TORONTO KYUYOKAI
OKINAWA KENJIN KAIOntario, Canada

By: Connor Lefave & Marianne Kamiyama

OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our objective is to promote fellowship andgoodwill among our members through socialand cultural events.
The Toronto Kyuyokai Okinawan Kenjinkai iscomprised of Okinawan immigrants,
descendants and those who have an interest in
all things Okinawan.

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The Toronto Kyuyokai Okinawa Kenjinkai is 1 of 4 Okinawa Kenjinkai’s
located in Canada.
The Toronto Kyuyokai is located in Ontario, Canada.

The other 3 are located West of Ontario in Vancouver, British Columbia,Lethbridge and Calgary, which is in the province of Alberta.

Vancouver Yuaikai

Calgary Okinawan Club &Lethbridge Okinawa CulturalConfidential

Toronto Kyuyokai
Okinawa Kenjinkai

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE TORONTO KYUYOKAIThe Toronto Kyuyokai was formed in July 31, 1970 with less than 10families. The families were 1st generation Okinawans, who had immigrated
to Canada to start a new life.
These families created their own network where they could support eachother or even celebrate together different events. They were their own
little Okinawan Community. Even though it was a small group offamilies, they got together to celebrate different holidays such asChristmas and New years and enjoyed the warm summer weather byenjoying a picnic at a local park.
As of 2019, our membership now exceeds 120 members and is still
growing.

ConfidentialSummer Picnic, 1971
ConfidentialSummer Picnic, 1972
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YOSHIHIRO KAMIYAMAPRESIDENT, TORONTO KYUYOKAI
Mr. Kamiyama has been an active member of the Toronto
Kyuyokai since 1971. His hometown is the City of Yomitan andis currently married to his wife, Hatsuko, from the City ofKatsuren. He has three children, two who were born inOkinawa and the third who was born in Canada.
He has been an active supporter of the Kyuyokai, and has animpressive history with the group. He has been a Goodwill
Ambassador, served as the President for multiple terms andhave been on the Executive Board of Members. He isconstantly promoting the Kenjinkai to other Japanese Society
groups in Ontario, bringing in new members each year and hasbeen a strong advocate for both the Toronto Kenjinkai and thePrefecture of Okinawa.
His goal is to promote the organization to everyone, not just the
1st generations, but to all generations and those who haveinterests in Okinawan culture.

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The Kyuyokai Board Members meet regularly to ensure that the organization isrunning properly and discusses all levels of activities from events, to finances.
Each Board Member committee is a volunteer member and serves a term of 2years. Some of them are also past Okinawan Scholarship recipients who joined
to give back to the organization.
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Annual Summer Picnic
This year was our 49th
Annual Summer Picnic.
Lots of planning goes
into the success of thepicnic, from the date,location, games,
promoting of the eventand most of all thepotluck food!
Each year, the event
gets better and bigger
and is enjoyed by all.

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To outdoor Family Games

From celebrating Fathers’ Day

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Our main attraction! The Potluck Meal

Introducing new members and also information
sharing on past and current events happening
within the group.

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Shinnenkai, New Year’s Gathering
In the past, we Celebrate Christmas as a group. Infact we hosted 45 Years of Christmas parties with theorganization.

Whether it was families opening their homes, torenting out a location to bring everyone together.
For the past 4 years, it was voted to change theChristmas party venue to the Shinnekai and as it waswell received, the Kenjinkai now brings in the New
Year as a group!

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Shinnenkai for the Kenjinkai is full of fun
activities.
From Displays and information aboutOkinawa

To simply catching up with old friends andfamily.

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There are many fun games and activities
enjoyed by all.
One of the main highlights of the night is achance to win some great Fukubiki prizes!

Plastic Wrap Ball Game

Excited Fukubiki Prize Winner
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The Shinnekai also allows us to enjoy different types of entertainment andperformances from our talented members

From Dancing

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To Contemporary Street performance
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Musical Performancesin Traditional
Okinawan Songs

To Performing popular MusicalSongs

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Every Shinnenkai, the Executive Board of Members acknowledge
outstanding Volunteers within the group

ConfidentialLast but not least, the Potluck Food that is always a member favourite!!
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Shinnenkai 2019
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Other Events include……..

Ryoji Reception
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Uchinanchu Festival

Each Festival, we have over 40 members from our Kenjinkai attend to represent theKenjinkai and to experience the festivities.

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Scholarship Programs
The Toronto Kenjinkai has been quite fortunate in participating in programs
such as
Kenpi Ryugakusei (Scholaship Programs), Uchina Junior Study Programs,
Goodwill Ambassador Program and the new Prefectural of Okinawa YouthLeadership Program.
Past Kenpi Ryugakusei Recipients

Past Junior Study Participants--Confidential

Wayne Toyama
Sayuri Mizuyabu
Lisa Kamiyama
Kiyomi Nakaza
Kei Ganaha
Marianne Mazuru Kamiyama
Kouji Fujita
Ann Ohama

Yuriko Fujita
Nicholas Higa
Ai Oyakawa
Kaydon Kanashiro

2019
UCHINA JUNIOR STUDY PROGRAM
RECIPIENT

Connor Honei Francis Lefave
Born: North York, Ontario Canada

AGE:14
Member of Toronto Kyuyokai Kenjinkai
Since 2005 to Current
Volunteered In Kenjinkai Activities by continuously assisting
and running picnic games and Shinnenkai games.
Hobbies: Hockey, Lacross, Golf, Rollarblading, videogames,skateboarding, Freeskake and rubix cubes

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Board of Members for 2018- 2019
Board Trustees

Executive Board Members
President:
Vice President:
Treasurer:
Secretary:

Yoshihiro Kamiyama
Nori Kanashiro
Cathy Kiyomi Nakaza
Lisa and Marianne Kamiyama

Blanche Kanashiro
Yuriko Fujita
Marianne Kamiyama

List of Successive Presidents
Seitoku Nakada
Yoshihiro Kamiyama
Hiroshi Maeda
Seiei Ueta
Kenyu Higa
Hiroki Nakaza
Toshihiko Nakada
Yoshihiro Kamiyama
Bob Toyama
Marianne Mazuru Kamiyama
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Tamiko SugieLisa Kamiyama
Lyndon Kanashiro

When you have a chance to visit
Toronto,Ontario, Canada
Don’t forget to visit our famoussites, but at the same time, reachout to our Organization as wewould like to hear from you.

For More Information:

Casa Lomahttps://torontokyuyokai.com

CN Tower

Royal Ontario Museum
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Thank You

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