[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 162 (Monday, November 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING STEVE NAKAJO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 14, 2016

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Steve Nakajo who has served 
as the executive director of Kimochi, Inc. for 45 years and has grown 
the organization into one of the most precious senior service 
organizations in the Bay Area. Steve is a sensei in every sense of the 
word: a respected person who has achieved a high level of mastery in 
his skills. He leaves behind an incredible legacy which frankly few of 
us do. I am honored to call him a friend and colleague for over 20 
years.
  Steve co-founded Kimochi in 1971 to bring social services to non-
English speaking, first generation Japanese Americans in San 
Francisco's Japantown. Today, Kimochi provides 3,000 seniors from San 
Francisco and surrounding communities with services including 
transportation, nutrition, day care, housing, referral, consumer 
education, social services, and in-home care every year.
  The creation of Kimochi Inc., which means feeling in Japanese, was 
inspired by the feeling for elders, first generation Japanese Americans 
or Issei, by third generation Japanese Americans or Sansei. The Sansei 
recognized that language and cultural barriers prevented the Issei from 
accessing every-day services, so they helped them to apply for 
government services or health benefits, they offered transportation and 
walking escorts, and they made sure seniors could safely leave and 
return to their homes. The appreciation of the elders' sacrifices and 
hardships is integral to the organization's philosophy and Steve has 
been the embodiment of that philosophy. Respect, gratitude and love for 
the elders are expressed through the services that allow each 
generation to age with dignity, pride, support and friendship.
  Steve's commitment to Kimochi has been unwavering and recognized 
around the world. In 1999, he addressed the Japanese National 
Conference on Aging in Tokyo on the history and philosophy of Kimochi, 
Inc. as the only U.S. delegate invited to the conference. In 2002, he 
addressed the San Diego Nikkey Elderly Forum. In 2007, he joined Mayor 
Gavin Newsom in Osaka to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the San 
Francisco--Osaka Sister City relationship. In 2013, he was honored by 
the San Francisco Consul General of Japan for Kimochi Home's 30th 
anniversary. Earlier this year, it was my honor to help cut the ribbon 
on the new Kimochi House San Mateo, yet another grand vision of Steve 
Nakajo.
  For the last 45 years, Steve has also been an instructor and lecturer 
in Japanese American and Asian Studies, sociology, social work, 
critical thinking and ethnic sensitivity training at San Francisco 
State University, San Jose State University and City College of San 
Francisco. His teaching career started in the Japanese American Studies 
Program in SFSU's School of Ethnic Studies. His co-instructors were the 
late Edison Uno and Dudly Yasuda. Uno, a civil rights advocate, was 
best known for his opposition to the internment of Japanese Americans 
during World War II. Dudly was a psychology professor who was 
tragically murdered by one of his former students.
  Steve has further contributed to the community by being one of the 
original organizers of the San Francisco Nihonmachi Street Fair and by 
being active with San Francisco's Japantown Cherry Blossom Festival for 
46 years. He has also been on the San Francisco Fire Commission for 20 
years and served on the San Francisco Arts Commission.
  Steve, originally from Salt Lake City, received his education in San 
Francisco. He attended Morning Star School and Sacred Heart High School 
and earned his Bachelor's degree in Social Science and his Master's 
degree in Social Work from SFSU. He and his wife Etsie have three 
children--Devon, Tracey and Lexus--and four grandsons--Yuki, Kai, Kyle 
and Jaden.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
honoring a remarkable man and teacher who has helped shape the fabric 
of San Francisco for almost half a century. Steve Nakajo may be 
retiring today, but his contributions and philosophy will resonate for 
generations to come.

                          ____________________