Keirokai 2010

If the younger generations—the yonsei and the gosei—are the future of the Nikkei community, the seniors are the foundation up which the community is built. The Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens’ Association’s annual Keirokai, held at the beginning of each year, is one way of paying tribute to our seniors. On Saturday, January 9, almost 200 seniors over the age of 70, along with a large contingent of volunteers, gathered in the Special Events Hall at the Nikkei Centre for a deluxe bento lunch and a variety of entertainment. Entertainers included the Tonari Gumi Minyo Dance Group, Alison Nishihara & Janine Oye, the Gladstone Japanese Language School, the Tonari Gumi Uzushio Kayo Club and Moko & Himali Kuwabara. JCCA Board member Gary Matson served as Master of Ceremonies and JCCA President Ron Nishimura gave the opening and closing remarks. Greetings from the Japanese Consulate and kampai were provided by Consul General Ito.

One component of the Keirokai that always proves popular is the post-meal exercise led by long-time volunteer Kay Fujishima. The exercises, which can all be done while seated, are a great way to get everyone involved and bring a smile to everyone’s faces.

To close out the festivities, door prizes were handed out, along with gifts for selected guests as listed below:
Oldest men:  Hajime Inouye 100, Jiro Kamiya 99
Oldest women: Kiyoko Ishiguro 101, Yae Kariya 101, Tsuya Imoo 100
Longest married: Mr. & Mrs. Inouye 66 years
Born year of tiger: Teruyo Fasse, Maruji Hiramoto,Jane Uyesugi, Astu Ikoma, Toshiye Katsuyama, Suzue Kimoto, Lily Matsushita, Ralph Shimizu, Kiko Tasaka.

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KEIROKAI 2010 DONORS AND VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEERS
Alison Nishihara, Alison Scott, April Shimizu, Ayuko Iwata, Chizuru Yamada, Dorothy Matsune, Gary Matson, Gladstone Japanese Language School, Himali Kuwabara, Janine Oye, Jobee Yoshizawa, John Endo Greenaway, Joyce Lui, Jun Kumagai, Kazuko Sugawara, Kay Fujishima, Leona Lui, May Hamanishi, Mieko Amano, Moko Kuwabara, Roger Watanaka, Ron Nishimura, Sayuri Sugawara, Shag Ando, Suki Wada, Sumako Kakiuchi, Kiyomi Wada, Taeko Yamamoto, Tomie Morimoto, Tomomi Takayama, Tonari Gumi Minyo Dance Group

PERSONAL DONATIONS
Barbara & Wataru Shishido
Barbara K Shishido
Mits & Emi Hayashi
Annie, Shirley Conner, Sang Kwan Eum, Ann Foster, Thomas Foster, Sayuri Katayama, Hee Yoon Lin, Keiko Norisue, Pamela Sproule, Ingrid Sweiss, Thelma Webb
Robert & Jane Nimi
Ken & Michiko Kochi
Robert & Kazue Abe
Mary Hamakawa
Yukio & Robert Nasu
Miki Matsumoto
Akiyasu & Yasuko Masuhara
Mitsuo & Emmie Hayashi
Anonymous donations (cash box @ Keirokai)
Jim Wong Chu

BUSINESSES DONATIONS
Amano Foods
Angel Seafood Ltd.
Baxter-Kobe Flowers
Beverage Concepts
Canadian College of Shiatsu Therapy
Canadian Floriculture Wholesale Ltd.
Chateau Victoria Hotel & Suites
Choices Market
Consulate General of Japan
Daiso Store Canada
Frank Y. Hanano Law Office
Fujiya
Glico Canada Corporation
Holy Cross Japanese Anglican Church
Japan Airlines
Kikori
Marketplace IGA
Matsushita Accounting
Mennonite Japanese Christian
Fellowship
Mikado Enterprises Ltd
New Westminster Evangelical Free Church
O.K. Gift Shop
Oops (J Wave Communications)
Sato Pharmaceutical Canada Inc.
Safeway
Save on Foods
Seicho-no-ie Vancouver
Select Wine Merchants
Sonray Sales Ltd.
Tenrikyo
Vancouver Buddhist Church
Vancouver Japanese Gardeners Association
Vancouver-Japanese United Church (Japanese speaking congregation)
Vancouver Shinpo-Sha Publishing Ltd.
Whole Foods Market
The Fish House

We apologize if we have made any errors in the donor and volunteer list. Please let us know so we can correct in the next issue.