Joe Aihara: Empathy and Excellence in the Classroom and on the Court
The influence of Japanese language teacher Joe Aihara reaches far beyond the classroom, extending to hands-on, immersive experiences of cultural exchange and even to the basketball court. Born in Princeton, New Jersey and raised in Orange County, California, Joe has taught Japanese and coached basketball, primarily in the Anaheim Union High School District, for thirty […]
Tetsu Tanimoto: A Pioneer for Japanese American Basketball
If there was a last shot, a game-winning buzzer beater on the line, Tetsu Tanimoto would be the one to take it. This is how Kay Oda, and many other Nikkei basketball players in 1960s Southern California, remember Tanimoto’s skills on the court. “He was the most dominant player at the time in Southern California […]
Norman Sagara: Baseballer with a Samurai Spirit
The Sagara family’s immigration story began in Japan in the late 19th century as Japan’s isolationism and feudalism were coming to an end, and the Meiji era opened the door to more modern, industrialized nation state. With the fall of feudal Japan, the samurai class became obsolete. Lack of work meant they would inevitably face poverty. Tomotaro Sagara made the difficult decision in 1917 to leave his hometown of Izumi and travel to the United States. Putting his eldest […]
Ray Fugino: Wintersburg Golf Tournament founder says he’s “just a regular guy.”
The gleaming new gym at Wintersburg Presbyterian Church is a passion project of hundreds of supporters who raised millions of dollars to provide youth a long-desired home court. Among them, one man stands out: Ray Fujino. Two decades ago, Ray, 83, spearheaded the church’s annual golf tournament to raise money for the gym and sports […]
Jean Kodama: Masters Ancient – and Male-Dominated – Japanese Martial Art of Kendo
To an untrained onlooker, Jean Kodama appears as an unassuming Japanese American woman with a quiet and steady tone. But behind her reserved demeanor is a powerhouse to be reckoned with. Kodama is a master of kendo, which translates to “The Way of the Sword” and harkens back to the days feudal samurai warriors sparred […]