December, 2008: A Year Since . . . |
Dr. Mitsuo Inouye Remembered
By Dr. Richard Saiki
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a year since Dr. Mitsuo Inouye passed away. It’s even harder to realize that the Venice Japanese Community Center multi-purpose building and the remodeling of the existing structures were dedicated 37 years ago, in December of 1971. Yet, the two years leading up to this landmark date seem as clear and vivid today as it was then, when I saw the Community Center News headline: “Dr. Mitsuo Inouye and Dr. Richard Saiki Selected as Chairmen of the Building Fund”. Every imaginable thought came to mind and I’m sure Dr. Inouye was equally shocked because the very first thing the next morning, his face was looking at me through the patient reception window. He asked what I knew about |
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this and I told him I was as stunned as he was. I related having lunch at the old Miho’s coffee shop with Kaz Adachi (who had served as the Center president a few years earlier), Steve Nakaji, and Hitoshi Shimizu. It was probably during Kaz’s tenure that plans for a multi-purpose building came up because they had blueprint plans by architect Ken Tawa. Of course, word got around and everyone was aware of it but nothing was happening. Excitedly, with the blueprints in his hand, Kaz was explaining the features and envisioned its future. Putting my foot in my mouth as usual, I told him, “Talk, talk, talk…that’s all that’s going on.” Voila, we made the headlines.
 Dr. Richard Saiki (left inset) and Dr. Mitsuo Inouye (right inset) |
After a long, agonizingly quiet moment, the overactive, wayward brain waves in Dr. Inouye’s head redirected themselves, changing his facial features, as he declared, “Let’s do it. We can do it. We’re both impartial. They really need this.” And this was the start of a hectic life. To Dr. Inouye’s credit, committees for blueprints, City Hall liaison, publicity, landscaping, and booklet were created, with the appropriate chairperson for each. Dr Inouye headed the fund solicitation committee with about ten team leaders who selected their own members. |
The frequent newspaper articles on the progress of the solicitation had wide ranging effect. A fellow dentist in West Covina casually inquired about our campaign because that community was in the “talking” stage of its building fund, and can you imagine his astonishment that we weren’t using professional fundraisers. Right away, together with Mr. Tokuji Matsuda, then the VJCC president, we were asked to speak at West Covina’s next board meeting. Up until this time, our experience with fundraising was limited to sending out monthly statements to patients, so to everyone at that meeting, it was an eye-opener to realize that fundraising could be done at the grass roots level. Indirectly, our Venice fundraising organizational set-up by Dr. Inouye gave impetus to the West Covina community’s dream.
Towards the end of the campaign, Dr. Inouye mentioned the tremendous feeling of satisfaction that for two neophytes having no experience in this line, we were able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The many volunteers must’ve also shared this same feeling of satisfaction. For the many sacrifices that they, as well as their spouses, made on behalf of this project, I say “gokuro sama deshita.” For the sansei and yonsei who were too young to remember the sacrifices made, always be grateful for the many volunteers--now seniors at the VJCC--just as we all must appreciate the efforts of the earlier Venice pioneers.
It’s heartening to know that there are so many good and caring people in the various organizations at the Community Center. It makes you feel proud to be a part of this community.
Thank You Bob!
At the December 10 Annual Membership Meeting,
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Senior Moments - Happy New Year!
(Source: Japanese Food 101 and Ba-chan)
By Aileen Hongo
Happy New Year!
Akemashite omedetoo gozaimasu! Honnen mo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu!
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The New Year‘s greeting in Japanese is as elaborate as the celebration of the occasion. However, the holidays can sometimes bring bouts of depression for older adults. I recall my great-grandmother and grandmother complaining about getting another year older along with getting more aches and pains. But once we began cleaning the house and preparing for New Year’s Day, the anticipation of seeing friends and family really helped boost their spirits. |
We celebrated the New Year in a much larger fashion than Christmas as well. It’s mostly due to tradition, or “ba-chan’s wishes” going back to my great-grandmother. I remember as a child, the kitchen was the busiest place the last three days of the year. Preparations began around a week before with a thorough cleaning of the house. Then as we started cooking around December 30th, you had to either help or stay out of the kitchen. If you did decide to help, look out because you could get caught between ba-chans, aunties and cousins arguing over cooking directions and taste tests!
On New Year’s Eve, we always had toshi-koshi soba – buckwheat noodles served in a hot soup base. My ba-chan told me the long soba noodle signified longevity. I thought it might be interesting to research where all these foods have their beginnings and why my grandmother was so insistent that they be served every New Year.
First, the concept of the New Year is cause for great celebration in Japan. Sechi means celebration and ryori means food/meal. So consequently osechi ryori is the traditional fare for the New Year.
There are various dishes prepared and packed in lacquered boxes called jubako. Most of the jubako are sold in stackable sets and the foods served vary in color, shape and representation but all in an auspicious manner. Some classic examples include:
Kuromame (black beans) signifies good health.
Tatsukuri (small dried sardines) -- The ta means rice paddy and tsukuri is the fish used as fertilizer for the rice field. As rice is a vital staple to the Japanese diet, its abundance signifies health and prosperity.
Kuri-kinton (paste made of chestnuts and sweet potato or beans) -- Kin means gold and ton signifies group, so eating kuri-kinton will bring gold for prosperity.
Renkon (lotus root) -- My ba-chan used to cook it with a vinegar base. The lotus root has holes in it so that we may look into the future.
Takenoko (bamboo shoot) signifies quick growth.
Ebi (prawn) -- Because it is shaped like an elderly person, it represents longevity.
Another important New Years staple is omochi (rice cake) prepared as ozoni (rice cake and soup). Omochi or mochi was believed to have been served to the gods and signified good fortune. Communities often included it in soup and therefore different regions in Japan make their own unique soup base. The southern or Kansai region often uses a miso base while the Tokyo or Kanto area uses a shoyu base. Since my ba-chan was from the Kanto area, we always had a shoyu base and of course it had to pass her rigorous taste test. The ozoni started a full day of celebration (and football!) for us on January 1st.
Interestingly, some of my friends living in Japan have told me the trend now is to have take-out of all the osechi ryori dishes. They are presented in beautiful jubako and ready to eat without lifting a finger in the kitchen. But for us, not only would it not be the same, my ba-chan and my mom would never let it happen – it’s tradition in our household. Being with family and friends rejuvenated their spirits (along with all the delicious food)! Happy New Year!
