Participants in the Buddhahead Breakfast Club’s most recent 80th birthday celebration at King’s Hawaiian Restaurant, hosted by Kiyo Fukumoto.
Sansei Vietnam veterans and friends who turned 80 are recognized.
The Buddhahead Breakfast Club recently held its second birthday celebration for members who turned 80 years old.
The club, which is composed of Japanese American veterans and friends, has a membership that has grown over the years from just a few who would gather to socialize and reminisce about their young days to 85 today. The private breakfast club meets every first Friday of the month at the King’s Hawaiian Bakery and Restaurant in Torrance.
In Japanese culture, attaining the age of 80 is one of the grand milestones in a person’s life. The kanji for this birthday milestone is pronounced sanju and is written 傘壽.The character for san (傘) means umbrella and includes the kanji for eight (八) and ten (十). The character for ju (壽) represents longevity and congratulations.
The select 80-year-olds honored at the celebration were: David Miyoshi, Chris Segawa, Richard Mikami, Don Nakamura, Chris Mori, Sammy Furuta, Ron Shintani, Rocky Saishyo, James Masaki, Steve Taketomo, Art Ishii, Kaz Furusawa, Mickey Nozawa, Garry Tanaka, Eddie Kambe, Allen Toy, Don Suehiro, Ron Yoshioka, Kiki Inomata, Gary Yamauchi, Dennis Nishikawa, Satoru Uyeda, Bill Kamio, Gil Ishizu, Joe Lopez, Kaz Hosozawa and Al Diaz.
All the members were feted by the restaurant diners, who raised their voices cheerfully, singing “Happy Birthday.” Photographer and videographer George Wada took individual and group photos, which were made available to all the honorees, while videographer Don Bannai captured the festivities in vivid video.
The members were then treated to the famous King’s Hawaiian Rainbow Cake, which was sliced and either enjoyed there by the members or taken home. It was a truly festive occasion to honor the members for their longevity and to thank the veterans for their service to our country and all the members for their loyal patronage of the Buddhahead Breakfast Club.
This special celebratory event was made possible through a generous donation by the Japanese American Centenarian Spirit, a nonprofit organization started by Kiyo Fukumoto to recognize Japanese American seniors who served in the armed forces. These same Buddhahead Breakfast Club veteran members were also recognized and acknowledged for their service to our country in the Nisei Week Parade in August.
The club was founded by Vietnam veteran Chris Segawa over 20 years ago to enable Sansei veterans and their friends to gather, share and enjoy their continued friendships among both old and new friends. An interesting sidelight is that in Japanese culture, turning 20 is the first important milestone in a person’s life because it marks the age when the person has legally matured and can drink, smoke, and gamble. This is an impactful milestone in the life of a young Japanese person, as it has been for the now-renowned Buddhahead Breakfast Club.