By Mary Uyematsu Kao
Two new centenarians have hit the scene. Life-long friends Shigeko “Shag” Morishita and Elsie Uyematsu (Osajima) both hit 100 in July.
They celebrated their 100th birthdays from their wheelchairs with extended family and friends. Shag had a large gathering taking up all of Leonard Kim’s Cherrystones in Gardena. Elsie had a small party at Hollenbeck Palms.
Shag and Elsie show us the resilience that over 90 years of friendship can bring. Elsie’s sister, Helen Matsunaga, remarked how the two of them used to sit and talk for hours apart from everybody else at Japanese school. They share one quality that stands out and may be the key to their longevity. They both have the innate quality of speaking their mind — with no regrets.
The photo from the Butte High School yearbook, “Year’s Flight, 1943,” shows Elsie, Shag, and Elsie’s sister Helen as members of the Royal Thespian club. Butte was the high school at the Gila War Relocation Authority Center in Rivers, Arizona.
After lunch and cake at Elsie’s party, Shag showed her relentless spunk. “Elsie,” she scolded, “how can you fall asleep at your own birthday party!?!” Elsie made a brief acknowledgment to Shag, and went back to sleep.
Omedetou, Shag and Elsie! Yatta ne!
Mary Uyematsu Kao is the author/photographer of “Rockin’ the Boat: Flashbacks of the 1970s Asian Movement” and formerly the publications coordinator of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center (1987-2018). She received her MA from UCLA Asian American Studies in 2007. She welcomes comments, questions, and/or criticisms at uyematsu72@gmail.com. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of The Rafu Shimpo.