2025 Nikkei Youth Scholarship Program
ELIGIBILITY:
- Applicants must be a current ESGVJCC member to apply for any of the scholarships.
- ESGVJCC Membership must be current for the calendar year.
- Each applicant can apply for a maximum of 3 scholarships.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- Scholarship Application Workshop #1 is Wednesday, February 5th at 7:30pm
- Scholarship Application Workshop #2 is Wednesday, March 19th at 7:30pm
- Early Review deadline is Wednesday, March 31st
- Due date for all scholarships is Monday, April 14th
- Nikkei Youth Scholarship Luncheon is Sunday, May 18th at 1pm at the ESGVJCC
2025 Application for High School Graduates
2025 Application for College Undergraduates/Graduate Students
Application Workshops will be hosted online through Zoom to answer any questions students may have regarding their application for the Nikkei Youth Scholarship Program. this year, we will be offering an Early Review Period. All applications submitted by March 31st will be reviewed and given feedback and allowed to re-submit any changes/missing documents. Any applications received after March 31st will not be reviewed until after the deadline.
Application are due on Monday, April 14th and winners will be notified in early May. Winners will then be awarded at the Scholarship Luncheon on Sunday, May 18th at 1pm at the ESGVJCC.
If you have any questions regarding any of the scholarships, application process or workshops, please email Executive Director, Pearl Omiya at pomiya@esgvjcc.org.
Basketball Clinic
Join us for our two basketball clinics in November 2024!
4th-8th Grade Clinic (Limited to 15 Players)
Date: Monday, November 25th
Coach: Coach Lauren Fujitani from Fountain Valley High School, Ironmen Basketball
Time: 9am-1pm
Cost: $45 for ESGVJCC Members, $65 for Non-Members
Included: Morning snack and chicken curry rice lunch
K-3rd Grade Clinic
Date: Tuesday, November 26th
Time: 9am-3pm
Cost: $55 for ESGVJCC Members, $75 for Non-Members
Included: Two snacks and teriyaki chicken lunch
Registration is now live!
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/basketballclinic.html
Camp Chibikko
Camp Chibikko is a fun three week day camp for kids ages 5-14 years old! The first two weeks are a cultural summer camp, while the third week focuses on basketball. The goal is to introduce campers to the Japanese American culture through hands-on activities, games, and other experiences so that they can become aware of the importance of the traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation.
Jr. High Component: In addition to all the activities K-5 will be doing, our middle school campers will engage in Counselor in Training program where they help Lead Counselors and work with the campers in their cohort and take additional responsibilities. They will also create their own digital storytelling project!
2025 Schedule coming soon!
Registration includes camp shirt, daily lunch, and 2 snacks
For more information or to sign up for Camp Chibikko, please email Melissa Kozono, Programs Director, Youth Services at mkozono@esgvjcc.org.
2025 Camp Chibikko Week 1 & 2:
Members:
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/campchibikko2025member-1.html
Non-Members:
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/campchibikko2025NONMEMBER-1.html
2025 Basketball Camp Week 3:
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/bballcamp2025.html
Winter Camp Chibikko
Camp Dates:
January 2nd – January 3rd, 2025
This year, we are excited to announce that Winter Camp Chibikko will be returning this January from Thursday, January 2 through Friday, January 3 at the ESGVJCC! This winter, the theme will be Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) and we’ll be celebrating the Year of the Snake.
This year’s activities include:
Otoshidama envelopes
Nengajo
DIY Bento
Nihon Buyo
Shuji (kazikome- 1st writing of the new year)
Koma spinning tops
Kadomatsu
Hagoita
Ozoni
Space is limited so please register soon. We look forward to seeing all of our campers this winter!
Keep an eye on this page for the 2026 Winter Camp Chibikko registration link!
For more information, please contact Program Director of Youth Services, Melissa Kozono at mkozono@esgvjcc.org.
Nikkei Youth Organization
The ESGVJCC Nikkei Youth Organization (NYO) was established in 2009 as a youth-led organization to provide cultural and social activities for the youth in the community.
Through NYO high school students are given the opportunity to become more involved in the community and gain valuable hands-on leadership skills. NYO members will have the opportunity to lead the organization, gain valuable skills in event planning as well as community service experience.
In previous years, NYO has hosted several cultural workshops, sporting events, and provided community service hours. For example, NYO has previously hosted events such as: taiko workshops, cooking classes, sushi making workshop, a basketball tournament, and a tour of Little Tokyo including the Japanese American National Museum.
The ESGVJCC believes in the importance of developing young leaders in the community and NYO exemplifies the potential impact youth can have on the entire organization.
Monthly Events / Meetings
Membership Fee: $10
Contact:
NYO President: Kristina Hiraishi
NYO Advisor: Bob Amano
Please email nyo@esgvjcc.org.
Sabers/Saberettes Youth Basketball
The Sabers/Saberettes Youth Basketball Organization is for ages 5-18. Teams are divided by age and gender. Practices are scheduled throughout the week in the gym. The Sabers/Saberettes Youth Basketball Organization was established in 1970 at the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center. Forty years later, with basketball becoming a passion for many Japanese-American and Asian-American youth, the Sabers Organization has over 20 teams and 200 boys and girls of all ages learning basketball skills and developing lifelong skills such as teamwork, dedication, and commitment.
Sabers/Saberettes Youth Basketball Organization has the new 8000 Series Gun! The Gun 8000 by Shoot-A-Way is the best basketball shooting machine to date for dramatically improving your player’s shot. This basketball shooting machine will act as an automatic rebounder, instantly rebounding a made or missed shot and giving a direct return pass for another shot.
Saturday-Sunday 9AM
Gym
CLICK HERE FOR SABERS MONTHLY SCHEDULE
Website:
www.sabers-saberettes.org
Contact:
Click Here to email Sabers
2025 Student Exchange Program
The Student Exchange Program was created to provide a cultural exchange for students in both Japan and the United States. It is different from a normal visit to Japan because students stay with a host family and are fully emerged into the culture. While in Japan, students will visit several historic sites, have cultural classes, visit a junior high school, and much more.
Requirements
- Students must be between the ages of 12-18 by the start of the trip
- Each family must is required to host one or two Japanese students in August 2026
- Students must attend 4 of the 6 scheduled mandatory meetings prior to the trip
- Sunday, March 30th at 3pm
- Sunday, April 13th at 1pm
- Saturday, May 10th at 1pm
- Sunday, May 18th at 3pm
- Sunday, June 1st at 3pm
- Sunday, June 8th at 11am
Trip Dates
Our students go to Japan June 22 through July 1, 2025 and the students from Ohtawara will visit West Covina in the beginning of August 2026. These dates are subject to change; final dates will be available at the beginning of the year.
Learn More & Apply
Application Link
Program Info Sheet
Program FAQ
For additional information about the 2025 Student Exchange Program, please contact Executive Director, Pearl Omiya at pomiya@esgvjcc.org or call (626) 960-2566.
Kokoro Summer Fun Club
We’re launching a new summer youth program! The Kokoro Summer Fun Club is a daycare program for elementary students (K-5) that will run from June through the beginning of August.
Space is limited to 10 students, so sign up soon! Register through the link below:
https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/EastSanGabrielValleyJapaneseC/kokorosummerfunclub.html