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[+download press releases] GRAND MARSHAL Masaki Tanaka PARADE MARSHAL Frank Buckley COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Inc. (AADAP) South Bay F.O.R. Junior Sports Association Yellow Brotherhood PIONEERS Yukio Kawaratani George T. Matsubayashi Tatsushi Nakamura Yoichi Omori Hayao Shishino Hiroshi Yamaguchi 
GRAND MARSHALMasaki Tanaka Since May 2007, Masaaki Tanaka, has served as the president and chief executive officer of UnionBanCal Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Union Bank, N.A. He is also Managing Executive Officer of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU). Tanaka graduated from the University of Tokyo and earned his masters of law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Tanaka's experience in the United States dates to 1982, and includes assignments at the former Bank of California and working as a manager for BTMU's North American Planning Division in New York City. He began his professional career at The Mitsubishi Bank, a predecessor to BTMU, and has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry. Tanaka has held numerous professional and community roles including board of directors member of the Haas School of Business and memberships of University of California at Berkeley; The Clearing House, the nation's oldest bank association and forum; the Financial Services Roundtable; the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco; and the Japan Society of Northern California. He is also a member of the board of governors of the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and is president of the board of directors of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California. In addition, he is a 2008-2009 campaign cabinet member of United Way of the Bay Area, and he is a member of the board of directors of the Kyoto Symposium Organization and is the 2009 cochair of the Kyoto Laureate Symposium and Gala in San Diego. 
PARADE MARSHALFrank Buckley Frank Buckley, whose mother is Japanese, was named a member of the 2006 Japanese American Leadership Delegation, traveled to Japan to meet and exchange information with Japanese leaders, building people-to-people diplomacy between Japanese and Japanese American leaders. Buckley is most noted for being co-anchor of KTLA's Emmy Award-winning signature broadcast, the KTLA Morning News. He also anchors the new KTLA News at One P.M. He joined KTLA/CW in June 2005 from CNN where he had been a Los Angeles-based national correspondent. A graduate of the University of Southern California with a double major in broadcast journalism and history, Buckley began his broadcasting career as a weekend anchor/reporter at WXII-TV in Winston- Salem, N.C. and as a morning anchor/reporter at KESQ-TV in Palm Springs. His spot news reporting has included hurricanes in the Caribbean and the Carolinas, earthquakes in California and Japan, wildfires in Southern California, the Los Angeles riots, and the death of JFK Jr. off Martha's Vineyard. Prior to CNN, Buckley was a reporter at Los Angeles station KCAL-TV (1992- 1999). While at KCAL, he covered a number of major stories, including Great Britain's handover of Hong Kong to China, the Oklahoma City bombing, the Atlanta Olympic Park bombing and the OJ Simpson trial. Buckley is the recipient of numerous awards including Emmys for Hard News Reporting, for News Special (for his coverage of the Hong Kong handover), and for Entertainment Programming (for KTLA's Rose Parade pre-show). He has also won awards from the Los Angeles Press Club, including Best Documentary for KTLA's "When Disaster Strikes: A Survival Guide" and for Talk/Public Affairs for "Access LA." His other awards include APTRA Awards from the Associated Press Television- Radio Association including Reporter of the Year, Golden Mike Awards from the Radio and Television News Association (including Best Individual Writing in 2005 and 2006) and the national Americanism in News Media Award. He currently serves on the board of the Los Angeles chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association and on the board of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC). He is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Buckley frequently volunteers his time for various community organizations and charities and speaks to numerous groups. He also moderates public discussions and symposiums throughout the year. Buckley loves to play basketball, golf and tennis. He is married and is the father of two boys. 
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTAsian American Drug Abuse Program, Inc. (AADAP) In 1971, 31 Asian American youths died from drug overdoses. Community leaders largely in denial about the problems of substance abuse in the so-called "model minority" were shocked and dismayed by a growing crisis. An epidemic of drug abuse was underway while many in the Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) community believed, "our kids do not do drugs." Fortunately, leadership recognized the consequences for the community as a whole and decided to make a difference. People organized and talked to the youth to figure out the underlying causes of substance abuse and addiction in the APIA community. The organizers discovered that users both young and old in this ethnic enclave had no where to go for help. APIA drug users needed someone and some place that understood the ethnic, cultural and family nuances of what they were going through with their drug use and addiction. The organizers drafted a proposal and submitted a request to the federal government for funding to provide a substance abuse program targeting Asian Pacific Islander Americans. In 1972, the proposal was funded for a nonprofit organization and the Asian American Drug Abuse Program, Inc. (AADAP) came into existence. Today, AADAP remains one of the leaders in the nation with a mission to target and design services for Asian and Pacific Islanders with substance abuse problems. Residential Unit - referred to as the Therapeutic Community, is a 27-bed, 24-hour adult residential program providing 12-18 months of intensive, comprehensive treatment with one year of follow up. Outpatient Unit - provides structured treatment for clients living in the community and taking into consideration cultural, environmental, emotional, and other factors. These include Special Deliveries, a day treatment program for pregnant and parenting women, Outpatient Counseling, Drug Court, and HIV/AIDS Outreach. Youth and Family Unit - provides comprehensive gang prevention and intervention case management and counseling services to youth and their families residing in South Los Angeles. The programs include: LA Bridges, Gender Specific, Anti-gang, Gang Intervention, and National Youth Project Using Mini-bikes. Prevention Unit - works with all segments of the community to counteract the underlying factors contributing to the problems of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse. Programs include: Community Prevention, Indochinese Youth and Community Center, and Youth Outpatient Treatment. Employment Access Unit - works with clients who are in recovery for substance abuse problems providing them with job search assistance, pre-employment counseling, job development and job training. It provides one of the most critical support services for treatment and relapse prevention. Olympic Academy - is a 16-bed, 24-hour residential treatment facility providing a protective, supportive environment for youth ages 14-17. Youth are challenged to improve their educational skills, family relationships, interpersonal relationships, and generally helped to grow into maturity. COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT South Bay F.O.R. Junior Sports Association In 1959 Masani "Mas" Fukai and a handful of friends organized the F.O.R. Club to perpetuate the memory of the late Richard Takeo Nishimoto who exemplified the highest ideals of an outstanding young athlete. Nishimoto was not your average 18-year-old. He was "oyakoko" (obedient/responsive) as well as ichiban; a determined advocate of the three important "s" categories: scholastic, social, sports. F.O.R. is the abbreviation for "Friends of Richard." In fall 1959, Nishimoto had the world by the proverbial tail. Having just graduated from Gardena High School with his best pals Kay Nishi, Paul Sumida, and Frank Yanai, they enrolled at El Camino College prepared to conquer the next world, especially Nishimoto, ready or not. Despite not playing varsity basketball in high school, the 5-foot 8-inch pre-optometry major won a spot on the Warrior squad through sheer determination, drive, and court instinct. He was then named starting guard five days before the season opener. El Camino Coach Stanich said of Nishimoto, "He had as much potential as anyone I've ever coached." Nishimoto practiced lightly following a Monday scrimmage, a sore back causing some discomfort. On Wednesday, instead of prepping for the league opener, he was in bed with 102- degree fever. Pneumonia developed and even as befuddled doctors tried to diagnose what was wrong, blood poisoning set in and he died that Saturday. Buddies Nishi, Sumida, Yanai and others were devastated. The pall of heartache and loss wouldn't go away until coach and confidant Fukai decided to erase the gloom by rallying the forces with something good and productive - a young men's club - in memory of Nishimoto. This original F.O.R. group gathered during the holidays and prepared food baskets and gifts for needy Gardena families. They gave up weekends and vacation time to sponsor field trips and bus rides for underprivileged children. They cleaned up littered yards, painted homes, mowed lawns, sponsored scholarships, and honored community leaders. F.O.R. originally started with 15 boys and eight officers as a service organization and baseball team. F.O.R. eventually expanded to basketball and added a girls division. F.O.R. later changed its name to the South Bay F.O.R. Junior Sports Association. In 1972, the South Bay F.O.R. Junior Sports Association was incorporated under the laws of California and is recognized as a nonprofit charitable organization. Currently, the organization is comprised of more than 110 boys and girls youth basketball teams and more than 1,000 players ranging from grades 2nd to the 12th. In addition to basketball, F.O.R. provides athletic opportunities in volleyball and golf to the youth in the community. The organization sponsors two basketball tournaments a year, one for the adult basketball teams and one for the youth teams from Northern and Southern California. F.O.R. members participate in a variety of community events throughout the year: canned food drives, Japanese Cultural Institute (JCI) summer carnival, and a scholarship program. 
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTYellow Brotherhood Yellow Brotherhood (YB) started in the late 1960s in the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles or "Seinan" as it was called during that time. Gang activity and drug abuse plagued the youth in the Japanese American (JA) community in epidemic proportions. There were no government or community agencies to help JA families and the community denied that problems existed. Obituaries often reported heart attacks as cause of death for JA teenagers instead of the real reason—drug overdose—which most families found shameful to report. To fill this void some former Westside gang members, who were in their early 20s, decided to use their street credibility and hard-learned lessons to create positive change in the lives of these neglected youth. The resulting contingent of gang members, drug users, school dropouts, and other "misfits" chose the name Yellow Brotherhood. Rev. Roy Sano of Centenary Methodist Church opened the church facilities to the group and YB began holding after school tutorial/study programs, organizational meetings, mentor-youth sponsorship, parent groups, weekend activities and outings. YB enabled members to feel empowered, belonging to something positive to which they could all identify and relate. Rev. Sano introduced YB to community organizations that enabled them to speak about problems affecting JA youth and its purpose and programs. Community support grew and fundraising resulted in the purchase of the Yellow Brotherhood House on Crenshaw Boulevard. In the 1970s, a new generation of Asian American youth frequented the YB House and activities expanded. The focus shifted from drug abuse to drug prevention, emphasizing education and alternatives to drug abuse. YB sports teams, camping, weightlifting, and martial arts joined existing programs. Films were shown and on weekends, locals came for jam sessions. Guest speakers discussed Asian American history and identity, sexism, racism, Viet Nam War, and other issues relevant to YB members. There were community/cultural exchanges with other Asian youth organizations from Manila Town, Chinatown, and the Carson Samoan community. YB evolved to become part of a larger Asian American movement, participating in Manzanar Pilgrimages and helping Filipino farm workers build a retirement village in Central California. The late 1970s saw the decline of the Seinan community as many families moved to other Southern California suburbs. The YB House had served its purpose and closed. In the 1980s, former YB members formed a JA basketball team consisting of their own kids and adopted the name. Starting when they were 5 years old, the core YB team has stayed together through high school and beyond. Because there is no longer a specific JA community, the YB team provides a sense of community and identity. Basketball enables families to share experiences and throw community fundraisers that draw YB members and families together. These activities provide the youth with a glimpse of their community roots as members of the Yellow Brotherhood, and serves to give older members a reminder of their legacy. Times have changed. Faces have gotten older and younger but the unity felt by those transformed by the YB program has survived the passage of time. The overwhelming majority of its members, past and present, remain supportive and connected to each other. 
PIONEERYukio Kawaratani nominated by the Nisei Week Foundation Yukio Kawaratani was born in 1931 during the Great Depression, the eighth of 10 children raised on a small farm in San Juan Capistrano, CA. At the age of 10, he was incarcerated with his family at the Poston Relocation Center in Arizona. When the family answered "no" and "no" on the infamous "loyalty questionnaire," most of the family members were sent to the Tule Lake "segregation camp," for the remainder of the war. Three of his brothers served in the US Army. Later, his father and two of his other brothers were sent to two Department of Justice detention centers in Bismarck, North Dakota and Crystal City, Texas. Kawaratani attended Long Beach Poly High School, attended UCLA before transferring to UC Berkeley where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture. He was drafted into the US Army after graduation, serving two years in Germany. Upon return, he attended USC and received a master's degree in city and regional planning. Kawaratani worked for Simon Eiser & Associates in South Pasadena, eventually becoming an urban planner. In 1962, he was hired by the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency and he worked more than 31 years on various Bunker Hill redevelopment projects. Kawaratani played a major role in developing the project's mission to revitalize downtown Los Angeles by making Bunker Hill a vibrant center of commercial, office and residential development. Additionally, he played a significant role in the Central Business District's redevelopment projects. He helped to facilitate the construction of many buildings; the most notable was the 72-story Library Tower, the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. Kawaratani was also involved in the major expansions of the Central Library and the Convention Center. In early 1970, Kawaratani was officially began his involvement with the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Project, personally recruiting Kango Kunitsugu to be the Little Tokyo project manager. He was involved in the development of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Little Tokyo Tower, Japanese American National Museum, New Otani Hotel, Japanese Village Plaza, Union Center for the Arts, and the construction or expansion of seven religious buildings, including three Buddhist temples and three Christian churches. Kawaratani was also responsible for negotiating with Toho Film Enterprise to bring Godzilla (outfit) and presenting the Godzilla Film Festival in Little Tokyo during the Nisei Week Japanese Festival. Since retirement, Kawaratani has worked on preserving Los Angeles' Bunker Hill history. For almost 30 years, he has also volunteered his time to improve the city of Monterey Park, where he resides. His crowning achievement in the city was the completion of the Monterey Library in 2006. Kawaratani has been married for 34 years to Lillian, and has three daughters and four grand children. 
PIONEERGeorge T. Matsubayashi nominated by Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple George T. Matsubayashi was born in Hilo, Hawaii on November 5, 1937 to Buddhist missionaries from Shimane, Japan who were assigned to the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii. Raised in a sugar plantation village in Ola'a along with his four siblings, the Matsubayashi family returned to the family temple in Shimane in 1939. He attended Ryukoku University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor's degree in Jodo Shinshu Studies in 1961. While at university, he completed the necessary requirements to be a fully pledged Buddhist minister. Upon graduation, Reverend Matsubayashi served at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin. While in Hawaii, he attended the English Language Institute at the East West Center, University of Hawaii. In 1963, he enrolled in the University of Wisconsin doctoral program in Buddhist Studies, then went on to the University of California, Los Angeles' doctoral program in the Department of Oriental Languages in 1964. In January 1965, while studying at UCLA, Reverend Matsubayashi began teaching the Buddha-dharma to young members at Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, then a branch of the Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Betsuin Buddhist Temple. From 1965 to 1968, he was a Japanese language instructor for the Department of Oriental Languages at UCLA. He also spent weekends teaching at the San Fernando Valley Japanese Language School and was a Japanese language instructor for ULCA's Extension Program. In August 1970, Reverend Matsubayashi formally transferred from the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii to the Buddhist Churches of America (BCA) and began serving at the LA Hompa Hongwanji Betsuin Buddhist Temple. In March 1976, the Venice Hongwanji became independent, making it the 61st temple within the BCA, and Rev. Matsubayashi became its first resident minister. In 1980, he organized the effort to expand the Venice Hongwanji structure, Hondo (main worship hall). Rev. Matsubayashi was a volunteer chaplain at various hospitals and nursing homes including Daniel Freeman, Santa Monica, UCLA, St John's, Good Samaritan, St. Vincent, Cedar Sinai, Keiro Nursing, South Bay Keiro, Culver West and others. From 1972 to 1987, he was the first Buddhist minister in the Reserve Chaplain corp, serving in the Central and Pacific Divisions of the Los Angeles Police Department. He served as volunteer chaplain of the LAPD's Pacific Division Clergymen Council until 1995. In April 1999, after 34 years of ministering to the members of the Venice Hongwanji, Rev. Matsubayashi was appointed the Eighth Rimban (head minister) of the LA Honpa Hongwanji Betsuin, the first American-born Rimban to serve at this temple. Together with the members of the LA Betsuin, Rev. Matsubayashi organized the temple's centennial celebration in 2005. This included purchasing the land adjacent to the temple where the Memorial Chapel of Immeasurable Light and Life (Nokotsudo), and the Wisteria Chapel were constructed. Rev. Matsubayashi retired on January 31, 2009, after 49 years in the ministry. He and his wife, Kiyoko, have four children: Craig (Raquel), Dean (Kim), Erik (Cindy) and Tina (Howard) Wada and are blessed with four grandchildren, Jared, Lindsay, Chase and Emma. 
PIONEERTatsushi Nakamura nominated by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce Tatsushi Paul Nakamura has been a loyal and staunch supporter of the Japanese American community and taken leadership roles form many community organizations. He was born in Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan in 1935. After graduating from Kagoshima Commercial High School in 1955, he moved to the United States and enrolled in Pasadena City College in 1956. Upon graduating from Pasadena City College he attended Pasadena Nazarene College (now known as Point Loma Nazarene University) where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration. He joined Sumitomo Bank of California in l962 where he worked for four years. He then became a hotel proprietor until his retirement in 1987. Nakamura is currently the owner of P.K. Commercial Center of Glendora. Nakamura has been involved in many organizations such as the Japanese American Hotel & Apartment Association, Nanka Kagoshima Kenjin-kai, Taisho Club, L.A. Kimono Club, Rafu Kokuseiyu Shigin-kai, Pan American Nikkei Association of U.S.A., Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai, Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Japan America Society of California, L.A. Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Kado Kyoju-kai, Japanese American Pioneer Center, Little Tokyo Community Council, and Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu-kai, to name a few. Because of his commitment, for many of these organizations he held leadership positions including president, chairman, board of director, and advisor. In addition, Nakamura has received many commendations and awards for his spirit of community and service. In 1999 he received a commendation from Governor Tatsuro Saga of Kagoshima Prefecture; certificate of appreciation from Mayor Richard Riordan in 2001; commendation from Governor of California Gray Davis in 2001; certificate of appreciation from Mayor James K. Hahn in 2005; and in 2007 Nakamura received a commendation from the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors, certificate of recognition from Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, and a commendation from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Retired, Nakamura still remains active in the Japanese American commjunity and also enjoys doing calligraphy, shigin and golf. He and his wife, Keiko, have one daughter, Rosemary Yuko. 
PIONEERYoichi Omori nominated by the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai and endorsed by Taisho Club Yoichi Omori was born in Kumamoto-ken, Japan in 1935. After graduation from high school, he entered Meiji University in Tokyo. Blessed with natural athleticism, he was instrumental in helping the Meiji University baseball team win numerous local and national college baseball championships during his four years in college. Since the rest of his family was residing in the Los Angeles area, he decided to join them after graduation from Meiji University and came to the United States in 1960. He held a variety of jobs and retired in 2005. Aside from his employment, Omori spent an enormous amount of time volunteering for various nonprofit organizations in Japanese American community. First, he organized a group of young men and women from Kumamoto and established a new junior division within Kumamoto Kenjinkai. He steered their energy into sports activities and community services. Omori was elected the president of Kumamoto Kenjinkai in 1985 and coordinated the 85th anniversary celebration of the Kumamoto Kenjinkai the same year. Fifteen years later, he was asked again to serve as general chairman of the 100th anniversary celebration, which was conducted with great success. He received a special commendation from the Kumamoto-ken Governor for his effort. Additionally, Omori expanded his volunteer activities to the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai, the federation of all Kenjinkai associations in Southern California. In 1999, he was elected the president of the organization. In this capacity, Omori continued his effort to support the promotion of Japanese culture and awarding scholarships to young people who were in training to acquire and refine their Japanese cultural skills. Omori's community service also expanded beyond kenjinkai activities. In 2002, he was elected the president of Taisho Club. He and his karaoke group regularly visited Keiro Retirement Home and offered the residents karaoke entertainment presentations. During his tenure, Omori continued sponsoring the Taisho Club's free flu shot and health screening program mostly to seniors in Japanese American community. He also recruited his Taisho Club members to participate in the annual Year End Charity Drive in support of Keiro Homes. For his leadership in voluntary community service, he was presented a special recognition award by the Taisho Club and received special commendations from Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Omori and his wife Tatsuyo have a daughter Wendy (Edwin Ilano) and three grandchildren: Timothy, Emily and Kevin. 
PIONEERHayao Shishino nominated by the Orange County Nikkei Coordinating Council Hayao "Hy" Shishino's involvement with Southeast Japanese School and Community Center (SEJSCC) began 21 years ago. Using his expertise as a chef to cook for events sponsored by the club, he was later chosen to be a representative at operating board meetings, eventually joining the Board of Directors, where he was elected president of SEJSCC. During Shishino's 10-year tenure as president, he oversaw many improvements to the center taking it upon himself to research and find contractors. For simple projects he was always able to recruit volunteers. Shishino had three objectives for the SEJSCC. The first was to have clubs work together as he noticed that they functioned independently, were self-sufficient, and didn't contribute to the entire center. He changed the "independent club" concept and encouraged family/teamwork for center events. His second objective was to include more members on the board to be a part of the process of running and maintaining a nonprofit organization. The third objective was to have a 20-year plan for the future to ensure the center will continue to thrive for generations. These objectives are and will continue to be an ongoing process of Shishino's legacy. He retired as president and has remained an emeritus advisor. In addition to his involvement with the SEJSCC, he was also very involved with the Japanese American community. Shishino has worked to ensure the Japanese American WWII incarceration story is told. He was chosen president of the Gila Camp Reunion Committee and planned the program for five successful reunions, the last being in 2006. In 1999, Shishino helped coordinate a reunion of the 442nd RCT and Korean War veterans in Branson, Missouri, attended by more than 650 veterans, families and friends. The veterans were officially recognized and honored by the mayor and Chamber of Commerce. Then in 2002, Shishino was involved with the All Camp Reunion held at the Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. He was also on the committee that presented 2004 the All Camp Reunion in Little Rock, Arkansas, sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation and Japanese American National Museum (JANM). Since 2006, Shishino has worked with JANM and the Gila Camp Reunion to raise funds to film a nonprofit documentary based on the first hand experiences of a Caucasian mother and first grade internment camp teacher, Ruth Mix, and her daughter Clare, who served as a camp nurse. To date the Ruth Clare Mix Fund has raised nearly $60,000 towards the $100,000 needed to film and complete the documentary. For more than 70 years, Shishino has been involved with the Little Tokyo community, making him a well qualified member of Little Tokyo Historical Society. Shishino is a walking history book who has seen and lived through the changes of Little Tokyo and city of Los Angeles. He and his wife Mitzi have three children Kathy (Cataldo), Rob, and Janet (Okimoto); seven grand children: Ryan, Mari and Mathew Cataldo; Christa and Daniel Shishino; Jillian and Jenna Okimoto. 
PIONEERHiroshi Yamaguchi nominated by the Japanese Community Pioneer Center Hiroshi Yamaguchi was born in Visalia, California, in February 1925. At the age of eight, his family sent him back to Japan to care for an aunt. He rejoined his parents in 1948 after their release from the Poston, Arizona War Relocation Authority camp. Yamaguchi continued his education and graduated in 1958 from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in engineering. He originally worked in aerospace and concurrently became a vice president at Asahi Homecast (25 years). Yamaguchi retired in 1990 from Colt Industries Menaso Aerospace division and Lockheed after 30 year of service. His retirement years have been very active in the community. Some of his titles reflect how successful he has been in retirement: president of San Fernando Valley Japanese Community Center, president of Fax Mainichi Inc., member of the board of directors of United Way, president of the Asian and Pacific Islanders Council of San Fernando Valley, community advisor to the president of Mission College, president of Southern California Kagoshima Kenjinkai, director, then president of the Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California, member of the board of directors. Additionally, he was president of the Japanese Community Pioneer Center, instructor of computers and ESL at the Pioneer Center, president of the San Fernando Valley Meiji Senior Citizens Club, and member of the board of directors, then vice president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California. Additional titles include: directory/assistant secretary Japanese American Centennial Treaty Scholarship Fund, member of the board of directors Little Tokyo Community Council, and chair of the Ogaswararyu Senchado (tea ceremony) Southern California branch. Yamaguchi's awards and commendations are from the California State Assembly for Outstanding Leadership, City of Los Angeles Outstanding Dedication and Service to the Citizens of San Fernando Valley, Mission College Presidents Award for Outstanding Support, California State Senate for Outstanding Leadership, Northridge Chamber of Commerce Life Saver's Award, Los Angeles County Dedicated Service, Governor of Kagoshima Ken Appreciation Award, United Way Commendation, Parents of the Year Recognition Award, and Japanese Community Pioneer Center Major Contributor. Currently Yamaguchi resides in Northridge with his wife, Yoshiko, an Adjunct Professor at Pierce College. He has two children (Ken and Junko) and four grandchildren (Kyle, Kelly, Dylan, and Ryan). |