The week after school ended, both Jordyn and Tyler started Nakayoshi Gakko. This two-week summer friendship program
teaches children about Japanese culture and tradition. Jordyn loves Nakayoshi because she gets to learn about cooking,
origami, drawing, and dancing. Most of all, she gets to spend time with her friends.
Looking for Buddha.
Friends.
Morning Taiso (exercise).
Sempais.
In line at the start of the day.
Enjoying mochi.
My friend Cayla showing me how to play the taiko drum.
On Monday, June 20, Jordyn and Tyler attended Nakayoshi Gakko again. They continued to learn Japanese culture in the forms of
music, dance, art, and literature. This year, Jordyn and her class tried their hands at taiko. We were impressed by how much they learned in two short weeks.
On Monday, June 18, Jordyn, Tyler, and Connor all attended Nakayoshi Gakko this summer. This Japanese cultural program
teaches the kids about food, music, dance, art, and literature. This year, Jordyn and her class visited the USS Hornet, learned
about the Japanese internment during WWII, the 422nd RCT, and taiko. It's been bittersweet for Jordyn because this will be her
final summer going to Nakayoshi Gakko as a student. In two more summers she can apply to be a Junior Sempai.
Jordyn completed her last year of Nakayoshi Gakko as a student in 2012. However, as an incoming high school Sophomore, she took
advantage of the opportunity to apply for a Nakayoshi Gakko Sempai position this summer. Finally, after weeks of preparation, following
directions in the application process, and interviewing, Jordyn was selected to be a Classroom Sempai for the Panda class. She has 17
incoming 1st Graders under her supervision from 8:30 to 4:00. In the morning the Panda Sensei leads the class, but after lunch until
dismissal, Jordyn along with a Jr. Sempai (her friend Hayley) are the ones in charge.
Orientation.
2014 Sempais and Sumo wrestlers Byanba (former World Champion) and Kelly (former US Champion).
Another summer means helping out at Nakayoshi Gakko. Jordyn, this year, was selected to be a Classroom Sempai for Kirin. Kirin
(giraffe) is the 5th Grade class. She had a blast again helping, teaching, and playing with all the kids. It's so wonderful to hear
from all the parents who praise Jordyn for her ability to lead and control her students. All her success comes with a price though.
Every night she comes home with extremely sore feet. Still, I don't think she'd trade her experience at Nakayoshi Gakko for anything.
This is Jordyn's third year as Sempai at Nakayoshi Gakko. This summer she took on the responsibility of heading up all the Program
Sempai. Program Sempai are the high school students who do all the behind-the-scenes stuff at Nakayoshi. They clean, carry, move, and
assist in any way possible. Without them, Nakayoshi Gakko wouldn't function. Jordyn's job this year as Assistant Head Sempai is to
direct all the Program Sempai to the various jobs that need to get done. She misses being in the classroom with the students, but she
relishes the opportunity to take on this new challenge!
Every afternoon at 3:15 Nakayoshi Gakko has an afternoon demo. These demonstrations can range from story telling to sumo wrestling.
One demo that always entertains is when Mr. Mike Inouye comes to speak. The nice thing is he always comes with something different and
he's really funny. Mike Inouye is an Emmy Award winning NBC Traffic Anchor on the morning news. Today he showed all the students what
goes into the production of a morning news telecast. He had students role play as anchors, traffic reporters, finance reporters, and sports
reporters. He even had students work as camera operators and hold the boom for the mic. After running through a fully scripted newscast,
Mr. Inouye had a short sit down interview with former Nakayoshi Gakko student and sempai, Kyle Nishimoto. Kyle works as a statistician for the
Golden State Warriors now, but way before that he was my basketball coach when I was in the 6th grade. Anyway, since he's an employee of
the Warriors, he received a real NBA Championship ring from last season. After the interview he made it available for everyone to take pictures.
Mr. Inouye even brought out one of his Emmy's too! Wow, it was really amazing to actually hold some very prestigious awards.
Jordyn completed 4 years of Sempai duties at Nakayoshi Gakko this summer! She started out 4 years ago as a Classroom Sempai in Panda. The following
year she was the Kirin Sempai, and last year she was Asst. Head Sempai. This summer she was selected to be Head Sempai and oversaw all Classroom and
Program Sempais. I know the 2-week Nakayoshi Gakko program is hardest on the Sempais. They are considered the backbone of Nakayoshi Gakko because
they do everything from classroom and cooking prep to cleaning everything at the end of the day. Without these dedicated high school students Nakayoshi
Gakko simply would not function. Congratulations Jordyn on a job well done!
