(click here to watch a recording of Scholarship Awards Ceremony)
(click here to read JAVA President Gerald Yamada’s remarks at the Ceremony)
The Japanese American Veterans Association is pleased to announce the 14 winners of the 2021 Memorial Scholarship Program. Outstanding students from around the country applied for the scholarships. The candidates for the JAVA scholarships were incredibly talented and accomplished, and all applicants would be worthy of receiving a JAVA scholarship to continue the legacy of the Nisei service to country.
The $3,000 memorial scholarship honoring the late U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye’s iconic career of military and civilian public service was awarded to Samantha Kanekuni, of Baltimore, Maryland. The granddaughter of Isamu Kanekuni, 442nd RCT, Samantha is working towards a J.D. at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
The $3,000 Founder’s Scholarship named for JAVA’s founder, the late Colonel Phil Ishio, his wife Constance and their son Douglas Ishio, was awarded to Madeleine Matsui, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The granddaughter of Victor Matsui, MIS, Madeleine just completed her first year at Harvard Law School.
The Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship, a $2,000 award in honor of a longtime patron of JAVA was awarded to Jairus Iwasaki, the grandson of Shigetoshi Iwasaki, 442nd RCT, of Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Jairus is pursuing a B.A. in Education at the University of Hawaiʻi, Manoa.
The following JAVA Memorial Scholarships were awarded to graduating high school seniors, each in the amount of $1,500:
Malina Miura, received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Dr. Americo Bugliani and his liberator, Paul Sakamoto, 100th Bn. Malina is the grandniece of Douglas Tanaka 442nd RCT, and is from Culver City, California. She will attend the University of California, Irvine, and plans to work towards a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Kyle Kuwahara received the Tak and Carolyn Furumoto JAVA Memorial Scholarship, in honor of Tak’s late father Sam Kiyoto Furumoto. Kyle is the grandson of Keso Kuwahara, 6007th ASU, and the grandnephew of Kozu Kuroda, Kenzo Kuroda, and Goro Kuroda who all served in the 442nd RCT. Kyle is from Berkeley, California. He will attend the University of California, Berkeley, and plans to study Computer Science.
Juliana Ibaraki received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship, in honor of Ranger Grant Jiro Hirabayashi, MIS. Juliana is the granddaughter of Thomas Ibaraki, 100th Battalion, and is from Manhattan Beach, California. She will attend the University of Greenwich in London, and plans to study Public Health.
Garrett Tamura received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of COL Jimmie Kanaya, a three-war veteran – WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Garrett is the grandson of Kunima Tamura, MIS, and is from Torrance, California. He will attend California State University, Long Beach, and plans to study Mechanical Engineering.
Mari Kanemoto received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of CWO4 Mitsugi Murakami Kasai, MIS. Mari is the granddaughter of Harry Yoshio Ishibashi, 442 RCT/ 522nd Field Artillery, and is from Seattle, Washington. She will attend Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID, and study Nursing.
Cassidy Hanano received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Sergeant Ben Kuroki, a gunner in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 505th Bombardment Group. Cassidy is the grandniece of Charles Hanano, 442nd RCT, and is from Wailuku, Hawaiʻi. She will attend Creighton University in Omaha, NE, and is Pre-Med.
Micah Katahara received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Victor Matsui, MIS, and his wife Teru Matsui. Micah is the great-grandson of Sadami Katahara, 442nd RCT, and the son of JAVA member CAPT Michael Katahara, USN (Ret). He is from Great Falls, Virginia. Micah will attend the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, and plans to study Economics.
Evan Haramoto received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Colonel Virgil R. Miller, Commanding Officer of the 442nd RCT. Evan is the great-grandnephew of George Ryoji Yamada, 442nd RCT, and is from Whittier, California. He will attend the University of California, San Diego, and plans to study Biology.
Ethan Murakami received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of past JAVA President and Korean War veteran, Bob Nakamoto. Ethan is the great-grandnephew of Seichi Tsugawa, 442nd RCT, and is from Kaneohe, Hawaiʻi. He will attend Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and plans to study Economics.
Nicholas Gima received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Betty Shima, lifelong partner of Terry Shima, 442nd RCT and former JAVA Executive Director. Nicholas is the grandnephew of Shinye Gima, MIS, and is from Kula, Hawaiʻi. He will attend California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA, and plans to study Engineering.
Arisa Aloiau received a JAVA Memorial Scholarship in honor of Major Orville Shirey, 442nd RCT, and his wife Maud Shirey. Arisa is the granddaughter of Hiroshi Kato, 442nd RCT, and is from Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. She will attend the University of Hawaiʻi, Manoa, and plans to study Marketing.
JAVA thanks the Scholarship Committee – Mrs. Chris DeRosa, Chair; Ms. Dawn Eilenberger, JD, former Deputy Director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Major Kay Izumihara, USAR; and CAPT (Dr) Cynthia Macri, MC, USN (Ret).
The future of our nation is in great hands, knowing these young individuals will be at the forefront.
To learn more about our JAVA scholarships visit our website at https://java-us.org/JAVA-Memorial-Scholarship-Program.
Samantha Kanekuni, MarylandUniversity of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Memorial Scholarship |
Madeleine Matsui, MassachusettsHarvard Law School Ishio Founder’s Scholarship |
Jairus Iwasaki, Hawai’iUniversity of Hawai’i, ManoaKyoko Tsuboi Taubkin Legacy Scholarship |
Malina Miura, CaliforniaUniversity of California, Irvine Dr. Americo Bugliani Scholarshipin honor of Paul Sakamoto, 100th Bn |
Kyle Kuwahara, CaliforniaUniversity of California, Berkeley Tak and Carolyn Furumoto Scholarshipin honor of Sam Kiyoto Furumot |
Juliana Ibaraki, CaliforniaUniversity of Greenwich, London Ranger Grant Hirabayashi Scholarship |
Garrett Tamura, California California State University, Long BeachColonel Jimmie Kanaya Scholarship |
Mari Kanemoto, WashingtonNorthwest Nazarene University CWO 4 Mitsugi Kasai Scholarship |
Cassidy Hanano, Hawai’iCreighton UniversitySergeant Ben Kuroki Scholarship |
Micah Katahara, VirginiaCollege of William and MaryVictor and Teru Matsui Scholarship |
Evan Haramoto, CaliforniaUniversity of California, San DiegoColonel Virgil R. Miller Scholarship |
Nicholas Gima, Hawai’iCalifornia Polytechnic State UniversityBetty Shima Scholarship |
Arisa Aloiau, Hawai’iUniversity of Hawai’i, Manoa Major Orville and Maud Shirey Scholarship |
Updates from past JAVA Memorial Scholarship Awardees!
Kayla L. Muraoka, 2016 Victor and Teru Matsui Memorial Scholarship |
Last August, I graduated from Santa Clara University with a dual degree in Management Information Systems and Japanese Business Studies. Because of the pandemic, I moved home immediately and finished school virtually and started working for an engineering consulting firm in Hawaii as a database administrator. During my time at Santa Clara University, I was actively involved on campus as a student ambassador, member of the women’s club ultimate frisbee team, Kappa Kappa Gamma Eta Nu chapter, Intramural basketball team, and silent auction lead for Relay for Life. My time at Santa Clara University has been nothing short of amazing and filled with many challenges and growth. In my senior year, participated in a semester-long study abroad in Nagoya, Japan at Nanzan University (南山大学), where I had the opportunity to experience the daily life of a local Japanese college student and reconnecting with my Japanese heritage and gain a deeper understanding of the Japanese culture. Some of the best memories I have made abroad include: viewing a traditional Japanese Taiko performance; eating puffer fish for the first time; listening to a Rakugo storytelling performance; making traditional and elegant Japanese sweets and crafts with gold leaf while enjoying a night at a ryokan (traditional Japanese inn).
This month I will begin a new chapter in my life as I will be joining Cost Plus World Market, a national chain of specialty/import retail stores, as an inventory management specialist for their food and decorative accessories division at their corporate office in San Francisco. I’m thrilled to be taking this next step in my professional career and excited to continue to learn and grow within the retail and fashion industry. This is a dream come true and I can’t wait to begin the next chapter of my life in San Francisco.
Sarah Nakasone, 2016-17 U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Scholarship |
Daniel Nakasone, 2019 U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Scholarship |
T.J. Okamura, 2020 U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye Scholarship |
Caitlin Takeda, 2020 Ishio Founder’s Scholarship |
Grace Bost, 2020 Major Orville and Maud Shirey Scholarship |
Sophia Daniels, 2020 Colonel Jimmie Kanaya Scholarship |
Chloe Nelson, 2020 Ranger Grant Hirabayashi Scholarship |