Centenary began exploring the possibility of becoming a reconciling congregation.

who was visiting Japan from California as a docent for the American River Conservancy (ARC).and the descendants of those who returned from the Wakamatsu Colony look backed on the footsteps their ancestors had taken in both Japan and the U.

JUNKO YOSHIDADescendants of the Wakamatsu Colony returnees who participated in the visit to Sakichi Yanagisawas grave in Tokyo: from left.More than a century and a half had passed since their ancestors first landed in California.the Wakamatsu Colony collapsed after about two years.

great-granddaughter of Sakichi and Nami; Kanako Yamaguchi.a group of 19th-century Japanese immigrants believed to be the first to settle in North America.

known as the first Japanese settlement in North America ? visited Sakichis grave at Aoyama Cemetery in Tokyo on Oct.

Schnell took about 20 Japanese people with him to California to try growing tea and mulberry plants.We felt that the community was there.

And I think those friendships probably last.some of those friendships are going to last you.

It was more to create a sense of community and family for the students on campus.And for the students who feel detached from being Japanese — I still hope it can provide them some sense of identity that they can feel proud of and carry forward for the rest of their lives.