The Yonsei 17 players and families are making headlines during their Goodwill Tour in Sakata City, Japan.  See the original article published in the Shonai Daily News on August 19, 2010.   

Seek your roots: learn Japanese culture

Yonsei in L.A. arrived

A Fourth Generation Japanese-American basketball team from Los Angeles, U.S.A. is visiting Sakata city from Aug. 18. During their stay until the 22nd, they'll learn about their heritage and culture as well as to grow closer with students their same age through basketball games, home stays, and visits to places of scenic beauty and historic interest.

This project was initiated by “Yonsei Basketball Association,” which was founded in 1993 with a goal of learning about Yonsei roots; Japanese culture and spiritual heritage.

Sakata BOE organized the implementation committee together with the Sakata Basketball Association and Sakata Convention Center.  The expectation is both to welcome the visitors and to have the junior high school students acquire a cosmopolitan outlook and achieve a cross cultural understanding.

The members of Yonsei BBA, headed by Catherine Ikari, Vice President, included 23 Yonsei boys and girls, their families, and other association members.  Their flight arrived in Shonai in the morning of Aug. 18.

About 200 people participated in the opening ceremony; Yonsei BBA as well as Sakata were selective of all basketball players and participants.  Yokuhisa Ishikawa, Superintendent of Sakata BOD announced, “Welcome to Sakata.  Make friends with Sakata junior high school students by feeling Japanese culture and nature.”  Ikari then addressed the crowd, “The day we have been eagerly waiting for has finally come. It is my honor to visit Sakata.” Yo Takeda, junior of Sakata 3rd Junior High School, welcomed the visitors with a speech and said, “I’m excited to play basketball together. Let’s become friends!” All the players of each team were then announced.

Later on, the Yonsei girls vs. Sakata game was played. Yonsei girls won 49-43, overtime.

Yonsei members are going to play basketball and experience Japanese culture like tea ceremony and calligraphy, or visit historical sites and sightseeing spots in Sakata while staying at junior high school students’ homes in Sakata.