Boy Scout Troop 764, based at the Venice Japanese Community Center, welcomed four new Eagle Scouts with a ceremony on April 26.
• Troy Kotaro Kaneshiro began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub in a Cub Scout Pack based at Westchester Lutheran Church. He transferred to the world-famous Pack 79 when he was a Bear Cub. He earned his Arrow of Light award and bridged to the Scorpion Patrol in Troop 764 during 2007.
Troy later became a member of the Spaz Patrol, which was formed when the Scorpion and Taz patrols merged to form a single patrol. He served in many leadership positions during his membership in Troop 764, including historian, den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, troop guide, troop instructor, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and junior assistant scoutmaster.
His favorite scouting experiences were his two trips to Cottonwood in the Sierras and fishing for golden trout. He earned the rank of NRA expert, so he also enjoyed the Boy Scout group trips to the shooting range a well.
On Aug. 31, 2013, Troy held his Eagle project at the VJCC, which involved cleaning up garden areas along the side of the community center and the construction of large storage sheds for use by the VJCC, Karate Club, and Troop 764. Over 100 people supported the project, including current and former Boy Scouts, parents, relatives, and friends. The three sheds provided weatherproof storage areas that helped to free up much needed space at the VJCC.
Troy passed his District Eagle Board and became an Eagle Scout on Nov. 14, 2013. His experiences in scouting gave him opportunities to learn and develop important leadership skills. The successful completion of his Eagle project was a rewarding experience. Troy learned about the importance of giving back to the community and is grateful for the support of Troop 764 families during his scouting career.
Troy is a senior at Pacifica Christian High School in Santa Monica, where he is a three-year letterman as a member of the varsity volleyball team and also played on the JV basketball team. He wrote many articles for the school newspaper, The Current, and earned the 2013 Opinion Award for Excellence in Opinion Reporting and Writing for his article “Gun Control: The Topic That Has Divided a Nation.”
In the summer of 2012, Troy traveled to Israel with fellow students and visited many historic locations. At Pacifica Christian, he has participated in the Finance Club and Business Management Club, where he learned the fundamentals of investing. He enjoys applying what he has learned by researching and investing in stocks. After graduation, Troy plans to attend college and study economics and business.
• Brett Jiro Morimoto began his scouting career as a Tiger Cub in Pack 79 and earned his Arrow of Light before bridging into Troop 764. In Wolf Patrol, he served in such positions as scribe, den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, troop guide, troop instructor, assistant senior patrol leader and senior patrol leader. He is serving as junior assistant scoutmaster. His favorite activities as a scout included summer camps and hiking to Cottonwood Lakes.
In August 2013, he completed his Eagle Scout project at the VJCC. The project focused on building new benches for the multi-purpose room and the reorganization of the side room in the gym.
Brett earned his Eagle Scout rank on Oct. 10, 2013 and started working toward his Eagle Scout Palms. Brett has enjoyed his time as a member of Troop 764. He will take the leadership skills and confidence that he has gained over the past several years and use them in his future. He has received his Gold Palm and hopes to achieve many more goals after graduating from the troop.
He is a senior at Venice High School, where he has been a member of the basketball team for four years. He played volleyball his sophomore year and joined the Sports Medicine Team at Venice to further his education in athletics.
Brett has been a part of the Venice High Delphian Honor Society for the past three years and hopes to obtain the prestigious honor of Roman Lampers. He will also earn a bi-literacy award from Venice High School.
He has played in the CBO Sports League with the FOR Cobras and transferred to VYC to play with the Venice Heat. He plans to keep sports close to his heart in the future and hopes to attend the University of the Pacific to pursue an education in physical therapy and athletic training.
• James Makoto Morimoto started his scouting adventure with Pack 79 as a Wolf Scout. In 2007, he was awarded the Arrow of Light and bridged over to Shark Patrol of Troop 764. During his seven years with the troop, he has served as librarian, den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, patrol quartermaster, senior patrol leader, and junior assistant scoutmaster.
On Sept. 7, 2013, James carried out his Eagle Scout project at the Union Church of Los Angeles. With the help of Troop 764’s scouts, families and community members, he was able to paint the perimeter wrought-iron fence. The storage closets were also cleaned out.
James received the rank of Eagle Scout on Nov. 14, 2013. He has been appreciative of the support that he has received through his scouting years from the troop’s parents, leaders, and fellow scouts. He greatly appreciates the guidance and support of Scoutmasters Scott Kubota and Mark Morimoto and Assistant Scoutmaster Todd Nakamoto. He attributes his confidence as a leader and his ability to be a team player to his experiences in Troop 764.
James is a senior at Venice High School. He started his high school adventure as a member of the Frosh/Soph Cross Country and Track teams during his first two years. He moved up to Varsity his junior year and will finish as a Junior Varsity runner.
During his years on the Cross Country and Track teams, James’ personal accomplishment was to lose a considerable amount of weight. He went from 200 pounds to 142 pounds in his freshman year. He enjoyed the camaraderie, competition, fun, and challenges that he encountered by being on the team. Not only was it an athletic team for him, but his teammates also became like family.
Due to an interest in sports medicine, he joined the Venice High School Sports Medicine Team his sophomore year and has continued with it for the past three years. He has enjoyed providing first aid to injured players while working on the team. The opportunity to learn and apply sports medicine knowledge while being an athlete has been an invaluable experience to him.
James also played in the Venice Youth Council basketball program from the first grade to his freshman year in high school. Outside of sports, James volunteers at the Star Eco Station in Culver City as an animal caretaker assistant. He enjoys running on the beach, watching a good movie, and being lazy as much as possible. After high school, James hopes to pursue studies towards a career in sports medicine.
• Tyler Den Muronaka began his scouting career as a Webelo in Pack 79. As a Cub Scout, he was a part of the winning patrol at Camporee both years that he attended the event. After being awarded the Arrow of Light, Tyler bridged over to Troop 764 as a member of the Wolf Patrol. He held many leadership positions in the troop, serving as librarian, scribe, den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, troop guide, troop instructor, assistant senior patrol leader, and senior patrol leader.
Tyler’s favorite memory of his scouting career was his last summer camp, where he was a senior patrol leader along with Brett Morimoto and Troy Kaneshiro. There he experienced real rock climbing for the first time.
On Sept. 14, 2013, Tyler held his Eagle Scout project at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute. The project entailed the organization of a large underground parking garage and the construction of three portable table carts as well as a storage room in the garage.
Tyler became an Eagle Scout on Dec. 12, 2013. He is thankful for the support and leadership from Scoutmasters Kubota and Morimoto and Assistant Scoutmaster Nakamoto over the last several years.
In June, Tyler will graduate from North Torrance High School. He has been playing basketball nearly his whole life through the FOR league. He also played three years of basketball for his high school team. Tyler was a member of the Yankees in the Sansei Baseball League as well.
Throughout high school, Tyler has been a part of many clubs. Academically, he is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Federation. He has participated in service clubs such as the Key Club and North High Julian’s and Valiant’s. Tyler was elected and has served in North High School’s Student Council. He plans to attend a four-year university this fall to pursue a major in film.