LOS ANGELES — The Downtown Los Angeles JACL chapter and the Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California have revealed this year’s Women of the Year recipients.
The honorees were selected based on their service to the community, contributions to promoting Japanese culture, career professionalism and strength and courage in the face of adversity.
Set to be honored at the annual luncheon on May 4 at the Quiet Cannon Conference & Event Center in Montebello, Calif., are Kimiko Fujita, Elaine Keiko Inoue, Jean Kodama, Darlene Kinuko Kuba, Yuko N. Uyesugi and Heidi M. Yoshioka.
Kimiko Fujita has been a volunteer with the Orange County Japanese American Assn. since 1999, having served as a director, vice president and, since 2013, president of OCJAA. She also organized its Japan Culture Fair for 10 years. Since moving to the U.S. in 1988, she established NYLA USA Corp., a music education business, and is currently promoting music education activities with 40 teachers and staff. She recently joined the board of directors of the Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California.
Elaine Keiko Inoue has been a volunteer for the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center’s Hot Meals lunch program since 2009 and has been the program’s supervisor since 2014. It has warmed her heart to cook for her extended ohana of over 150 people at the Center who appreciate and truly relish eating good, old-fashioned comfort food.
Jean Kodama has a long association with the Southeast Japanese School and Community Center (SEJSCC) in Norwalk. Kodama has been the head instructor of Norwalk Dojo since 2006, teaching both kendo and iaido (martial art of sword forms), and has won many trophies and medals at the local, national and international levels. She was president of the Southern California Kendo Federation (SCKF), the largest regional kendo federation in the U.S., and has also held the offices of treasurer, second vp and executive secretary at various times since 1995. She is currently an adviser and historian of SCKF and is a past director of the All United States Kendo Federation.
Darlene Kuba has served more than 50 years as a significant and contributing member of the Japanese American community. In 1976, as executive assistant to Los Angeles City Councilmember Gilbert Lindsay, she developed the City Council motion to create Little Tokyo Nutrition Services, which has provided critical nutrition and supportive services to seniors living in the Boyle Heights and Little Tokyo communities with Kuba as its chairperson since inception. Following Lindsay’s passing, she founded Kuba and Associates, the first AAPI woman-owned government relations firm in Los Angeles, where she still serves as its president. As an active supporter of the Japanese American National Museum, Kuba has become a key player in assisting with its fundraising and programs.
Yuko N. Uyesugi has devoted many years of community service promoting chado. She joined the Los Angeles chapter of the Urasenke Tankokai more than 35 years ago and has served as its chief administrative officer from 2015 to 2018. In 2009, she founded the nonprofit Yusuian Foundation to share chado with the greater community and support charitable organizations that aid victims of natural disasters. With the help of her husband, George, she realized her dream of creating a tearoom named “Yusian” in Malibu overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Unfortunately, Yusuian itself was lost in January’s Palisades Fire — but with her students’ and friends’
support, she plans on rebuilding and continuing the spirit of chado and community service to the next generation.
Heidi Yoshioka has long supported the community and its activities, including playing in, and then coaching, Japanese American basketball teams, serving as the president of the Southwestern Law School Alumni Association Board from 2012-14, as well as participating in the Japanese American Bar Assn., Los Angeles County Bar Assn. and the Asian Pacific American Bar Assn. She has aided and encouraged other women by being on the Steering Committee for RISE and is currently on the board of directors of Miranda’s People, a canine cancer nonprofit that assists parents of canine children in affording cancer therapy.
Tickets are $70 per adult and $30 per child (ages 10 and under). Specify if vegetarian is requested. The deadline for reservations is April 18.
For more information, call Amy Tambara (English) at (323) 240-8385, or Rodney Nakada (English/Japanese/days) at (213) 628-1808.
