Torrance Sister City Newsletter
Transcription
Torrance Sister City Newsletter Torrance, California Newsletter Editor: Mona Wong Torrance Sister City Association http://torrancesistercity.org/ February 2013 President’s Message By Werner Newsletter Mailing: Steven Ihde Award in 2012, and dance instructor with a studio in Kashiwa. He first came in 1977 (5th Anniversary), performed in the Bunka-Sai in 1986, again came for the 30th anniversary, and last performed at the Armstrong theater in 2003. TSCA will be making a special presentation to him at the conclusion of this celebratory program. Willoughby Our annual Alumni Reunion was held on Saturday, January 19th , at the Ken Miller Recreation Center. The gathering included student applicants and their families of the 2013 Student Exchange Program, past student exchange students, chaperones, and TSCA members. We enjoyed a tasty potluck luncheon and recognized our 2013 Partnership Award recipient, longtime Bunka-Sai participant, Mr. Shun Kohrogi. It took many individuals hours of their time to put together this successful event. Many thanks to Reunion cochairs, Kerry Cababa and Shirley Tanaka. Arigatoo to other chairpersons: Donna Dunlap, Partnership Award; Butch and son Steven Ihde, sound system, setup; Cara Ihde, leader of the Kashiwa Odori; Lori Chung Eurich, student applicants; Thomas Seryadarian for making the great DVD; May Cambra, Roll Call of the Alumni; Hazel Taniguchi for the update on the 40th anniversary, and history of TSCA Margie Inouye for the first class name tags; Sue Herbers, Torrance City Clerk, for the installation of officers; Ed Cababa for the laptop and presentation of the DVD; Suzie Wand and Gina Bullock, organization and production of the program; and Central Services, program printing. Please save the dates for our most important fundraising event of the year, our Bunka-Sai (Japanese cultural festival), scheduled for April 20 and 21st at the Ken Miller Recreation Center from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. We would appreciate the help from all TSCA members, so please contact Patsy Shintani at shintani4@earthlink.net. She will find an event or activity that is fun and rewarding for you. We had over 100 volunteers last year, which made it enjoyable for all involved, working beside old friends and making new ones. By April, our 2013 exchange students who will be going to Kashiwa this summer will have been selected and will be especially busy during the festival. Please promote this event among your neighbors, friends and relatives. TSCA welcomes five assemblymen from Kashiwa who will be visiting Torrance on February 5th. They will be visiting the Torrance Police station, Adams Elementary School, the City Council meeting and attending a dinner with Mayor Scotto and the Torrance City Council. The Assemblymen are: Mr. Takifumi Furukawa, Mr. Shouichi Ishii, Mr. Tadahiro Sukegawa, Mr. Shogo Murata, and Mr. Norihito Tsumuraya. On behalf of TSCA, welcome to Torrance, hope you have a wonderful time! On Sunday, February 10th , there will be a Japanese classical dance program celebrating Madame Wakana Hanayagi’s 80th birthday, at the James Armstrong Theater, form 2:30 to 5:30. This program will feature a guest artist from Kashiwa, Master Shuntou Hanayagi, recipient of the Japan Foreign Minister’s Kashiwa, Japan February Calendar February 5 8 11 12 18 22 Kashiwa Assembly members visit City Hall Closed Association Meeting 7:00 p.m. West Annex Commission Room City Hall Closed Holiday: Lincoln’s Birthday City Hall Closed Holiday: Presidents Day City Hall Closed SAVE THE DATES BUNKA-SAI IS COMING SOON APRIL 20 AND 21, 2013 Happy Valentines Day 40th Anniversary Itinerary In Kashiwa The following itinerary has been planned for the Torrance 40th anniversary delegates: Friday, March 22, 2013������������Leave LAX Saturday, March 23, 2013��������Arrive at Narita Airport Informal reception at the Crest Hotel by KIRA and the Torrance Committee Sunday, March 24, 2013. ���������Visit the Yoshida Estate Drive by Kashiwa no ha Park to see the Cherry Blossoms Lunch at the Volks Restaurant Martial arts demonstration (swords) Banquet at the Mitsui Garden Hotel * Japanese traditional comic storytelling in English * Tea ceremony Monday, March 25, 2013���������Tokyo bus tour * Visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Offices * Lunch at the staff cafeteria of the MG Offices * Drive by Tokyo Station, the Emperor's residence * Visit Ueno Park---more cherry blossoms? * Dinner at the Sogo Observation Restaurant sponsored by the Kashiwa City Assembly Tuesday, March 26, 2013���������Courtesy call to Mayor Akiyama and visit the City Assembly Plant a cherry tree at Kitakashiwa Furusato Park Home visits Visit Kashiwa Municipal High School * Brass band concert * English teacher program Mayor's dinner at Oak Village Kashiwa no ha Wednesday, March 27, 2013����Free time for shopping in the morning The majority of the delegates will extend their trip. Those not extending will return to LAX. Thank you, KIRA and the Torrance Committee for planning this exciting itinerary! 40th Anniversary Part Two by Hazel Taniguchi The following is an updated list of TSCA members who will be going to Kashiwa in March 2013 for the second half of the 40th anniversary celebration, representing the City of Torrance and TSCA: From the city: Mayor Frank and Cindy Scotto Councilman Gene and Linda Barnett Councilman Bill Sutherland Councilman Pat Furey City Treasurer Dana Cortez and husband Leonardo Barragan Former Mayor Dee and Lowell Hardison From TSCA (alphabetically by last names): Kerry and Ed Cababa Donna Dunlap and Butch Ihde Dan Fichtner Ilene and Mark Gelbaum Barry and Mikko Haggott Henson John Matsuda Marilyn and Sherwin Rubin Dave and Toni Sargent Hazel Taniguchi All 25 delegates are looking forward to the 40th anniversary trip! Questions? Please call Hazel Taniguchi at (310) 328-1238. Yard Sale to Benefit Student Exchange Program By Lori C. Eurich Chair, Student Selection Committee TSCA's annual Yard Sale to benefit the student exchange program will be on Saturday, February 9th at 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 22426 Palos Verdes Blvd. in Torrance. This is on the front lawn of Gary Kuwahara's CPA office in a highvisibility location. If you have any items that are in good condition for resale, please bring them to the front lawn of the office by 7:30 a.m. on February 9th. Student candidates for the exchange program will assist with the yard sale. All donations are greatly appreciated and proceeds help fund the student exchange program. Special thanks to Gary for his support in this sale. Come by for some good deals! December 2013 KIRA Torrance Committee Announces Their 2013 Adult Leader Mr. Masahiko Arai Page 2 New Torrance Committee Officers New officers are: from the left Akiko Maruta(liaison), Yoko Kaneko(Treasurer), Etsuko Kawamura(Chairperson), and Yuko Ishibashi(Vice Chair). Three of them will be on the office from April 2013 to March 2015. Akiko Maruta as liaison will be until March 2014 since it will be her second year. Etsuko Kawamura is the KIRA treasurer and has visited Torrance as a member of 35th anniversary delegation. Yuko Ishibashi was the 37th adult leader, and her son Ryota was the 31st exchange student. Yoko Kaneko has hosted Torrance students many times. We are proud to be the officers of this wonderful organization, and have started working on the summer program. And of course working hard to welcome Torrance delegation in March. So excited! Torrance Committee Celebrate at Suzumean Soba Restaurant The Torrance Committee Members had their January Regular Meeting followed by new year party as usual at Suzumean soba restaurant. Kevin Butt, Matt Medlock, and Karl Takauye also joined us. It is nice to meet once a year and have a pleasant time together, and to know that each of us are doing fine. Regretfully, one of our members Aiko Takahashi passed away, but her husband and their son’s family are running the restaurant and kindly hosted our new year party again this year. Membership News Membership Chairman: Ron Kimmel February 28 is the deadline for inclusion in the membership directory. New and renewed memberships for 2013: Exxon Mobil Corporation (B) Torrance Y’s Men’s Club (S) Ando,Francis (I) Ando, Jennifer (I) Applegate, Linda and Bill (F) Ashcroft, Dan and Heidi (F) Butt, Kevin (I) Cababa, Ed and Kerry (S) Cauble, Lynn (I) Dowell, Bob and Peggy (F) Eurich, Lori and Dane (F) Fisher, Eric and Doris (F) Fuller, Jeannie and Steve (F) Gallagher, Ann (I) Gelbaum, Ilene and Mark (F) Gelbaum, Randi and David (F) Gibson, Judy (I) December 2013 Gimian, Reed and DeDe (F) Goodrich, Tim (I) Griffith, Kay (I) Hardison, Dee and Lowell (F) Hargrove, Eunice, Linda and Richard (F) Hattori, Lisa (I) Heidebrecht, Bill and Kathy (F) Herbers, Sue and Jerry (S) Kaneshiro, Myrtle (I) Kilburn, Kathy (I) Kimmel, Gudy and Ron (F) Kiriyama, Mrs Iku () Koga, Robert and Yvonne (F) Kranz, Emiko (F) Kuwahara, Mas and Taeko (F) Kuwahara, Gary and Teri Lee, Alicia (I) Maroney, Mark and Jill Martel, Kristi (I) Martel, Lou and Lori (F) Matsuda, John S. (I) Matsumoto, Mickey and Frances (F) Mattson, Bruce and Keri (F) Mealins, Earl (I) Medlock, Mathew (I) Miles, Frank and Lyn (S) Miller, Ken and Judy (F) Miziguchi, Lori (F) Miziguchi, Toshiko (S) Nakano, George (I) Nash, Elizabeth (I) Ozawa, Eleanor (I) Peitzman, Fred and Ann (F) Radomski, James )F) Roulette, Mark and Peggy (F) Rubin, M/M Sherwin (F) Rust, Joe and Carol (B) Sakado Family (F) Sakamoto, Roger and May (F) Sargent, Dave and Toni (F) Shrivastava, Ken N (I) Sprague, Brian and Tracy (F) Tanaka, Frank and Yae (F) Tanaka, Shirley, Keith and Jenny (F) Tiansay, Matthew (F) Tigerman, Peggy (I) Ueki, Mas and Sumi (F) Ujimori, Harvey and Kay (F) Ungar, Lola and Martin (F) Wand, Suzie (I) Yorizane, Eddie and Eileen (F) If you have any questions, call Ron Kimmel at (310) 530-2382. Page 3 Missing Dr. Tom Rische TSCA Partnership Award TSCA Presence at Torrance Craft Faire! students. TSCA has been very fortunate to have Shun participate at Bunka-Sai for at least 28 years. In the months prior to BunkaSai, Shun sells over 200 raffle tickets and helps publicize the festival each year. Besides all of this support before Bunka-Sai even starts, Shun also has a booth at Bunka-Sai which attracts many young people who enjoy working on his art activities. He exhibits his student’s art work which is admired by everyone that passes the wall. Every year I am so impressed with the talent of these young artists. His booth is next to my hourly raffle booth and I know for a fact that this man is a very lucky man. He wins at least one prize every hour. Of course it could be that he is very generous with his financial support of my booth, for which I am very grateful, and I am sure that he does not mind the many prizes that he wins. Now for many of our vendors that would be the extent of their involvement with TSCA. But not Shun: Shun works behind the scenes for Torrance Sister City, except for Bunka-Sai, you would not likely see Shun or know of his contributions. So I will tell you: Shun has for many years translated the written word for us. He has translated itineraries into Japanese for the daily activities when the Kashiwa students and adults come to Torrance. He translates our American names on business cards and name tags for both adult and student delegates in TSCA that go to Japan. He has translated the programs for the anniversary Sayonara banquets which we have every 5 years when the adult delegation visits Torrance. We just welcomed 39 delegates this past October and once again, Shun was called upon to spend a day with the delegates to interpret for our guests that did not speak English. We appreciate Shun’s contributions to our organization and HOPE, that they will continue long into the future. Congratulations Shun! We regret to report the sad news of the death of Dr. Tom Rische, a long-time By: Donna Dunlap member of TSCA and a friend to Kashiwa. Dr. Rische was a popular teacher The recipient of this years TSCA Partnership Award is Shun at South High School and was the personal friend of many TSCA delegates Kohrogi. like David Bissiri and Keith Glassman. Dr. Rische visited Kashiwa as a member of the 1979 delegation and wrote the first history of the Torrance-Kashi- Shun Kohrogi is a graduate of UCLA and at that time he spent wa relationship ("Torrance and Kashiwa: A Tale of Two Sister Cities"--avail- a year in France at L’Ecole Des Beaux Arts. He has a Masters able as a PDF download from the TSCA website). He also hosted Kashiwa degree in Fine Arts. students in 1979 and 1980. He passed away on Saturday, January 30th, in He has had art exhibits in Los Angeles and in Tokyo Torrance. He was 82. Tom will be remembered with gratitude, respect, and 30 years ago he started the Saga Art Center here in the south affection by many of his friends in Torrance and in TSCA. bay. Some of his current students are the children of his former We will be selling refreshments at the TCG Craft Faire on March 16. Proceeds will go toward the exchange program. This is our first time, so we want to make it a big success! Please drop by to see and shop the wonderful crafts, say hi, and grab a bite to eat! Would you volunteer to work a shift? Snack donations are also welcome. Please call/text to Shirley Tanaka, 310-293-8600, or email to ksjtanaka3@yahoo.com. Thank you! Torrance Craftsmen Guild’s Arts and Crafts Faire Torrance Cultural Arts Center Saturday, March 16, 2013 9 am to 4 pm The Gift Booth Needs Your Help The Gift Booth is always a highlight of Bunka Sai Start setting aside your donations for the Gift Booth of NEW items. December 2013 Page 4 Memories of Japan The Fourth in a mini-series of reports from the 2012 Kashiwa exchange group Compiled by Gail Roulette Each summer TSCA sends a student delegation to our sister city Kashiwa. Before they go, we give them eight two-hour orientation sessions to prepare them for the trip. Each of these students, usually high-school age, and their adult leader selects a particular topic to research. They write their findings prior to going, then write a report after the trip describing what they have learned. For the next few issues we will present excerpts from their experiences based on their post-trip reports. FESTIVALS BASEBALL IN JAPAN By Rachel Todd By Jonah Sakado Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival or holiday. Usually these festivals are sponsored by local shrines or temples. Though every city tends to have many smaller ones during the summer, they have one big matsuri, too (completely different from our Bunka Sai). It is said that over 800,000 people from all over the place visit the Kashiwa matsuri over the three days in July each year. Can you imagine? That’s about 270,000 people at the festival per night! It’s when girls dress up in their kimonos or yukatas and when boys wear their gimbeis. People of all ages attend the festivals, and there are processions with floats and groups of people dancing through the streets. This is where we usually come in, wearing our happi coats and dancing the Kashiwa odori. There are numerous stalls lining the streets with typical foods like yakisoba, takoyaki, yakitori, and booths for activities like goldfish scooping or water balloon scooping and drawing on crispy rice crackers. They have dance performances, karaoke contests, sumo matches, fireworks, and other things. I was so disappointed and sad when the city of Kashiwa moved their matsuri date to the week after we left. But my first host family took me to a smaller festival and that one did have everything I just described, just on a smaller scale. Also, we went as a group to another matsuri which was more like a small courtyard with booths lined around and taiko drumming – which by the way I was told I did very poorly – and a stage for dancing. It was a pity that we could not attend the Kashiwa matsuri, but this gives me an excuse to go back and visit so I can experience the real Kashiwa matsuri. I would like to thank everyone in TSCA for this unforgettable, amazing opportunity and experience. The friendships you foster through this program are incredible and honestly will last a lifetime. I am so glad I get to serve on the Student Selection Committee to further help this organization. Hontou ni arigato gozeimasu. December 2013 Baseball is said to be the most popular sport in Japan, close to soccer. The following are observations I made while attending a baseball game in Kashiwa: * In Japan, the cheering is very organized. There are specific cheers for each team and even each player. * The right field cheering section is for the home team, and the left field cheering section is for the visiting team. * When foul balls are hit, no one in the stands goes crazy and jumps for it. * When the ball is hit, an alarm is sounded in the section where the ball is coming to warn the audience members. * At the 7th inning of the Chiba Marines game, the Lucky 7 is performed. * The Lucky 7 is when everyone in the crowd blows up big long balloons, and everyone lets go simultaneously. * The crowd was very enthusiastic all the way through the game. Page 5 “Wanting to go on a world tour, I was studying Japanese at El Camino College. My Japanese teacher, Dr. Takudo, knew that Ben & Mikko Haggot were looking for a Native Speaker to send to Kashiwa Municipal High School. I applied and the rest is history. Thoroughly enjoying my many cross cultural experiences caused me to ask for an extension of my time there. The City Council approved a one-year extension to my position. So much happened that changed my life’s outlook.” “I left a German and Science/Math teacher but returned to change my focus to English as a Second Language. Work with English Learners guided me into work with a state organization of teachers who work with English Learners. The experience also caused me to pursue a doctorate in International Education/Cross cultural Communication. My life has truly been guided by the experience of teaching and learning in Japan.” “Thanks TSCA!” For the Alumni Record… “Anyone who has had the opportunity to go to Japan knows what a precious gift that experience is! That unforgettable memory brings two countries who are thousands of miles and oceans and cultures apart seem next door neighbors for the rest of my life! What a blessing. What could be better than that? What could be more exciting than that?? -Dan Fichtner, PhD “I knew not much about Japan before going to Kashiwa as Adult Leader in 1981. How that one trip changed my life in such a great way! I learned about thje people, their culture, their country, & so much more. I went again to Kashiwa in 2002 with the 30th Anniversary and reconnected with so many of my friends there. For the past 30 plus years I have been tutoring students from many countries privately and that continues to be a highlight of my life. -Lynn Cauble, Adult Leader 1983 -Marge Goodrich, Adult Leader 1981 “Before I went to Kashiwa as the 1979 Teacher, neither I, nor any of my friends, knew hardly anything about Japan and its culture. I am happy to still be in contact with friends I made in Kashiwa over 32 years ago. They have visited me in California and my family has visited them.” -Jean Biles Murialdo, 1979-80 Teacher “Although it was not through this organization, I lived in Tokyo from 19811983. I taught English & studied Japanese. I was a naïve kid then. A whole world was opened up to me.” -David Faulkner “Many wonderful memories. I still keep in touch with 2 of my host families there.” -Dr. Amy Coury, Adult Leader 1980 December 2013 Page 6 The Wicked Bracelet By Matthew Medlock Assistant Language Teacher in Kashiwa For years now I have been involved with the many programs TSCA and KIRA have to offer. This has led me to have many relationships with Japanese people in the US and Japan. I have traveled with many of these people and something always stands out to me when I travel with them: They will always go to great lengths to find specialty items. I found this really interesting—why would people go to such great lengths to find something as trivial as a special food or item? What I found was not only a habitual way of thinking, but a custom: The wicked bracelet. In Japan, their traditional gift-giving season comes twice a year. Once in the beginning of summer, which is called お中元 ochuugen, and once in the beginning of winter, which is called お歳暮 oseibo. During these seasons it is common to give gifts to the people who have helped you out over the year. Usually the type of gifts one buys is something that the receiver will enjoy. Besides giving gifts during these seasons it is extremely common for Japanese to buy お土産 omiyage, or souvenirs for their workplace or friends when they go on trips. Even if it is a day trip, many Japanese will buy the specialty goods of the area they visit for the sake of this traditional custom. If one is given an omiyage it means that their ‘gift giving cycle’ has begun. In America, when one receives a gift, like an omiyage, it is most likely that the next time they see that person they will probably not give a gift back to them. But in Japan, it is very common with this gift-giving tradition to reciprocate with a gift. The gift giving tradition is not only done with goods, but it is also done with money. In Japan, in most traditional celebrations, a small token of money is given for ceremonial purposes. For example, if one were invited to a wedding celebration usually the guests would give the amount of around $300 as a ‘gift’. Originally, the custom was that the families would pay for the wedding reception in full (which they still do), without the help from their guests. But now, since weddings are becoming more and more extravagant, it is harder for the families to pay off the expenses of the wedding, so the guests bring money to help pay for the reception. In my Intermediate Japanese textbook, the cyclical nature of this tradition is denoted by the word, 悪循環 akujunkan, literally translated as, “the wicked bracelet”. In English, the modern equivalent of this system would be known as a “vicious circle”. Many Japanese would agree to some extent this word being applied to this tradition, but many would also say in fact they would want to give a gift to show appreciation for the gift they received. My understanding of this tradition has improved since living in Japan, but my enthusiasm has waned a little bit. The idea of gift-giving, especially to those you want to give a gift to, is nice, but the amount of effort the Japanese put into giving gifts is completely astounding. But one thing is most certainly true (from my experience), is that the Japanese really know how to give a gift. I will try to explore more with this traditional custom to better understand the significance and importance of gift giving. December 2013 Congratulations, City Manager LeRoy J. Jackson! January 16, 2013 marked 30 years of dedicated service by LeRoy J. Jackson as Torrance's City Manager! During the 30 years, Mr. Jackson has worked with five mayors, many City Councilmembers, department heads, and staff. The Jackson family has been longtime supporters of TSCA. Son LeRoy served as an English teacher in Kashiwa from 19911993. Son Ryan Jackson was a Torrance exchange student in 1997. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson visited Kashiwa during the time son LeRoy was an English teacher. Kudos and thanks for your outstanding work as City Manager! MORIWAKI WEDDING By Gail Roulette Congratulations to Erin Moriwaki and Brent Wauke who were married December 8, 2012, in Cozumel, Mexico. The couple currently makes their home in Gardena. Erin, who just finished her second year as secretary for TSCA, was an exchange student to Kashiwa in 1999. Both of her sisters were in the wedding party and had also been exchange students to Kashiwa: Cheri in 2000 and Aimee in 2002. Parents Cheng and Mel have been a host family numerous times and steady workers at Bunka-Sai for many years. We are pleased to celebrate with this fine TSCA family on their happy occasion. Aimee, Cheri, Erin, Brent NEWS FROM ALUMNI By Gail Roulette Tiffany Yoshida was an exchange student to Kashiwa in 2004. In addition to being a current TSCA Board member, Tiffany works as a recreation therapist at Rancho Los Amigos in Downey. Sometimes her job involves sailing, horseback riding, or even skiing in Colorado, in order to help people get back to a normal life – especially spinal cord victims. Sister Katie Yoshida, to Kashiwa in 2006, is working on her Master’s in Communication Disorders (speech therapy) at the University of Hawaii. The third sister, Jaime Yoshida, to Kashiwa in 2008, studies at El Camino College in preparation to transfer to a Business major, hopefully at Chapman or Cal State Fullerton. Page 7 TORRANCE SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION NON–PROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Torrance, CA Permit No. 78 3031 Torrance Boulevard Torrance, CA 90503 Return Service Requested TORRANCE SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION 2013 Membership Application Except for the Life Membership, all dues are in effect from January 1st to December 31st. Name ____________________________________ Individual Family Address __________________________________ Supporting Benefactor City: _________________State: ____ Zip Code: _______ Life member Telephone ( $20 per year $40 per year $75+ per year $125+ per year $2000+(one time donation) ) ________________ e-mail address________________________________________ My membership is: NEW RENEWAL I do not want to be listed in the TSCA directory Directory Update: New address__ New telephone number__ New e-mail address__ I am interested in participating in TSCA activities. ______________________________________ Enclosed is a donation to TSCA (in addition to my annual dues) in the amount: $______ Total enclosed: $_________ Make your check payable to TSCA and mail with this form to: The Torrance Sister City Association c/o The Community Services Department 3031 Torrance Blvd. Torrance, CA 90503 If you have any questions about your membership, please call Ron Kimmel at 310-530-2382.
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