Latest Announcements

Three Year Swim Club

Lee Tonouchi, prominent author/playwright in Hawaii, a friend of Jon and Barbara Shirota, is coming out with a play, THREE YEAR SWIM CLUB. The play will be presented by East West Players from February 9 through March 11, 2012.

It is a historical and inspiring sports play that takes place on Maui, Hawaii, in the late 30s and 40s when segregation in the community swimming pools existed. Soichi Sakamoto, a Nisei grade-school teacher, wanted to start a swimming club in the plantation camps. The only swimming pool available was specifically designated for elite haole Caucasian families. Sakamoto had no choice but to train his young aspiring swimmers in an irrigation ditch that ran up and down the plantation camp.

His young ambitious swimmers strengthen their strokes by swimming against the strong current. Sakamoto’s dedication caught the eyes of the haole plantation manager who finally relented and built a swimming pool open to everyone.

Thus began 3YSC, an acronym for Three Year Swim Club.

It started with young grade and high school students. Sakamoto’s ambition was to develop national and world-class swimmers within 3 years. After patiently experimenting with various freestyle, butterfly and backstrokes, and most importantly a unique overturning style, Sakamoto’s dreams were becoming more importantly a reality. He took several of his young swimmers to a major swimming meet in Honolulu to compete against the best in the Territory of Hawaii. And most of his swimmers prevailed against the big city Honolulu swimmers. Most prominent among them was Keo Nakama, Halo Hirose, Fujiko Katsutani and Mitzi Higuchi. Nakama and Hirose would eventually be awarded scholarships to Ohio State University, Nakama becoming the swimming captain for Ohio State.

Then came the Second World War, which disrupted, among many things, the 3YSC’s swimming activities. Many of the original members, however, continued swimming for their schools and universities and did, indeed, become world-class swimmers.

Coach Soichi Sakamoto was, by now, highly recognized for his training method and became the swimming coach at University of Hawaii. And the crowning glory of his achievement took place when he was named the coach of the U.S. Olympic Swimming team. His most prominent swimmer at that time was a young high school student who had moved to Maui from Honolulu to live with the Sakamotos and train under Coach Sakamoto. He, Bill Smith, would one day win the 800 meter swimming event in the 1948 Olympics.

Tonouchi’s play has the difficult task of covering a vast period of time and numerous swimmers, but he successfully achieves and presents a very interesting and inspiring play that takes place when swimming was a luxury for the rich and not for the working-class plantation laborers.

The focal point is, of course, Soichi Sakamoto who had faith and believed in his method of training swimmers despite difficult conditions. A wonderful story indeed! Well told, well performed and well directed by East West Players.

February 9 through March 11, 2012 at East West Players in Little Tokyo.

2012 Cherry Blossom Festival

The City of West Covina and the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center are proud to present our 2012 Cherry Blossom Festival on March 31, 2012 from 12pm to 6pm, here at 1203 W. Puente Avenue in West Covina. 

Please spread the word about this great event!!

For more information, please contact Pearl Omiya at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (626) 960-2566.

Click here for vendor application.

2012 Student Exchange Program

TRAVEL TO JAPAN: July 5-13, 2012
HOST STUDENTS: August 1-9,  2012 

The Student Exchange Program was created to provide a cultural exchange for students in both Japan and the United States. It is different from a normal visit to Japan because students stay with a host family and are fully emerged into the culture. While in Japan, students will visit several historic sites, have cultural classes, visit a junior high school, and much more.

The cost for the 2012 Student Exchange Program is $1,900 which includes airfare, transportation, housing, food, and sight-seeing costs.

For additional information, contact   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at (626) 960-2566.

Click here for Exchange Program Flyer
Click here for Exchange Program Application
Click here for Pictures 

 

Center Queen

The East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center is currently looking for potential candidates to run for the title of 2012 ESGVJCC Queen.  During her year, the Queen will participate in various Center events as well as providing outreach to our members and sub-organizations.

As ESGVJCC Queen, she will also go on to represent the Center in the Nisei Week Coronation Ball in August of 2012 as she competes to become the 2012 Nisei Week Queen.  As a member of the Nisei Week Court, she will represent not only our Center and the Nisei Week Foundation, but the Southern California Japanese American Community as a cultural ambassador during various community events, as well as during travels to Japan, Hawaii, San Francisco, and Seattle.

The ESGVJCC Queen’s Committee will be holding an informational session to all interested potential candidates on November 9, 2011.  This session will provide background information on the Center, Nisei Week, what is anticipated of the Queen from both our Center as well as Nisei Week, and what to expect during her year.  Attendance to the meeting does not commit any potential candidate to participate.

For our information packet and application, click here.

Any questions? Please contact Kiko Cheng at (626) 252-0833, or email the  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Earthquake Disaster Relief

East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center Organizes Disaster Relief Efforts for Japan

West Covina, CA — In the wake of the tragic earthquake that struck Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011, the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) and the members of its’ board has been called to action to organize fundraising and donations for the disaster relief of Japan.

The ESGVJCC will be utilizing its’ upcoming events to help raise funds for the relief efforts of its sister city in Ohtawara, Tochigi Prefecture and help to distribute donations directly to those hardest hit in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.

The West Covina Cherry Blossom Festival, scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 19 will be the first of such events with at least 15% of proceeds made at participating booths to go towards disaster relief for the City of Ohtawara.  The City of West Covina along with the ESGVJCC established its’ relationship with the City of Ohtawara in 2004. The Mayor of Ohtawara was scheduled to make an appearance at this event but has cancelled his trip in light of the current situation that leaves many families in his city without shelter. Ohtawara is located in the Tochigi Prefecture about 200km north of Tokyo and 150km south west of the earthquakes’ epicenter.

In addition to the West Covina Cherry Blossom Festival proceeds, 100% of all proceeds from the sale of a speciality item at the Variety Show on April 17^th and funds raised by an e-waste drive scheduled on Saturday, May 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. will go towards the Ohtawara disaster relief efforts.

In addition to proceeds being given to the sister city of Ohtawara, donations will also be collected for disaster relief efforts that will go directly to those most affected in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. These donations should be made out to ESGVJCC where the money will be organized and directed to the Nanka Miyagi Kenjin Kai who will then forward it to the Miyagi Prefecture.

The Nanka Miyagi Kenjin Kai of Los Angeles was organized in 1902 to bring together the people of Miyagi Ken and provide them with opportunities for friendship, socialization and mutual support here in Los Angeles. Its’ over 100 members continue to thrive in its’ mission to be a bridge both here in America as well as across the ocean to their home prefecture of Miyagi. The ESGVJCC will partner with this group to make sure that they are able to send financial support to their home prefecture.

For more information on the upcoming events or to make a donation for disaster relief efforts of Japan, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Executive Director of the ESGVJCC.

 

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Update on West Covina's Sister City: Ohtawara, Japan

Ohtawara is located in Tochigi Prefecture about 200 km north of Tokyo and 150 km south west of the earthquake epicenter. There have been no fatalities or serious injuries reported. Many homes and buildings sustained damage from the earthquake leaving many families without shelter. The City established ten evacuation centers to offer temporary relief to its residents. Several city facilities including City Hall and the Board of Education have been closed due to earthquake damage. Throughout the weekend, several areas in the city experienced power outages. 

Assistant Language Teacher, Yuhki Fukusumi, posted a video on YouTube depicting his experience with the earthquake. Yuhki and his family are members of our Community Center. He was selected to work for the Ohtawara Board of Education in various schools assisting with English language classes. Click here to watch his video.

Jamba Juice Fundraiser

The Community Center has partnered with Jamba Juice for a fundraiser this year. The Center was given cards to give out to our members. Everytime you go to ANY Jamba Juice location, just swipe the card and a portion of your purchase comes back to the Center. That's all you have to do! So pick up a card from the Community Center Office or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to email us.