NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

The sun finally shined after a week of cloudy and foggy weather when the Sacramento Hiroshima Nikkeijin Kai held its annual New Year celebration on Jan. 9 at the Doubletree Hotel in Sacramento.

President Molly Kimura opened with a greeting and opening message for over 220 people attending the annual event whose family hail from the Hiroshima region.

Shukugin, a celebratory poem, was performed by Bob Ariyasu Kokusen.

Secretary Mary Ann Miyao introduced the following guests, Vice Consul Takemichi Nagaoka from the Japanese Consulate Office in San Francisco, and his wife Mako and daughter Yuno; Yoshiro Tasaka, advisor for Community Affairs Consulate General of Japan, and his wife Mitsuko; Rev. Ichiyo Fukuda from the Northern California Koyasan Temple; 2010 scholarship recipient Riki Chow and her mother Susan Chow.

Scholarship recipient Riki Chow is the daughter of Susan and Wesley Chow, and a graduate of C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento. Her maternal grandparents come from the Kochi region.

Chow told NikkeiWest she attended Sakura Gakuen, played basketball for the Sacramento Betsuin and was a Girl Scout. She also participated in the Matsuyama exchange program in 2005 and volunteers for various activities for the Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation. She is currently attending San Jose State.

Vice Consul Nagaoka gave welcoming remarks from the Consulate General’s office.

June Sunahara announced to 2011 board of directors and officers: Molly Kimura (president), Nakayuki Date, Joe Kataoka, Aki Tomasaki, Mary Ann Miyao (secretary), Mike Nakagawa, Koso Nodohara, Virginia Uchida.

New members Virginia Uchida and Pauline Michiko Tufts were also announced.

Rev. Fukuda gave the invocation and Akito Masaki offered a New Year toast before everyone feasted on the prime rib luncheon.

Coming from the Bay Area were renowned koto mother and son sensation Shirley Muramoto Wong and her son Brian Mitsuhiro Wong. Brian is the winner of Japan’s 2006 “Grand Prix” Award Koto Competition.

The duo performed four pieces and concluded with the 25-year-old singing John Lennon’s “Imagine” first in Japanese and then in English. He said even though he didn’t really know who the Beatles were, he found the one song very inspirational and was able to find a Japanese translation of the lyrics.

The event ended with a raffle which claims over $1,000 in prizes were presented.

CAPTION:Back row standing: Mrs. Mitsuko Tasaka, Yoshiro Tasaka, advisor for Community Affairs Consulate General of Japan; 2011 Board members: Joe Kataoka, Masaaki Tademoru, Virginia Uchida, Koso Nodohara, Mary Ann Miyao. Front row: Akito Masaki, Junichi Yamamoto, June Sunahara, Molly Kimura. Not present: Takayuki Dote, Mike Nakagawa, Akito Kushida and Haruo Yamashita.