明けましておめでとうございます Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu!

Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu!   明けましておめでとうございます

May the year 2014 bring you abundant blessings filled with much love, joy, peace, and happiness!

メリークリスマス Merīkurisumasu!

メリークリスマス

Merīkurisumasu (Merry Christmas)!

The Search is ON For Early 1900's Names of Issei

Holiday Greetings to all of you!

The Guam Nikkei Association has embarked on a mission to establish and secure the names of issei who came to Guam from Japan in the late 1800's and into the first decade and a half of 1900's.

Of interest to all of you, attached are names of issei who married Chamorro women and whose marriages were recorded in the Hagåtña Cathedral and the churches of Humåtak, Inalåhan, Hågat and Sumay.  CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE LIST OF NAMES.

The list indicates the names of their spouses and I'm urging that if you happen to know any of the offsprings of the original couples AND/OR are currently members of the Guam Nikkei Association, please provide me through this e-mail (peteronedera@gmail.com) with correct full Japanese names and surnames. As you can see, many of them were also given Christian names. Because the Guam Nikkei Association plans to build a memorial monument in their honor at the Peace Memorial Park in Yigo in the early part of 2014, it is important that these names be submitted by the January 31, 2014 deadline.

Failure to provide the corrections will result in the non-inclusion of these issei who deserve our tribute. As part of history, many of them, too, perished during and towards the closing of the war as they might have been caught in the cross-fire between the imperial army of Japan and the forces of the United States marines.

Many were never given proper burial rites and their memories are forever shrouded in mystery even as surviving spouses died in the past several years. Because next year is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Guam Nikkei Association would like to lay this matter to rest and bring a closure to the fate of those who died. As well, those who did survive and lived on will also be included in the memorial monument.

Feel free to forward this to as many people you know who may or may not be current members of our organization. We plan a ceremony for the dedication of the monument once completed.

Of interest to you, are the following facts that must be noted by everyone. These are:

1. The Japanese immigrated to Guam via Yokohama, Japan. They most likely came from the prefectures of Tochigi, Ibaraki, and Gunma.

2. Almost all were single and in their youths.

3. Some came as laborers, some came as merchants, some came as farmers. All were skilled. By the 1920's and 1930's, a majority of Japanese owned businesses in Hagåtña only to lose them upon the invasion of the imperial army and many were not continued after the island's liberation.

4. Many remained on Guam because they married Chamorro women. Some also returned to Japan and came back in later times as contract workers.

5. All became Catholic. The law stated, "NO CONVERSION, NO MARRIAGE!"

6. Most chose the name "Jose" as a first name in honor of the religious saint, "patriarch of families." Some also chose first names of fathers-in-law who may have acted as sponsors of these marriages.

7. Fifty two names appear on the attachment. There were a few women who also came to the island. One well-known one was Mrs. Rie Dejima.

If you know of additional names that are not on the list but you know that they were present in that period of time, please let me know, too.

I will be working on a press release and, hopefully, media coverage before the end of the year.

As a final note, we plan to indicate their original names in Japanese characters and their Christian/Chamorro names in English. Time is of the essence, please respond, at least to let me know that you'll help us out by forwarding this message to people even the ones who are living elsewhere in the mainland or in other countries.

Please help.

si peter r. onedera

Guam Nikkei Appreciation Snapshots

Deputy Consul General and his wife and team at table display

Reception / Door Ticket Sales Team

Freedom Air representative awarding airfare tickets for two to winner

Musical entertainment team and guest

GCC Japan CLUB (Customs, Language, Understanding, Beliefs) doing origami training.  One of many family heritage displays in background.

Culinary Students Serving Customers

Sushi Display

Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Konnichiwa Everyone:

Words cannot adequately describe the overwhelming success of our first major fundraising of the Guam Nikkei Appreciation Night held at the Guam Community College MultiPurpose Auditorium on Friday, October 4, 2013.

Credit for the event is largely due to Dave Okada and Dr. Mary Young Okada for a wonderful and successful turnout.  Hats off and sincere thanks to the following:

1. The GCC culinary arts students and their professors for the delicious delicacies prepared for the evening.

2. Ambros, Inc. for the variety of beverages.

3. Florence Kimura Cornwell and Julia Akiyama Cruz Caguioa for the decorations.

4. Louisa Flores Wessling for the display of the antique heirloom kimono that was on display at the front entrance of the auditorium.

5. Ginger Fawcett-Flores for the donation of the round-trip tickets for two to the CNMI, courtesy of Freedom Air.

6. Monica Okada Guzman and Ron Castro for the beautiful original artwork donated as a door prize.

7. Kensuke “Ken” Haga for additional decorations and door prizes.

8. Anthony J. “Malia” Ramirez for the archival exhibit of early to mid-1900’s issei men and families on Guam.

9. The Tajima, Sugiyama, Onedera, Okada, Shimizu families and the Japan Consulate Office, through the hard work of Kikue Cepeda for their exhibits of family histories and general information.

10. Troy and Ryan Imamura for their excellent entertainment.

11. The GCC Japanese Club Students under the guidance of their teacher, Doreen Blas for their origami creations.

12. The ticket committee comprised of Auntie Lole Quan, George and Doreen Okada Pereda, and Kimie Okada.

13. GCC staff that was on hand, one hundred percent for providing the PA system, assistance in set-up of the place as well as the break down after the event.

14. Monte Noda Mesa who was such a lively and energetic emcee.

15. Angelita Sugiyama Paulino Mendiola for the impromptu performance.

16. Lance Kawahara and Toni Onedera Blas for the smooth handling of the beverage section from set-up to closing.

17. Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera for being such a wonder webmaster for the organization.

18. Board Members, General Membership and families of Guam Nikkei Association for their help in set-up, decorations, and the clean-up at the end of the night.

Domo arigato gozaimasu!

Peter R. Onedera, president, Guam Nikkei Association

PRESS RELEASE: GUAM NIKKEI APPRECIATION NIGHT

A Guam Nikkei Appreciation Night sponsored by the Guam Nikkei Association will be held on Friday, October 4, 2013 from 4pm to 8pm at the GCC Multi-Purpose Auditorium.  Chicken karaage, varieties of sushi, ramen bowls and chicken yakitori are being prepared by the GCC Culinary class with table displays of Chamorro-Japanese and Guamanian families spread throughout the auditorium festooned in Japanese decorations, photographs and memorabilia.  Members of the association with assistance of staff from the Japan Consulate Office will also be attired in kimonos, yucatas, hapi coats and other accessories.  Tickets are on sale in Nikkei Dollar booklets starting at $1 per coupon by members of the association or from project chair David Okada who can be contacted at 688-6627 or at his e-mail at dsokada@uguam.uog.edu.  A membership drive for those wishing to join the association and who are supporters or have Japanese ancestry will also take place at the event.  For further information, please contact Peter R. Onedera, president at 477-4234 (home);  486-3210 (cell) or at e-mail address peteronedera@gmail.com.

GUAM NIKKEI ASSOCIATION SPONSORS GUAM NIKKEI APPRECIATION NIGHT

 

 

The Guam Nikkei Association is sponsoring the Guam Nikkei Appreciation Night at the GCC Multi-purpose Auditorium on Friday, Oct. 4, from 4pm to 8pm.  Nikkei dollar booklets are currently on sale by GNA members, board of directors and officers.  Proceeds are earmarked for the construction of a monument honoring World War II issei and nisei patriarchs and matriarchs as well as a community project of Guam's First Floating Candle Festival in 2014.

Nikkei dollar booklets can be picked up from project Chair, David S. Okada by calling 688-6627, association president Peter R. Onedera at 486-3210 or association treasurer Thomas V. C. Tanaka at 482-4862.

Guam Nikkei President Onedera and Vice-Chairman Mesa at the Nikkeijin Exhibit 2013

Pictured above L-R: Guam Nikkei Association President, Peter R. Onedera, and Board Vice-Chairman, Monte Noda Mesa, at the GPO Guam Nikkeijin Exhibit 2013.

PDN Feature: Residents showcase ties to Japan

Read the full article at the following URL: http://www.guampdn.com/article/20130125/LIFESTYLE/301250322/Familian-Nippon-Many-local-residents-ancestral-ties-Japan?odyssey=nav|head

Source: Jerick Sablan, Pacific Daily News, guampdn.com

Guam Nikkei Holds Insightful Meeting

Pictured above:  Members in attendance at the October 3, 2012 meeting.

Guam Nikkei held a meaningful meeting on October 3, 2012 at the Office of the Consul General of Japan's conference room, 6th floor, Guam International Trade Center in Tamuning.  See photo above.

Guam Nikkei Members Strike A Pose!

Guam Nikkei Members at their initial meeting

Guam Nikkei Association Nikkeijin Exhibit a Success!

The Guam Nikkei Association's Nikkeijin Exhibit 2013 at the Guam Premier Outlets on Saturday, January 26, 2013 was a success. The organization was recently formed consisting of membership comprised of those with Japanese ancestry and living on Guam. Its membership includes those originating from Japanese communities on the mainland and Hawaii, Palau, Republic of the Marshalls, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Okinawa, other areas in the global community and even from Japan.

Issei, nisei, sansei, yonsei, gosei and extended members of local families have gotten together to share histories, lineages, connections to prefectures, surnames and other information relative to the organization’s mission and objectives. Family trees, photographs, records, memorabilia, textiles, heirlooms, historical accounts and rosters of descendants’ names were featured at the Exhibit that was free and open to the general public.

Members of the board of directors include Frank S. N. Shimizu, Thomas V. C. Tanaka, Joseph Hara Salas, Julia Akiyama Cruz Caguioa, Monte Noda Mesa, Frank T. Ishizaki, Dr. David L. G. Shimizu, Peter R. Onedera and Fred Nishihira were on hand to recruit new members, encourage membership involvement and to field questions about the organization’s plans for the year.

For any questions, contact Peter R. Onedera, president, at 477-4234, 486-3210 or peteronedera@gmail.com or project chair Monte Noda Mesa at 888-1944 or monte@guam.net.

History of the Guam Nikkei Association

Written by Peter R. Onedera

Officially chartered at a re-organizational meeting held on October 3, 2012, the Guam Nikkei Association (GNA) began in late 2007 when a fledgling group of men comprised of Frank S. N. Shimizu who served as its first chairman, Greg Sudo Perez, Roque Yamashita, Absalon Waki who moved to Saipan, Fred Nishihira, and former senators Thomas V. C. Tanaka and Frank T. Ishizaki. The group would meet at breakfast meetings at Shirley’s Restaurant in Hagåtña. Faced with tremendous challenges that included low membership, not being registered and recognized as a bona fide non-profit organization on Guam, and funds that were non-existent became a daunting task for the men. Then, there were periods of hiatuses as most of them had careers and business interests that took them off-island as well as involvement in other personal and professional endeavors.

At many of these morning meetings, various individuals would be invited and attendance at nearly every gathering often saw new faces that came again at least once or twice while others didn’t return. So, too, from time to time, the Consulate General for Guam would invite individuals from this core group to attend or participate in off-island American-Japanese leadership conferences or meetings in the mainland and these were often executed with personal expenses that funded these ventures. Two men, Frank T. Ishizaki and Thomas V. C. Tanaka answered these invitations at the urging of the consul general. Aside from that, no other major function or event provided any sense of signature activity that the Guam Nikkei Association can lay claim to.

During a period of hiatus in 2012, the newly appointed Consulate General Hisatsugu Shimizu issued an invitation to members of the association whose names and mailing addresses were still present in their roster of contacts to come to a dinner at his place of residence in Tamuning. From these, Frank S. N. Shimizu, Fred Nishihira, Thomas V. C. Tanaka, Frank T. Ishizaki and Peter R. Onedera attended and many up-to-date issues were brought up and discussed. It was this evening of friendship and light conversation that the four individuals listed above unanimously appointed Peter R. Onedera as the acting president and to proceed with revitalization and rejuvenation efforts for the organization. After acceptance, Onedera decided upon the day and date of an inaugural meeting and received the assurance of the use of the conference room of the Japan Consular Office located at the sixth floor of the Guam International Trade Center in Tamuning. Next, he drafted a constitution and by-laws and began contacting individuals who may be interested in joining the organization. Guiding him were Japanese surnames listed in phone books, personal knowledge and recommendations from the current members of the organization. So, too, many others were contacted as suggested by acquaintances, relatives and friends among and within the local community. Putting together a draft agenda, securing a photographer which voluntarily came from Thomas V. C. Tanaka, toying with the idea of refreshments, appointing a secretary to take the minutes of the afternoon’s meeting session and photocopying voluminous documents that were the agenda and the constitution and by-laws.

The successful turnout at that meeting saw the following individuals who attended and indicated interest in membership. 1. Aguon, Doris Onedera Maanao 2. Blas, Antonita Sablan Onedera 3. Blas, Raymond Yamanaka 4. Brooks, Terry 5. Caguioa, Julia Akiyama Cruz 6. Cepeda, Kikue 7. Cromwell, Florence Kimura 8. Duenas, Hilda Tajima 9. Duenas, Manuel Okazaki 10. Haga, Kensuke 11. Ishizaki, Frank T. 12. Kawahara, Lance S. 13. Mesa, Monte Delmar Noda 14. Nishihira, Fred S. 15. Okada, David 16. Onedera, Peter R. 17. Reyes, Linda Sugiyama Paulino 18. Salas, Joseph Hara 19. Santos, Barbara 20. Shimizu, Dr. David Leon Guerrero 21. Shimizu, Joe San Nicolas 22. Shimizu, Frank San Nicolas 23. Tanaka, Thomas V. C., Jr. 24. Tanaka, Thomas V. C., Sr. 25. Taniguchi, Jean 26. Torres, Rose Murakami 27. Yamashita, Senator Aline 28. Yamashita, Jeanette Rivera 29. Yamashita, Roque C. 30. *Tenorio, Joseph, staffer, Japan Consulate Office of Guam 31. *Matsumura, Toshio, Deputy Counsel, Japan Consulate Office of Guam 32. *Shimizu, Hisatsugu Shimizu, Counsel General, Japan Consulate Office of Guam

At the meeting, the constitution and by-laws were ratified by the members present and an election of nine (9) board of directors were held. The following individuals garnered the general membership’s votes of confidence.

1. Caguioa, Julia Akiyama Cruz (Member-at-Large) 2. Ishizaki, Frank T. (Board Secretary) 3. Mesa, Monte Delmar Noda (Board Vice-Chairman) 4. Nishihira, Fred S. (Secretary) 5. Onedera, Peter R. (President) 6. Salas, Joseph Hara (Historian) 7. Shimizu, Dr. David Leon Guerrero (Vice-President) 8. Shimizu, Frank San Nicolas (Board Chairman) 9. Tanaka, Thomas V. C., Sr. (Treasurer)

At a subsequent meeting, the newly elected board, as per the provisions of the ratified constitution and by-laws chose among themselves the officers of the organization that are listed in parenthesis above. These officers will oversee the operations of the general membership while the board officers will steer the board in its fiduciary responsibilities and administrative management. The board also set the membership dues at $50 per year per individual member. At present, the Guam Nikkei Association, thanks to the efforts of the gentlemen who put it together, the organization is now registered and duly recognized as a non-profit organization with the Department of Revenue and Taxation. Further, an application to the IRS for a 501(c)3 is pending and the opening of a checking account at the Bank of Guam further indicates that the organization is now legal and forthright. Its plans to strengthen and increase its membership are a major task. There is a list of forty-eight (48) names on the roster.

Membership in the Guam Nikkei Association is open to anyone over the age of eighteen, residents of Guam and whose Japanese ancestry may have come not just from Japan and its prefectures including Okinawa, but Hawaii, the mainland United States, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshalls, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas, and elsewhere in the global arena.