ANNUAL REPORT
2022-2023
JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL& COMMUNITY CENTER

JACCC MISSION
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center weaves Japanese and JapaneseAmerican arts and culture into the fabric of our communities.
JACCC remains firmly rooted in Little Tokyo, providing a vital place to build connections
between people and cultures, locally and internationally. Through inclusive programs
and authentic experiences, we continue our living traditions and nurture the next
generation of innovative artists, culture-bearers, and thinkers.

Hansei, 2022
Photo by Katrina Frederick

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2

A MESSAGE FROMTHE CHAIR OF
THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS AND THE
PRESIDENT & CEO

Dear Friends and Supporters,
JACCC was once just a dream. Our founders were told that building a Japanese American
cultural and community center in the middle of Downtown Los Angeles couldn’t be done–
but with the support of the entire community, the dream was realized. Over 50 years
later, inspired by the beautiful 2.2-acre campus they built, we continue to present arts,
culture, and programs to serve and support our elders, youth, culture-bearers, Little Tokyo
residents, Japanese Americans, and guests from around the world.
In the past year, we welcomed visitors to the John & Susan Sasaki Tokonoma Reception
and the Kanai Shudo-An, while offering a sneak peek to our Toshizo Watanabe Exhibition
Center (TWEC). These spaces allow us to offer large-scale and more intimate events andprograms that attract both new and returning visitors. In addition, we have been working
to boost organizational success by strengthening our staff’s skills and by executing
marketing projects to reach an audience that numbers in the millions.
While we celebrate these successes, we have much more to do. We recognize that weare living in a time of great change and challenge. After several decades of service, ourbeloved campus is in need of repairs. Meanwhile, the aftermath of the COVID pandemic
requires new ways of thinking and presenting arts and culture: ticket sales do not coverproduction expenses; audiences need more encouragement to return to live venues; newvoices must be nurtured and supported.
While there is not a simple solution, like JACCC’s founders, we continue to imagine thepossibilities. We are looking forward to an even greater future to preserve and advanceour beloved center, and to serve those who need us most.

Thank you for all you do to support JACCC.

Bette Hiramatsu
Chair of the Board of Directors

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2022

Patricia Wyatt
President & CEO3

JACCC Campus
Exterior, 2023
Photo by Mike Park

YUME:IMAGINE THE
POSSIBILITIESWe are students of our surroundings’ past and present. We look back on this history on Tongva
land to take inspiration from Bridget “Biddy” Mason, the formerly enslaved midwife, landowner,and cultural mother of Los Angeles who, on the site where JACCC now stands, founded acommunity in the late 1800s; from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, who dreamed of making
Los Angeles an international destination and then welcomed the world here; from artist
Isamu Noguchi who shared Mayor Bradley’s dream and designed our iconic plaza, centeredaround the sculpture he dedicated, To the Issei; and to those who built the Japanese American
Veterans War Memorial Court, proudly situated on JACCC’s campus, reminding us of the selfsacrifice, loyalty, and courage of Japanese Americans.
Continuing in their footsteps, we are also dreaming big, imagining the possibilities, andworking to strengthen our community, opening new opportunities for all of us–and for thegenerations to come.

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SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE TOSHIZO WATANABE
EXHIBITION CENTER

Sneak Preview of the TWEC at JACCC’s
42nd Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner, 2023

Guests of JACCC’s 42nd Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner (June 2023) were
given a special sneak peek of the Toshizo Watanabe Exhibition Center (TWEC) before
its successful grand opening in October 2023. This space, as well as its companion
Toshizo Watanabe Culinary Cultural Center, allows us to delve deeply into ourexploration of Japanese and Japanese American foodways and Japanese culinary arts.
Exterior of the TWEC, 2023
Photo by Katrina Frederick

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THE KANAI SHUDO-AN

Kanai Shudo-An Display,
2023

Located inside the Toshizo Watanabe Exhibition Center is the Kanai Shudo-An, madepossible by a generous gift from the Kanai Foundation. The name, Shudo-An hasa special meaning and is reflected in its design: Shudo (the way of sake) and An (a placeof rest and tranquility). This inviting tasting counter allows visitors to enjoy all typesof food and beverage tastings and demonstrations, including, but not limited to, sake.
Atsuko Kanai with Jane Matsumoto,
JACCC’s Director of Culinary Arts, 2023

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THE JOHN & SUSAN SASAKI TOKONOMARECEPTIONThe John & Susan Sasaki Tokonoma Reception proudly welcomesvisitors to JACCC. Over the past year, this artful new space hasfeatured weekly rotating, seasonal displays of traditional Japanesearts and artifacts such as ikebana arrangements, calligraphy, tea
ceremony implements, bonsai, and textiles.

Tokonoma Display, 2023
Photo by Mike Park

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FUNDING & DIVERSIFYINGPROGRAMSWith a robust slate of programming, JACCC’svisibility has been on the rise. These successfulprograms included the popular “BronzevilleSessions” (September 2022), a concert series inspiredby the late night breakfast clubs of the Bronzevilleera in Little Tokyo; “Bronze Hours” (October 2022),
listening parties, in collaboration with In Sheep’s
Clothing, exploring the history of Bronzeville jazz; alive-streamed, virtual, “Cooking with Care: Culinary
Demonstrations for Caregivers” (October-December2022), featuring nutritious and simple Japanese
meals that can be prepared at home for aging loved
ones, in partnership with Keiro; JACCC’s signature
New Year’s celebration, “Kotohajime” (January 2023);“Hiro’s Bokashi Workshop” (ongoing) teachingparticipants the Okinawan tradition of turning
kitchen waste into healthy soil and nutrient-richfertilizer; “Ukuleles for Little Tokyo” (ongoing) musicclasses for older adults; and more.
Bronze Hours, 2022
Photo by Aya Mac Photography

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023

8LEADINGFOR IMPACT
Building Pathways
to Management

The growth and maturity of our creative, talented, and dedicatedstaff continues to be a source of great pride for us. With newly
installed systems and guidance from Bridgespan’s Leading for
Impact program, we are now collaborating even more creatively
and efficiently, directly driving success in programming, community
outreach, financial management, and fundraising.

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023

9Chef Chris Ono, 2022
Photo by Katrina FrederickEFFECTIVE
MARKETING
PROJECTSTHAT REACHEDMILLIONS
In preparation for the launch of Hansei, JACCC’s
culinary pop-up led by Chef Chris Ono, JACCC
enlisted public relations assistance from Treat Day
Creative. With new and effective marketing efforts,
Hansei earned over 17 media features including
EaterLA, the L.A. Times, Thrillist, and Food Network,
to name a few. For our month-long Rising Chef
Series in May 2023, we earned 56+ pieces ofpress coverage, which reached an estimated 97M
unique monthly viewers. We also generated 284+
organic social posts, generating 89M unique digital
impressions, and 500K+ social engagements.

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023

10SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATIONSTATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES ($)
for the year ended
June 30, 2023

for the year ended
June 30, 2022

Resources and Expenses (in thousands)
Contribution Support

Individual

122,420

207,691

Foundation and Corporate

3,237,212

1,779,098

Government and Public

225,000

270,148

Events and Membership

575,144430,582

4,159,776

2,687,519

Contribtions for Operating and Programs							FY23FY224,159.78

2,687.52			

FY2335.4%

Foundation support increased 45% while Individual support declined 70% andGovernment/Public declined 20%.

Earned Income 								1,414.41

1,224.50			

13.4%

In 2022 JACCC lost its largest tenant, FIA Insurance Services, Inc., but was able to makeup the loss inTenant rents

356,276

358,089

income with additional tenants and has now exceeded FY22 tenant levels. TWCCC revenues grew

Other rents

815,180

645,48421%. The Aratani Theatre had a deficit of $287K, before depreciation.

Theatre, workshops and other earned income

242,952

220,928

Earned Income

1,414,408

1,224,501Revenue and Support for Operating and Programs

5,574,184

3,912,020

Operating and Program Expenses 						4,887.51

4,312.39			

11.8%

Personnel expense grew 3% FY23 vs. FY22 which is approximately half of total expense. At the sametime, total operating & program expense increased at a rate less than the increase in earned income,
11.8% vs. 13.4%.											People2,190,362

1,798,821

530,319569,592

Program and other general expense

1,434,716

1,693,435

Event and other development expense732,111

250,539

4,312,387

4,312,387

686,676(400,367)

0579,955

Investment interest, dividends & unrealized gains

216,298(198,028)

Non-Operating Surplus / (Deficit)

216,298

381,927

Change in Net Assets

902,974(18,440)

Occupancy

Operating and Program Expenses

Operating Surplus / (Deficit)

Capital contributions											Operating Surplus/(Deficit)

686.68(400)			158.3%

FY23 operating surplus of $687K was driven by an 82% ($1.5M) increase in foundation grants
and a 21% ($170K) increase in TWCCC revenue.

FY23 CONTRIBUTION SUPPORTFY22 CONTRIBUTION SUPPORT

122,4202.9%
225,000
5.4%

575,14413.8%

411,41516.0%

207,691
7.7%

Events/Membership
Government/Public

270,148
10.1%

Individual
3,237,212
77.8%

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023						1,779,098
66.2%

Foundation/Corporate

11

SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATIONSTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
at June 30, 2023

at June 30, 2022

Changes in Assets (in thousands)

ASSETS
Cash
Investments
Receivables and prepaid expense

2,366,953

FY23

FY22

14,35813,562FY23

1,141,026

Total Assets

2,375,388

2,163,623		5.5%

690,367

1,283,796

Cash on hand increased $1.2M while Investments increased $200K and receivables decreased $593K.			
Property and equipment, net

8,644,313

8,692,918

Art collection and other assets

281,086

281,086

14,358,107

13,562,449

Total Assets

Changes in Liabilities (in thousands)

FY23

FY22

Total Liabilities

2,388

2,495

FY23		-4.5%
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Notes payable
Deferred revenue and other liabilities
Total Liabilties

Notes payable decreased $100K. JACCC continues to have a $1.4M line of credit that is untouched.
438,596

407,509

1,883,744

1,984,686

65,750103,2112,388,090

2,495,406

Net assets without donor restrictions

6,939,337

7,011,593

Net assets with donor restrictions

5,030,680

4,055,450

Total Net Assets

11,970,017

11,067,043

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

14,358,107

13,562,449

Changes in Net Assets (in thousands)

FY23

FY22

Total Net Assets

11,97011,067		

7.5%

FY23

Total net assets increased $903K.

JACCC’s complete audited financial statements can be obtained upon request.

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023

12SPONSORS

ありがとうございました!

Thank you to our 42nd Anniversary Celebration & Awards Dinner sponsors and supporters.

KikuMomo

AsagaoTable Wines

Aratani Foundation

FIA Insurance Services, Inc.

Centenary United Methodist Church

B. Kosuge Wines

Fukui Mortuary

East West Players

Black Stallion Estate Winery

SakuraIW Group Inc.

Japanese American National Museum

Et Fille Wines

Terasaki Family Foundation

Thomas & Barbara Iino

Keiro

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Nikki Kodama & Family

Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin of L.A.

Freeman Vineyard & Winery

Matsumoto/Minami Families

Little Tokyo Service Center

Kazumi Wines

Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)

Omotesenke Domonkai So Cal Region USA

Noria WinesDolly & Rick Oishi

Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment

Paulownia Wines

Lauren Ohata-Chang

So-PhisSix Cloves Wines

Dennis & Joani Sugino FamilyWest Los Angeles United Methodist Church

Ume Sponsors
U.S. Bank (formerly Union Bank)
Fuji
Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Sugimoto Family Foundation; George, Lisa, & Nathan
Tsubaki
Aspen Healthcare Inc.
Enterprise BankThe Doizaki Family
Gonsaku & Mine Ito FamilyFrank & Betty HijiGlenn & Michiko Inanaga
Kanai Foundation
John & Suzy Sasaki

Significant In-Kind Support

Suntory Holdings Ltd.
David & Helen Yamahata
AjisaiBette Hiramatsu
JSL Foods, Inc.
Gary & Toni Kitazawa
Kosaka Family
Randy & Amanda Masada
Nolan Maehara & Sandy Sakamoto
Gordon & Joanne Sasaki
Russel Tsuda & Vicky Murakami-Tsuda

Table Centerpiece
American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA)
Ikenobo School of Ikebana
Ohara School of Ikebana
Sogetsu School of Ikebana

Mutual Trading
Nestlé
Suntory Holdings Inc.
Takara Sake USA
Carol Tanita & Wayne Nagao

Scott Yamabe, Southern California Flower Market
Add’l Donations of $500 & Above
Honoring Hirokazu Kosaka
Matthew & Miho Blumkin Foudation
Robert Hori, in honor of Hirokazu Kosaka
Lynn Miyamoto & Kevin Kroeker
Dwight Otani
Craig Tomiyoshi
Uyesugi Family Rev Trust

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DONORS

ありがとうございました!

Thank you to our 2022-2023 members and supporters.

$100,000 to $999,999
Foundations
Aratani Foundation

California Community Foundation(L.A. Arts Recovery)$5,000 to $14,999

Corporations

Foundations

American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

American Legion Palisades Post 283

Suntory Holdings LLC

Aratani CARE

Foundations

J. Paul Getty Trust

Individuals

Boeing Employees Community Fund

K & R Sugimoto Living Trust

Doug & Chris Aihara

James Irvine Foundation

W.M. Keck Foundation

Kresge Foundation

Arts District Little Tokyo Neighborhood Council
John Randolph Haynes & Dora Haynes 		Foundation

Henri & Tomoye Takahashi Charitable 		Foundation

Government

Alan & Yvonne Nishio

California Humanities

John & Suzy Sasaki

L.L. Foundation for YouthLA County Department of Arts and Culture

George Sugimoto

Rose Hills Foundation
Society for the Promotion of Japanese 		
Animation
Government
National Historical Publications & Records 		
Commission

Perenchio Foundation

City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural 		Affairs

Government

Individuals

California Arts Council

Foundations

Hana IsodeEagle, Globerman and Kodama Foundation
Kanai Foundation$2,500 to $4,999$15,000 to $99,999

Glenn Tanaka
Individuals
Matt Blumkin
Robert Hori
Bill Imada
Gary Kawaguchi
Yuko Uyesugi

Alice Sumida Revocable Living Trust
Tamlyn Tomita & Daniel Blinkoff

National Endowment for the Arts

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DONORS

ありがとうございました!

Thank you to our 2022-2023 members and supporters.

$1,000 to $2,499$500 to $999

In Memory ofCorporations

Corporations

Ken & Cherri Hamanaka

Jones & Associates

Sushi-Gen-Aomori Nebuta Hozon-Kai

Cooke & Elaine Sunoo

Junichi Hirai

Trico Trading Corporation

Mitch Taguchi

Philip ItoSharon Weber

Satoko & Toshio KubotaJeremy Weinstein & David Schachter

Michael LaBeauGigi Yamada

Ling Miao

Leonard Young

Momo Nagano

Individuals
Justin Carroll
Kazuko Doizaki
Beth Fujishige
Gonsaku & Mine Ito Family
Bette Hiramatsu
Erika Honda
Jack Kurihara
Nolan Maehara & Sandy Sakamoto
Glenn & Michiko Inanaga
Lynn Miyamoto
Wayne Nagao & Carol Tanita
Kari Nakama
Barbara Ito
Michael Odanaka
Dwight Otani
Henry & Janet Minami
Ed & Robin Motooka-Blahut
John Murillo
Gordon Sasaki, MD
Max Stolz
Masaru Tanaka
Craig Tomiyoshi
Michael Watanabe

Individuals
Nancy Adachi
James Anderson
Sabrina Cotugno

Ernest Sasaki & Hugo Sase
Significant In-Kind Donations

Makoto Takeichi

Jan Fukuhara Dyck

CorporationsMikio Toda

Leiton Hashimoto

Alaska Reel

Jennifer Hirano

Beam Suntory

Natalie Ige Muldaur

Red Stitch WineryFrances Ford Kuramoto

Lorraine Ito
Noriaki Ito

Individuals

We are deeply grateful to all donors.

Ellyn Iwata

Masa Endo

We regret that due to limited space we

Sadao Kimura

cannot list everyone. If your name has been

Gary & Toni Kitazawa

In Honor ofdisplayed incorrectly or inadvertently excluded,Nikki Kodama

The Incredible JACCC Staff

please accept our deepest apologies.

Eric Kurimura

Kenji Nakai

Rafael Lopez-Barrantes

Chef Chris Ono & Derek Takeda

This list is based on cash receipts fromMardy Maehara

Rumiko Ota

the 2023 fiscal year (July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023).

Rev. Mark M. Nakagawa

Allison Pankow

Timothy & Akiko Manaka

Suzy Sasaki

Nancy Matsui

Paul Takeda

Ronald Matsunaga

David Yamahata

Laraine Miyata

Last updated December 21, 2023

Margaret Narumi

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VOLUNTEERS

ありがとうございました!
Thank you to our 2022-2023 Volunteers.

Elaine Barbod
Cheyenne Cheng
Gerald Fukui
Elaine Harada
Jennifer HiranoThomas Iino
Elaine Jackson
Atsuko Kanai
Susan Kashibawara
Lindsey Kawashibara
Kelli Kika
Toni Kitazawa
Nancy Kurihara-Johnson
Edgar Laparra
Denny Manaka
Randy Masada
Gail Matsui
Nancy Matsui
Bryce Middo
Alan Miyatake

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023

Michelle Murakami
Leslie Nicho
Kathleen Nishida
Todd Odagawa
Dolly Oishi
Nancy Okubo
Sandy Sakamoto
Joanne Sasaki
Suzy Sasaki
Lisa Sugimoto
Nancy Takayama
Carol Tanita
Ryan Tokeshi
Kathleen Tokudomi
Stacy Toyota
Mary Turner
Linda Watamura
David Yamahata
Stephanie Yamasaki
Kevin Zamora

16ありがとうございました!
FY23 BOARD AND STAFF

FY23 JACCC Board

FY23 JACCC Staff
Patricia M. Wyatt, President & CEOOfficers

Members

Administration

Operations

Bette Hiramatsu, Hiramatsu & Associates
Chair, Board of Directors

Thomas Iino, Pacific Commerce Bank

Mathew Estrada, Chief Financial Officer

Nikki Kodama, Northrop Grumman Corporation

Allyson Nakamoto,Director of Foundation Relations

Derek Takeda, Director of the Toshizo Watanabe
Culinary Cultural Center & Campus Facilities

Tim Manaka, Jr. FIA Insurance Services, Inc.

Carolina Roque,Manager of Development & Marketing

Nancy Matsui, American Airlines (retired)Vice-Chair, External

George Tanaka, US Bank
Vice-Chair, Internal

Johnny Mori, Kinnara Taiko/Gagaku

Yuki Uehara, Manager, Production & Rentals

Lauren Ohata-Chang, Health Management Associates
Dolly Oishi, Japan Airlines

Programs

Ernesto Rubio, Operations Manager

Jan Perry, Shelter Partnership, Inc.

Hirokazu Kosaka, Master Artist in Residence

Pedro Gutierrez, Operations AssistantRani de Leon, Director of Performing Arts

Aric Nakamoto, Operations AssistantJane Matsumoto, Director of Culinary Arts

George Royal, Operations Assistant

Ariscell Tavarez-Enomoto, Culinary Associate(last day was in 12/2022)

Maria Magdalena Rodriguez, Operations Assistant

Susan Sasaki, Community Volunteer

Gerald Fukui, Fukui Mortuary, Inc.
Secretary

Glenn Inanaga, Cherng Family Trust
Immediate Past Chair

JACCC ANNUAL REP ORT 2022-2023

EJ Orlando, Associate Director, Production & Rentals

Stephanie Romero,
Executive Assistant to President & CEO

Sandra Sakamoto, Esq., LimNexus LLP

Gary Kawaguchi, Upper Crust Enterprises
Treasurer

Sophia LaPaglia, Director, Production & Rentals(last day was in 11/2022)

Linda Taira, Taira-Welch Communications

Mila Inukai, Culinary Arts AssociateCraig Tomiyoshi, Covered California

Keizo Shimamoto, Director of Culinary EventsStacy Toyota, Starbucks Coffee Company

Celeste Shimoura Goedert, Directorof Sustainable Little Tokyo & Community Arts

Russel Tsuda, Boeing, Inc.

Kenji Liu, Program Manager, Cultural & Visual Arts

David Yamahata, Los Angeles Fire Department(retired)

Julie Zhu, Mellon Community Curatorial Fellow

Shasele Jimenez, Special Events CoordinatorFrancisco Soc Sut, Operations Assistant* as of June 30, 2023

Chester Ikei, Senior Advisor
Amy Honjiyo, Sustainable Little Tokyo
Cycles of Food Coordinator

17JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL& COMMUNITY CENTER

2022-2023
Thank You