Okinawa Prefectural Association Senior Gathering (Monthly Meeting in Japanese)

Date: March 30, 2019

Time: noon – 2 p.m.

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Okinawa Kenjinkai of North America - Monthly Senior Luncheon as a Place to Rest and Deepen Health, Culture, and Bonding The Okinawa Kenjinkai of North America (OAA) in Gardena is pleased to announce that starting this March, they will be holding a monthly senior luncheon for those 65 years of age and older. With the generous support of the Keiro Grant Program, OAA will be holding its first " Three Julie " luncheon in March. The event will be held in both English and Japanese, with an English luncheon on March 16th and a Japanese luncheon on March 30th. The event will run from 12:00pm to 2:00pm. Starting in April, the English luncheon will be held on the third Saturday of each month, and the Japanese luncheon on the fourth Saturday of each month. Participants will participate in monthly social activities and learn more about health and Okinawan culture through short demonstrations and seminars. Lunch will be provided to those who register in advance. Social isolation and loneliness are issues faced by seniors alike, including retired, widowed, those whose children have left home, and immigrants. The purpose of the luncheons, which are offered in both Japanese and English, is to provide a safe and consistent place for seniors to meet. Such a place of relaxation will encourage social interaction and new encounters, stimulate thinking through seminars and social activities, and foster a sense of community and solidarity. The name of the monthly luncheon, " Suri-juri-, " means "gathering" in Okinawan dialect. This word represents the purpose of the monthly meetings, which is to provide a place of relaxation, and also includes the cultural element of each event. The organizers of this project were inspired by the lifestyle of seniors living on the islands of Okinawa to come up with the idea for the monthly meetings. Seniors living on the islands of Okinawa are known for their healthy food and eating habits, as expressed in the phrase " nuchigusui" (food is medicine ). Furthermore, this phrase reflects the image of elderly people who are open-minded and lively every day, who enjoy " yuntaku " (chat) to deepen their relationships, who are full of the community spirit of " yuimaru or iimaru " to cooperate and help each other, and who are full of " ichigee " (purpose in life). Please apply for lunch one week before the monthly meeting date as the number of participants is limited and lunch boxes will need to be arranged (please note that priority will be given to OAA members). We recommend monthly attendance to deepen relationships, but participation is optional and not obligatory. Monthly meetings are held twice a month (one in Japanese and one in English), but each person is asked to attend one of the two meetings per month so that as many people as possible can participate. Monthly meetings are held at the OAA Center listed below (Address: OAA Center, Yamauchi Building, 16500 South Western Avenue, Gardena, 9247). There is a dedicated parking lot adjacent to the OAA Center building, but we recommend that family members or caregivers drive their children to and from the center. The meeting room for the monthly luncheon is open from one hour before the start time until one hour after the end time. For inquiries regarding registration, please contact the following: Weekdays: 10:00am-4:00pm Phone: 310-532-1929 Email: oaamensore@gmail.com The Okinawa Kenjin Association of North America (OAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Okinawan culture throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Founded by the first generation of Okinawan immigrants over 100 years ago, the organization has grown into a multi-age group that hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including cultural lectures, performing arts events, social gatherings, and activities for seniors. This year, 2019, marks the 110th anniversary of the organization's founding. Special events are being planned to commemorate the 110th anniversary, including a concert by Okinawa's leading musical group, Begin, on September 1st. For more information, please visit the OAA website or Facebook page below: oaamensore.org • facebook.com/oaamensore The Okinawa Association of America (OAA) in Gardena is happy to announce a new monthly program for seniors (age 65 and over) set to begin in March. Generously supported by Keiro's Grants Program, the OAA's first Seniors “Surii-Jurii” Gatherings will take place on March 16th (English) and 30th (Japanese), from 12 - 2 pm From April, the get-togethers will be scheduled for every third (English) and fourth (Japanese) Saturday of the month. Each month, participants will engage in social activities and learn about health or Okinawan culture through short presentations. Lunch will be provided for those who register in advance. Social isolation and loneliness are commonly experienced by older adults including retirees, widowed spouses, empty nesters, and immigrants. The goal of these bilingual luncheons is to provide a safe and consistent gathering place, opportunities to socialize with friends and meet new people, ways to keep the mind active and engaged through presentations and social activities, and a sense of community. “Surii-jurii,” which means “gathering” in the native Okinawan language, embodies this goal as well as the cultural elements that will be brought to each function. The organizers were inspired by the lifestyles of elders in the Okinawa islands who are known for their healthy diet and eating habits ( nuchigusui , “food as medicine”), daily physical and mental activity, socializing ( yuntaku , “chitchat”), the spirit of mutual aid and cooperation in the community (yuimaaruu or yiimaaruu), and a sense of purpose (ichigee , “ikigai” in Japanese ) . Registration is required one week prior to each gathering due to limited space and in order to order lunch boxes (priority will be given to OAA members). Monthly attendance is encouraged in order to build fellowship, but not required. Even though there are two gatherings per month, participants are encouraged to attend only one to ensure that enough seats are available for fellow attendees. This monthly activity will take place at the OAA Center's Yamauchi Building, 16500 South Western Avenue, Gardena 90247. Limited on-site parking is available, but drop-off/pick-up by a family member or caregiver is encouraged. The venue will be open up to one hour prior to and one hour after the event's scheduled time. For more information or to register, please contact the OAA office (weekdays, 10 am to 4 pm): oaamensore@gmail.com, (310) 532-1929. The Okinawa Association of America, Inc. (OAA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is dedicated to preserving and promoting Okinawan culture in the greater Los Angeles area. Formed by Okinawan immigrants (issei) over a century ago, the OAA has grown into a multi-generational organization that hosts numerous events throughout the year including cultural lectures, performances, social gatherings, and senior-focused activities. 2019 marks the organization's 110th anniversary. For updates about special anniversary events including a September 1 concert by the renowned Okinawan band, Begin, please visit oaamensore.org or facebook.com/oaamensore.

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