2026 Women of the Year: (from left) Kay Shizue Kami; Izumi Minamitani: Shigeko Yamauchi
Luncheon at Quiet Cannon May 3 at 12:30PM : Reservation by April 15
LOS ANGELES — The Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California have selected three exemplary Japanese American community leaders for the 2026 Women of the Year Award: Kay Shizue Kami, Izumi Minamitani, and Shigeko Yamauchi.
These honorees were chosen for their deep service to the community, their dedication to advancing Japanese culture, their professional excellence, and their unwavering strength and courage in the face of adversity.
This year’s luncheon event will be held at the Quiet Cannon, Rooms Crystal 2 & 4, located at 901 N. Via San Clemente, Montebello, on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 12:30 pm.
Tickets are $75 per adult and $30 per child (ages 10 and under). Specify if vegetarian is requested. The deadline for reservations is April 15, 2026. Registration begins at 12:00 pm.
No gifts please. Seating arrangements are made in tables of 10. Make checks payable to Downtown LA JACL.
Mail check and the list of attendees to Amy Tambara, Women of the Year Chairperson, 526½ W. Riggin St., Monterey Park, CA 91754.
For more information, call Amy Tambara (English/evenings) at (323) 722-3897, Rodney Nakada (English/Japanese/days) at (213) 628-1808, or Toshie Kawaguchi (Japanese) at (323) 434-3899.
Kay Shizue Kami (Photo by Toyo Miyatake Studio)
Kay Shizue Kami
Kay Shizue Kami was born in Sun Valley, California. She graduated from California State University Northridge with a degree in Two-Dimensional Art.
Kami’s destiny was shaped by her family. Her grandfather on her mother's side, Harry Setsuji Oda, was one of the founding members of the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center (SGVJACC) in Pacoima, CA.
Continuing the legacy, Kami is an active participant of many clubs at the SGVJACC and provides food and refreshments at most activities. She helps with events such as Children's Day by helping guests paint koi flags. Kami also assists with fundraising and is a craft projects instructor with the Arts and Crafts Club.
Kami’s grandmother, Tsuneko Oda, was a leader among the Fujinkai in the San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (SFVHBT). Her grandfather on her father's side, Kay Shizuichi Kami, for whom she was named after, was active in the Los Angeles Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. To this day, Kami is well thought of member at the Center. She generously donates to their fundraising events and helps at their workshops with various crafts. Recently, Kami led a workshop at the October 2025 conference, making bowls out of recycled paper.
Kami’s father, Seiji Kami, was a mechanical engineer for Huges Research in Malibu. Her mother, Emiko Kami, taught third grade for 40 years at Morningside Elementary School in San Fernando Valley. Her parents’ long and successful careers enabled them to make significant monetary contributions towards the establishment of Nikkai Senior Gardens (NSG), where Kami is a monthly painting arts instructor for residents at the assisted living retirement community.
Kami has stood on the giant shoulders of the generations before her, showing up to various events at NSG, SFVHBT, and SGVJACC with snacks in hand—a small gesture in her mind, but one that brings joy to everyone around her, including herself. Her grandfather was a grocery man; she is his granddaughter, carrying forward his legacy one plate at a time. Like a turtle on a fence post, she stands where she stands because her family lifted her there, their strength and generosity shaping the path she now walks on, making her a diligent donor and volunteer.
Izumi Minamitani
Izumi Minamitani
Born in Kurashiki, Okayama, Izumi Minamitani was raised in an environment rich in traditional arts. Under the influence of her mother, a teacher of tea ceremony and flower arrangement, she mastered multiple disciplines, eventually earning her teaching credentials in the Hayami-ryu Tea Ceremony and the Ikenobo school of Ikebana—the oldest and most prestigious school in Japan.
Following a distinguished tenure with the Ikenobo Teacher’s Association, Minamitani joined the Japanese Community Pioneer Center in 2020 and was subsequently appointed to the Board of Directors. Since 2021, she has served as the Membership Committee Chair, where she led strategic recruitment initiatives and community outreach. In this capacity, she leveraged her background in cultural leadership to drive organization growth and fostered a vibrant, engaged membership base.
Since moving to Los Angeles in 1994, Minamitani has dedicated herself to cultural education. Her journey as an instructor began in 2000 at the Gardena Japanese Cultural Institute, where her passion inspired her colleagues to become her first students. She joined the Ikenobo Los Angeles Chapter that same year and was inducted into the Ikenobo Professors Association in 2003. Through her exceptional leadership and dedication, she built the largest student base within the chapter.
In 2020, Minamitani was appointed Chapter President of the Ikenobo Los Angeles Chapter. The Ikenobo Chapter’s 65th Anniversary Celebration in 2023, where she hosted Headmaster Sen'ei Ikenobo and Mr. Senso Ikenobo from Japan to honor the very first overseas chapter of Ikenobo, was a landmark achievement of her tenure.
Beyond her school, Minamitani is a pillar of the local cultural community. She serves as Vice President of the Ikebana Teachers Association and frequently exhibits her work at the Official Residence of the Consul General of Japan and major festivals like Nisei Week. Furthermore, she has successfully brought Ikebana to the next generation through sold-out workshops at Anime Expo in 2023 and 2024.
Since 2007, Minamitani has been a dedicated contributor to the Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center as both an educator and a leader. As a long-standing Board Member, she helped shape the organization’s direction through monthly strategic planning. Her work as an Ikebana instructor extends beyond the classroom; she leads the curation of decorative displays and organized high-impact demonstrations and workshop for major annual events, including the New Year and Carnival.
Through her tireless work with JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, Minamitani continues to bridge cultures, ensuring that the spirit and beauty of Ikebana flourish here in Southern California.
Shigeko Yamauchi
Shigeko Yamauchi
Shigeko Yamauchi emigrated from Okinawa, Japan after earning her nursing degree at Tokyo University. She and her late husband, Sokichi, raised four children who are now employed in highly professional fields.
Yamauchi’s age belies her stamina, energy, and enthusiasm. She has been a member of the Okinawa Association of America (OAA) for nearly 30 years. During those years, she has served as member of the Board of Directors, Fujinbu (Women’s Association) Chair, OAA Membership Chair, Kajimaya (Senior Citizen’s Club) Chair, and Worldwide Uchinaa Goodwill Ambassador. In 2008, Yamauchi received OAA’s Woman of the Year Award. She has also served as a First Aid volunteer at all OAA events.
Yamauchi embodies the OAA’s goal of preserving the Okinawan culture through dance and music. She belonged to the Majikina Dance Association and performed at various OAA and community events. Her love of Okinawan music is demonstrated by her membership in the Ryukyu Sokyoku Koyokai of Los Angeles Koto School.
Yamauchi’s activities reach out beyond OAA as she is an active member of Gardena Valley Baptist Church-Nichigo-bu. She serves as the Women’s Association President and volunteers as the Secretarial volunteer and Service Volunteer. She has also been a member of the Sakura Chorus for 18 years. Yamauchi and her group have entertained at numerous venues including the Keiro Nursing Home, annual choir events, and fundraising events where she serves as the Entertainment Volunteer.
Yamauchi is known by everyone at OAA for her infectious smile and laughter. She always brings bags of vegetables or flowers from her garden to share. It is sometimes difficult to catch her at home as she often visits friends who are ill, bedridden, or incapacitated. To those who know her, Yamauchi is nothing short of a Superwoman, and her recognition is not only fitting but deeply earned.
