By Frank Kawase, President of Kanagawa SoCal or Nanka Kanagawa Kenjinkai
Membership of Kanagawa Kenjinkai: Our mailing list is approximately 200. Dues are no longer required; rather a pay by event is being instituted. In the past, the culture of the Issei and Nisei were to donate at every event i.e. New Year Party, Picnic, Socials.
Presently the concept of donating at the events is no longer recognized by the present generation. Rather the concept of “pay per view” prevails. Prior to covid our annual events consisted of New Year Party/Memorial Service ( 50 people), picnic (200 people), and 2 casino trips (40 people each trip).
Our organization is presently going through an evolution which will determine its livelihood. The evolution was from the Issei’s who as recent immigrants bonded together for social and economic reasons. The bonds that they shared were very strong. Then followed the Nisei’s who bonded together after relocation again for social and economic reasons.
Then followed the Sansei’s who were helping perpetuate the need of the Nisei’s. With the demise of the Nisei generation, the organization began to slow a gradual decline in interest and membership.
The Sansei’s in general no longer had to bond together for social and economic reasons. They were well educated, assimilating, and their social circles extended beyond the Japanese community. This becomes very evident with the Sansei and Yonsei generation experiencing interracial marriages way beyond which was experienced in the past generation.
Another major difference is that the Issei and Nisei had close relatives in Japan. This is no longer the situation for the Sansei and Yonsei.
With that background, our organization is creating a new model based on cultivating and sustaining interest in Japanese culture, traditions, and friendship.
Our organization has morphed from Nanka Kanagawa Kenjinkai to Kanagawa SoCal. In the Kenjinkai’s of the Issei and Nisei Japanese was the primary language with the Sansei English is the primary language even to the point that very few members speak Japanese. Our leadership for sustainability will rely on the “NextGen” of Kanagawa SoCal. The organization must evolve to meet the needs of the Yonsei, Gosei, etc.
Virtual Sake Tasting Event Gathering Members of Kananaga SoCal Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
“Hello Saketonians” a rousing welcome by President Frank Kawase to the “Sake Tasting Happy Hour“ on May 1. Paul Abe’s idea of combining a sake tasting with a happy hour virtually was executed by the “NextGens” of Kanagawa SoCal, Jennifer Kawase Cuya, Leah Yamamoto, Debbie Sato Valencia and various committees.
Moderator was “Mr. Termite Man” Paul Yamaguchi. The event started with a short video of the Kenjinkai created by high school student Cooper Cuya and directed by Jennifer Kawase Cuya. Paul Yamaguchi then introduced Ms. Atsuko Kanai who led the tasting of 5 different sakes. Atsuko is the Executive Vice President of Mutual Trading Company and President of the “Sake School of America.”
Attending the tasting were special guests Mr. Yuichi Hashiba, President and 6th generation owner of Izumibashi Sake Brewery who zoomed in from Ebina City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Ms. Kayoko Abe, Brand Ambassador for Izumibashi Sake in the U.S. joined us from Washington DC and Richard Watanabe president of Nanka Kyogikai Kenjinkai.
Each of the guests received a tasting box complete with 5 two oz samples of premium imported Japanese sake (1 sample from our very own Kanagawa Prefecture) and Otsumami (Japanese drinking snacks). The tasting boxes were available at 6 different pick up locations.
Atsuko led us through an explanation of making and serving sake. With the tasting she provided details about flavor, clarity, aromatics and optimum ways to best enjoy them.
Several questions were directed to the chat room and answered by Ms. Atsuko Kanai, such as “which glass is best for serving sake?”, “what is the best temperature for serving sake?”.
Also Mr. Hashiba from Ebina City graciously invited all participants to the annual rice planting ceremony, tour of the brewery with sampling and Kuramoto Kanto restaurant where Kanagawa local ingredients are paired with his Izumibashi sake.
The evening provided not only a unique experience of sake tasting but also an opportunity of online socializing. In closing President Frank Kawase thanked the participants and the committee members who energized the event.
The Sake Tasting Happy Hour was brought to a close by President Frank Kawase with a wise Japanese saying “In Sake there is truth.”