Save Our Seniors Network (SOSN), an all-volunteer organization advocating for bilingual and bicultural services and affordable healthcare for Japanese and Japanese American seniors, hosted a cultural program for the elderly residents at the Atherton Baptist Homes in Alhambra on May 25.

Approximately 165 seniors and family members, Atherton staff, SOSN volunteers and SOSN supporters attended the festival.

On a chilly and overcast day, SOSN brought a little joy to the seniors residents with the help of Atherton staff and Rachael Imes, a Sansei who serves as the activities leader for the Atherton Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF). With their help, SOSN was able to present a touch of the Japanese culture to the Atherton Homes’ residents for the second time in the past recent years.

SOSN board member Dr. Kensaku Nakayama, whose mother was a former Sakura Intermediate Care Facility resident who passed away last year at Atherton SNF, served as the emcee and opened the program by greeting the seniors in Japanese and English.
The first speaker was the Honorable Jeffrey Koji Maloney, former mayor and current councilman for the City of Alhambra who also spoke at SOSN’s previous event held at Atherton a few years ago. He expressed hisa gratitude and concern for the well-being of the Japanese and Japanese American seniors who were evicted from the Sakura ICF in Boyle Heights over six years ago.

The Atherton Homes provide a safe haven for the seniors who were evicted. However, bilingual staff and cultural services and programs are either minimal or not available. The seniors miss eating their gohan and they miss “sitters” who are bilingual and can help them exercise and walk. SOSN, in an effort to bring the Japanese culture to all the residents at Atherton, presented a program of taiko and Japanese songs.

Ryujin Taiko, a family taiko group with Robie, Steve and Cayli La, presented their brand of taiko, blending humor with a rousing drumbeat. The residents responded by clapping and smiling. The laughter was infectious and the taiko performance was understood by all.

Next up were four gracious and beautiful enka singers, Noriko McIntosh, Natsuko Fukuyama, Yoshie Sato, and Rumi Chamberlain. The Japanese seniors are familiar with the enka style of singing. The four performed a total of six songs, ending with their enthusiastic and moving rendition of “Kibo” (“hope” in Japanese).

As the singers ended their set, SOSN President Yoko Elaine Takahashi and SOSN Fiscal Director Kathy Suzuki presented bouquets of flowers to thank each of them as well as the the Ryujin Taiko members. Dr. Nakayama thanked the performers, SOSN volunteers, Councilmember Maloney and the Atherton Homes staff for their time and effort in contributing to an enjoyable festival.

As a surprise final gesture, Rev. Ray Fukumoto, SOSN Interfaith network director, began an impromptu traditional Bon odori, the “Tanko Bushi,” as the residents began returning to the facility. The dance with accompaniment by Ryujin Taiko proved to be a fitting end since many of the residents joined in. The clapping, dancing, laughing and joy shown on the faces of all of the residents at the Atherton Baptist Homes made all of the effort by SOSN a gratifying and a very worthwhile endeavor.

With the success of this event, SOSN will continue with hope that others who would like to help would join us in bringing a bit of joy and happiness to our Japanese and Japanese American seniors. Please contact SOSN at [email protected] to join as a member or to volunteer for our upcoming events as we all advocate and work in the spirit of “Save Our Seniors.”

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