Feb 25th 2018 O.A.
Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California’s 2018 New Officers Installation & Friendship Luncheon
February 11th was Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California’s 2018 New Officers Installation & Friendship Luncheon at Montebello’s Quiet Cannon. Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1964 and has 39 different prefectural association joining, where individuals from the same prefectures gather. They all support one another and do various activities like: funding scholarships, supporting the devastated areas and strengthening the ties between the U.S. and Japan. 150 individuals representing each Kenjinkais and Japanese American organizations attended the event. First, the chairman was introduced. Followed by introducing each kenjinkai as they spoke proud of their own prefectures. Afterwards, the new members of the board were introduced and the inauguration ceremony was held under the supervision of a lawyer. Yoshinori Akutagawa will be taking place of Kazuhiko Nishimoto and is the new chairman. Akutagawa has been active as the chairman of the Hiroshima Kenjinkai and the member of the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai. At his speech, he stated “I hope we can all discuss the aging issue of our members and how our associations are lacking in presence.”Also, former chairman, Nishimoto was awarded a certificate for contributing to the
Kenjinkai Kyogikai.
Doshisha Alumni Association U.S. West’s New Year’s celebration and general meeting
Doshisha Alumni Association U.S. West’s New Year’s celebration and general meeting was held at the restaurant in Downtown on February 17th. Doshisha Alumni Association is founded by the graduates of the university and its associated schools and members with a teaching background. 150 members reside in the U.S. West. At the general meeting, the new chairman was decided and Mitsuko Gordon was chosen. At the speech, she stated “I hope we can strengthen the Doshisha bond that expands not only in SoCal but throughout the U.S.”Chancellor, Eiji Hatta of the Doshisha was invited from Japan as a guest and held a lecture. Chancellor Hatta graduated Doshisha University in 1971. He taught economics and was the president of the university in the past. In 2017, he took the positions of both the chancellor and the Chairperson Board of Trustees of the Doshisha. Meals and networking happened after the lecture. Chancellor Hatta visited each table and socialized with about 60 members.