Maui Delegation Attends Grand Opening Ceremony of New Go For Broke National Education Center Over the Memorial Day weekend in May 2016, NVMC President Emeritus Hiroshi Arisumi; his son-in-law, Ray Yamamoto; and NVMC President Brian Moto attended ceremonies for the grand opening of the Go For Broke National Education Center in the Little Tokyo neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
They also spoke with Gary Yamauchi,
The center, located in the historic Nishi
Contemporary Art.
Hongwanji building, debuted its new
As a World War II veteran, Hiroshi was
exhibition, “Defining Courage,� which
seated with other veterans and helped
examines the bravery of soldiers and
lead the procession of dignitaries to the
civilians, and men and women during World
ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new
War II, and how people might act with similar
education center.
gallantry today.
council member and past mayor of Alhambra, California, and Mark Yokoyama, Alhambra city manager. On Saturday, May 28, the formal ceremonies began with an Anniversary Tribute at the Go For Broke Monument, located near the Museum of
After the ribbon-cutting, a local Muslim
Hiroshi Arisumi is escorted by an ROTC cadet to the VIP section for the grand opening celebration in front of the historic Nishi Hongwanji building, the new home of the Go For Broke National Education Center. PHOTO: PEGGY MIZUMOTO
The celebrations began with a Friday evening
cleric sang a prayer, and speakers
During the day-long public celebration,
reception at which the Maui delegation
recalled the hardships of the past, when
attendees were treated to music, food,
chatted with Go For Broke Board Chair Bill
Japanese-Americans were required to
beverages and tours of the Japanese
Seki, Past President Don Nose, President &
board buses for the internment camps
American National Museum next door.
CEO Vince Beresford, and other directors
from the very steps of Nishi Hongwanji.
and volunteers.
The Tateuchi Democracy Forum, another
They also spoke of the challenges of
neighbor, hosted a series of documentaries
The Maui delegation also had the great
the present, including the repetition of
with question-and-answer sessions with
pleasure of speaking with Norman
calls for the expulsion or exclusion of
directors and producers.
Mineta, who served as U.S. Secretary of
people from America based on religion
Transportation, Secretary of Commerce,
or race.
Representative and mayor of San Jose.
The Maui delegation also attended the showing of Unknown Warriors of World War II by producer David Ono; a preview of a film on the pop artist Roger Shimomura; and A Flicker in Eternity, a film based on the World War II diary, letters and cartoons of Stanley Hayami, a 442nd Regimental Combat Team soldier killed in action. Following the formal events, the Maui delegation enjoyed the gracious company of Go For Broke volunteers and families, including Carrie Morita, sisters June Hibino and Shirley Hibino, and Miya Iwataki and her father, Kuwa Iwataki, of the 100th Battalion, Company C.
CONTINUE ON PAGE 6 (From left) NVMC President Brian Moto; Raymond Yamamoto; Norman Mineta, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, congressman and mayor of San Jose; and Hiroshi Arisumi, recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom. PHOTO: PEGGY MIZUMOTO
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