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.