Yasu came up with a brilliant idea for an Ice Breaker for the kids. It is a very popular and beautiful Japanese song by Angela Aki that all the kids in Japan know:  Tegami (Haikei Jūgo no Kimi e), or Letter (Greetings to a 15 Year Old).

Angela Aki was born in Shikoku between a Japanese father and an Italian-American mother.   This song became big hit in Japan among young people especially 15 year olds  as this song features a 15 year old person.

Romaji with English translation:

 Teams from Yonsei 14, 15 and 16 participated in the BCSF YAO tournament this past weekend.  

Y16 Boys in San Francisco

Congratulations to Y16 Boys and coaches for their 2nd place finish.  Not bad after just one team practice since last August's goodwill games.

RON KATO - Head Coach

Coach Ron

Ron Kato brings more than 30 years of teaching and coaching experience. He has successfully coached every varsity sport imaginable (swimming, softball, golf, football, track & field) but his greatest success has been on the hardwood leading boys’ basketball teams. He is the winningest coach in Eagle Rock High School history, where he won 7 Northern League Championships and an unprecedented 5 in a row from 2004 to 2008! Last year he led one of his most inexperienced squads to the Los Angeles City Finals at the Sports Arena. Coach Kato has also directly helped numerous students receive NCAA athletic scholarships and currently has 2 former students playing professional basketball in the Philippines.

Coach retired from teaching last year and enjoys golfing, cuddling with his lovely wife Diane, shopping at Nordstrom, eating sweets, and spending time with his kids, Kristopher and Erin.

Coach Robin

ROBIN MIDORI ISHIBASHI - Head Coach

Robin Ishibashi is a graduate of Whittier College (2003) where she majored in Kinesiology. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a USA Weightlifting Cer tified Club Coach.

Links to the Y16 instructional Dance Videos

Please have your player watch and practice the dance routine.

 Thank you for joining us at the Yonsei XVI v. Yonsei XV Exhibition Game.

Congratulations to all four teams for your hard work, both on the court and off!

Yonsei 17 Boys and Girls invite you to join us at our Yonsei Exhibition Games on Sunday August 8, 2010, when we will test our skills against the Yonsei 16 Boys and Girls teams.  The games will be held at Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, CA.    The program begins at 12:45pm, but please join us early for a complementary lunch buffet.  

Exhibition Day Agenda

Yonsei 17 Japan Tour

After their debut at the Exhibition Games, Yonsei 17 players and families will be heading off to Japan, featuring goodwill games with teams in Sakata City, Yamagata Prefecture.  Their twelve-day itinerary is packed with cultural activities including home stays with their Japanese host families, tours and sightseeing in Sakata and Sendai, travel by shinkansen, and a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Park.  Best wishes to Y17 on your adventure!

The Yonsei 16 Boys and Girls invite you to join us at the 2010 Yonsei Goodwill Games which will take place the week of August 17 - 21, 2010 throughout the southland.

2010 Goodwill Games Schedule

Tuesday  August 17, 12:30pm

Location:  Roybal Learning Center, Los Angeles

Opening Ceremonies at 12:30 pm
Game 1 - Kochi Boys vs. CBO Boys All-Stars
Game 2 - Kochi Girls vs. JAO Girls All-Stars

Wednesday, August 18, 11am

Location: Orange County Buddhist Church, Anaheim

Game 3 - Kochi Boys vs. SEYO Boys All-Stars
Game 4 - Kochi Girls vs. SEYO Girls All-Stars
Game 5 - Kochi Boys vs. CYC Boys All-Stars

Saturday, August 21, 12 noon

Location: Kennedy High School, Granada Hills

Game 6 - Kochi Girls vs. Yonsei 16 Girls
Game 7 - Kochi Boys vs. Yonsei 16 Boys
Game 8 - Parent/Coach's game
Game 9 - Sakawa Co-ed vs. Yonsei 16 Co-ed

We hope you can join us at some of the games.  For more information please contact Karen Uyematsu.

In between the Goodwill Game events, Yonsei 16 families will be hosting our Sakawa and Kochi guests with home stays and social activities including a beach BBQ, a Dodger game, trip to Disneyland, banquets, with just a little free time for shopping!