Eden seniors enjoying skit by Sansei, 1970
50th Anniversary Spotlight
Helping seniors find their way with culturally sensitive services and programs is vital at J-Sei. Meet Tetsuo as he seeks a new place to live, enrolls in support services and receives care from J-Sei staff and volunteers.
What a joy it is to see each other again. We are renewed by the person to person, and heart to heart connections that help lift our spirits. What began from a vision of Cal students to take care of the aging Japanese immigrants continues over 50 years later with care given from one generation to the next.
J-Sei’s 50th Anniversary Sponsors
Washi (Eagle)
Arch Insurance North America
Bruce and Valerie Hironaka
Kei Matsuda and Charles Rick
Robert Sakai and Margaret Orozco-Sakai
Jo Takata
Hakucho (Swan)
Joan and Paul Fujii
George Kobayashi and Stephen Hoffpauir
Reiko Y. Nabeta
Gerald and Gail Nanbu
Ray and Judy Ogata
Glenn and Amy Shinsako
Fred and Margo Takemiya
Reiko True
Hayabusa (Falcon)
Berkeley Buddhist Temple
Buddhist Temple of Alameda
Dr. Art Chen and Peggy Saika
Gloria Fujimoto
Japanese American Citizens League, Berkeley Chapter
Sadako Kashiwagi, Tomiye Sumner, Hiroshi F. Kashiwagi
Monterey Market
Thomas and Karen Morioka
Aki and Emi Nakao
Linda Okahara and Balaram Puligandla
Lisa Oyama and Gary Lee
Suzie Sakuma
Ruth Sasaki
Glenn and Arleen Takayama (In-Kind)
Jane Tanamachi
Victor Uno and Josie Camacho
Betty and Doug Yamamoto
Kay Yatabe
Hibari (Lark)
Chihiro Akiyama and Russell Ouchida
John and Keiko Allen
Anonymous
Ashby Village, Inc
Asian Network Pacific Home Care and Hospice
Nicholas Ching, DDS
Nobuso and May Doi
Greg Endom and Vickie Desofi
Matthew Fujikawa
Marjorie Fujioka
Peter and Nikki Fukumae
Mary Ann Furuichi
Geri and John Handa
Malcolm and Carolyn Hayashida
Susan Kai and Jonathan Hirabayashi
Daniel and Colleen Hirano
Ernest and Glory Katsumata
Kiyoshi and Emiko Katsumoto
Hatsue Katsura
Family of Kimiko and Fred Kishi
Emi and George Matsunaga
Bradley Menda
Leroy M. Morishita and Barbara Hedani-Morishita
Matt and Sharon Morizono
Oliver Morse
Aaron and Susan Muranishi
Haruko Nagaishi
Alan Nagata and Judy Tsujimoto
Jane Naito
Peter Namkung
Chris Nishida and Terry Lee
Susan Obata
Roger J. Ota, DDS
Art Ramirez and Janice Otani
Gerald and Joy Hashiba Sekimura
Teruko Shibata
Kelly Shintani and James Yong
Carolyn and Gary Soto
May Takashima
Dr. Himeo Tsumori and Louise Tsumori Lue
Gerry Uesugi, in memory of Dan Uesugi
Roy and Alice Wakida
Diane Wong
Naomi and Ken Yamada
Valerie Yasukochi and Jim Duff
Stan Yogi and David Carroll
Special 50th Anniversary Programs: Connecting Our Legacies
Cultivating Community: Legacy of Centers in the East Bay – Looking back at the evolution of J-Sei in celebrating its 50th anniversary, we recognize the efforts that spanned the East Bay from the spark that was ignited by the East Bay Japanese for Action. Join us to hear from our guests Tets Maniwa, Berkeley Nikkei Center Pam Honda, Eden Senior Center June Sakaguchi and Amy Shinsako, Sakura Kai Senior Center.
Planting the Seeds: A Grassroots Approach to JA Community in the East Bay – Over 50 years ago, a community grassroots effort by college student activists initiated two non-profits, East Bay Japanese for Action and East Bay Issei Housing. A conversation with founders of the East Bay Japanese for Action and Eden Issei Housing – Robert Sakai, Dennis Yotsuya, and Dr. Reiko Homma True, with moderator Lauren Kawana.
Inspired Action
J-Sei’s Grassroots Beginning Over 50 Years Ago
In the fall of 1968 and spring of 1969, Third World students, a coalition of black, brown, Native American and Asian American students at UC Berkeley, organized a strike to advocate for Ethnic Studies to make the university more relevant to communities of color. This successfully led to the development of an Asian American Studies Program in 1970 which had a community class section where students carried out specific projects in the East Bay. Student activists from UC Berkeley visited Hamilton Japanese Issei Senior Center in San Francisco for ideas. They gathered support from community leaders, local JACLs and religious organizations and initiated the first programs for the Issei in the East Bay. The programs included a series of trips and interactive gatherings.
East Bay for Japanese Action (EBJA), formed in 1971, wanted to overcome the alienation and loneliness that the Issei experienced, and to eliminate the cultural barriers that prevented Issei seniors from attaining the support they needed. Building communication between generations and nurturing a cohesive community were significant goals. As a result, EBJA successfully created social programs, organized trips and provided social services. From the outgrowth of EBJA’s efforts, the Berkeley Nikkei Center, Eden Senior Center and Sakura Kai Senior Center were formed and continue vibrant offerings today.
Students involved in EBJA: Wayne Wong, Gayle Momono, and Dennis Terao
Meanwhile community activists were also breaking barriers with the emergence of East Bay Issei Housing (EBIH) which was incorporated in 1978 and included participation from 23 nonprofit Japanese American Citizens League and religious organizations. EBIH focused on senior housing for Japanese American seniors and was instrumental in creating three housing facilities. The efforts of EBIH led to a 100-unit independent senior housing building in Hayward and care homes in Hayward and Berkeley. With a broadened scope of services, EBJA and EBIH merged in 1986 to form Japanese American Services of the East Bay (JASEB) which later was renamed J-Sei in 2010.
Many progressive and dynamic individuals were involved in the start-up and evolution of this much needed organization and will be highlighted in future videos and historical archives. All of us are grateful for these individuals who had the skills, commitment and foresight to build this critical community support which continues to have a positive impact today.