Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago Talks about Its Activities to Help Japanese Community

The Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago holds its annual meeting at the Midwest Buddhist Temple on March 25, 2024, and discusses its aid to the Japanese American community.

   The 2024 Annual Membership Meeting of the Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago was held on March 25 at the Midwest Buddhist Temple.

   The four agendas on community outreach were:

1. Donation to the Osaka Garden in the Phoenix Garden, Jackson Park.

   The Japanese Mutual Aid Society (JMAS) has finalized the agreement with the Chicago Park District and the Garden of the Phoenix Foundation for the donation to the Osaka Garden, and JMAS will be listed as the donor to the Moon Bridge in the name of Shoji Osato, one of the founders of JMAS.

   A donation to the Chicago Park District to go towards rebuilding the Moon Bridge at the Jackson Park, Japanese Memorial Garden.

2. JMAS held a seminar in 2023 with Mr. Charles Golbert of the Cook County Guardian’s office to discuss how JMAS can protect its assets and the assets of seniors in JMAS. He talked about “How to Prevent Incidents of Fraud by Caregivers and Similar Providers.”

   JMAS has other events planned for this year. Details will be announced at a later date.

3. JMAS is completing the transfer of ownership of the Nisei Post memorial to JMAS to ensure that the memorial will remain in the control of the Japanese American Community.

   Early in 2024, the ownership of the Nisei Veterans Memorial at Montrose Cemetery was transferred from the Nisei Veterans Post 1183 to the Japanese Mutual Aid Society to ensure its continual care.

4. For the balance of 2024, JMAS is planning seminars on Social Security, tax planning, and estate planning.

JMAS Board of Directors

   All 2023 board members had agreed to stay on for the year 2024 and were approved by JMAS members who were present at the annual meeting.

   Board Members are:

- Karen Kanemoto, Executive Director

- Gary Shimomura, President

- Neil Kanemoto, Vice President

- Mary Samson, Treasurer

- Bryan Funai, Secretary

- Gwen Kato

- Pam Morooka

- Jack Matsumoto

JMAS’s other activities:

- The JMAS board has agreed to again fund a JACL Chicago scholarship for 2024. Last year, the JACL Chicago awarded for the JMAS/Miyasaki scholarship to Elijah Nishimura who graduated from Glenbard South High School. H is now attending DePaul University and is becoming more active in the Japanese/American community. He participated in the JACL Kansha project in 2023 and has attended other recent JACL events.

- JMAS hosts the annual Memorial Day Service. This year, it’ll be held on Monday, May 27 at Montrose Cemetery. Last year JMAS saw approximately 200 people attend.

- JMAS participated in the annual fundraising event for the Japanese American Service Committee and made a significant donation to help the organization continue services to the community.

- JMAS will have an annual Holiday Bento Day which takes place between Christmas and New Year’s Day. In 2023, JMAS delivered 123 bento boxes to seniors with the help of 32 drivers and volunteers who also received a bento. It was much appreciated by all recipients.

JMAS continues to give support for the following community activities:

 - The annual Japanese Community Picnic

- Japan America Society of Chicago’s Japan Bowl – A Japan Trivia contest for high school students who have been studying Japanese.

- Social services grant to the Japanese-American Service Committee to be used to provide services to seniors.

- The Day of Remembrance in February, held at the Chicago Historical Society.

- The Asian American Coalition of Chicago Lunar New Year Banquet. This year it was hosted by the Japanese community at Drury Lane – Oakbrook. Karen Kanemoto and Megan Nakano served as co-chairs of the event with assistance from Ron Yoshino.

   JMAS’s website, jmaschicago.org, remains the primary means to convey the latest information about the JMAS members. Please visit to see any new information announced by JMAS for the community.

For membership application or renewal, please contact the Japanese Mutual Aid Society at jmaskanemoto@gmail.com.