2007 Shinnen Enkai and Keiro Kai Award Honorees |
Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl and
State Assemblyman Ted Lieu wih Keiro Honorees
At the Shinnen Enkai and Keiro Kai on January 21, four individuals were given special recognition for their unselfish dedication and contributions to the VJCC. The honorees were: Bob Kawano, Kazumi Ota, Jun Oyama, and Dr. Kenneth Teshima. Bob Kawano was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding service to the VJCC and to the community at large. He has been a member of the VJCC for over four decades, 23 years of which he played a key and integral role as an officer or Board member. As Chairman of the Board for the past |
Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Jun Oyama, |
five years, Bob has been a shining example of excellence. He has also served as Treasurer, Membership Chair, and Co-chairman of the Board.
Bob Kawano and Yoshiuki Isoda |
Under Bob’s firm guidance and leadership, the VJCC membership has grown to 1,700 and the number of classes to more than 50. His exemplary qualities have provided organizational harmony and uncompromising leadership in pursuit of visionary objectives for the Center. Jun Oyama was named Person of the Year for 2006 in recognition of his contributions to the growth and maintenance of the VJCC. He is a long-standing member who has been very active at the VJCC for many years. He served as a member of the Board of Directors for over six years and currently is the Assistant |
Treasurer. He has actively participated in the expansion of the gymnasium foyer and the conference room. He has always helped in the Center’s Clean-Up Days, Festival set-up and clean-up, Bingo Night and the Golf Tournament. In addition, he organizes the mailings of the VJCC Community News and delivers them to the post office very month. Jun was commended for his most recent participation in the kitchen roof leak repair project. The heating/venting system on the kitchen roof was cleared and all non-functioning ducting was removed for the roofer. During the heat of the summer, the extensive labor-intensive effort took days to accomplish. |
Jun Oyama and John Ikegami |
Carol Inge and Jack Kurihara
Kazumi Ota and Carol Yamkoshi
Rich Yang and Bob Kawano |
Dr. Kenneth Teshima, in addition to Bob Kawano and Jun Oyama, was presented with a Los Angeles City Council Special Commendation Award by Councilman Bill Rosendahl and a Certificate of Recognition from the State Assembly by Assemblyman Ted Lieu. Dr. Teshima has an active podiatry practice in Laguna Hills but takes time from his busy practice to travel hundreds of miles to visit senior centers to care for their foot problems. For the past 20 years, he has voluntarily provided medical services for friends and members of the VJCC. Dr. Teshima brings two assistants with him to provide clinical treatments on seniors’ foot problems. Hundreds of seniors in Southern California have benefited from his monthly visits over the years. Besides the VJCC, he volunteers his time in the San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, and at the Keiro Senior Care facilities in Greater Los Angeles. Kazumi Ota was presented with the JACL George Inagaki Community Service Award. This is the second time that he has been presented with this award. He received it in 1996, in addition to being recognized that year for “Outstanding Participation in the Publication of the VJCC Newsletter.” Besides his dedicated service to the VJCC Community News, Kazumi has been actively involved in the Venice Gakuen, Marina Gardeners’ Association and the Ballroom Dance Club. Outside the VJCC, he is active in the Southern California Gardeners’ Federation and the Itsukai Chi Chojin Kai. The Venice Japanese Community Center is extremely grateful for the service that each of the awardees has contributed and is proud to be able to recognize them as special honorees. |
*The article was based upon presentations made to the honorees by the Honorable Yoshiyuki Isoda, John Ikegami, the Honorable Bill Rosendahl, and Carole Yamakoshi, respectively.
Music Man of Manzanar
By Sharon Kumagai
Discover the music and drama of the Nisei high school students who were imprisoned behind barbed wire fences and the teacher, Lou Frizzell, who made a difference. The VJCC is sponsoring a free showing of filmmaker Brian T. Maeda’s docudrama “Music Man of Manzanar,” Sunday, March 18, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the VJCC Gym.
The docudrama not only takes you back in time with Lou Frizzell but also shows, with interviews and photos, what life was like for the Nisei students. Many of these Nisei are now into their 80’s but this story must be told. Brian’s older brother Arnold is featured in the film. Arnold, a member of the VJCC, speaks about what it was like, as does Bruce Kaji and other students.
The inspiration for the docudrama took place decades ago when Brian (working as an apprentice cameraman at Universal Studios on the Owen Marshall TV series) met Lou Frizzell who had become an actor in Hollywood after the camps closed. Lou appeared in various shows such as Bonanza and Police Story, and most ironically he played himself in the first filmed story on the Internment, “Farewell to Manzanar.”
Immediately following the screening will be what is called ‘Living History,” a panel discussion with the actual high school students of Manzanar. They will answer questions and share with the audience their experience, strength and hope for the future. Panel members from Manzanar High are: Bruce T. Kaji, founder of the Japanese American National Museum and member of the Jive Bombers in camp; Arnold Maeda, Valedictorian of Manzanar’s class of 1945; Sam Ono; Rose Honda; and Haru Takata. Also participating on the panel will be George Nakano, former California State Assemblyman, and Rose Ochi, member of the Manzanar Committee.
