2025 Annual Fall Festival

Jesup Green, Westport

Saturday, September 6, 2025

We have decided to stay with Saturday as the date of the event. (There is rain predicted for Sunday, too)   Read about our festival HERE.

Talk by historian Beverly C. Tyler

Wednesday October 15, 12 noon to 1PM

JSFC is partnering with the Fairfield Museum and History Center to present Mr. Tyler speaking about his book, ‘Mary Swift Jones: Love and Letters from Japan’.  This presentation is part of the museum's program series, "History Bites", which are held several times a year and include a talk and light refreshments.  JSFC and Fairfield Museum members are able to attend the talk for free, but there is a separate museum admission if they want to visit the galleries. Gallery admission is $5 per adult and $3 per senior .  Registration is not necessary.  Here is the museum's description of the event: 

https://www.fairfieldhistory.org/event/history-bites-a-voyage-to-china-japan/

The museum is located at 370 Beach Rd, Fairfield, CT 06824-6639.

Mr. Tyler will bring copies of his book to sell and sign.  

Cherry Tree Dedication

Mead Park, New Canaan

June 20, 2025

We dedicated the two cherry blossom trees recently donated to Mead Memorial Park’s Gold Star Walk in New Canaan, CT.  New Canaan Selectwoman Dionna Carlson read a proclamation recognizing our gifts of trees over the years as well as the two new ones. A report can be accessed HERE.

Celebration of AAPI Heritage Month

CT State Community College, Norwalk

May 31, 2025

JSFC joined other Asian groups in a celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the CT Community College/Norwalk.  Read about the event HERE.

Arts & Crafts of Incarcerated Japanese-Americans in WWII

May 22, 2025

This virtual talk  was given by the Essex Library Association, only on Zoom.  It was presented remotely by Nancy Beck, Secretary/Treasurer of the Japan Society of Fairfield County.   Links to the presentation can be accessed HERE.

Successful Cherry Tree Planting

 April 13, 2025

The US & Japan Society of CT and the Japan Society of Fairfield County had a successful event on April 13 at  Rentschler Field in East Hartford. 29 volunteers planted 32 cherry blossom trees, in spite of the cold weather. The Honorary Consul General of Japan in Connecticut, Mr. Greg Boyko, and the Honorary Consul General of Japan in Boston, Mr. Seiichiro Takahashi, attended to give well wishes.

A remaining 8 cherry trees will be planted by the Rentschler grounds facility staff. There have now been a total of 160 trees planted at Rentschler Field. As many as possible will be planted in the Fall of 2025. That will leave roughly 100-120 trees remaining to be planted in 2026 to meet the goal of 250 trees for the 250th anniversary of the United States.

Cherry Tree Picnic

 April 13, 2025

JSFC members joined with members of ASCENDCTW to enjoy a a Cherry Blossom Picnic in Mill River Park in Stamford, on Sunday,  April 13. You can read about it and see pictures HERE,

Grant Masashi Ujifusa Remembrance

My good friend and mentor, Grant Masashi Ujifusa, passed away on October 21, 2024.  He was the Redress Strategy Chair of the Japanese American Citizen’s League and was honored with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays by the Government of Japan for reversing President Ronald Reagan’s opposition to House Resolution 442 and securing the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988.  This titanic accomplishment was achieved against all odds due to his in-depth knowledge of American politics; indefatigable passion for justice; incomparable pride for his Japanese American identity; and implicit self-confidence.  Ujifusa is written with two kanji (守家) that mean “protector of the house,” and that is what he did for all Japanese Americans. In January 2024, the Japan Society of Greater Fairfield County had the honor of presenting Grant to discuss this profound work alongside Professor Kermit Roosevelt III at the Jay Heritage Center.  It was his last public appearance.

He was the Founding Editor of the Almanac of American Politics and a voracious reader well paired with a strategic intellect. He was cautious and methodical while he was brave and daring. He trusted his knowledge and himself implicitly.  He remembered every detail of the Redress efforts with a photographic-like memory. He was my role model professionally and personally.  He had the type of self-confidence that can only be embodied by someone who felt deeply loved by his parents and grandparents. Family was the motivation for his every act.   An anecdote about his grandpa, Shuichi, his grandma, Yae, or his parents, Mary and Tom, accompanied every conversation. He was proud to be a Crimson, but prouder that his sons Steven and Andrew had continued his legacy at Harvard, where he hoped his grandsons Issac and Max would follow too.

He and his wife Amy adopted their son John, whom they lovingly raised. He always praised Amy for her good heart, her professionalism and for making a wonderful home for the family where he could read and enjoy music.  Mozart was his favorite.  He read Cervantes’ Don Quijote de la Mancha during the pandemic and said to have enjoyed it very much.  He identified with the pursuit of noble ideas.

He was as generous with his wisdom as he was with his time. Friendship and loyalty were very important to him. He was a loyal friend and could not thank me enough for introducing him to Ambassador Nick Platt, who would become one of his closest friends. We Japanese Americans stand on the shoulders of giants like Grant and Nick, and we do not take this for granted.  Our shared success is through the work of such leaders.  Grant Ujifusa was an exemplar for our community.  It is our privilege and responsibility to carry the torch just a bit farther in their honor for the next generation.

Oh, and he so loved football! Being the quarter back of his high school team in Worland, Wyoming was always one of his favorite topics. His ashes will be buried in the family plot in his beloved Worland.

I will miss my friend, his counsel, our conversations, and witty sense of humor forever.

Yoshie Ito

On behalf of The Japan Society of Greater Fairfield County