Vol. 7, No. 93, October 8, 2025
In This Issue…
- President’s Message
- Go For Broke National Education Center 24th Annual Dinner Gala
- JAVA Gives a Heartfelt Farewell to Minister Sato
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Upcoming Elections
- 2025 Q3 Donation Acknowledgement
- Upcoming JAVA Events
Presidents Message
Washington, D.C.
JAVA Members & Friends,
Last month, JAVA participated in the Go For Broke National Education Center’s Evening of Aloha Gala in Los Angeles. It was a patriotic and uplifting night that strengthened camaraderie among our members and reaffirmed our commitment to remember and honor the extraordinary legacy of the World War II Nisei soldiers. We also deepened ties with partner organizations across the Japanese American community—important progress toward our strategic goal of moving from the margins into the mainstream.
We still have work to do. Visibility, outreach, and sustained engagement don’t happen by themselves—they’re built by volunteers. In the coming weeks, I intend to launch additional activities aligned with our Strategic Plan, including new community outreach, educational programming, and partnerships with veteran and civic groups nationwide. To succeed, we need more hands.
If you can contribute a few hours a month, please consider raising your hand. We especially welcome support in:
- Outreach & education (school talks, museum and community partners)
- Events & ceremonies (program support, accessibility, and protocol)
- Communications (social media, newsletter content, photo/video)
- Membership & regional engagement (welcoming new members, local meet-ups)
If you’d like to help—or have ideas we should consider—please reply to this newsletter or contact the JAVA team, and we will plug you in quickly. Your time and talent will help ensure the Nisei story continues to educate and inspire the next generation.
Thank you for all you do for JAVA and for our veterans. Let’s keep moving forward—together.
Warm regards,
Howard High
Go For Broke National Education Center 24th Annual Dinner Gala
Written By: Cliff Ishigaki, USMC, Vietnam
Los Angeles
On a coolish Los Angeles evening, over 500 attendees gathered at the Bonaventure Hotel to sustain a promise to remember the legacy of the Nisei men and women who served during WWII.
The host for the evening, David Ono, a respected news anchor in the Los Angeles area, began the evening by having the Color Guard Post the Colors.
The Go For Broke Foundation created an evening that spotlighted the contributions of three living veterans in the early part of the program. The two gentlemen and one woman represented the 442 nd RCT, MIS, and the Cadet Nurse Corps. This was a fitting recognition of the breadth of service Japanese Americans participated in during WWII.
As the evening progressed, recognition was given to the young people and students who are part of the Torchbearer program. This is an important part of the foundation’s goals to educate and assist young people in carrying on the remembrance and lessons from the Nisei generation of Japanese Americans. It is absolutely vital that legacies live on in the form of new generations that remember history, and these young people seem to
exemplify this commitment.
A major part of the program was dedicated to ‘Restoring America’s Promise’ in the form of a multimedia performance featuring music, voice, and visuals that traced the traumas of relocation camps to the call of duty. The subsequent efforts to acknowledge the violation of civil rights to the Japanese American community through President Ronald Reagan’s signing of the Redress Act were the culminating act of justice for the community.
Those who were sitting at the JAVA table, veterans who served in the Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, deeply understood the commitment that the Nisei men and women made to establish a beachhead of our rights to be part of the American promise of liberty and justice.
One of the insights that the evening presented was the very personal connection many of the attendees had with family members who served during the war and their promise to uphold the contributions made on behalf of their future.
As JAVA members, we are reminded that history often returns in the form of prejudice and racism against people of color and culture. Our mission as veterans was and is to protect the rights of all citizens then and now. Our Nisei forebearers took a giant step towards embodying that and our own work now is just as important to those around us.
JAVA Gives a Heartfelt Farewell to Minister Sato
| Written By: Kay Izumihara Washington, D.C. On September 23, JAVA executive council members joined distinguished leaders of the Japanese American community at the Embassy of Japan Ambassador’s residence guest presentation and farewell reception. The guest presentations by attorney and Army veteran, Mr. John Kiyosaki, and former JAVA president and Army veteran, Mr. Gerald Yamada, were exceptional, and both gentlemen highlight esteemed lives dedicated toward public service. It was an honor to be invited to hear the men each share their family experiences as Japanese Americans during World War II. Mr. Kiyosaki shared the history of the Japanese Americans during the war from his father, Joseph Kiyonaga’s personal historic account. This is reflected in his recent book he authored called Uninvited Valor: The Forsaken Soldiers of WWII, which tells the story of the remarkable 442nd Regimental Combat Team (RCT), a unit composed of Japanese-American soldiers, and their battles fought at home and overseas in Europe, while most of their families were incarcerated in internment camps in the U.S. Mr. Kiyosaki shared a touching story about attending a veteran’s event in Hawaii with his family, and a 442nd veteran who recognized his name grabbed his arm and said, “your father saved my life.” He also shared another story, this time, of witnessing an act of kindness in the aftermath of Japan’s Great East Earthquake in 2011. He learned about a man at a local grocery store giving the last loaf of bread to a woman with children. “When I read that, I felt proud of having a Japanese last name.” |
Mr. Gerald Yamada, who was born in the Jerome war relocation center in Arkansas, gave an insightful presentation on the Japanese American experiences during WWII. He felt strongly about President Truman’s historic salute to the Japanese American 442nd RCT, which acknowledged Japanese Americans as loyal and valorous, and his words, “you fought not only the enemy, but you fought prejudice, and won”, was a turning point in acceptance of Japanese Americans in the U.S. As JAVA president, Mr. Yamada initiated the Day of Affirmation to commemorate this historic moment. He said after President Reagan’s official apology and the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, he believes that gave permission to the victims to talk about their experiences, and most books and literature about the topic were written after this significant event.
The Farewell Reception for Minister Masaru Sato was another standout moment. The remarkable turnout of distinguished members from the Washington, D.C. area’s Japanese American community underscored the deep respect and admiration held for Minister Sato. It was especially heartening to witness such overwhelming support for someone who has been such a dedicated advocate for the Japanese American Veterans Association, consistently participating in our events and championing our mission. Mr. Sato said he learned how to host guests in America, especially through potlucks and BBQs. He said although not in his job description, karaoke was an enjoyable way to connect with the Japanese American community. His replacement, Mr. Kawakami, said he has big shoes to fill. JAVA looks forward to continuing a strong bilateral partnership with the Embassy of Japan.
2026 JAVA Biennial Elections
In accordance with JAVA’s By-laws, the Nominations Committee is preparing to nominate JAVA members for each of the four elected Offices: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Should you desire to be considered for one of those positions, please submit your name and a short summary (no more than one page) of your qualifications and desire to run for any of the elected offices. The deadline for submission is Friday, December 5, 2025. These Officers will serve a two-year term beginning in February 2026. Your submissions should be sent to Nominations Committee Member Jason Kuroiwa at [email protected].
Election Timeline:
- Slate of Candidates will be presented to the membership by January 5, 2026.
- Email voting will take place from January 6 to 27, 2026.
- Proxy email voting will take place from January 6 to 25, 2026.
- Election results will be announced at the General Membership Meeting
2025 Q3 Donation Acknowledgement
The Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) extends our deepest gratitude to all who contributed this quarter. Your generosity helps us honor the legacy of Japanese American veterans, preserve our shared history, and support educational outreach and community programs.
We are proud to recognize the individuals and organizations who make our mission possible.
Volunteer Opportunities
| Website Manager Help Preserve the Legacy of Japanese American Veterans – Online! The Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) is seeking a dedicated volunteer website manager to help us maintain and improve our online presence. Our website is a vital platform for honoring the legacy of Japanese American service members, sharing stories, and keeping our community informed and connected. We’re looking for a volunteer who can: – Update and manage content on our WordPress website (news, events, articles, memorials) – Ensure pages are visually organized and easy to navigate – Assist with basic design or layout improvements – Troubleshoot minor technical issues and ensure overall site functionality Location: Remote —————————————— Event Coordinators – California & Hawaiʻi Bring Community Together – Help Expand JAVA Events Beyond DC! The Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) is looking for enthusiastic and community-minded volunteer event coordinators in California and Hawaiʻi to help us expand our presence and create more opportunities for members and supporters to connect outside the Washington, DC area. In recent years, we’ve seen great success with events like our Topgolf meetup — and we want to do more! With your help, JAVA can organize regional gatherings, museum visits, historical site tours, and social events that celebrate the legacy of Japanese American veterans while building stronger local communities. As a Volunteer Event Coordinator, you will: – Plan and coordinate JAVA-sponsored events in your region (e.g., social outings, historical site visits, member meetups) – Serve as a point of contact for local JAVA members and partners – Help promote events through social media, email, and community networks – Work closely with JAVA leadership to align events with our mission and calendar – (Optional) Attend and represent JAVA at local events or community functions If interested in volunteering with JAVA, please contact Antoinette Phelps at [email protected]. |
Upcoming JAVA Events
Wednesday, November 5. Spark Matsunaga Elementary School Veterans Day Concert. Northwest High School, 13501 Richter Farm Road Germantown, MD 20874
Tuesday, November 11. Veterans Day Program, National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II, Washington DC.