About JCCSC Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California

JCCSC History

After the end of the Pacific War in August 1945, some 25,000 people of 112,000 interned Japanese Americans returned to and around the city of Los Angeles by the end of 1945.

The area of Little Tokyo played a primary role in restoring Japanese Americans' lives. Their lives begun to stabilize, various organizations were formed to protect Japanese Americans' rights and promoted their economical positions as well. On that occasion, Los Angeles Japanese American Association was founded to represent the community of Japanese Americans in September 1947. This association became regarded as an authoritative body in the community. Little Tokyo Business Association, on the other hand, was dealing with local development and vitalization. These two organizations were merged into Japanese American Chamber of Commerce of Southern California which was licensed as Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California by the government of the State of California in 1951.

From its foundation, JCC as a pivotal body in the community has had two major activities such as social work and the promotion of Japanese American commerce and industry. However, Japanese Americans being a minority group in American society, JCC could not but devote its major time to social work.

Primary past activities

1949:
-Relief activities for Japanese refugees
-Helped Japanese people with their naturalization in U.S.A.
-Received and supported Japanese representative swimmers, Hironoshin Furuhashi, et al for U.S. National Swimming Competition
-Helped and supported the reinaguration of Nisei Week Festival in Little Tokyo

1958:
Founded JCC Scholarship which became Japanese American Treaty Centennial Scholarship Fund, Inc. in 1960 and to present

1959:
Relief activities for victims of Isewan Typhoon

1980:
Cooperated in the completion of Japanese American Cultural and Community Center

1983:
Cooperated in building Japan America Theatre

Current:
JCCSC Members 263 (Corporate: 157 Individual: 106)

Purpose

-Enhance Japanese and Japanese American welfare
-Support business activities by Japanese and Japanese Americans in Southern California
-Promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and U.S.A. and propagate culture of Japan
-Communicate and exchange opinions with governmental organizations and local organizations.

Management

The organization is managed by the Board of Directors composed of up to 75 directors elected at the annual members meeting. The Board of Directors entrusts the slate of officers headed by the president with the management and sets up 17 committees to support and strengthen the management by the officers.

Directors

The members elect up to 75 directors at their annual members meeting for a one-year term. Any vacancies on the Board can be filled by the Board of Directors as often as it needs to do so.

Committees

a) Agricultural Committee
b) Bylaws Committee
c) Business Committee
d) Events Committee
e) Finance Committee
f) General Administrative Committee
g) Government Committee
h) History Committee
i) Jokun Committee
k) Monument Preservation Committee
l) Overseas Students Exchange Committee
m) Planning Committee
n) Public Relation Committee
o) Rent Negotiation Ad Hoc Committee
p) Membership Committee

Current Activities

JASF awards scholarships to Japanese and Japanese American high school seniors with outstanding academic accomplishments. Through 1995, the total number of awardees amounts to 1,320 with $420,000 of scholarship.

Manages to deliberate and select recommendees for Jokun (Medals by Japanese government) candidates with other principal organizations in the community for the spring and autumn of every year.

Hosts Jokun recognition banquet for the awardees annually.

Hosts, sponsors and supports different kinds of friendship enhancing parties, anniversary celebration parties, etc. (New Year Parties, golf tournaments, picnics, respective welcome and farewell party for new and old Consul General of Japan. Reception for Japanese training ship and squadrons of the Maritime Self-Defense Force of Japan)

Receives and takes care of Japanese Traffic Orphan students annually.

Participates in and supports local revitalization plans and studies such as East Little Tokyo Station on Red Line, the introduction of local development fund and planning of local redevelopment.

Receives and exchanges opinions with agricultural, commercial and industrial missions from Japan.

Cooperates in and supports cultural and educational activities.

Hosts seminars for the community and local businesses.

Distributes information and event notices to members.

Provides information on Southern California society and businesses.

Engaged in relief activities for victims of different disasters.

JCCSC Activitie

Charitable Activities

Since its inception, the JCCSC has worked to support and improve the lives of Nikkei (Japanese Americans) of all ages in Southern California. The JCC has sponsored programs such as immunization clinics and fundraising events to encourage the efforts of community-based organizations (e.g. Keiro Services, Japanese Community Health, Inc., Koreisha Chushoku Kai, and the Kobe Earthquake Relief Fund). Also, the JCCSC has a year-end charity drive involving the whole community.

Communication with Government and Local Organizations

The JCCSC representatives meet regularly with various local, state and federal officials, addressing issues of concern to JCCSC members and the community at large. In the past, representatives of the JCCSC have focused on redevelopment and labor relations issues and city and county ordinances. The JCCSC also hosts, sponsors and supports many community events such as the periodic welcoming receptions for the Consul Generals of Japan, Shinnenkai (traditional New Year's gathering), business education seminars, golf tournaments and annual fundraising dinners.

Cultural and Educational Activities

One of the JCCSC primary goals is to foster understanding and good will between the United States and Japan through cultural programs, information activities and public relations. The JCCSC regularly engages in joint activities with cultural organizations such as the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC), the Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai (the umbrella organization for the 38 Japanese prefectural organizations), the Japanese American National Museum, various Japanese language schools, and other community based organizations.

Japanese Chamber of Commerce Foundation

The Foundation was established in 1997 to support the charitable community programs of JCCSC, including the establishment of U.S.-Japan cultural exchange activities for youth. The goals of the Foundation are to support the activities of JCCSC and other community nonprofit organizations the enhance cultural understanding between the United States and Japan and to educate the public about the activities and achievements of the Southern California Japanese and Japanese American business communities.

Student Exchange

Each year, members of the JCCSC volunteer as host families to students from Japan, sharing the "Southern California experience" with students of Ashinaga Ikueikai. Ashinaga Ikueikai of Japan provides scholarships to the high school and university students who have lost their father and/or mother by some unfortunate accident or illness. In 1997, the Rainbow Exchange Program was established by the Foundation to send qualified students to Japan.

Jokun Awards

In the Spring and Fall of each year, the JCCSC works with other community organizations in selecting candidates for the Jokun, the Medals of Honor from the Japanese government. The medals are conferred upon individuals in recognition of their political, business and cultural achievements in furthering relations between Japan and the U.S. The JCCSC hosts the annual Jokun Recognition Banquet for awardees.

Goodwill and Friendship

Special events, such as golfing, fishing, gourmet night and other social activities promote goodwill and friendship among JCCSC members, The JCCSC provides a great opportunity to meet new and interesting people.

Today, the JCCSC is actively supporting many programs and organizations, including:

Business Seminars and Networking

Under the guidance of the JCCSC's Business Committee, the JCCSC hosts and sponsors numerous business seminars, in which member companies are given the opportunity to present timely topics regarding their businesses and industries. The JCCSC also hosts various networking events throughout the year at which members are able to socialize, share experiences and exchange ideas and information. In addition, through its newsletter and other member mailings, the JCCSC regularly distributes information regarding its members and member services and products.

Trade, Commercial, Agricultural and Industrial Missions from Japan

Members of the JCCSC are also regularly requested to receive and meet with various trade, commercial, agricultural and industrial missions and government officials from Japan, with JCCSC members highlighting concerns to the local Southern California economy. In addition, the JCCSC receives training ships and squadrons of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force.

Past JCCSC Presidents


MITSUHIKO SHIMIZU 1949	KATSUMA MUKAEDA 1950,1951, 1963,1964	GONGORO NAKAMURA 1952	MEIJIRO SATO 1953	GIICHI TAKATA 1954	MASAMI SASAKI 1955	SHIGEMATU TAKEYASU 1956	KENJI ITO 1957,1958, 1971.1972, 1973

YASUTAKA KUNIYOSHI 1959	SUSUMU KURIHARA 1960	EIJI TANABE 1961	KAKUO TANAKA 1962	SHIGETOSHI FUJII 1965	MASUO MITAMURA 1966,1967	KIYOTO NAKAOKA 1968,1979, 1980	TAKITO YAMAGUMA 1969,1970

KUMANOSUKE INADOMI 1974,1975	MASAO MATSUDA 1976,1977, 1978,1981	TAKASHI SAKAI 1980	KOSHIRO TORII 1982,1983, 1984	NORITOSHI KANAI 1985	TOSHIO NAGAMURA 1985	TARO KAWA 1989	AKEMI MIYAKE 1990,1991

HOROSHI KAWABE 1992,1993, 1994	YUZURU FUJII 1995	ICHIRO TAKEDA 1996,1997, 1998	HAYAHIKO TAKASE 1999	TOM KAMEI 2000,2001, 2002	SHINJI ABE 2003,2004 2005	TATSUSHI NAKAMURA 2006	TATSUHIKO WAKAO 2007,2008

TOSHIO HANDA Current President

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