JACS Establishes Nakamura Arts Fund
Saturday, June 23, 2007

$295,000 donation to support individual artists and arts organizations.

“We believe that Cecilia’s bountiful gift will go a long, long way in strength­ening JACS’ annual giving programs, and allows us to honor her name in per­petuity. We see her as a shining example of how the Nisei can continue giving to the community even beyond our life­time,” said Fred Hoshiyama, a member of JACS’ Board of Trustees.

Nakamura was born in San Francisco in 1913, and at a young age, her Kyoto-born mother, Tsuyeko Nishikawa, a koto teacher, began Nakamura’s music training on the koto. After high school Nakamura studied costume design and tailoring at Trade Tech in Los Angeles. She also began dancing with Michio Ito, renowned Japanese modern dance choreographer, performing at the Greek Theater and Hollywood Bowl. She con­tinued life-long friendships with Michio photographer Toyo Miyatake, and a lively mix of Japanese and American artists of the burgeoning modern arts movement.

During World War II, Nakamura was interned at Poston, while her friend and mentor, Michio Ito was deported to Ja­pan as an enemy alien. After returning to Los Angeles, she began a long career as a tailor working with Hollywood design­er Frank Acuna, who created costumes for Eleanor Powell, Liberace, Gilbert Roland, Clark Gable, and others.

Throughout her declining years, Na­kamura kept her spicy sense of humor, strong-willed independence, compas­sion, and love of the arts. She passed away in June 2006.

JACS is currently establishing an Ad-Hoc Arts Advisory Committee to provide support in setting up the Cecilia Nakamura Arts Fund. Grant applications for the Cecilia Nakamura Arts Fund will be available in October 2007. For more information, visit http://www.jacsfund.org.