Sakura Foundation is proud to announce that Chibi no Gakko has partnered with the Foundation as its newest program offering. “Chibi,” as it is affectionately called, has been teaching children about Japanese and Japanese American (JA) culture and heritage since 1996. The organization is comprised of volunteer, certified Colorado teachers who offer the program every-other [...]
Sakura Foundation is a proud community partner with Asians*in Focus, whose 2020 Asians*Unmasked photo/voice project highlighted the lives of Asians at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their newest initiative, heARTS hope, focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Individuals are invited to tell a story [...]
I’m a Yonsei, fourth generation Japanese American (JA), born and raised in Colorado. My mother’s side is originally from Okinawa, Japan and my father’s side hails from Hiroshima, Japan. Both sides of my family moved to Hawaii to work the plantations and during their time there, Hawaii became an integral part of their life. My [...]
On March 11, 2011, a devasting earthquake and tsunami hit the Tohoku region of Japan, resulting in nearly 16,000 deaths, more than 6,000 injuries, and thousands of people still missing from the region. Five years later, Sakura Foundation presented Tohoku Today, an informative and entertaining event which brought together community members and more than a [...]
2020 was quite a year! Sakura Foundation was fortunate to have held one in-person event, our sold-out genealogy workshop in February, before the pandemic changed all of our lives. However, we were still able to complete our Mirai Generations Leadership Program Class of 2020 session, award three community grants and three scholarships, offer elements of [...]
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions, many older Asian adults in Colorado are experiencing rising levels of isolation and loneliness. Their health is also at high risk, some do not speak English, have low incomes and are unable to drive. In addition, many of them are especially vulnerable to depression [...]
I identify with many terms; Denver native, sansei-han, shin-sansei, yonsei, and mixed-race, but I ultimately consider myself to be Japanese American (JA). The family of my sansei father, Gary Tsutsui, was from Terminal Island and Monterey Bay. They were incarcerated at Tule Lake where my grandfather joined the Military Intelligence Service. My mother, Candice Tsutsui, [...]
Asians* Unmasked, a project of Asians* in Focus, is currently accepting Round II photos submissions from the public. The online project shares the stories that reflect the wide diversity among Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders using photos and short narratives. The necessity of this endeavor grew from the rise in anti-Asian American sentiment and [...]
We are pleased to introduce our newest Sakura Foundation Board Members: Sarah Harrison and Cathy Ishida. Their professionalism, wealth of experience and committment to the Japanese and Japanese American community will enhance the work of our dedicated Board of Directors. Cathy Ishida has lived in the Denver-metro area since 2005. Colorado’s array of Japan and [...]
Sakura Foundation congratulates Board Member DJ Ida, PhD: She is a 2020 honoree along with 9 other individuals and organizations for the Mayor’s Diversity and Inclusion Award, given annually since 2014 to those who make significant contributions to the Denver community. “The Denver AAPI Commission nominates Dr. DJ Ida for the 2020 Mayor’s Diversity and [...]
