday, December 7th proved to be a day of
great effort and fortune for Albert Lee as well, for he
placed first place in the Boys 13-14 64 kg Advanced
Division in the 2013 Winter Nationals held at the Fe-
lix Event Center on the Azusa Pacific University cam-
pus. Congratulations Albert, your hard work and per-
severance has brought you accolades from your
peers and family.
Our potluck Holiday party on December 20th was
filled with great food, good company and did I say a
lot of delicious food ?
Another hidden talent that emerged was the
evening’s emcee Kris Witowich, a well-travelled
yudansha member---my goodness, he had the kid’s
attention.
Without further ado, our deserving recipients
were as follows:
Fighting Spirit Sportsmanship
Robyn Shin Kyle Morishima
Billy Matsubara Louis Zhang
Desmond Wong Darwin Juan
Best Technique Most Improved
Joshua Chen Owen Lee
Albert Lee Joshua Nam
Kris Witowich Frank Om
Most Tournament Wins
Conor Uyekawa
Kay Sugahara
Godwin Obele
Our distinguished Judoka of the Year was presented to
Albert Lee
Congratulations to all of our awardees.
We also celebrated the most deserving award to
one of our longest yudansha member, Bill Shears
Sensei. He has been a member of Norwalk Judo Dojo
since 1964, represented Nanka on numerous teams,
recipient of countless awards, and a student of the late
great Sensei Shigeo Tashima. He was also on the Good-
will Mission Team which traveled to Japan. He has the
honor of promotion to Roku dan (sixth degree) black belt
judoka which is reflected by the presentation of a red
and white striped belt. Only a select few have reached
this pinnacle and we are fortunate to house three, Fuku-
ma Sensei (7th degree), Nagatoshi Sensei (7th degree)
and now Shears Sensei has obtained 6th degree. Such
honor and prestige have gone unnoticed because of the
humbleness and skill level to the art of judo from our
esteemed senseis. Our sincerest congratulations to you
Shears Sensei. We celebrate your accomplishment with
you.
We continue to look forward for that is the direction
we are going; our accomplishments speak for them-
selves, our commitment and dedication is evident. We
thank you for your continued support and look forward
to sharing our life with you.
I leave you with the words of the infamous Mrs. Ju-
do, Keiko Fukuda---the first woman in the world to attain
a 10th degree black belt:
Be strong
Be gentle
Be beautiful.
2 0 1 3 Y E A R I N R E V I E W
Page 9 Tomodachi
Tomodachi Page 8
David B. Akiyoshi, D.D.S. Family Dentistry
1133 W. Gardena Blvd.
Gardena, California 90247
Senior Discounts (310) 327-7165
Sat. & Eve. Appts.
Tomodachi Page 11
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Southeast Japanese School & Community Center
“Tomodachi” A Bimonthly Newsletter
November 2013
Norwalk CA 90650
Cerritos Center Office
18616 South Gridley Road
Artesia, CA 90701
Tel. (562) 865-7917
Maha Rayan Branch Manager
Vice President