News

The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui will feature Japanese American actor and producer Shin Koyamada as guest speaker at its virtual Shinnen Enkai celebration on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m.

Koyamada is Chairman and CEO of Shinca Group managing multiple global businesses. He is best known worldwide for his roles in The Last Samurai and the Disney Channel original movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior.

Koyamada became eminent for his longtime global philanthropic efforts when his wife and he founded Koyamada International Foundation (KIF), a global NGO based in Los Angeles, California, to improve quality of people’s life by empowering global youth and women to reach their full potential and by providing humanitarian aid to promote global peace and sustainable development.

KIF has ambassadors and affiliates around the world and partnered with renowned United Nations agencies and international NGOs for its global programs such as youth leaderships, gender equality, disaster relief, people-to-people exchanges, extreme poverty and SDGs.

As Tokyo’s Olympics Ambassador for Karate, Koyamada holds black belts in Japanese and Korean martial arts, and won U.S. national championships in Chinese martial arts. He immigrated from Japan to the United States in June 2000 and is bilingual in Japanese and English.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available, and registration for the event is free at jcsmaui.org.

KAHULUI, Hawaii – The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui awarded the Asa Ellison Memorial Scholarship worth $1500 to Lannie Hisashima, King Kekaulike graduate and currently attending University of Portland, for her efforts in perpetuating the Japanese culture and language.

Hisashima has travelled and performed for Maui’s Zenshin Daiko taiko group for the past 12 years. She has earned a Seal of Biliteracy for Japanese and English and has used her skills to teach the language in various notable service projects. She has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the community and with her sharpened skills, aspires to continue to give back.

JCSM also awarded $1000 scholarships to Sarah Fusato of King Kekaulike High School who is currently attending University of Hawaii at Manoa, Nadia Apo Takayama of Kamehameha High School who is also attending UH Manoa and Kara Nakahashi of H.P Baldwin High School who is attending Portland State University. The scholars were selected primarily for their record of involvement in promoting and perpetuating the Japanese culture.

“We were so impressed with the pool of candidates this year and we want to congratulate the top scorers,” said Eugene Shikuma chairperson of the Scholarship Committee. “We want to support our scholars to further their education and in their desire to keep the Japanese culture and language alive for future generations.”

To make a donation to this program to support future scholars, contact jcsmhawaii@gmail.com.

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KAHULUI, Hawaii – As an update to its previous announcement, the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui has increased the amount from $1000 to $1,500 for the Asa Ellison Memorial Scholarship, for the applicant who has shown grit in learning and in the perpetuation of the Japanese language.

Thanks to the generous donation of $1000 from John and Pamela Lezo, Ellison’s brother-in-law and sister, a portion of the amount will also be dedicated for the 2021 scholarship program cycle under Asa Ellison’s name.

Ellison was a former president of JCSM who suddenly passed away from pancreatic cancer in March of this year. JCSM will also award three more $1000 non-academic, cultural scholarships to selected recipients who graduated from a High School in Maui this year. 

The deadline to apply is Oct. 15. For more information and to download the application form, go to jcsmaui.org.

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Aug. 16 PRESS RELEASE:

Applications sought for cultural scholarship, late president Asa Ellison honored

KAHULUI, Hawaii – The Japanese Cultural Society of Maui has launched its 2020 round of scholarship applications, which is a $1000 non-academic, cultural scholarship that calls for students who graduated from a High School in Maui this year. 

JCSM will vet and select three applicants who have a record of community involvement, specifically in the perpetuation of the Japanese culture, and have an intent to continue. This could be in performing or martial arts, Japanese crafts, preservation of traditional customs, culinary, visual arts and anime, pop culture, fashion, business and technology, history, and many others. 

And beginning this year, JCSM will also select one $1000 recipient of the Asa Ellison Memorial Scholarship Award for an applicant who has shown grit in learning and in the perpetuation of the Japanese language. 

JCSM honors its late president Asa Ellison who unexpectedly passed away in March because of cancer. Ellison was a tour guide with JTB, an amazing photographer and has served on the JCSM board for many years. He began learning Nihonggo as a student of then-Maui Community College and fully embraced the Japanese culture since. Ellison spoke Japanese fluently and often shared about the importance of perpetuating the language in JCSM’s mission. 

“The organization mourns our dear friend Asa’s passing, and coupled with the challenges brought by the pandemic, our scholarship program is a bit late this year – but better late than never,” said Deron Furukawa who serves as an interim president. “It’s a difficult time for everyone and we know the money will help. We also decided to honor Asa’s memory and his love for the Japanese language by supporting our scholars.”

The Asa Ellison Memorial Scholarship is given to an applicant who may be studying the language, teaching the language, or has demonstrated commitment to use the language moving forward. Eligibility and requirements to apply are the same.

The application form is available on jcsmaui.org and the deadline to submit is October 15. Email jcsmhawaii@gmail.com for inquiries. 

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