ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Jan 4—Feb

M/M Calvin Chang $1,000 Life Membership Margaret Saito In memory of father Tom Saito 250 Margaret Saito In memory of Roy Okimoto Sr. 50 Target Specialty Products 100 P Gin 50 Thomas Sato 50 Sharon Yorizane 100 M/M Sho Kitayama 100 Kimberly Schimdt In memory of Roy Okimoto Sr 50 Tobis Matsumura 38.48 Todd Mathes 65 Miye Matsunaga 100 Brian, Stan Sakioka In memory of Chuck & Hana Sakioka 2,385 Norwalk Nikkei Seniors 2,000 Thank you for your kind generosity and continuing support.

友

達

Hi everyone! Japanese School held their annual New Year’s party on January 26. This year’s event was a potluck and there was a lot of delicious food to choose from. The Japanese School students entertained their family , friends, and special guests with singing and dancing. They are a talented group. A raffle was held at the end of the evening and everyone took a gift home. Just remember that SEJSCC is a NO SMOKING facility! Everyone please abide by the rules. When smoking outside of the facility, please do not leave your cigarette butts on the sidewalk or in the street. Please be courteous to our neighbors. Pick up the butts and throw them in the trash can. The theme for the Recognition Dinner will be “Island Style”. Preparing the Ono dishes will start on Saturday afternoon. The menu will be Kalua Pork, Potato Mac Salad, Miso Green Beans, Chinese Chicken salad, Pineapple Chicken, Korean Barbeque Beef, Rice, Inari, Hapia and Desserts. The din-ner will be held on May 19th Sunday so please join us in the festivities and applaud our honorees. Tickets for the Recognition Dinner & Awards are included with this newsletter so if you plan to attend, please return the completed stubs and payment in the envelope provided. We hope you can join us. March is upon us and it’s time for the Center clean-up. The date is set for Sunday, March 24th from 9 am to 12 pm. We need several volunteers from each group to help out in this effort. We will be cleaning the walls, washing the windows, and gardening. Don’t forget to bring your gloves, shovels and rakes! No activities will be scheduled during the clean-up hours. The Center belongs to all of us so please come on out and help. Refreshments will be served to all the volunteers. Thank you for your support. Thank you to everyone for your continued support throughout the years. I look forward to seeing you all in our upcoming events. Richard Shinomoto

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G E

Volume 18, Issue 2 March 2013 Newslet ter

Southeast Japanese School & Community Center 14615 Gridley Rd. Norwalk CA 90651-0434 Website: www.SEJSCC.org 562.863.5996

Tomodachi

JOIN US on MAY 19, Sunday

Recognition Dinner & Awards Service, Scholarship Awards, Dinner and Entertainment See Page 5 for details

Students from all classes participated in the school-wide nen-gajo contest. Please view their work on the bulletin boards in the hall-way. The theme for this year is the year of the Snake. Every student voted for the best one in each age division. Winners were awarded prizes at the New Year Party. The families enjoyed the New Year party with entertainment by the students who sang and danced. This year there was a contest for the best rice dish and the best noodle dish. Everyone voted and the winners were Sumiko Ragland and Akiko Sanruk. On February 2nd, Gakuen students observed Setsubun by eating the number of beans equal to their age for good luck. The students learned about the tradition of getting rid of bad luck by throwing roasted soy bean and bringing good fortune into their homes. On March 2nd, the Gakuen celebrated Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival/Girl’s Day). Traditionally the festival is held on March 3rd. The students viewed the doll displayed and enjoyed treats provided by the PTA.

G A K U E N N E W S Kimie Matsumoto

On February 16th all teachers attended a workshop at our school. The theme was “Activities to Motivate Students”. 92 teachers spent the entire day learning new activities to motivate their students. We had wonderful feedback from all teachers.

New Year Party

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N O R W A L K K A R A O K E C L U B

The Norwalk Karaoke Club closed the last quarter of 2012 with the following events: Oct. 1 Party to honor Kiyoko Tanaka and to wish her well. Oct. 15 Birthday party for Tokuishi sensei. Kiyoko Tanaka coordinated the happy occasion Nov 14 Akebono Fall Party Held at the Orange County Buddhist Church. Chieko Kim chaired. Dec. 17 Christmas party co-chaired by Patsy Tsuda and George Real. In addition to presenting Tokuishi sensei a Christmas appreciation and thank you, class members also presented Ed Korin with a gift in appreciation for all his hard work making CDs, distributing music sheets and translations with help from his wife, Yayoko. Opening the new 2013 year, members of the Norwalk Karaoke club joined the Nisei Karaoke Group at the Akebono New Year’s Songfest. The program was held at the Rose Center Ballroom in Westminster, CA on February 10. Thanks to all the performers who sang and danced. Thanks are also extended for the donation of door prizes and also for flower pots used for stage decoration. The program opened with a very appropriate song selection “Ichigatsu Tsui Tachi” sang as a cho-rus. On February 27 a few of the members entertained during the Winters-burg Fellowship at the Wintersburg Church in Santa Ana. Thanks to all those that participated. We are all hoping and look forward to a healthy new year in 2013.

G A K U E N cont’d

Students making mochi celebrating the New Year

Gakuen students dancing at New Year party

N O R W A L K D A N C E C L U B By Connie Ciranna

Winter Social—January 27 On January 27, 2013, Norwalk Dance Club held their first dance of the year, Winter Social. What a wonderful turn out it was with 77 dancers attending! We thank those dancers from GVNC, NDC, Langley, Prudy Gin, and friends for coming. Helen Hikiji and Irene Yip were the chair persons providing the group with delicious Cha Siu Bao, homemade Chinese coleslaw by Helen and delicious orange sponge cake made by Irene. Helping in the kitchen were George Ishikawa and Jean Ikemoto. Of course we were led by Edna Kurihara, the Line dances, “Black Vel-vet” and OK Time Rock & Roll”. It was a great way to start out the New Year! Of course, we couldn’t have danced without our DJ, Yuso Kurihara. Thank you!

International Night Social—February 23 February 23 was our International Night Social, and co-chaired by Harriet and Jim Noe. 75 guests were present from Langley, GVNC, NDC and friends. Our menu for the night was flaky meat pies, potato balls with meat within, green salad made by Harriet and sliced apples, oranges and a strawberry donated by Edna Kurihara. After enjoying our snacks, Edna led the group in the line dance, “Little Sheba” and “The Circle Waltz”. Not forgetting our dedicated DJ, Yuso Kurihara, his music for the evening included a variety of international songs.

Thanks Yuso!

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N O R W A L K Y O U T H S P O R T S

NYS HOT SHOTS II Take San Diego by Storm By Andy Ishii The NYS 3rd grade Hot Shots celebrated a strong performance in their winter season by taking an out-of-town team retreat to the sunny shores of San Diego on Saturday, Feb. 23 and Sunday, Feb. 24. The girls completed an outstanding 2012-13 winter season campaign tying for 3rd place in a very competitive 3rd grade girls division. “I was so proud of our girls be-cause they gave it their all this season! It was a great excuse to get the team and the families out for some well deserved fun” said Hot Shots head coach, Leo Hizon. The Hot Shots San Diego excursion started at the historic USS Midway Museum on Saturday. One of the US Navy’s most heralded air craft carri-ers, the Midway stayed in service for 47 years and saw combat action during the Viet Name War, Persian Gulf and Desert Storm operations. Nearly 3 football fields in length, the Hot Shots almost saw more firepower on this carrier then they did all season with all the jet fighters and can-nons aboard this historic ship. The next San Diego stop was across the bridge to beautiful Coronado Is-land where the team detoured at the Coronado Ferry Landing. There, the moms had a chance to casually peruse the quaint shops and sip on iced beverages while the dads rented bikes and vigorously pedaled the girls around the bay for an hour. We all know who got the better end of that deal! Saturday ended with a well-deserved meal for the parents

WOLVES

DRAGONS

at Lil’ Peggy’s BBQ and some Cold Stone Creamery for the kids. The Hot Shots concluded their San Diego weekend adventure on Sunday on the pristine coastlines of La Jolla cove. There, the girls got to see the California harbor seals basking in the sun with their pups while also getting a chance to splash around the beach themselves. “This weekend was really a way for the entire team and our fami-lies to get together and have fun” said Coach Hizon. “As enjoying it is being successful on the court, our team (family members included) has even better chemistry off of it! Next stop…..Las Vegas!” GO HOT SHOTS!!

Congratulations to the Norwalk 4th grade girls SAPPHIRES for winning first place in SEYO for the 2nd year in a row! The team is looking for-ward to playing in the Wangettes, FOR, and Tigers Tournaments this spring. Great job girls and coaches!

Congratulations Knights: Boys 6th grade White Division Champions!

Front: l-r Allen Louck-Camerena, Kevin Tai, Sean Talud, Josh Ebalo, Chris Eguchi. Back: l-r Gabe Campos, Matthew Ryan, Matthew Kwon, Bryan Saw, Nico lee.

The NYS Vipers (4th grade boys) celebrated the end of an awesome SEYO season with an outing to Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park, on Saturday, Feb. 23. The boys and their families enjoyed a night of energetic, trampoline-assisted dodge ball, sky slam basketball, and flying flips into foam pits. After an hour and a half of jumping fun, everyone enjoyed pizza, sandwiches and sweet treats in a private party room. The evening was capped off with a Vi-pers slide show that included pictures of the team from their start in Rascals to their most recent SEYO season. It was a great night for the team to relax, let loose and have fun!

Vipers Have a Jumpin’ Good Time!

NYS VIPERS

SAPPHIRES

NYS cont’d on Page 8

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N O R W A L K K E N D O D O J O N E W S

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 Southest 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 Tanden/Yoga Class: Mrs. Koyasu 562.865.9652 Guitar Class: Yuji Hata 562 695.1908 Japanese Classical Dance: Akemi Jensen 562 691.2764 Norwalk Youth Sports: Rich Tamaki rytamaki@yahoo.com Nawahine ‘O Kawena: Karen Toyoshiba 562 949.0203 Kendo: Jean Kodama Sensei email: norwalkkendo@gmail.com Hawaiian Karaoke Club: Leslie Goshi 323 722.7229 Karate: Brock Nishimura 714 826.9128 Ukulele Class: Kamaki Keawe Call Karen: 562 949.0203 Norwalk Karaoke Club: Ed Korin 714.870.1013 Norwalk Dance Club: Edna Kurihara 714 847.1173 Judo: Bill Matsubara 562 483 9374

Our first keiko of 2013 was Friday, January 4th, which included our traditional first-keiko feast of freshly made mochi and zenzai. Thank you so much to the dojo moms for always preparing us such great food. You’re the best! We hosted two iaido events in February. First was a seminar on Feb 10 by Kishimoto Chihiro sensei from Japan. This culminated the first All United States Kendo Federation Iaido Education Tour, which started on the East Coast and included stops in Texas, Seattle and San Jose. We also hosted two evening seminars on Feb 15 and Feb 18 by Oda Katsuo sensei from Shizuoka Prefecture. This was the third consecutive year we hosted Oda sensei for iaido, and this year we were privileged to have him join us for kendo as well. We only had three kenshi travel to Canada for the annual Steventon Kendo Tournament on Feb 23, but they all came back winners!! Con-gratulations to Yoon Courtney for taking 3rd place in the 14-15 divi-sion, and also for being selected for the Southern California Kendo

Federation Junior Team which took 3rd place. Congratulations to Kariya Yoshijiro and Yoon Brian for being selected for the SCKF Senior Team which went all the way to the finals and won 1st place. Great job everyone!! Federation dues are now being collected for 2013 (deadline March 15). Old members: we welcome you back! It’s a good year to re-join as next year is the AUSKF Championships, and the following will be our 50th anniversary. Norwalk Kendo Dojo practices Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30 and Fridays from 7:30 to 10:00 pm. We also practice iaido from 9 to 10:30 pm on Mondays. 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, including upcoming and past events as well as how to join, or send email to norwalkkendo@gmail.com.

Oda Katsuo sensei from Japan visited Norwalk Kendo Dojo for iaido and kendo. Photo by Dennis Ralutin

N O R W A L K N I K K E I S E N I O R S The Nikkei Seniors Club welcomes anyone interested in joining the club to contact: Toby Fusato at 562 860-7368. The Seniors meet twice a month, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from 11:45 am until 2:00 pm, at this Center. Members bring their own lunch (Subway sandwiches, Mcdonald hamburgers, etc.) and enjoy eating and socializing before a short business meeting, then commence with playing Bingo. On some days, we have a “guest speaker” or a “game day” or “a day trip to the Indian Casino”. The members also are invited to join the Long Beach Japanese group on their trips to Las Vegas, every other month,

which is always held on the first Wednesday and Thursday of every other month. The next trip will be April 2nd, 3rd and 4th. For further info, please contact Toby. The Senior ladies will begin working on various items for the Cul-tural Festival in July where they will sponsor tables to display their sales. Anyone who has not come to our community center Cul-tural Festival really should try to keep July 27 and 28 open on their calendar. It is an enjoyable time for all including Ondo danc-ing both evenings. Other highlights: demonstrations, entertain-ment and great food.

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Complete with surprise well wishes from his students to senseis as well as his wife, Taeko! What a great evening for everyone thank you Mrs. Lee for organizing such a memorable birth-day. We kicked off 2013 with the Annual San Fer-nando Kohaku Tournament on Feb. 24 held in Pacoima, CA. It was great to see new and vet-eran judoka compete in the tournament. Repre-senting Norwalk Judo were Dayne Uyehara, Ren Uyehara, Katie Gomez, Nicholas Gomez, Hunter Rodriguez, Conor Uyekawa, Weston Uyekawa, Joseph Chavez, Joshua Chen, Kay Sugahara and Godwin Obele. Congratulations to Hunter, Conor and Kay for bringing home a 3rd place Trophy!! The Nanka Annual Awards Banquet will be held at The Grand in Long Beach, CA. On March 2nd, we are proud to acknowledge Kay Sugahara, our judoka of the year. Kay embodies the strength, wisdom and mental fortitude to receive this aus-picious award. Her humble demeanor and fierce competitive spirit truly exemplifies the meaning of this award. We just love watching Kay compete because of her perseverance, intensity and respect for the art of judo. In every tournament she has com-peted, you can hear the accolades of Kay’s per-formance from sensei’s, fellow judoka and par-ents alike.

N O R WA L K J U D O D O J O June Uyekawa

Come to our annual Recognition Dinner and Awards Night MAY 19, SUNDAY 5:30 Social Hour, 6:30 Dinner

Service and Scholarship Awards, Entertainment, Prizes and Raffle Drawings and Door Prizes Join us to applaud our honorees and enjoy the evening starting with an Island Style Dinner Tickets are included in this newsletter. If you wish to attend, please complete the ticket stub and return it with payment in envelope provided. Tickets: $25 adult ($10 tax deductible) $10 student, $5 child under 12

For further info call Richard Shinomoto 562.754.8582

Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a restful holiday season. Judo families got together for the annual Christmas Party in the dojo. Good food, good company and many, well de-served recipients of awards. Congratulations to the following judoka: Most Tournament Wins: Kay Sugahara Alan Lee Desmond Wong Best Technique: Albert Lee Kris Witowich Best Attendance: Joseph Chavez Takeo Shibata Most Improved: Joshua Chen Raymond Kawamura Desmond Wong Fighting Spirit of Judo: Kylee Ishibashi Ismael Sakez Godwin Obele And our most prestigious award Judoka of the Year: Kay Sugahara 2012 Alan Lee 2011 This year proves to be another eventful year for Norwalk Judo. Mrs. Amanda Lee orchestrated an im-promptu birthday surprise for our head sensei, Masao Fukuma. He celebrated his

We just shake our heads in amazement and say ‘Isn’t Kay amazing?’. We are so proud of you Kay. You are truly an example to be followed: put on your sun-glasses girl ……….your future looks bright. FLASH UPDATE - - - FLASH UPDATE! During the banquet, the Judo Nanka Yudan-shakai has announced their first Junior Refe-ree Award to our own — Kay Sugahara!! BRAVO! We’re just rolling along to the next tourna-ment on March 3rd, the Mojica Spring Tour-ney in Baldwin Park, CA. A woot woot to our competitors: Dayne Uyehara, Ren Uyehara, Tucker Stratford, Brendan Stratford, Andres Boppell, Joseph Chavez and Kay Sugahara. Clap your hands, stomp your feet for our medalists: Brendan Stratford 3rd place, Jo-seph Chavez 3rd place and Kay Sugahara 2nd place. For listings of Nanka Judo Tournaments in 2013, please visit the website http://www.nankajudo.com/Calendar2013.html. Remember practices are Tuesdays 7-8:30 pm Yonen, and 7-9 pm Shonen and on Fridays 7-9 pm. This summer looks to be a HOT one with the 3rd Annual Judo Camp in June, special guests in July, Ondo Festival in July ….we look for-ward to more new members joining our Judo famiy. If you haven’t check it out, come see our new mats in the dojo; thank you again to all of the parents for your hard work and dedication to make our dojo bigger and safer.

Kay Sugahara receiving Judoka of the Year Award.

John Chavez receives a Best Attendance

March 2, Nanka Yudanshakai awarded Kay with prestigious first Junior Referee Award!

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Ukelele LessonsAvailable

Melia • Event Mgr.C 714-928-7157kamakisan@hotmail.com

“Songs of Hawai’i”

Kamaki K. KeaweTraditional / Contemporary

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Ukulele LessonsAvailable

Kamaki K. KeaweTraditional/Contemporary Music

for All Occasions

“Tomodachi”, P. O. Box 434, Norwalk CA 90651-0434. Tel: 562,863-5996. Published 6 times annually by the Southeast Japanese School and Community Center, 14615 Grid-ley Rd, Norwalk CA 90650. A no charge newsletter informing all participants of activities on a one per household basis. Bulk Mail Postage Paid at Norwalk, CA. Editor: Mary Iwami; Adver-tising & Mailing: Mary Iwami, Mas Onoda, and Norwalk Nikkei Seniors. Link by Dick Mercer, online distribution Kirk Iwami .

CALENDAR Operating Bd Mtg-1st Wed Monthly 7pm Center Bd Mtg-2nd Wed Monthy 6:30pm Mar 16 NYS Jr. Basketball Banquet 23 NDC Spring Fling 7-11 pm 24 Center Clean-Up Day 9-12 noon Apr 6 Monthly Bingo 6:30 27 NDC Western Social

May 4 Monthly Bingo 6:30 19 Recognition Dinner & Awards 25 NDC South of Border Social Jun 1 Monthly Bingo 6:30 22 NDC South of Border Social July 8-12 Camp Hanabi 13 Monthly Bingo 6:30 27-28 50th Cultural Festival

Reminder BINGO

Hosted by : Norwalk Youth Sports

April 6, Sat. April 6 serving dinner & refreshments

May 4, Sat Hosted by: Hikari Taiko 6:30 pm May 4 serving Lasagna, garlic bread, salad and refreshments Dinners served at 6 pm.

$5 per card all night, $20 prize each game,

$250 last game coverall !

Join us for our ANNUAL

CENTER

CLEAN-UP DAY

MARCH 24

Sunday

9 am to Noon Bring your gloves,

buckets and energy to tackle our yard and Center.

S E J S C C BOARD MEMBERS If you wish to contact any of the board members, please call the Center and leave a message. Jim Niiro Linda Kusuda Lyn Chang dCalvin Chang Kimie Matsumoto Fred Matsumoto Mas Onoda Richard Shinomoto Tosh Teramoto Bob Yamada Carrie Nakatani Wong Marvin Kobayashi Ted Yoshimura

NYS members help high school team make CIF Division Championship Finals. Lauren Hong (Senior—NYS Waves) and Jazmine Gahndi (Junior—NYS Huskies) helped their high school team St Joseph HS in Lakewood advance through the playoffs and into the CIF Championship Finals held at the Anaheim Arena. They took their talents against #1 ranked Chami-nade of West Hills, but ended up taking the runner-up award. A Cinderalla run and once in a lifetime experience to remember. All that hard work and playing tournaments under the NYS organization really paid off.

N O R W A L K Y O U T H S P O R T S Tomodachi Page 8

Cont’d NYS PLAYERS GO HS CIF FINALS

N O R W A L K J U D O D O J O Cont’d

Judo’s Annual Christmas & Awards party 2012

Kay Sugahara with her Nanka Yudanshakai ’s first Junior Referee Award

Family and senseis at Judo Nanka Yudan-shakai Awards banquet with Kay