2024 Women of the Year: From left: Yuriko Shikai, President of the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California, Sue Yanaga Kawasaki, Genevieve Hatsumi Uyeda Lew, Michele (Misaki) Nagata, Trudy Nodohara, Barbara Kato Yanase Shirota, and George Kita, President of the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. (Photo by Cultural News)
In conjunction with the Mother's Day, over 300 people of the Japanese American community in Los Angeles attended the luncheon event to honor five distinguished women on Sunday, May 5 at the Quiet Canon banquet facility in Montebello.
Under the title of “2024 Women of the Year,” Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California sponsored the luncheon event to honor Sue Yanaga Kawasaki, Genevieve Hatsumi Uyeda Lew, Michele (Misaki) Nagata, Trudy Nodohara, and Barbara Kato Yanase Shirora.
Sue Yanaga Kawasaki worked as Special Education Administrator and Learning Disability specialist at the ABC Unified School District in Cerritos, El Segundo United School District, and Wiseburn School District until 2013. She was an active board member of the Yonsei Basketball Team. During the past ten years, she led the Nikkei Widow and widows of the South Bay area.
Genevieve Hatsumi Uyeda Lew has been an active member of the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center (SFVJACC) since 1986. She was president of the San Fernando Valley Meiji Senior Citizens Club in 2009 and 2010. She served as the Meiji Club’s membership chair from 2011-2015, and as their treasurer from 2019 to the present.
Michele (Misaki) Nagata, 57-year old, is a 27-year hotel industry professional with lifelong work in the local Centenary United Methodist Church in Little Tokyo. She is currently the Delphi Administrator and Catering and Marketing Coordinator for the Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry. She has been an active member of the Centenary Church since 1994. Her leadership highlights include coordinating service projects like the annual Souper Bowl Sunday charity fundraiser and Thanksgiving Dinner Project.
Trudy Nodohara, 60-year old, is currently the Senior Vice President, Director, and Membership Chair of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (JCCSC). She founded TELEPORT USA in May 1985, and provided interpretations and coordination services to governments and distinguished personalities. In 2000, she produced an “Evening with Mori Shinichi,” a fundraiser for the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center (JACCC), to a packed house at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
Barbara Kato Yanase Shirota is a leader of the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) in West Covina. In 1984, she became president of ESGVJCC and served three terms. Shirota sponsors scholarships at Southwestern Law School, San Gabriel Valley JACL for high school students, ESGVJCC for graduate students, and University of La Verne. Kato was her maiden name. She was married to George Yanase for 31 years until his untimely death. She was remarried to Jon Shirota for 28 years until his death.
