by J.K. YAMAMOTO
Hokubei Mainichi

After a year of construction, the Japanese Community Youth Council (JCYC) held a grand reopening of its building at 2012 Pine St., on the northern edge of San Francisco Japantown.

JCYC offers a variety of programs for children and youth in such areas as education, employment, and prevention services. During the construction, many of these programs were relocated to JCYC’s site on Post and Laguna in Japantown and another site on Van Ness Avenue.

The new, improved building includes more program and office space, an elevator, and a street-level entrance. Before, one had to go up a long flight of stairs just to get into the building.

Visitors were given tours of the new facility, and many were heard to remark that it was completely different from the old one.

“It’s been a grind and a long time coming to finally get us here,” said JCYC Executive Director Jon Osaki, “but we are so pleased to be able to welcome you all into this building. ... This is the culmination of actually eight years of fundraising, of trying to get our plans approved by the city. ... There’s been a lot of back and forth, a lot of false starts, and a lot of things that didn’t go right in this project, but we’re here. It’s done.”

Amy Sujishi, JCYC board chair, added, “We are all so very passionate about the work that is accomplished here. We are all here together in order to provide services for youth and in order to empower those of this generation and generations to come. ...

“In these halls, many friendships were created and invaluable lessons learned. I can say that growing up in JCYC helped shape the person I grew up to be. Many of you here tonight also created friendships, relationships and memories here as well. We are all here to celebrate that tonight.”

A Long History

The program included a video presentation that started with photos of JCYC youth from the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, many of whom went on to become board or staff members with the agency.

The story of the building, which began in the early 1900s, was told through interviews with Rev. Lloyd Wake and former JCYC Executive Director Jeff Mori.

They said that the Women’s Society of the Methodist Church purchased the building to provide temporary housing for Asian immigrant women, such as Japanese picture brides who were stranded at the dock when their husbands-to-be failed to show up.

A Filipino congregation later moved into the building and stayed there until the late 1950s. The San Francisco United Methodist Mission took over the management of the property.

More than a decade later, JCYC was looking for a new home after a fire at its 1808 Sutter St. location. Wake, who was chair of the United Methodist Mission, had the idea of allowing Japantown community service organizations to use the 2012 Pine St. building.

“We thought it was great,” Mori said in the video. “Compared to what we were in before, this was a palace.”

JCYC leased the building in 1974 and shared it with other groups, including Japanese Community Services and Nihonmachi Legal Outreach. As the sole occupant 20 years later, JCYC purchased the building.

Osaki, who became executive director in the late 1990s, said in the video, “The building was in pretty bad shape. The front stairs leading into the building were literally crumbling ... and we had to make the decision whether to fix the building or find a new site. A lot went into that decision.

“We considered how much we could make from selling the building, how much it would cost to fix it. When all was said and done, we felt it was really important to maintain a permanent home near Japantown. This area is obviously very small. There aren’t a lot of sites for us to purchase. I was in this building as a child, and to me it feels like home.”

“I am so glad that this building went through this transformation and will continue to provide such great services to the city of San Francisco,” Wake said in the video.

Building Dedicated

Osaki introduced a major donor to JCYC, Hiro Tokubo. “A few years ago we were approached by a gentleman who made an outstanding gift to our organization. ... He said he was planning his estate and he wanted to make JCYC a major beneficiary of that estate. ...

“One of the things that we decided to do in honor of that very generous gift was to dedicate this building in the memory of his parents.”

A photo of Moriye and Mariko Tokubo is prominently displayed in the building along with a brief profile. Mr. Tokubo arrived in Seattle from Hiroshima in 1919. Mariko Takemoto arrived from Yamaguchi in 1932, and the two got married. They raised eight children and owned a successful tofu and grocery business in Fowler.

“Their legacy of devotion to family and community will serve as an enduring inspiration to all of us who have benefited from their struggles and perseverance,” the profile reads.

“My connection with JCYC goes back to the early 1980s when I was involved with the board. ... There’s something about that bond that never left,” said Tokubo, who moved to the East Coast and was away from the Bay Area for almost 20 years.

Noting that his parents sent all eight of their children to college, Tokubo said, “I think my parents would be very proud if they could be here tonight ... knowing what JCYC does and how it reflects their own values.”

(When asked about the amount of the donation, Osaki said that JCYC and Tokubo prefer not to make that information public.)

San Francisco Assessor Phil Ting presented a commendation to JCYC. “I think it’s so important ... whether J-Town or Chinatown ... that we not only preserve our heritage but preserve the places where we have community,” he said.

Ting, who was previously executive director of Asian Law Caucus, acknowledged the contributions of Rev. Wake, who also served as ALC’s board chair.

JCYC in turn recognized PG&E for its support over the years. In accepting the honor, PG&E representative Ezra Garrett said, “The relationship between our company and JCYC by far predates my time with PG&E, but I can tell you that this relationship is one that we hold in very high esteem. ... My boss, Travis Kiyota, grew up in this community. He’s especially proud of your accomplishments.”

Osaki announced that JCYC will be celebrating its 40th anniversary over the next year, starting with a reunion of ’70s alumni on Oct. 24, followed by ’80s and ’90s reunions, then a big celebration in the summer of 2010. “We’re very proud of that milestone,” he said.

For more information, call (415) 202-7900 or visit www.jcyc.org.