{"id":7480,"date":"2017-05-22T00:53:04","date_gmt":"2017-05-22T04:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/?page_id=7480"},"modified":"2023-08-23T11:47:24","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T15:47:24","slug":"national-executive-board","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/national-executive-board\/","title":{"rendered":"National Executive Board"},"content":{"rendered":"

Les Kojima<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a><\/span>WINNIPEG
\nPresident<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Les was born and raised in Winnipeg, but by the time of the September 22, 1988 redress agreement with the Government of Canada, he was the president of the Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Society. He lived in several countries from 1989 \u2013 2016, including the Solomon Islands, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Switzerland, the UK, the US, India and Sri Lanka. During the latter part of his career, Les worked as a financial management specialist in the South Asia region of the World Bank, covering Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n

Les returned to Winnipeg after retirement from The Bank in December 2016, and immediately immersed himself in the community. At the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba, he is a regular volunteer, sits on a number of committees, and serves as the Treasurer. He is also an active member of the Manitoba Buddhist Temple. His interests include playing squash and learning Japanese.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Naomi Katsumi<\/h3>\n
\n\t

OTT\"\"<\/a>AWA
\n<\/span>Secretary<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
Naomi has a long history of volunteering which includes the development of youth in sports, international events such as the FIFA World Cup, hosting the Annual Ottawa Asian Hockey tournament during Asian Heritage month, and serve as Vice President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association as well as the Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre.\u00a0 \u00a0Naomi's focus has always been about bringing people together and to develop solid teams and organizations towards a common goal.\u00a0 \u00a0Her history of volunteering was recognized when she was nominated by her peers and she was awarded the Governor General's Sovereign Medals for Volunteers.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Naomi has spent the last 32 years working with both Canadian and International organizations to address the climate crisis that we face.\u00a0 Naomi has been part of the Canadian Delegation at the International Maritime Organization for the last 20 years negotiating more stringent environmental regulations for the shipping sector.\u00a0 This negotiating experience has been useful in dealing with the various NAJC Committees she has participated or chaired.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Naomi's parents were from very different backgrounds, her father was born in Steveston, BC and was separated from his family during internment and her mother was born in Japan.\u00a0 Naomi's father never wanted to talk about the internment and this was part of what has motivated her to join both the local Japanese Community groups and the National Association of Japanese Canadians.\u00a0 Bringing organizational skills and a desire to support the Japanese community, Naomi looks forward to opportunities to engage and support NAJC member organizations.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
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<\/div><\/div>

Judy Hanazawa<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a>VANCOUVER
\n<\/span><\/strong>Director\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Judy Hanazawa was born in Merritt, BC in 1947 where her family moved after their incarceration at the Bridge River self supporting site.<\/p>\n

She grew up in the Downtown Eastside Strathcona area of Vancouver and comes from Steveston fishing families on both sides. She has a son and daughter and 2 grandchildren. She is a retired provincial child and family services social worker, clinical supervisor, acting team leader, who, upon receiving redress in 1989, applied the funds to attend UBC, receiving an MSW in 1990. Following her MSW social work practicum at the Squamish Nation, Judy embarked on an enduring relationship with the Squamish people. She became a program developer, service provider, trainer, and policy writer for the Squamish Nation\u2019s Ayas Men Men Child and Family Services Department. Judy received teachings about kindness and respect, serving one\u2019s own community, honouring others and engaging in a good way, from her years working in the Squamish Nation community. She finally retired in 2019 but remains involved today in an advisory capacity as the Nation prepares to replace delegated provincial law with self-governing Squamish law for delivering child and family services to the people.<\/p>\n

Upon receiving her individual redress payment, Judy became active in the Japanese Canadian Community in Greater Vancouver and on a national level by the early 1990\u2019s. Her focus has been on community development, and human rights, social justice and anti-racism education and activism. She was both chair and member of the GVJCCA Human Rights Committee at various times from 1990 to 2022, and between 2000 to today fulfilled terms as a GVJCCA director and president. She also served terms between 2000 to 2006, and 2019 to today, as an NAJC board director, Chair and member of the NAJC Human Rights Committee. Other community commitments include board membership on the Japanese Canadian Hastings Park Interpretive Centre Society, chair of the ad hoc Nitobe Memorial Garden History Committee and member of the Working Group and Project Office, concerning the Anglican Healing Fund for Japanese Canadians to support survivors, families and community harmed by GG Nakayama\u2019s legacy of clergy sexual abuse.<\/p>\n

In recognition of her \u201coutstanding dedication to fighting discrimination and recognizing past injustices, especially for Japanese Canadians and First Nations people\u201d, Judy received the Queen\u2019s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013. She was also a member of the GVJCCA Human Rights Committee when the Committee was nominated for the 2021 Gordon Hirabayashi Human Rights Award. Resulting from BC\u2019s engagement with the NAJC to support legacy initiatives in recognition of the province\u2019s historical wrongs against Japanese Canadians, Judy was appointed on June 3, 2022 to the BC Multicultural Advisory Council for a 2 year term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Lorene Oikawa<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a>VANCOUVER
\n<\/strong><\/span>Past-President<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

In addition to her NAJC responsibilities, Lorene Oikawa works for the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and is the Vice Chair of the Landscapes of Injustice Steering Committee. She also serves as the Vice President of the board of West Coast Environmental Law and is a founding member and director on the board of the Canadian Labour International Film Festival. She is the past President of the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens\u2019 Association. She was the first and only Asian Canadian executive vice president for the BC Government and Service Employees\u2019 Union (BCGEU) for three terms from 2005 to 2014.<\/p>\n

She speaks and writes about her passions, including human rights and her heritage. She is a co-editor of the book, Honouring Our People: Breaking the Silence<\/em>, which tells the stories of Japanese Canadians who survived uprooting, dispossession, and internment. She has worked on a number of projects including the Hastings Park 1942 Signage Project and Discover the Stories of Japanese Canadians in Surrey.<\/p>\n

Lorene, a University of British Columbia (UBC) alumna, is a strong advocate of life-long learning. She contributes to the experience and knowledge exchange by developing and delivering workshops, mentoring, and facilitating for government, community, and unions.<\/p>\n

Lorene is a yonsei, a fourth generation Canadian. Her mother\u2019s side of the family migrated from Hiroshima Japan in the 1800s, to Cumberland on Vancouver Island, and in 1906, her father\u2019s side came from Sendai Miyagi-ken, and settled on Oikawa Island in Metro Vancouver.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Melisa Kamibayashi<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a>OTTAWA
\n<\/span><\/strong>Director<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Melisa currently serves as the President of the Ottawa Japanese Community Association and is the Community Producer for Contact Japan, a local community television programme.<\/p>\n

She graduated from Queen\u2019s University\u2019s Communication, Culture and Society program with honours. She went on to study media productions. Melisa also studied Arts and Human Rights at the University of Ottawa which focused on First Nations, Inuit and Metis arts, with guest speakers like Alanis Obamsawin and Steven Loft. Through the years, she has worked in high tech, interactive computer animation, television and film production, and acting. She also studied taiko performance in Japan for three years and has trained and performed in Japan, the US and Canada.<\/p>\n

Having faced a number of industry barriers, she was determined to make change from the inside. For over 15 years, she has worked at the Canada Council for the Arts and was on secondment for 1 year at Canadian Heritage. During this time, she has worked on national and international outreach and initiatives for Equity deserving communities.<\/p>\n

She has been part of the NAJC Arts, Culture and Equity Committee. Most recently, she stepped in as Programming Director for the GEI (Arts) Symposium in Victoria, which hosted approximately 100 Japanese Canadian artists from across the country.<\/p>\n

Melisa was born and raised in Ottawa. Her grandparents who were originally from Saga and Shiga prefectures made Vancouver, Canada their home over a century ago. Her parents in their childhood and their families were all incarcerated and dispossessed during WWII. Forced to move east of the Rockies post-war, they re-established themselves in Toronto and Hamilton and eventually made Ottawa home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

Kevin Higa<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a>Edmonton
\n<\/strong><\/span>Treasurer<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Kevin is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) who retired at the end of 2022 after more than 36 years of experience as a financial executive. \u00a0He is committed to community service, volunteer work and advocacy for social justice.<\/p>\n

Kevin grew up in Lethbridge and moved to Edmonton to attend the University of Alberta. \u00a0During his career, he served as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for several well-known Canadian companies, including Running Room, a leading retailer of running and fitness apparel, and Peavey Mart\/Ace Hardware Canada, a major farm, ranch hardware retailer.<\/p>\n

Outside of his professional work, Kevin served on various boards at the University of Alberta as a Vice President of the Alumni Council, Treasurer of the School of Business Alumni Association, Board Member of the School of Retail. \u00a0His volunteer commitments extend to other community organizations serving on various sports and church boards, and has coached hockey and soccer, helping to mentor and develop young players.<\/p>\n

Kevin is the Treasurer of the NAJC, providing financial knowledge and guidance to support the organization\u2019s mission, vision, and operations.<\/p>\n

Kevin\u2019s mother was a survivor of the Tashme Internment Camp, and due to this legacy, he has taken a deep interest in human rights advocacy and social justice issues. \u00a0He is a committee member of the NAJC \u2013 Human Rights Committee and the EJCA \u2013 CARE (Committee Advocating Racial Equality) and is involved in their human rights and social justice advocacy work.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Maryka Omatsu<\/h3>\n
\n\t

VANCOUVER-TORONTO
\n<\/span><\/strong>Director<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>Judge Omatsu was born in Hamilton.\u00a0 She studied and worked in Toronto and now splits her time between Toronto and Vancouver.<\/p>\n

27 years ago, when Maryka Omatsu was appointed a judge, she was the first East Asian woman to hold this position. Before this honor, she practised criminal and administrative law for 16 years in Toronto.<\/p>\n

Judge Omatsu was on the National Association of Japanese Canadians\u2019 (NAJC) strategy and negotiation team that won Redress in 1988 for her community.\u00a0 Her book, Bittersweet Passage<\/u><\/em> documented that struggle and won the Prime Minister\u2019s Award for Publishing and the Laura Jamieson Prize for \u201cbest feminist book\".\u00a0 Judge Omatsu is on the B.C. Redress Committee.\u00a0 Her 2018 video, Swimming Upstream<\/em>, sets out the Japanese Canadian case for Redress from the British Columbia government and received the MADA (Making a Difference Award) from the Toronto Community Film Festival (2019).<\/p>\n

Most recently Judge Omatsu has been named to the:\u00a0 Canadian Race Relations Foundation:\u00a0 Special Advisory Council (2018); NAJC's Steering Committee for B.C. Redress (2019) and National Honorary Advisory Committee (2017).\u00a0 She has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws (2019), the Order of Ontario (2015); the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Trail Blazer of the Year (2013); and the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers\u2019 Life Time Achievement Award (2010).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Yukari Peerless<\/h3>\n
\n\t

VICTORIA
\n<\/span><\/strong>Director and Chair, Arts Culture Education Committee<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/a>Yukari has been helping to bridge the cultural gap between Japan and Canada ever since 1998, when she moved from her native Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, to Victoria. She has become the go-to person for all things Japanese culture and performing arts on Vancouver Island.<\/p>\n

One of Yukari\u2019s first jobs in Canada was working for the Canadian College of Film and Acting. Her interest in the theatre arts was fueled by watching student films and participating in acting workshops. She serves as the director of communication at Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society and as a board member at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, where she is an active member of the Cultural Safety Working Group. She is also a part of the Arts, Culture, and Education committee at National Association of Japanese Canadians and serves as administrator at Japanese Canadian Artists Directory.<\/p>\n

As the owner of Lucid Communication, she provides a variety of services such as interpretation and cultural consulting to Japanese and Canadian clients, including the local government and the government of Japan. Yukari is also the producer\/host of Japanese podcast \u201cHamidashikei Life no Arukikata\u201d (roughly translated as \"Misfit's guide to life\") focused on various social issues.<\/p>\n

Yukari is passionate about arts and Japanese culture and looking forward to serving as a new member of the National Executive Board<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Alex Okuda-Rayfuse<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a>OTTAWA
\n<\/span><\/strong>Director and Chair, Young Leaders Committee<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Alex is a yonsei on his mother\u2019s side. The son of former Ottawa Japanese Community Association (OJCA) president Sachiko Okuda, and grandson of NJCCA founding member Hiroshi Okuda, Alex grew up as an active member of the Ottawa Japanese community.<\/p>\n

Alex studied at Queen\u2019s University in Kingston, where he earned a BA (Hons) in History with a minor in Philosophy. Upon his return to Ottawa, Alex helped plan social activities for the 2017 NAJC Annual General Meeting and Conference. The experience of interacting with Nikkei leaders from other provinces and territories led him to join the board of the OJCA and the NAJC Young Leaders Committee (YLC).<\/p>\n

With the OJCA, Alex has served as the lead organizer of the OJCA-Ottawa Japanese Cultural Centre (OJCC) Mochitsuki and is the editor of the Ottawa Japanese Activities Guide. With the YLC, Alex has helped oversee the Young Leaders Fund grant program and plan various events and initiatives to engage and connect young Nikkei from across Canada.<\/p>\n

Alex currently works for Elections Canada, coordinating planning activities and supporting election administrators across the country. In his free time, he enjoys playing hockey, soccer, and various creative pursuits.<\/p>\n

Alex is proud to continue a family tradition of community involvement. He looks forward to engaging with young Nikkei from across Canada, and working to share, honour and preserve the stories and legacies of the Japanese Canadian community.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div>

Kevin Okabe<\/h3>\n
\n\t

\"\"<\/a>Executive Director<\/h4>\n

Kevin has served as the part-time Executive Director for the NAJC since May 2018<\/span>.\u00a0 Although Yonsei by generation, every generation in his family has married someone from Japan, so Kevin has a very unique tie to his ancestral country.<\/p>\n

Kevin has been actively involved with the Japanese Canadian community at both the local and national levels for over thirty years.\u00a0 Locally, he helped organize Japanese Canadian youth groups and served on the boards of community organizations in Winnipeg and Calgary.\u00a0He chaired the 2011 Tsunami Relief campaign in Calgary, and is the former President of the Calgary Japanese Community Association.\u00a0 Nationally, he served for five terms as Director, Secretary and Treasurer for the organization.\u00a0 He worked on the NAJC\u2019s Youth, Strategic Planning, Finance and Heritage Committees and was instrumental in helping shape the organization\u2019s investment strategy.<\/p>\n

Kevin comes to the NAJC after retiring from the private sector, where he served as Chief Operating Officer for MSH International (Canada), a provider of expatriate insurance solutions, for the past ten years.\u00a0 He also spent over fifteen years working in public practice with Grant Thornton and PricewaterhouseCoopers .\u00a0 He holds certifications as a Chartered Professional Accountant and in Information Technology Audit and Governance, and was recognized as one of Calgary\u2019s Top 40 under 40 in 2007.\u00a0 Together with his wife Naoko Maebashi, they own and operate two retail stores and a deli in Banff and Kananaskis, Alberta.\u00a0 He also serves as the Controller (part time) for the Kananaskis Country Golf Course.<\/p>\n

As Executive Director, Kevin\u2019s priorities for the NAJC include:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Researching and suggesting strategic alternatives for consideration by the organization;<\/li>\n
  • Building community capacity, both nationally and locally;<\/li>\n
  • Supporting the work of the NAJC\u2019s Executive Board and committees, including the organization of the Annual General meeting;<\/li>\n
  • Stabilizing and streamlining the back office and accounting administration for the organization; and<\/li>\n
  • Enhancing communication within the organization and strengthening partnerships to achieve common goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

     <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>

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    <\/div><\/div>
    \n
    \n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>
    \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
    <\/div><\/div>

    NAJC boards<\/h3>\n
    \n\t

    2022-2024
    \n<\/strong>Les Kojima, President
    \nNaomi Katsumi, Secretary
    \nKevin Higa, Treasurer (Appointed November 2022)
    \nSusanne Tabata, Director (Resigned October 13, 2022)
    \nMaryka Omatsu, Director
    \nYukari Peerless, Director
    \nJudy Hanazawa, Director
    \nAlex Okuda-Rayfuse, Director
    \nMelisa Kamibayashi-Staples, Director (Appointed November 2022)
    \nLorene Oikawa, Past-President
    \nKevin Okabe, Executive Director
    \nSayuri Toma, NAJC\/CJCA Administrator (May 2023)<\/p>\n

    \n

    2020-2022
    \n<\/strong>Lorene Oikawa, President
    \nLynn Deutscher Kobayashi, Vice President (Resigned March 2022)
    \nNaomi Katsumi, Secretary
    \nLes Kojima, Treasurer
    \nSusanne Tabata, Director
    \nMaryka Omatsu, Director
    \nSt\u00e9phane Hamade, Director
    \nKevin Okabe, Executive Director
    \nKarina Uehara, National Administrator (Resigned December 2021)<\/p>\n

    \n

    2018-2020
    \n<\/strong>Lorene Oikawa, President
    \nKeiko Miki, Vice President
    \nLes Kojima, Treasurer
    \nEiko Eby, Secretary
    \nKiyoshi Dembo, Director
    \nBryan Tomlinson, Director
    \nAlex Miki, Director
    \nSusanne Tabata, Director
    \nDavid Mitsui, Past President
    \nKevin Okabe, Executive Director
    \nKarina Uehara, National Administrator<\/p>\n

    \n

    2016-2018
    \n<\/strong>David Mitsui, President
    \nLorene Oikawa, Vice President
    \nMichiko Yano-Shuttleworth, Secretary
    \nNoreen Kuroyama, Treasurer
    \nEiko Eby, Director
    \nLisa Uyeda, Director
    \nSusan Matsumoto, Director
    \nSusanne Tabata, Director
    \nBryan Tomlinson, Director
    \nKen Noma, Executive Director
    \nJim Suzuki\/Karina Uehara, National Administrator<\/p>\n

    \n

    2014-2016
    \n<\/strong>Bev Ohashi, Chair
    \nTosh Kitagawa, Vice President
    \nSusan Matsumoto, Secretary
    \nKevin Okabe, Treasurer
    \nYumi Schoenhofer, Director
    \nLisa Uyeda, Director
    \nValerie Hoshizaki Nordin, Director
    \nLillian Nakamura Maguire, Director
    \nSusanne Tabata, Director
    \nKen Noma, Executive Director
    \nJim Suzuki, National Administrator, Recorder<\/p>\n

    \n

    2012-2014
    \n<\/strong>Ken Noma, President
    \nLillian Nakamura Maguire, Vice President
    \nBev Ohashi, Secretary
    \nTreasurer: Takashi Ohki
    \nKevin Okabe, Director
    \nValerie Hoshizaki, Director
    \nYumi Schoenhofer, Director
    \nTerumi Kuwada, Past President
    \nTomoko Keheler-Yokobori\/Glenna Carlson, National Administrator<\/p>\n

    \n

    2010-2012
    \n<\/strong>Ken Noma, President & Chair
    \nLillian Maguire, Vice President
    \nTakashi Ohki , Treasurer
    \nBev Ohashi, Secretary
    \nSteven Seller, Director
    \nDavid Iwaasa, Director
    \nPamela Sugiman, Director
    \nTerumi Kuwada, Past President<\/p>\n

    \n

    2008-2010
    \n<\/strong>Terumi Kuwada, President
    \nMasa Kagami,Vice-President
    \nAngela Foreman, Secretary
    \nTakashi Ohki, Treasurer
    \nSteven Seller, Director
    \nAlan Tanaka ,Director
    \nPamela Sugiman, Director
    \nGrace Thomson, Past President<\/p>\n

    \n

    2006-2008
    \n<\/strong>Grace Thomson, President
    \nCharlotte Chiba. Vice President
    \nAngela Boyko, Treasurer
    \nVacant, Secretary
    \nMasa Kagami, Director
    \nTerumi Kuwada, Director
    \nHenry Kojima, Past President<\/p>\n

    \n

    2004-2006
    \n<\/strong>Henry Kojima, President
    \nGeorge Uyeda, Vice-President
    \nAngela Boyko, Treasurer
    \nGrace Eiko Thomson, Secretary
    \nJudy Hanazawa, Director
    \nJoanne Planidin, Director
    \nYumi Schoenhofer, Director
    \nKeiko Miki, Past President<\/p>\n

    \n

    2002-2004
    \n<\/strong>Keiko Miki, President
    \nMichael Doi, Vice President
    \nRobert Bessler, Secretary
    \nJim Hoyano,\u00a0 Treasurer
    \nJudy Hanazawa, Director
    \nYumi Schoenhofer, Director
    \nGeorge Uyeda, Director<\/p>\n

    \n

    2000-2002
    \n<\/strong>Keiko Miki, President
    \nAllan Okabe, Vice President
    \nJim Hoyano, Secretary & Treasurer
    \nMichael Doi, Director
    \nRobert Bessler, Director
    \nJudy Hanazawa, Director
    \nYumi Schoenhofer, Director<\/p>\n

    \n

    1998-2000
    \n<\/strong>Keiko Miki, President
    \nAllan Okabe, Vice President
    \nPeter Nunoda, Secretary
    \nTony Tamayose, Treasurer
    \nRobert Bessler, Director
    \nYumi Schoenhofer, Director
    \nYumiko Hoyano, Director
    \nTak Ariga, Director<\/p>\n

    \n

    1996-1998
    \n<\/strong>Randy Enomoto, President
    \nKeiko Miki, Vice President
    \nKevin Okabe, Secretary & Treasurer
    \nAudrey Kobayashi, Director
    \nYumiko Hoyano, Director
    \nRichard Hirabayashi, Director
    \nTak Ariga, Director
    \nRoy Inouye, Past President<\/p>\n

    \n

    1994-1996
    \n<\/strong>Roy Inouye, President
    \nLucy Yamashita, Vice President
    \nKevin Okabe, Secretary & Treasurer
    \nRandy Enomoto, Director
    \nBryce Kanbara, Director
    \nYumiko Hoyano, Director
    \nMichael Fukushima, Director
    \nBill Kobayashi, Director
    \nCaroline Yamashita, National Administrator<\/p>\n

    \n

    1992-1994
    \n<\/strong>Roy Inouye, President
    \nLucy Yamashita, Vice President
    \nKevin Okabe, Secretary & Treasurer
    \nRandy Enomoto, Director
    \nBill Kobayashi, Director
    \nYumiko Hoyano, Director
    \nBryce Kanbara, Director
    \nRoy Inouye, Director
    \nArt Miki, Past President
    \nCarolina Yamashita\/Lil Mukai, National Administrator<\/p>\n

    \n

    1990-1992
    \n<\/strong>Art Miki, President
    \nRoy Inouye, Vice President
    \nSecretary
    \nTreasurer
    \nDirector<\/p>\n

    \n

    1988-1990
    \n<\/strong>Art Miki, President
    \nRoy Inouye, Vice President
    \nSecretary
    \nTreasurer
    \nDirector<\/p>\n

    \n

    1986-1988
    \n<\/strong>Art Miki, President
    \nRoger Obata, Vice President
    \nSecretary
    \nTreasurer
    \nDirector<\/p>\n

    \n

    1984-1986
    \n<\/strong>Art Miki, President
    \nRoy Inouye, Vice President
    \nCarol Matsumoto, Secretary
    \nHarold Hirose, Treasurer
    \nLucy Yamashita, Director
    \nJoy Ooto, Director
    \nFred Kaita, Director
    \nGordon Kadota, Past President<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1980-1984
    \n<\/strong>Gordon Kadota, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1976-1980
    \n<\/strong>George Imai, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1957-1976
    \n<\/strong>Edward Ide, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1955-1957
    \n<\/strong>Harold Hirose, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1953-1955
    \n<\/strong>Hiroshi (Rosie) Okuda, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1951-1953
    \n<\/strong>Ted Aoki, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1948-1951
    \n<\/strong>Harold Hirose, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1948-1948
    \n<\/strong>Tom Shoyama, President
    \n<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1947 (National Japanese Canadian Citizens' Association- NJCCA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Roger Obata, President<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \n

    1936-1941 (Japanese Canadian Citizen's League - JCCL)
    \n<\/strong>Harry Naganobu, President<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    WINNIPEG President Les was born and raised in Winnipeg, but by the time of the September 22, 1988 redress agreement with the Government of Canada, he was the president of the Vancouver Island Japanese Canadian Society. He lived in several countries from 1989 \u2013 2016, including the Solomon Islands, Nepal, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Switzerland, the UK, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7480"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7480"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14690,"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7480\/revisions\/14690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/najc.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}