The Orange County Japanese American Associaiton (OCJAA) is now accepting the 5th annual Koich Nerio Japanese Cultural Scholarships. The scholarship, donated to OCJAA by the late Koich and Toyo Nerio, aims to encourage young men and women of Japanese ancestry who are in training to acquire Japanese cultural skills such as, Japanese dance, Ryukyu dance, flower arrangement, tea ceremony, calligraphy, minyo folk songs, taiko, judo, kendo and karate to continue their studies in the future.

OCJAA is offering five scholarships of $750 each to those who meet the following qualifications:

• Members or dependents of OCJAA or persons of Japanese ancestry who are ages between 19 and 40 and are residing in Orange County or taking Japanese cultural lessons in Orange County.

• Those who have been and are currently in training to acquire Japanese cultural skills and wish to continue training in the future.

Application forms are available by calling the OCJAA office at (714) 283-3551. The deadline for submission of the application is Thursday, Oct. 19.

Selected students are required to attend the OCJAA Senior Citizens Appreciation Day on Sunday, Nov. 12, to receive the scholarship awards in person.