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VJCC Rings in the New Year
By Joyce Tse
Rafu Staff Writer
Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007
Annual Shinnen Enkai and Keiro Kai draws large crowd at Venice JCC. |
JOYCE TSE/Rafu Shimpo
From left to right: Councilman Bill Rosendahl, Jun Oyama, Kenneth Teshima, Bob Kawano and Assemblyman Ted Lieu, are all smiles after the presentation of the Person of the Year, Special Commendation and Lifetime Achievement awards.
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Depending on whom you spoke to, the highlight of the 2007 Shinnen Enkai and Keiro Kai at the Venice Japanese Community Center on Sunday was the awards presentations, the entertainment or those delicious bento lunches.
But the common consensus was that the annual event celebrating the Year of the Boar was a success.
Among the many activities of the day, John Ikegami, president of the VJCC for the past three years, prepared to hand over his title to Jack Kurihara, but not before providing a year-end review and presenting the VJCC Person of the Year award to Jun Oyama for his “unselfish and dedicated service to the Community Center.” |
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Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl also presented Oyama with a Person of the Year award from the Los Angeles City Council for being a longstanding member of the Center who has been active on many fronts, including playing a role in building expansion, cleanup and monthly newsletter deliveries to the post office. |
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The VJCC Lifetime Achievement award went to Bob Kawano, the Center’s Chairman, while Rosendahl also presented Kawano with an award from the City Council for his impact on the Center after 23 years of membership and service.
A Special Commendation Award was given to Dr. Kenneth Teshima, who practices podiatry in Laguna Hills and has traveled hundreds of miles over the years to offer his services at senior centers.
“Hundreds of seniors have benefited from his monthly visits,” said Rosendahl, who went on to share that as the son of immigrants from Germany, he too, faced discrimination growing up in the United States.
“I want you to know that I appreciate the fact that that U.S. apologized to the Japanese American community, and that many of us (other Americans) experienced some prejudice as well during World War II,” he said. |
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Many other special guests attended the event, including Yoshiyuki Isoda from the office of the consul general of Japan, former Assemblyman George Nakano, Assemblyman Ted Lieu from Sacramento, West Area Director John Brady for the Office of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Miss Western Los Angeles 2006, Colleen Suyenaga.
When the lineup of speakers ended and the floor was turned over to entertainment, guests enjoyed bento lunches while they were treated to performances of Japanese dance by Asuma Kotobuki Kai and Fujima Seiyumi Kai; hula by Halau Keali’i O Nalani, which performed both hula kahiko (ancient) and hula ‘auana (modern); music of the koto and shakuhachi; ukulele performances and minyo, a Japanese traditional music, by Nippon Minyo Nishimura Kai.
Exhibits of shodo (calligraphy), shuji kakizome (penmanship), bonsai and shochikubai rounded out the day’s events, leaving many attendees feeling good about the past year and hopeful of what the new year will bring. To learn more about the VJCC, visit: www.vjcc.com. |
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