February 23rd 2020 O.A.
“SoCal Gardeners’ Federation 65th anniversary”
January 22nd was the New Years Greeting for JBA in Torrance.
This event is annually held so workers can socialize and meet each other at the start of the new year.
JBA is a non-profit organization where about 440 Japanese businesses that are based in SoCal join. Their mission is to spread mutual understanding in business for the US/Japan and to contribute to the local community.
This year’s New Year’s Greetings theme is the Tokyo Olympics.
At the opening act, a torchbearer appeared and livened up the event.
At the ceremony, President Nakajima of JBA and Deputy Consul General Matsuo stated their greetings. They focused on unity and diversity following the Olympics theme.
After the toast, about 500 participants enjoyed eating new year’s dishes and exchanged greetings and business cards.
Athletes from Japan who are going to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics came as a special guest. They each demonstrated their sport as well as talking about how they are motivated and asked for everyone’s support so they can continue to compete.
Like previous years, a raffle was held and winners went home with great prizes.
Japanese Prefectural Association of SoCal Luncheon
Sunday, February 9th was the 2020 inauguration ceremony of the Japanese Prefectural Association of SoCal.
The Japanese Prefectural Association was founded in 1964 and 38 prefecture associations joins.
Members help each other out and their mission is to supply scholarship as well as supporting restoration of devastated areas.
First, new board members took oath and 18 members were introduced with President, Happy Mizutani taking on his second term. President Mizutani spoke about the next generation along with the decreasing number of members. He stated “We want to adjust to the new era.”
Followed by the greetings of Consul General Akira Muto and representatives from Japanese American organizations.
Lastly, members proudly talked about their prefectures. This year’s theme was “Celebrities from my hometown” and were given 25 seconds to speak.
Japanese Cuisine Lecture & Demonstration
An event to spread Japanese cuisine was held in LA.
Chef Ryohei Hayashi of restaurant “Tenoshima” in Aoyama, Japan and the recipient of one Michelin star was invited as a guest. The event was jointly organized by the Consulate General of Japan in LA and H.I.S.
“The event happened in 3 different locations of LA for 3 days.
The first day, February 3rd took place in Downtown LA at the Japanese restaurant, “Shibumi” that also received one Michelin star.”
Chef David Schlosser of “Shibumi” and Hayashi both trained at “Kikunoi”, a Japanese restaurant with a long history in Kyoto.
About 40 people including restaurant individuals participated in the first day. Chef Hayashi lectured “Umami” using 3 types of dashi.
And the course meal that Hayashi and Schlosser collaborated was served.
They introduced the Japanese traditional food culture, “Hatsu-Uma” held at the beginning of February by serving inari sushi.
Also, Chef Schlosser was appointed the “Goodwill Ambassador to Spread Japanese Cuisine” by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.