Rafu Shimpo
Twenty-three college-bound high school seniors were each presented with $2,000 scholarships recently during the 2025 Japanese American Treaty Centennial Scholarship Fund (JATCSF) luncheon.
To date, the program has awarded more than $1 million throughout its 65-year history.
“We had an impressive group of applicants this year with ambitious goals and exceptionally bright futures,” said Kitty Sankey, JATCSF president, who also chairs the scholarship selection and planning committee.
“We’re honored to support these students as they embark on the next chapter in their lives.”
Also addressing the scholars was Consul General Kenko Sone, honorary president of the JATCSF, in one of his last events before he returns to Tokyo.
The 23 high school scholars and the universities they plan to attend are:
Enzo Kei Arakaki, North Torrance High School, UC San Diego
Ryan Kenji Erber, Eunice Sato Academy of Math & Science, Stanford University
Coco Funakoshi, Redondo Union High School, UCLA
Gavin Yanai Herbers, West Torrance High School, UCLA
Ryan Yanai Herbers, West Torrance High School, University of Southern California
Ethan Kazuo Ikenaga, South Pasadena High School, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Jovie Lee, South Torrance High School, Washington State University
Mia Mayeda, North Torrance High School, USC
Koi McCray, South Torrance High School, CSU Long Beach
Madison Yoshiko Mendoza, WISH Academy High School, UCLA
Sage Misumi, North Torrance High School, Biola University
Kate Murakami, South Torrance High School, UC Berkeley
Kaitlyn Nakagawa , Los Alamitos High School, UC Berkeley
Anon Saito, South Torrance High School, CSU Long Beach
Carter Sakai, Flintridge Preparatory School, Rice University
Palio Shibata, Redondo Union High School, University of Washington, Seattle
Rei Smartt, North Hollywood High School, UC Santa Barbara
Tyler Tanaka, North Torrance High School, CSU Long Beach
Remy Tsukahira, New West Charter High School, Northwestern University
Corey Umamoto, California Academy of Math and Science, USC
Hina Usuda, South Torrance High School, Claremont McKenna College
Katelyn Emi Watanuki, North Torrance High School, UC Irvine
Madilyn Kaori Yee, West Covina High School, UC Irvine
In addition to the scholars, Happy Mizutani, a real estate broker and longtime JATCSF trustee, was honored for his dedication and financial contributions to the JATCFS scholarship fund.
Los Angeles Dodgers historian Mark Langill was the keynote speaker.
“We are very grateful to the 2025 scholarship award donors, whose generosity allows us to support the educational aspirations of the next generation,” said Haru Takehana, JATCSF vice chair.
Scholarship donors include Mr. and Mrs. Teruo Yoshimoto, Koichi & Toyo Nerio Memorial Fund, Nitto Tire, Joyce Chinn, Kenji Ito Memorial Scholarship Fund, Happy Mizutani, and Kitty Sankey.
The Japanese American Treaty Centennial Scholarship Fund, Inc. was established 65 years ago by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California (JCCSC) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japan’s first official delegation to the U.S. in 1860. Since 1960, over $1 million in scholarships have been awarded to 1,867 Japanese American scholars.
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The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper based in Los Angeles, California. Established in 1903, the Rafu Shimpo has survived two world wars, a depression, and the forced evacuation of our entire community.
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