Fall 2007Volume 8 Number 2

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Henry “Shig” Sakamoto to be Honoredby Connie Masuoka

Over the past several years, the Nikkei community has come together each year to celebrate our diverse backgrounds and heritage. This has also become the occasion when we recognize outstanding community volunteers who are engaged in preserving and sharing Nikkei legacy for the future.

The Heart of the Community Award is presented annually to honor a community volunteer or volunteers who have contributed significantly to maintain and strengthen the Japanese American community. Through this recognition, we seek to honor individuals whose volunteer services go beyond the call of duty and whose generosity in time and service epitomize the spirit of the Nikkei community. This year O.N.E. is proud to present the award to Henry Shig Sakamoto for is leadership and dedication to the community.

Please join us for the Heart of the Community Banquet, Sunday, September 30, 2007 at the Multnomah Athletic Club starting at 5:00 PM. The cost is $75.00 with tax-deductible proceeds benefiting the programs of O.N.E. The banquet committee is co-chaired by Rich Iwasaki, Connie Masuoka, and Marilyn Sholian.

If planning parties is your kind of fun, the co-chairs would welcome your participation and help.

Call 503/224-1458 or e-mail onlc@oregonnikkei.org for reservations and further information.

New Exhibit Open Aug. 26 - Jan. 6by June Arima Schumann and Rebecca Patchett

One of important goals of Nikkei Legacy Center is to continually explore and expand the range of issues and topics that are relevant to the Japanese American community and our friends. We began our work in 1998 focused on the Portland area. Now we are beginning to document and present stories from other parts of Oregon where Nikkei presence have had impact.

“Window on a Community: Nikkei Farmers of the Hood River Area” is a new exhibit curated(Please see New Exhibit, page 2)

Above: Henry “Shig” Sakamoto.

Below: Strawberry pickers near Hood River, source unknown.

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Matsutake Hunting at the Oregon Dunesby Valerie Otani

Fall is the season when dedicated mushroom hunters fan out over the woods and dunes of Oregon looking for the prized matsutake. With memories of the years when the weather has favored us with the conditions for an abundant crop, we imagine the unmatched aroma of matsutake gohan and set out on the hunt.

Two years ago, Bill Otani from the U.S. Forest Service and friends from the Bureau of Land Management organized an outing to the coast. The mushrooms were few but the good times were many. Great company, good food, and sharing matsutake lore made the weekend a memorable event. Bill and friends are organizing another trip. This will be an inter-generational outing, with honored elder parents getting the chance to be well taken care of by the next generation. This special trip is available only to members of ONLC, so join up, get your friends and family to join, too.

We will depart Portland on Saturday at 8:00 AM, and return Sunday at 3:00 PM.

The event fee of $45 will include transportation, a guided matsutake hunt led by local experts from the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, lunch and dinner on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. Lodging will not be included but will be available to reserve at a reduced rate at the Adobe Resort in Yachats. You may drive yourself if you prefer.

Space is limited, so please call 503-224-1458 or e-mail onlc@oregonnikkei.org if you are interested in reserving a spot. Deadline to sign up: September 12, 2007

NEW EXHIBIT cont. from page 1

by the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center opened on Sunday, August 26, 2007, and will run through Sunday, January 6, 2008. The exhibit will present and celebrate the early history of the Japanese settlers in Hood River and their families.

Immigrants from Japan first arrived in the Hood River area in 1900. They came from many parts of Japan, 46 prefectures in all, and Hood River became one of the largest and earliest established Japanese communities in the state of Oregon outside of Portland. Agriculture, including vegetable farms and orchards, was a significant occupation for many area residents. The proud tradition is still carried on today by descendants of the Issei farmers. Visitors to the exhibit will learn about how the Hood River area Issei got started, the challenges they faced, and the growth of the community.

Creating an original exhibit takes the effort of many. Over the past year, several community volunteers and our staff have been engaged in meetings and research to create this exhibit. Our task was aided greatly by earlier research and work by Kazuo Ito “Issei,” Linda Tamura “The Hood River Issei,” Ray Sato, “Japanese-Americans of the Mid-Columbia Area and their Relatives,” and the Yasui Family Collection at the Oregon Historical Society. Still it takes people willing to share their family photographs and stories. We want to especially acknowledge Linda Tamura, Hiroshi Yamauchi, Homer Yasui, and Maija Yasui for assisting with research, making personal contacts, and advising and commenting on the exhibit script. Also our thanks go to Dale Gronso for his design service, Connie Nice for making Hood River County Historical Museum available for our use, and Becky Patchett who coordinated this project. This project has been funded in part with assistance from the Oregon Heritage Commission, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

TV Fare to Watch by George Katagiri

Ken Burns has produced another television masterpiece that will be aired starting in September. The seven program series entitled “The War” will start on Sunday, September 23, 2007 on OPB. The Nikkei community will be especially interested in the segments related to Japanese Americans throughout the series.

An additional program has been produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting to cover the Oregon story. “Oregon at War” is a single program that will cover experiences of Oregonians, including Japanese Americans, during World War II. It will be shown Thursday, September 27, 2007 on Channel 10. Watch for these programs.

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Pacesetter ($5,000+)Conservation Assessment ProjectMeyer Memorial TrustOregon Heritage Commission

Donors ($1,000-4,999)George & Nobi AzumanoAzumano TravelGerding/Edlen DevelopmentJames & Nancy IwasakiNW NaturalOregon Cultural TrustKevin & Karen Oyama

Benefactors ($500-999)Mr. & Mrs. Richard IwataRay & Dorothy Sato

Gold Patrons ($250-499)Nikkeijin KaiRichard Solomon

Patrons ($100-249)Mas & May AkiyamaBarbara CooneyNoriko DozonoAdolf Hertrich, Vanport ManufacturingMark & Janet KakishitaConnie MasuokaJudy MuraseHarold & Elsie OnishiBen SatoCorrine Uyesugi Toda

Sponsors ($50-99)John BaumgardnerMartin BudakEleanor DavisCharles Fuller

Wako HenjyojiGreta & Robert HoshibataSanny & Nadine HueyKay HutchisonShoun & Grace IshikawaCarl & Valerie ItamuraBill KoidaEdna KoyamaSetsy & Chip LaRoucheRoy & Charmaine LindsayBeth LoprinziSteve MarchNobuko MasuokaYoji & Martha MatsushimaJoanne McGilvra RoseRichard & Jean MiyahiraLynn MoyersAnne Naito-CampbellHarue NinomiyaDwight & Tracy OnchiCarlos QuezadaMelissa RochaCarrie SaitoHenry & Carolyn SakamotoJohn & June SchumannMarilyn & Jeff SholianSusan SpringWilliam & Linda TanakaYoshio & Florence TeshimaErnie TsukudaCarolyn WoodyMasako YadaCarolyn Younger

Supporters (up to $49)Don DoughertyKay EndoMichael FarrellThomas & Kay FujitaLaurence KominzTomoko Koyama

Linda LauderdaleMary LundyKathryn NittaValerie OtaniAlbert & Yoshie OuchiRay & Mary ShiikiShokookai of PortlandDaniel SpoffordSandra StoneLaura TamuraKim TanadaLinda TraegerKimi Yada

Friends (up to $24)Barbara AionaDennis AkiyamaWayne CentroneSusan EndecottStacy HallRobin HixsonRich IwasakiGeorge Katagiri & Michiko KornhauserCarolyn LeeAnne LiederJan MartindaleGeorge MarumotoJean MatsumotoLily MeinersTaka MizoteSusan MoyRichard NishimotoBetty NorrieJanice OkamotoEtsu OsakiLaura RamirezEdward SegelTim SheaJune ShiigiAnn Shintani & Scott Winner

Linda TamuraGayle TokumotoWendy WrightDavid & Robin YamashitaSandie Yamauchi

In-kind DonorsBill Naito CompanyBush GardenConnie ChoAlton ChungLargo di MerloSho & Loen DozonoLori FukunagaDale GronsoCheryl IkemiyaIwasaki Brothers NurseryJava MamaDoug KatagiriMichiko KornhauserThomas LauderdaleAmy & John PetersonTim RooneyAaron SanstrumMasumi TimsonErnie TsukudaUwajimaya

Memorial and Tribute GiftsIn memory of Fumi KatoThomas & Kay FujitaTaka MizoteMarilyn & Jeff Sholian

In memory of G. FujinakaThomas & Kay Fujita

In memory of Yoshiko (Hachiya) InomotoMark & Janet Kakishita

In memory of Haruko IkebeThomas & Kay Fujita

In memory of Dr. Paul OyamadaRay & Mary ShiikiYoshio & Florence Teshima

In memory of John MurakamiGeorge Marumoto

In memory of Mae SogaThomas & Kay Fujita

In memory of Kaz OchiaiRay & Mary Shiiki

In memory of Fred Y. UyesugiYoshio & Florence Teshima

In memory of Kojiro & Chiyo UyesugiCorrine Uyesugi Toda

In memory of Harry Morioka & Vic HinatsuEric Ballinger

In memory of Menow HaraRandy & Debra Giltz

In honor of Loen & Sho DozonoRichard Solomon

Note: We make every effort to keep accurate records. Please help us correct any errors by calling 503/224-1458.

Domo arigato to our Financial Supporters We have many volunteers who give generously of their time and occupy necessary positions as visible leaders at the forefront of activities at the Legacy Center and Historical Plaza. Hundreds more, however, work behind the scenes, quietly supporting the important educational, cultural, and historical

programs with their gifts and financial contributions. They would never seek attention for their generosity, but we hope that they will permit this pubic thanks for their support and regard it as our pledge to use their gifts wisely and for the good of all. (Contributions received January 1, 2007-July 31, 2007)

Thanks to our Summer Interns: Tessa Handa, Megumi Yoshida, Julie Judkins, Nick Mishima, Seira Slouviez. Nikki Youngsma, and Karen Johnson.

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SustainerSho & Loen DozonoDr. Albert & Masuko OyamaAlice E. Sumida

BenefactorMabel Shoji BoggsKelly Saito

PatronGeorge & Nobi AzumanoEric BallingerStephen BloomSusan Parke & Geoffrey BruceAlbert (Jack) ChanWing ChoyKaren Di MiliaJoan Yasui EmersonSusan EndecottTom & Mary FujiiDon HachiyaStan Mayfield & Mako Hayashi-MayfieldMasako & Dan HinatsuMichael HosokawaYosh & Heidi InaharaYasuko InouyeGeorge IseriAnn JamisonGeorge & Lily KajiwaraHenry Kawata

Miriam & August KisoGrant KobayashiMariko LockeKim Stone & Robert MaedaAnn & Gerry MigakiMary & Ed MiyakawaDana MostHarue Mae NinomiyaRobert & Grace NishinoJim & Fumi OnchiEtsu & Herb OsakiGlenda PearsonCarrie SaitoEd SakaiDick SakuraiLury SatoMarilyn & Jeff SholianAlice Y. SumidaLily TamuraPaul & Laura TamuraSue B. TomitaKaneko WagarDavid WalkerC. Norm WinningstadLin & Rusty Wolfe

Family PlusSanny & Nadine HueyYoshi & Nikki KurosakiDan Fredman & Ann TakamotoAbhi & Linda Talwalkar

FamilyBill & Betsy CopenhaverThomas & Kay FujitaLisa Miura-Guerra & Randy GuerraRobert & Racheal InouyeDoug & Valerie KatagiriShigeo & Mary KuroyeYoji & Martha MatsushimaFrances & Keith PalkAnn Sherman & Cristine Corcoran, Equity Foundation, DAOLinda & Bill TanakaJim & Frances ToyookaJeanne Wakayama

Individual PlusBill FujimotoMichael GriggsJane HinatsuMichelle HinatsuJune ShiigiLisa TamuraAiko VailMasako Yada

IndividualPaul & Chizu AseAngela Clarke

Robert & Peggy FujimotoRandy & Debra GiltzLynn & Scott GrannanDiana HinatsuCheryl IkemiyaArt IwasakiPaula JusticeDana KakishitaIrwin LavenbergBill & Clair OtaniTom SakaiWilliam & Frances Sono GaleJean TateishiMay WatariArlene WatkinsMarleen WongRoy & Tracey YotsuuyePhilip & Donna Yount

Senior PlusKay EndoMary FrancillonKazuko HaraWako HenjyojiToy HirataBrenda Hongo EllisEnoch & Carolyn KanayaKen & Katie KawazoeAmi KinoshitaThomas KuriharaJean Matsumoto

Katsumi (Jim) NakadateRose NigumaRichard NishimotoKathryn NittaTakae OkazakiSharon RindtRobert SimsBarbara & Dick UyesugiRuth Sono WatanabeMary YoshitomiKiyoko Yumibe

Senior/StudentDavid ConklinAkiko ErwinHarry FukudaNobuo & Takako IshidaShizuko Rose KasaharaShirley KishiyamaKenge KobayashiAl NakazawaMary OkitaAtsuko RichardsAnna TanadaHimeko TsugawaSetsu UenoTom & Georgette Yoshikai

Join Friends of the Legacy Center, or give a gift to someone special. Established in Fall 2004, this new subscriber program offers a host of benefits. All subscribers receive free admission all year long, a 10% discount on all ONLC gift shop purchases, a subscription to the newsletter, a personalized membership card, and special invitations to event openings and programs. Contributions are tax-deductible, and there is sure to be a category just right for you (just fill in the form below). For more details call (503) 224-1458.

Welcome to New and Renewing Friends of the Legacy Center from 1/1-7/31/2007.

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Looking Forward to 2008byValerieOtani

Exhibitions on Japanese Dance and Calligraphy

The arts have long been a way that we remain connected to our cultural roots, and Japanese dance has been an esteemed tradition in the Nikkei community in Portland. Graceful dancers in gorgeous kimonos continue to be highlights of cultural celebrations. Oregon has two major schools of dance, Fujinami Kai and Tachibana Dance Studio, with dedicated teachers who pass on the spirit and meaning of Japanese dance. An exhibit planned for 2008 will focus on the connection between this traditional art form and cultural identity today. If you would like to help with this exhibition, please contact Becky Patchett, becky@oregonnikkei.org.

The second exhibit being planned for later in 2008 is about the art of calligraphy and its connections to the history and culture of the Nikkei community. We are at the early stage of planning for this project and will be forming a planning committee soon. If you’d like to assist, please contact June Schumann at jschumann@oregonnikkei.org.

Repairing the StonesbyHenrySakamotoandJudyMurase

The Japanese American Historical Plaza Committee of Oregon Nikkei Endowment plans to make repairs to the Historical Plaza this year. A major stone with one of the Plaza’s poems will be replaced because of damage by skateboarders. Holes in the berms supporting the cherry trees will be filled to halt erosion. Cracked walkway tiles will be replaced. The walkway damage was caused by heavy equipment placing and removing heavy barricades set up for security during the Rose Festival Fleet Week. Also, Park Bureau maintenance vehicles and Portland Police cars drive onto the walkways.

This will be the first major repair done to the Plaza since its dedication seventeen years ago. Repair and replacement costs are estimated to total about $40,000. Payment will be made from the restricted O.N.E. funds dedicated to the Japanese American Historical Plaza. The community’s help is needed to restore the plaza fund to its required $100,000 level. Please write checks to “O.N.E. Historical Plaza” and mail to Chip Larouche, O.N.E. Treasurer, at 12811 S.E. Hawks Crest Place, Happy Valley, OR 97086.

Above:BettyJeanHarryandMassieHinatsumeetwithConservationAssessmentProjectconsultants.July07.

Right:Henry“Shig”SakamotowithvisitorstoJapaneseAmericanHistoricalPlaza.Spring07.

Stay current ...on news about upcoming programs. Sign up for free monthly e-newsletter at www.oregonnikkei.org and clicking on subscribe tab.

121 NW 2nd AvenuePortland, Oregon 97209

Change service requested

The Oregon Nikkei Endowment newsletter is published quarterly.

Its purpose is to inform the Japanese American community, its

friends, supporters, and the general public of its ongoing work

in promoting an appreciation of the cultural and historic legacy

passed on to us by our immigrant forebears.

Telephone: (503) 224-1458 Fax: (503) 224-1459

E-mail: onlc@oregonnikkei.org Website: www.oregonnikkei.org

ONE Staff June Arima Schumann,

Executive Director Kiyo Endecott, Office Manager

Rebecca Patchett, Director of Collections & Exhibits

Contributing writers: George Katagiri

Judy Murase Valerie Otani

Becky Patchett Henry Sakamoto

June Arima Schumann

Graphic design: Connie Cho Editor: John Schumann

ONE Board of Directors Henry Sakamoto, PresidentGeorge Katagiri,+ V. PresidentLynn Grannan,+ SecretaryChip Larouche, TreasurerKurtis InouyeRich Iwasaki* Edward Kawasaki+Michiko Kornhauser+William KoidaNobuko Masuoka+

Judy Murase** +Scott Murase+Carrie Saito+David Yamashita**

Historical Plaza Committee+Also members of Plaza Committee

ONLC CommitteeValerie Otani Henry MishimaAmy PetersonConnie MasuokaMasako HinatsuDoug KatagiriErnest TsukudaAndrew Uzunoe* Board Liaison on ONLC

Development CommitteeGeorge AzumanoSho DozonoRon IseriWilliam KoidaRick SaitoAndrew UzunoeSarah YasutakeGrant Yoshihara**Board Liaison on Development

Volunteer Akiyo Horiguchi (at right) meets with Buddhist Peace Walkers

Non-Profit OrgUS Postage

PAIDPortland ORPermit No. 3482