Senior honorees: (Back row, from left) Judith Takata Hawkins, Joan Nakatsu, Mary Nakayama, Masaharu Yamada, Patrick Seki, Mitsunori Nishikawa; (front row, from left) Eiko Hashibe, Charles Hashibe, Momoyo Yamada, Fusae Yamasaki, Hisako Nagamine, Mitsuko Ono.
The Nanka Yamaguchi Kenjinkai recently held its 2026 general meeting and New Year’s luncheon at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello.
Secretary Naomi Suenaka led a moment of silence in memory of members who passed away since the last shinnenkai and gave the financial report.
New Year’s greetings were delivered by President Bruce Kimura and, via video, Yamaguchi Prefecture Governor Tsugumasa Muraoka.
In addition to Kimura and Suenaka, the slate of 2026 officers includes Florence Ochi, vice president, and Kysa Hayashi, treasurer.
The invocation was given by board member Judith Takata Hawkins and the toast was led by past president Patrick Seki. A “Year in Review” presentation on the kenjinkai’s activities was given.
The keynote speaker was Jeffrey Gee Chin, who profiled newspaper publisher and community leader Sei Fujii (1882-1954) in the film “Lil Tokyo Reporter” and the book “A Rebel’s Outcry.” He discussed his recent research on Fujii’s roots in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Fujii graduated from USC Gould School of Law but was unable to get a law license because immigrants from Japan were barred from U.S. citizenship. He fought for the rights of Japanese immigrants and was detained at Tuna Canyon and camps in New Mexico during World War II. In 1952, he finally acquired American citizenship at the age of 73, shortly before his death.
Board member Kazuto Kishimoto introduced a display on the region’s Nikkei farming families provided by Tanaka Farms in Irvine.
Ochi discussed the “Finding Your Roots” program, which enables Japanese Americans to trace their family histories in Japan. Board member Eric Hashibe talked about the benefits he gained from attending the “Finding Your Roots” seminar.
Board member Lorraine Kimura introduced past scholarship winners Madison Hashibe, Kristin Kimura and Luca Mukai, and also led the bingo game.
Board member Atsuko Kimoto honored members who reached the age of 80 or older. The seniors posed for a group photo.
The attendees sang “Sukiyaki” (Japanese title: “Ue o Muite Arukou”) and performed sanbonjime (ceremonial clapping) to close the program.