Pictured are (seated, from left) Darlene Kuba, Kimiko Fujita, Yuko Uyesugi and (standing, from left) Yuriko Shikai, Mami Sone, Elaine Keiko Inoue, Jean Kodama, Heidi Yoshioka and George Kita. (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
The 2025 Women of the Year luncheon accentuates accomplishments.
By George Toshio Johnston, P.C. Senior Editor
Although May 5 was unseasonably cool and overcast outside the Quiet Cannon, the atmosphere inside the Montebello, Calif., banquet hall was bright and lively for the 2025 Women of the Year luncheon, jointly produced by Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California and the Downtown Los Angeles Chapter of the JACL.
Perhaps the festive air was because the 2025 cohort was larger than usual, with six honorees — Kimiko Fujita, Elaine Kei Inoue, Jean Kodama, Darlene Kinuko Kuba, Yuko N. Uyesugi and Heidi Miyoshi Yoshioka — which meant more friends, family and supporters. According to planning committee member Amy Tambara, the headcount for the event was 335.
The roster of dignitaries, many of whom gave short speeches, might have also put some extra buzz into the afternoon. The list included Mami Sone, honorary president of Japanese Women’s Society of Southern California and wife of Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles Kenko Sone; Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.); California state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo (26th Senate District); California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (66th Assembly District); Assemblymember Mark Gonzalez (54th Assembly District); and Lauren Hodgins, chief of staff to Los Angeles City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado. Unable to attend but sending her congratulatory wishes was Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis.
2025 Women of the Year recipients show off their certificates of recognition given by Rep. Judy Chu, California state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, and Assemblymembers Mark Gonzalez and Al Muratsuchi. From left: Yuriko Shikai, Assemblymember Gonzalez, Yuko Uyesugi, Darlene Kuba, state Sen. Durazo, Kimiko Fujita, Elaine Keiko Inoue, Rep. Chu, Jean Kodama, Heidi Yoshioka, Assemblymember Muratsuchi (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
Thanks to the political delegation, the six honorees each received certificates of recognition from the California state Senate and Assembly, as well as from the U.S. House of Representatives.
Muratsuchi
Downtown Los Angeles President George Kita, center, served as master of ceremonies at the 2025 Women of the Year luncheon. From left: Heidi Yoshioka, Jean Kodama, Elaine Inoue, Bert Inoue, Kita, Kimiko Fujita, Beverly Ito, Darlene Kuba, Bill Fujioka, Yuko Uyesugi and George Uyesugi (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
Reprising his role as master of ceremonies as he has done for the past several years was Downtown Los Angeles JACL Chapter President George Kita, who started the event providing a short history of the two sponsoring organizations, with the JWSSC tracing its roots to 1904, when it was known as the Rafu Fujinkai, and the DLA JACL dating back to 1929, making it the oldest JACL chapter in Southern California. Both groups have co-produced the Women of the Year luncheons since 1963.
Kita then introduced JWSSC President Yuriko Shikai. “Today, we celebrate the extraordinary achievements of six remarkable women,” she said, adding, “We have a music teacher and music school founder, a lunch program supervisor and cook, an electrical engineer/martial arts master, a founder of a senior nutrition services organization and a government relations firm, a tea ceremony master who is persevering through the recent wildfires and a basketball coach/lawyer who mentors young women attorneys to attain successful careers.
“All of our honorees share something in common,” Shikai continued. “They’ve made significant contributions to the growth and development of our community, to the development of future generations and to the cultural exchange between Japan and the U.S.”
Following the lunch service, before each honoree received their commemorative clock award, Kita recognized a pair of JACLers in attendance: Ken Inouye, past JACL national president, and Nancy Takayama, Pacific Southwest District board member.
Each recipient was introduced by a friend, colleague or family member. Keiro President and CEO Beverly Ito introduced Kimiko Fujita, whose activities include volunteering for the Orange County Japanese American Assn.; establishing Yamaha Music Schools in Irvine, Torrance and Laguna; and serving on the board of directors for Keiro Services.
Ryan Kagiyama prefaced his grandmother, Elaine Keiko Inoue, who was recognized for her years of utilizing her cooking skills for the San Fernando Valley Japanese American Cultural Center’s Hot Meals lunch program.
Shikai returned to the stage to tout Jean Kodama, an electrical engineer who also holds a seventh dan in kendō and a fifth dan in iaidō and was the first female president of the Southern California Kendo Federation and the first woman board member of the All United States Kendo Federation.
Japanese American National Museum Board of Trustees Chair Bill Fujioka vouchsafed the accomplishments of his wife, Darlene Kinuko Kuba, whose accomplishments include helping to create Little Tokyo Nutrition Services and founding Kuba and Associates, L.A.’s first AAPI woman-owned government relations firm, of which she serves as its president.
Sunao Sugita spoke on behalf of chadō (tea ceremony) master Yuko N. Uyesugi, a longtime member of Urasenke Tankokai, founder of the nonprofit Yusuian Foundation and the Yusuian tearoom in Malibu, which was lost in the January wildfires.
Attorney Candice Shikai praised Heidi Yoshioka, also an attorney who has been active over the years with the Japanese American Bar Assn., the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. and the Asian Pacific American Bar Assn. and whose auxiliary interests have ranged from coaching youth basketball to mentoring young women attorneys striving for success and career advancement.
Speaking at the lectern on behalf of all the honorees is Kimiko Fujita, center. From left: Heidi Yoshioka, Jean Kodama, Elaine Inoue, Bert Inoue, George Kita, Fujita, Beverly Ito, Darlene Kuba, Bill Fujioka, Yuko Uyesugi and George Uyesugi (Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
Speaking on behalf of all the awardees was Fujita, who expressed the collective gratitude from all the recipients. “This is a wonderful recognition that inspired us all to strive for excellence and make meaningful contributions to our community,” she said.
Giving the closing remarks was Kita. “Their stories all empower us to want to do more to help better our society,” he said.
Included among the persons serving on the luncheon’s planning committee were Joyce Chinn, Toshie Kawaguchi, Jan Fukuhara, Kita, Rodney Nakada, Miyuki Namiki, Sachiko Okazoe, Mari Robinson, Tomoko Sakurai, Kittty Sankey, Shikai, Patricia Sookdet and Tambara.
Pictured (from left) are Amy Tambara, Kitty Sankey, Nancy Takayama, George Kita and Yuriko Shikai.
