Akira Fujimoto donated to the Seinan-KSCA daycare project for Japanese seniors. From left: Scholarship recipient Yoichi Shimizutani, a graduate student in gerontology at USC; Rachel Koza, director of Seinan Center; Dr. Keiko Ikeda, vice president of KSCA; Akira Fujimoto; John Kanai, president of KSCA; board member Shinichiro Koga.
By TOMOKO NAGAI
RAFU STAFF WRITER
Koreisha Senior Care Advocacy (KSCA) and Los Angeles’ Seinan Senior Citizen Center are moving forward with plans to open an adult daycare center for Japanese seniors by the end of the year.
In support of this effort, long-time benefactor Akira Fujimoto has donated $10,000. This marks his third contribution, and the funds will be used to provide a scholarship for Yoichi Shimizutani, a USC graduate student scheduled to work as an intern at the center. The aim is to secure future caregivers and, through them, strengthen support for seniors.
Fujimoto has been offering both financial and moral support since KSCA’s first bazaar in 2022. Upon receiving the substantial $10,000 donation, KSCA and Seinan Center expressed their gratitude, stating, “This is a great support to our mission of bringing peace of mind to local seniors.”
A businessman and owner of the Olympic Shop in Little Tokyo, Fujimoto explained, “This is my way of showing appreciation for everyone’s hard work. I just want to help in whatever way I can.”
He added, “It shouldn’t be left to a handful of donors. We want more people to learn about the meaning and importance of this effort, so the circle of giving can expand.”
Organizers also emphasized their hope that greater awareness of the project will widen its base of support.
At the check presentation ceremony, Dr. Kenji Irie of KSCA noted that there are currently almost no daycare facilities where Japanese-speaking seniors can feel secure. A 2019 survey showed that out of 1,500 respondents, 207 households reported serious difficulties with caregiving. The rising need for senior daycare makes the establishment of such a facility an urgent priority.
The planned daycare will include Japanese-speaking doctors, nurses, and social workers, and will provide exercise and music programs, meals, and transportation services. Capacity will be 45 seniors per day, beginning with three days per week and expanding to five weekdays in the future.
Fees are expected to range from $120 to $150 per day, with plans to eventually qualify for Medi-Cal coverage. The annual operating budget is estimated at $800,000, with first-year deficits to be covered by donations and grants. Sustained fundraising will be essential for continued operation.
With the partnership between the two organizations now firmly established, Irie expressed his determination. “We want to bring this mission to life and eventually move forward with building a nursing home.”
Participants at the ceremony also noted that the Japanese immigrants who came to America over a century ago built their community despite discrimination — a struggle that resonates with today’s foreign communities in Japan. Immigrant families often face a 50- to 100-year process of assimilation and coexistence; while second and third generations assimilate, first-generation immigrants tend to maintain their native culture. This is part of the reason why Japanese-language daycare remains a vital need in Los Angeles.
Shinichiro Koga, a KSCA board member active since 2023, spoke about plans to expand fundraising and outreach efforts both in the U.S. and Japan. “The organization aims to seek support not only within the United States but also from companies and individuals in Japan, while raising public awareness of its mission through social media, prominent figures, and international events.”
He emphasized that broadening the project’s visibility is essential, adding, “It is especially important to highlight values such as giving back to the community and the broader social significance of this initiative.”
As immigration policies continue to shift in both the U.S. and Japan, he said, the daycare project should embody the value and future security that the Nikkei community represents.
Fujimoto’s $10,000 gift is more than a financial contribution — it advances two missions: supporting seniors and preserving the legacy of the Japanese American immigrant experience.
When Seinan Center and KSCA provide a place of care and reassurance for local seniors, it becomes more than just a program. It is a way of sharing with the world the wisdom of coexistence that Japanese Americans have cultivated through their immigrant journey. In doing so, it carries these values across Los Angeles and Japan, and ensures they are passed on to the generations that follow.