Nisei Week Japanese Festival | Los Angeles

Press Release

For immediate release

For more information:
Diane Tanaka
310-962-2698

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NISEI WEEK ANNOUNCES 2007 COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS -
TO BE PRESENTED AT AWARDS DINNER MONDAY, AUGUST 20

(Los Angeles - July 15, 2007) - The Nisei Week Foundation proudly honors the following organizations during the 67th Nisei Week Festival for their service to the community: Centenary United Methodist Church, Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center, Union Church of Los Angeles, and the Orange Coast Optimist Club. The annual Awards Dinner will be held on Monday, August 20 at the New Otani Hotel " Garden. Starting at 6 p.m., tickets are available for $60. Also recognized at the Awards Dinner will be this year's Grand Marshal, Jack H. Naito, chairman of SBD Group, Inc., and Parade Marshal, Azumazeki Oyakata formerly known as the sumo wrestler Takamiyama. For tickets or information, call the Nisei Week Foundation at 213-687-7193.

"Every year the Nisei Week Foundation board of directors select organizations or individuals who demonstrate outstanding services that benefit the greater Little Tokyo and Japanese American community," said Nisei Week Foundation President Keith Inatomi. "This year we have selected three religious pillars of our community, Centenary United Methodist Church, Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center, Union Church of Los Angeles, and a superb organization in Orange County, the Orange Coast Optimist Club."

Centenary United Methodist Church
Centenary United Methodist Church was organized in June 1896, under the name Japanese Methodist Episcopal Mission of Los Angeles.

A charter group of 15 first-generation immigrant Issei Christians held their first services in s small house at 252 Winston Street in downtown Los Angeles. The congregation moved to a larger building in Los Angeles at the corner of Broadway " 9th streets in 1902, and again to a third location at 1120 Georgia Street in 1906.

The year 1925 marked the centennial anniversary of the Methodist Church in America. That same year, the Centenary congregation purchased a lot on the corner of Normandie Avenue and 35th Street, and constructed a new church building on the site. The new church was named Centenary Methodist Church to commemorate these two historic milestones.

With the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941 and the subsequent evacuation and incarceration of Japanese Americans from the West Coast in the spring of 1942, the church closed its doors until 1945. Upon the return and resettlement of church members, Centenary served as a hostel for families who had no homes or neighborhoods to which to return.

The second generation Nisei undertook the reins of leadership and rebuilt the church's ministry and programs throughout the following four decades.

In 1988, the congregation made the decision to return to its historical home in the Little Tokyo area of downtown Los Angeles. A site was purchased on the corner of Central Avenue and 3rd Street, and construction of the first phase including administrative offices, classrooms and a social hall was begun. The entire facility was completed with the construction of the new sanctuary in 1995.

Today, Centenary retains its Japanese American heritage while welcoming and embracing people of all ethnicities and backgrounds. The third generation Sansei and their contemporaries lead the congregation at a time when the downtown Los Angeles environment is undergoing exciting and rapid change.

Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center
Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center's beginnings date back to 1912 when a Catholic priest was sent from Japan to Los Angeles where he started a mission at a two-story house. The house served as a chapel, clubhouse, and home for young Issei immigrants. Established to meet the spiritual needs of the Japanese immigrants, Maryknoll nurtured and supported Japanese American families.

Maryknoll School was established in 1921. A fleet of buses gathered Nisei students from Japanese neighborhoods in the wide geographical areas of Los Angeles and surrounding communities. The school was open to children of any religious faith. At one point, there were more than 470 students attending the school.

When World War II broke out, and the Issei and Nisei were herded from their homes into incarceration camps in 1942, Maryknoll Fathers and Sisters withstood the hysteria and racial prejudice against the Japanese American families and defended them irrespective of creed. They visited the incarceration camps bringing comfort and assistance. At war's end in 1945, Maryknoll Fathers and Sisters were present to welcome the Japanese Americans back to the community, helping them to resettle and reestablish their lives in Los Angeles.

In the 1950s and 1960s after the war, the Maryknoll School buses were seen rolling again in Little Tokyo. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, the enrollment of Japanese American students gradually declined as young families moved out of the area. After 74 years, the Maryknoll School closed in 1995.

In the same year, the Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center was established in its place with the goal of serving the Japanese American community and the community-at-large. In addition to serving the religious needs of the Japanese American families, the Maryknoll Japanese Catholic Center in more recent years has increasingly been extending its services to Japanese American youth, senior citizens, and to the general public.

With meeting rooms, classrooms, kitchens, auditorium and secure parking, the old school building has become the ideal site for a variety of cultural, educational and social activities, classes and meetings. The St. Francis Xavier Chapel, built in 1939, is still the site of daily noon mass with three masses scheduled every weekend.

Union Church of Los Angeles
Union Church of Los Angeles has been part of Little Tokyo community since its existence. Japanese Union Church was established on February 7, 1918 following the merger of Los Angeles Japanese Congregational Church, Los Angeles Presbyterian Church, and Japanese Bethlehem Congregational Church. Despite many financial struggles, the church was built at 120 North San Pedro Street (now renamed Judge John Aiso Street) and dedicated on March 25, 1923. Designated a historic site, it is currently the home of the Union Center for the Arts.

During the church's formative years, many activities were initiated including Rev. Sozaburo Watanabe's Sunday evening radio broadcast. In 1939, the church started the "Nanka Kyoritsu Gakuen" (Southern California Association School) at the Forsythe Building at 506 North Evergreen Avenue, Los Angeles. At the onset of World War II, the building was temporarily turned into a hostel and many of the Terminal Islanders who had to evacuate came to live there.

During WWII, the church became a community center for African Americans who moved into the Little Tokyo area. Upon the return of Japanese to the West Coast, Rev. Sohei Kowta was instrumental in obtaining the Forsythe Building to house those coming out of different camps. It was first named Evergreen Hostel and later renamed Fellowship House. When many of the former Union Church members returned, the church was reorganized and the name was changed to Union Church of Los Angeles.

Rev. Howard Toriumi became Senior Pastor in 1961 and was concerned about the future of Little Tokyo when LA city officials spoke about an expansion of the Civic Center area. After speaking to planning commission officials, he was informed that there was no united voice for the Little Tokyo community. He mobilized several people and the Little Tokyo Redevelopment Advisory Council was formed. Union Church was affected by the expansion plan and built a new church at its current address at 401 East Third Street, which was dedicated on November 7, 1976. Rev. Toriumi was also instrumental in the establishment of the Pioneer Center, Koreisha Chushoku-kai (Little Tokyo Nutrition Services), Little Tokyo Towers, Little Tokyo Service Center, and the Southern California Blind Society.

Orange Coast Optimist Club
The Orange Coast Optimist Club, better known as OCO, was formed in 1988. The club was chartered with 35 members in the city of Garden Grove and has grown to more than 10 times its original size. Since its inception, OCO has been committed to "Bringing Out the Best in Kids" through various sports and community service programs.

Since 1988, OCO has been running a sports program for children and teens alike that includes basketball, baseball, volleyball, and golf. Basketball has been the most successful of the sports activities and has grown from six teams to more than 60 teams and 450 players in all, the largest in the SEYO basketball league. As the basketball program continues to flourish, the number of high school athletes who are products of the OCO system also escalates.

More importantly, OCO is a community service organization. The members and the youth clubs such as the Junior Optimists and Octagons participate in activities to assist the less fortunate, work with the physically and mentally challenged, and raise awareness for cancer victims, to name a few of the activities. The Junior Optimists are junior high school age kids while the Octagons are high school students. Recently a new club, named the Young Adult Optimists, was formed whose members include young adults in their 20s. All of the members and youth clubs are committed and dedicated to serving the community to better themselves and the people they encounter.

Today OCO is the largest Optimist Club in America and the second largest in the world. It will continue to impact the youth and the community in a way that provides opportunities for hope and optimism for years to come.

The Nisei Week Festival, the longest running ethnic festival in the U.S., has been attracting hundreds of thousands of people each year since its inception in 1934 (except during WWII from 1942 - 1948) to Little Tokyo to enjoy a Japanese American arts and cultural experience and this year Nisei Week organizers - who are all volunteers - hope to draw even more to the community.

The 2007 Nisei Week Japanese Festival takes place in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo District from August 18-26. For calendar of events and volunteer information on the 67th Nisei Week Festival, please log onto www.NiseiWeek.org or call the Nisei Week Foundation office at 213/687-7193. The Nisei Week office is located at 244 South San Pedro Street, Suite 303, Los Angeles, Calif., 90012.

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