New Year’s Greeting from Nikkei Place
Happy New Year!
As we welcome 2025, a year filled with milestones and new beginnings, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported Nikkei Place and our vibrant community.
This year marks an exciting chapter as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre and undertake significant renovations to both the Nikkei Centre and the Robert Nimi Nikkei Home. These updates will ensure that our spaces continue to serve and inspire future generations. We look forward to sharing updates with you throughout the year.
A special thank-you to everyone who made donations at the end of last year. If you were unable to mail your gift, the Government of Canada has extended the deadline for 2024 donations to February 28, 2025, and we warmly welcome your contributions. Your generosity plays a vital role in helping us create a stronger and brighter future for Nikkei Place.
Let us reaffirm kizuna—the bonds that connect us all—and our dedication to preserving Japanese Canadian heritage, sharing our stories, building cultural bridges, and inspiring generations. None of this would be possible without your unwavering support.
Wishing you and your loved ones health, happiness, and success in 2025!
Warm regards,
Keiko Funahashi
Executive Director, Nikkei Place Foundation
恭賀新年
謹んで新春のお慶びを申し上げます。旧年中は日系プレースそしてコミュニティにご厚情をいただき、ありがとうございました。
今年は日系文化センター・博物館が25周年を迎えるとともに、日系センターとロバート新見・日系ホームの両施設の大規模な改修が行われます。末永くコミュニティに貢献を続けられるよう行われるこれらの改修について、一年をとおして随時お知らせいたします。
また、年末にたくさんの方々から寛大なご寄付を賜りまして心より感謝申し上げます。もし郵便のストライキの影響で郵送できなかった場合、カナダ政府は2024年の寄付の受付期限を2025年2月28日まで延長しましたので、引き続きご支援をお待ちしております。
本年も日系プレースは、コミュニティとの「絆」を心に、日系人の歴史と遺産を守り、様々な世代のために日本文化の架け橋として活動を続けます。今後とも温かいご支援を賜りますよう、よろしくお願い申し上げます。本年も御健勝で御多幸でありますよう、心からお祈り申し上げます。
日系プレース基金 事務局長
船橋 敬子
Happy New Year!
President’s Message from Brian Tsuji
President’s Message
from Brian Tsuji
Dear Friends,
2020 has been a challenging and transforming year. In response to the COVID-19 virus, the Foundation’s staff adapted to new ways to work remotely, we shifted our calendar of activities, and we cancelled our annual fundraising gala. However, the Foundation was fortunate to have the continued kindness, support and generosity of our donors. In this past year, we have found more donors giving online than ever before. Donors came together this past Giving Tuesday to raise over $6500 in a single day in support of Nikkei Place charities!
2020 also marked the passing of Robert Banno, Q.C., the founding President of the Nikkei Place Foundation. Robert was instrumental in the Foundation’s growth and current success. The Foundation and the Japanese Canadian community will miss his strong leadership, his kindness and generous spirit and heart. As the new President, I look forward to continuing what Robert began. While he leaves behind big shoes to fill, it is my hope to continue with his vision. Our thoughts are with Cathy and his family.
With the vaccination program now being implemented in British Columbia, we are hopeful that COVID-19 will be brought under control and that we will be able to come together in 2021.
We look forward to hosting our annual Foundation Gala to honour the outstanding achievements of some of the members of our Japanese Canadian community and join in an enjoyable evening of friendship and fundraising for Nikkei Place. We will keep you posted on our plans for the Gala in 2021!
This year, we will also see the temporary departure of Naomi Kawamura who has been our NPF Executive Director since 2017. Naomi has done an excellent job in her position and has helped to make our organization more efficient and collegial. We will miss Naomi who will be taking a leave of absence to concentrate on her PHD studies at UBC.
As we begin 2021, we look forward to a better year ahead, sharing more opportunities to build community and connection.
Sincerely,
Brian Tsuji
Board President
Happy New Year: An Exciting 2020 Ahead
As we launch into our good work this year, we look forward to sharing with you some exciting new initiatives and upcoming events…
New Years Greetings from Our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
As the new year begins, the Foundation would first like to thank you for being a friend and supporter of Nikkei Place. We also hope that this message finds you and your loved ones well and ready for 2020!
As we launch into our good work this year, we look forward to sharing with you some exciting new initiatives and upcoming events that will be taking place here at Nikkei Place, including our annual Thomas Shoyama Sakura Gala on Saturday, April 4th and our annual Charity Golf Tournament taking place on May 29th!
Something that I am also particularly excited about is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre. Throughout the year, we will be sharing some of the stories of the many incredible people in our community who have helped to contribute to establishing Nikkei Place. We’ll also be launching an exciting new 2020 Campaign related to this anniversary, please stay tuned for more details.
And again, we want to thank you for supporting Nikkei Place and for being an integral part of our community. We hope to connect with you soon!
Warmly,
Naomi Kawamura