Save Our Seniors Network (SOSN), an all-volunteer organization advocating for bi-lingual and bi-cultural 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, 2024. Approximately 165 seniors and family members, Atherton Staff, and 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 Sansei Ms. Rachael Imes 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.
Dr. Kensaku Nakayama, SOSN Board of Director whose mother was a former Sakura ICF resident and 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 to speak 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 several years ago. Honorable Maloney expressed his gratitude and concern for the wellbeing of the Japanese and Japanese American seniors who were evicted from the Sakura ICF over 6 years ago.
The Atherton Homes provides a safe haven for the seniors who were evicted from the Sakura ICF, 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 who 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 the four gracious and beautiful Japanese Enka singers, Noriko McIntosh, Natsuko Fukuyama, Yoshie Sato, and Rumi Chamberlain. The Japanese seniors are familiar with the Enka style of singing. Together they performed a total of 6 songs which ended with their enthusiastic and moving performance of the song titled “KIBO”. “KIBO” is the word for “hope” in Japanese.
As the singers ended their song set, SOSN President, Yoko Elaine Takahashi and SOSN Fiscal Director, Kathy Suzuki, presented bouquets of flowers to thank each of the Enka singers and to thank each of the Ryujin Taiko members. Emcee Dr. Nakayama thanked the performers, SOSN volunteers, Councilman 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 impromptu TANKO BUSHI with accompaniment by Ryujin Taiko proved to be a fitting end since many of the residents joined in the dancing. 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, to bring a bit of Japanese culture to the seniors, 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 info@sosn.us 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”.