Oct. 21, 2010

◆　Applications for Honoring Centenarians are now being accepted.

Applications for Honoring Centenarians are now being accepted. The first generation who emigrated from Fukushima, and will be 99 years or over as of March 31st, 2011, could apply for the Honoring Centenarians through a Fukushima Kenjinkai to the International Affairs Division of the Fukushima Prefectural Government.

Oct. 21, 2010

◆　New President was born in the Dominican Fukushima Kenjinkai!

When the Dominican Fukushima Kenjinkai held a new opening ceremony, many Kenjinkai youths attended the ceremony, which ended in a great success.
Ms. Kimiko Sato was elected as a new president and the new board members are shown below.

President : Kimiko Sato
Vice President : Yoshiaki Kasahara
Accountant : Yoshimitsu Yanai
Auditor : Kazuhiko Kasahara, Ruriko Tamate
Executive Board Members : The Santo Domingo District, Yasukatsu Sato
The Cibao District, Sachiko Yamaki
The Southern District, Yoshinobu Kokubun
The Constanza District, Yoko Nishio (maiden name, Sakamoto)
Advisor : Hideo Tamate

New President Sato and the Constanza Basin, the Dominican Republic	Commemorative photo taken at the new opening ceremony of the Kenjinkai
One of the shots of the opening ceremony of the Kenjinkai

Aug. 11, 2010

◆　Hokka Fukushima Nikkeijinkai appointed the 1st woman president

Hokka Fukushima Nikkeijinkai held its regular general meeting and a luncheon meeting at the Garden Hall of the San Mateo Nikkei Shimin Kyokai (San Mateo Japanese American Citizen Association) at 11:00 a.m. on February 14th (Sun). There were 48 participants including 3 new members. This year, they had more participants of the second and the third generation than ever, and the meetings were very active and full of energy.

Ms. Aya Yoshida and Mr. Robert Kumagai, who visited Fukushima Prefecture last July as participants in the 1st 2009 overseas training project for the people of Fukushima descendants in North America, attended the meetings and presented their impressions and remarks on the training trip in Fukushima Prefecture.

Vice Consul Takemichi Nagaoka also attended the meetings from the San Francisco Consulate. Consulate General Nagaoka’s father is from Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture.

Following the former President, Mr. Goro Yoshida, the first woman president was elected for the association. The names of the new executives are as follows.

President :Eiko Wapensky (from Koriyama City)
Vice president :Machiko Kumagai (from Mishima Town, Onuma County)
Clerk :Sachiko Endo (from Kunimi Town, Date County)
Accountant :Keiko Nui (from Shimogo Town, Minami Aizu County)
Audit: :Kimie Hoshi (from Tadami Town, Minami Aizu County)

Photo: Members of the Kenjinkai who participated in the general meeting
(President Wapensky is shown 5th from the left in the 2nd row from the front)

Aug. 11, 2010

◆　South California Kenjinkai held a New Year’s Party!

The South California Kinjinkai held the “2010 New Year’s General Meeting and Exchange Meeting” on January 17th (Sun) at a Chinese restaurant in Gardena. More than 40 members and President Toshio Handa of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California attended the meeting.

Mr. Kenichi Kamimoto and Ms. Tomoko Kamimoto, who visited Fukushima as participants in the 2009 Fukushima Program for North American Kenjinkai Youths last July, could not attend the meeting, but Chairman Watanabe reported the description of the training program and their experience report. Both of them noted that the training program was fantastic and wonderful.

Photo: Members of Kenjinkai that participated in the general meeting
(Chairman Watanabe is shown in the center of the first line)

Feb. 22, 2010

◆　Application for 2010 Fukushima Program for North American Kenjin Kai Youths

　Applications for the Fukushima Program for North America Kenjin Kai Youths are now being accepted. It is a study tour where participants can enjoy home stay, and experience local cultures such as hot springs, local cuisines, summer festivals in a traditional village, and interact with local students in Fukushima. The period is from the end of June to the beginning of July. We believe it is a valuable opportunity to trace your roots and get to know the "Real Japan" and "your roots, Fukushima." For details, please contact Fukushima Kenjin Kais in North America.