The Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coaltion (SAJCC) Council decided to provide emergency assistance funds to Japanese American businesses and organizations during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. A committee consisting of Director Yuki Ibuki, Treasurer Clint Cooper, Secretary K. Negley, and Dr. Min and Evelyn Yanagihashi set up a selection process and chose these recipients, with approval of the full Council. Funds were distributed in July, 2020 to:

• Odaiko Sonora (taiko drummers): $1500 Covid-19 support donation
• Tucson Japanese Language School: $500 for Covid-19 scholarship support plus a donation of 15 purchased Family Memberships for Yume Japanese Gardens
• Yume Japanese Gardens: $500 Covid-19 support donation
• Ikkyu Restaurant: $500 to assist with their restaurant operations for food donations to medical personnel of Covid-19

Be well everyone, and stay safe during this pandemic. For more info about these donated funds, contact Director Yuki Ibuki at yuki@southernazjapan.org.

Lynne Yamaguchi – “Repair, Remake, Redeem”

“A visual art project making, deconstructing, and reconstructing wood vessels or constructing new forms from their pieces while posing the question, “How do we make whole the brokenness of the world?””

“Five artists have been awarded $4,000 each to start innovative new art projects thanks to the New Works Artist Project Grant. The New Works Grant seeks to support diverse, innovative artwork created and produced by artists in the City of Tucson and Pima County. This year’s recipients explore new mediums and inventive presentation techniques — addressing themes like race, community, trauma, and healing in creative ways. This grant round features projects in the categories of visual arts, literary arts, and video/film/moving image.” (Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona)

More on artist Lynne Yamaguchi: www.lynneyamaguchi.com.

Speaker: Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles MUTO Akira

“Consul General Muto’s overseas postings before arriving in Los Angeles in August 2019 include two assignments in Russia (Moscow), and in the U.S., to Washington D.C., and Boston. He was a visiting scholar at Stanford University’s Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies just prior to his current position. This is his first time working in the U.S. southwest, serving the jurisdiction of Southern California and Arizona. He is greatly honored to be able to serve as consul general in a region with such deep ties to Japan.”

To learn learn more about Consul General Muto: click here

MSA Annex is at 267 S. Avenida del Convento, west of the I-10 (between Congress St. and Cushing Ave.). This mural is on the north facing metal fence around the Annex.