Meet Eiji Yoshikawa, who is keeping up the good fight!

Meet Eiji Yoshikawa, Who Is Keeping Up The Good Fight!

Volunteer Spotlight

Eiji is 60 years young. He was born in Japan in Shikoku, and grew up in a Buddhist temple since his grandpa was a monk. He spent his youth like a monkey, playing in the fields, rivers, mountains, and seas for 20 hours per day. He has also lived in Tokyo, and majored in French Literature at Chuo University in Tokyo. 

““I never listened to adults around me but did listen to Chaplin, Visconti, Fellini, Carne, Picasso, Vivaldi, Bizet, Beethoven, Renoir… those top filmmakers, painters, composers, etc., who were the “real deals” to this wild kid.” ”

Since 1980, Eiji has been a professional boxer, and is still fighting for charities. He didn’t marry until he was 45, spending much of his time training boxing champions.

““I flew probably 800 times through the world and it taught me so much”, he says. ”

Eiji has coached not only world champions but also anyone wishing to learn from him, as boxing is a learning tool to be a better person in endless and diverse ways. 

At Nimi Nikkei Home (before Corona), you could find Eiji in the Kenko Wellness Lounge teaching seniors how to box in the “Outfight Parkinson” program. When the gloves were off, he also helped copywrite Japanese for the website, and make posters. In his role as Volunteer Coordinator, he would help find volunteers, and organize volunteer appreciation events such as movie shows, boxing classes, boxing shows at the Dojo, etc. 

If you’re wondering how Eiji first got involved at Nikkei Place, this is how the story goes…

““I have a boxing class called MamaFight in North Vancouver. One night, a lady came to watch the class. Afterward, she said “I’m starting a class for seniors with Parkinson’s disease and I need to learn boxing first myself”. I said “I’ll come tomorrow” and I did. Ever since, years of miracle-making class where the “incurable disease” has been proven not incurable. When I heard “Parkinson’s disease”, there was no second to wait.””

When we asked Eiji why it was important to him to volunteer at Nikkei Place, he summed it up by quoting Mother Thersa – “A life not lived for others is not a life”.

The first time Eiji ran the “Outfight Parkinson” boxing class, he remembered that the seniors looked rather quiet and unsure. However, soon they were laughing out loud with other participants even about the disease and telling new participants “Don’t listen to those bad doctors. Just come here and punch! You’ll be fine, I guarantee!” 

The biggest surprising moment that came from volunteering with Nimi Nikkei Home happened to Eiji in 2019. 

““I found myself fighting again in the ring at age 59 against the 27-year-old Canadian National Champion 3 times within a year just to inspire the seniors.””

It’s hard not to be inspired by Eiji’s enthusiasm and zest for life. We are so happy and appreciative of all the wonderful things he brings to Nimi Nikkei Home – positivity, inspiration, and smiles on seniors’ faces.

A Big Thank You to Our Volunteers

Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Week!

To our volunteers, we give a big THANK YOU! Volunteers are the backbone of Nikkei Place and contribute to the success of our three societies. Time and again volunteers generously lend their time, energy, and skills to help alleviate workloads, and support our causes. We are truly appreciative of all they bring to our community. While the Covid-19 pandemic has paused us from gathering, and being able to host events and activities, we look forward to the day we can welcome all our volunteers back safely.

Since 2017, the Nikkei Place Foundation has had amazing volunteers contribute to our end of year mails outs. Supplied with labels, glue sticks, coffee and doughnuts, volunteers would help staff assemble, stuff, and seal hundreds of letters. We would spend many hours together in conversation and community. It’s a time our team would come to look forward to each year.

At Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, over 300 volunteers annually support their mission to honour, preserve and share Japanese culture and Japanese Canadian history and heritage for a better Canada. Volunteers help the NNMCC grow and succeed, lending a hand with education, exhibits, research and events. Learn more about volunteerism at Nikkei Centre, and meet some of their volunteers here.

At Nikkei Seniors Health Care & Housing Society, volunteers make a difference to the lives of seniors, and are vital to their programs and services. By sharing their talents, time, and compassion, they provide a vital link with the community, a feeling of still being involved. Volunteers bring laughter, stories, a touch, and love to enrich the lives of our seniors.

If you are interested in volunteering at one of our organizations, please get in touch!

Nikkei Centre Volunteers Go Bowling!

Nikkei Centre Volunteers Go Bowling!

More social gatherings for Nikkei Centre volunteers are coming this year

Last week, Nikkei Centre volunteers took to the nearby bowling alley and blew everyone away with their skills!

Thank you to everyone who came out, ate pizza, won prizes, and made it an unforgettable night. We appreciate everything you do, and could not think of a better way to show it! Make sure to keep an eye out for future volunteer socials!

Become a Volunteer

If you wish to become a part of our wonderful volunteer team and join events such as these in the future, please fill out our online application form!

Volunteer at Nikkei Matsuri on Aug 31 + Sept 1!

Nikkei Matsuri festival needs YOU!

What is Nikkei Matsuri?

Nikkei Matsuri is a 2-day authentic Japanese festival filled with family friendly entertainment, food, games and more. All proceeds support Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre.

Volunteering at Nikkei Matsuri

The Nikkei Matsuri festival counts on a team of volunteers to help make everything run smoothly, and enjoyable for all festival goers. Volunteering your time at Nikkei Matsuri means making new friends, being part of a team, and supporting your community! Be a part of a family-friendly event that celebrates the significance of Japanese immigrants’ contribution to the Nikkei community.

We invite you to get involved, and choose to help out in the area that interests you most:

• Event Set-Up & Tear-Down

• Food Services

• Workshops

• Games

• Parking

• Merchandise

• Greeters & Information

• Registration & Tickets

• Stage Assistants

  ...and more!

Ready to sign up? Fill out the information requested through our volunteer application form and we’ll be in touch once the Volunteer Schedule is available! Deadline to register is Friday, August 16th, 2019.

For questions please contact volunteer.nikkeimatsuri@gmail.com