Nakase recently shared how late father Garys influence has stayed with her since his death in 2021.

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.

we always wanted to be open to all.We were literally wondering if it was going to survive.Hes the one who at least pointed out to Albert and myself that there was a real lack of Japanese American organizational representation at the Studies Center and at UCLA generally.

right? So many Asian people on campus at UCLA.I dont think at the time we articulated that way.

you know?Who would have predicted that this group would be in different campuses and spearhead all this stuff — like with the Manzanar Pilgrimage? They even have these performance groups now.

I wanted to instill a sense of Japanness or Japaneseness there.You can shake your fist in God’s face and there’s nothing God can do because when He created you.

God was laying on Jesus our sins.where rabbits and eggs were symbols of fertility and new life.

And you’re going to spend a million years.The religious systems point and say.