2026 Nikkei Youth Scholarship Program

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Applicants must be a current ESGVJCC member to apply for any of the scholarships.
  • ESGVJCC Membership must be current for the calendar year.
  • Each applicant can apply for a maximum of 3 scholarships.

IMPORTANT DATES:

  • Scholarship Application Workshop #1 is Wednesday, February 11th at 7pm
  • Scholarship Application Workshop #2 is Wednesday, March 18th at 7pm
  • Early Review deadline is Tuesday, March 31st
  • Due date for all scholarships is Monday, April 13th at 5pm
  • Nikkei Youth Scholarship Luncheon is Sunday, May 17th at 1pm at the ESGVJCC

2026 Application for High School Graduates
2026 Application for College Undergraduates/Graduate Students

Application Workshops will be hosted online through Zoom to answer any questions students may have regarding their application for the Nikkei Youth Scholarship Program. this year, we will be offering an Early Review Period. All applications submitted by March 31st will be reviewed and given feedback and allowed to re-submit any changes/missing documents. Any applications received after March 31st will not be reviewed until after the deadline.

Application are due on Monday, April 13th and winners will be notified in early May. Winners will then be awarded at the Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, May 17th at 1pm at the ESGVJCC.

If you have any questions regarding any of the scholarships, application process or workshops, please email Executive Director, Pearl Omiya at pomiya@esgvjcc.org.

Basketball Clinic

Join us for our two basketball clinics in November 2025!

4th-8th Grade Clinic
Date: Monday, November 24th
Time: 9am-3pm
Cost: $60 for ESGVJCC Members, $80 for Non-Members
Included: Morning snack, afternoon snack, and lunch

K-3rd Grade Clinic
Date: Tuesday, November 25th
Time: 9am-3pm
Cost: $60 for ESGVJCC Members, $80 for Non-Members
Included: Morning snack, afternoon snack, and lunch

Registration is now live!
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/basketballclinic.html

2026 Camp Chibikko & Basketball Camp

Camp Chibikko is a fun three week day camp for kids ages 5-14 years old! The first two weeks are a cultural summer camp, while the third week focuses on basketball. The goal is to introduce campers to the Japanese American culture through hands-on activities, games, and other experiences so that they can become aware of the importance of the traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation.

Jr. High Component: In addition to all the activities K-5 will be doing, our middle school campers will engage in Counselor in Training program where they help Lead Counselors and work with the campers in their cohort and take additional responsibilities. They will also create their own digital storytelling project!

2026 Schedule coming soon!

Registration includes camp shirt, daily lunch, and 2 snacks

For more information or to sign up for Camp Chibikko, please email Program Director Melissa Kozono at mkozono@esgvjcc.org.

2026 Camp Chibikko Week 1 & 2:

Members:
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/campchibikko2026member.html

Non-Members:
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/campchibikko2026NONMEMBER.html

2026 Basketball Camp Week 3:

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/bballcamp2026.html

Winter Camp Chibikko

Camp Dates: 
December 29-December 30, 2025

This year, we are excited to announce that Winter Camp Chibikko will be returning this December on Monday, December 29 and Tuesday, December 30 at the ESGVJCC! This winter, the theme will be Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) and we’ll be celebrating the Year of the Horse.

Space is limited so please register soon. We look forward to seeing all of our campers this winter!

Member Pricing: $150
ESGVJCC Pricing: $220

Registration is now live!

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/wintercampchibikko2025.html

For more information, please contact Program Director, Melissa Kozono at mkozono@esgvjcc.org.

Nikkei Youth Organization

The ESGVJCC Nikkei Youth Organization (NYO) was established in 2009 as a youth-led organization to provide cultural and social activities for the youth in the community.

Through NYO high school students are given the opportunity to become more involved in the community and gain valuable hands-on leadership skills. NYO members will have the opportunity to lead the organization, gain valuable skills in event planning as well as community service experience.

In previous years, NYO has hosted several cultural workshops, sporting events, and provided community service hours. For example, NYO has previously hosted events such as: taiko workshops, cooking classes, sushi making workshop, a basketball tournament, and a tour of Little Tokyo including the Japanese American National Museum.

The ESGVJCC believes in the importance of developing young leaders in the community and NYO exemplifies the potential impact youth can have on the entire organization.

Monthly Events / Meetings

Membership Fee: $10

Contact:

NYO President: Kristina Hiraishi

NYO Advisor: Bob Amano

Please email Executive Director, Pearl Omiya at pomiya@esgvjcc.org. 

Sabers Youth Basketball

The Sabers Youth Basketball Organization is for ages 5-18. Teams are divided by age and gender. Practices are scheduled throughout the week in the gym. Sabers Youth Basketball Organization was established in 1970 at the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center. Forty years later, with basketball becoming a passion for many Japanese-American and Asian-American youth, the Sabers Organization has over 20 teams and 200 boys and girls of all ages learning basketball skills and developing lifelong skills such as teamwork, dedication, and commitment. 

Sabers Youth Basketball Organization has the new 8000 Series Gun! The Gun 8000 by Shoot-A-Way is the best basketball shooting machine to date for dramatically improving your player’s shot. This basketball shooting machine will act as an automatic rebounder, instantly rebounding a made or missed shot and giving a direct return pass for another shot.

Saturday-Sunday 9AM
Gym

CLICK HERE FOR SABERS MONTHLY SCHEDULE

Website:
http://sabersyouthbasketball.org/

Contact:
Click Here to email Sabers

Kokoro Summer Fun Club

We’re launching a new summer youth program! The Kokoro Summer Fun Club is a daycare program for elementary students (K-5) that will run from June through the beginning of August. 

Space is limited to 10 students, so sign up soon! Register through the link below:

https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/kokorosummerfunclub.html