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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, November 14, 2002

Japanese center races clock

By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer

With just 47 days left to raise $9 million to save the Japanese Cultural Center from foreclosure, the concerted effort is being compared to the famous 300-year-old tale of 47 samurai who avenge their leader's death by beheading an evil lord — a story of bravery, loyalty and selflessness.

Donations

• Send checks to: Committee to Save the Center, 3660 Wai'alae Ave. Suite 301, Honolulu, HI 96816

"We have to save the center for the benefit of the Japanese and the Japanese at heart," said Wayne Miyao, a member of the Committee to Save the Center. "It is a mission like the 47 ronin. "

The committee officially kicked off its fund-raising campaign yesterday in efforts to prevent four banks from foreclosing Dec. 31 on the 8-year-old museum/dojo/tearoom/office and banquet complex in Mo'ili'ili.

More than $1.5 million has been donated to the campaign so far, and 20,000 letters will be sent to Hawai'i and Mainland residents next week seeking more donations. Money also will be sought in Japan.

The center at 2454 S. Beretania St. includes the martial-arts hall, or dojo, and the teahouse, both of which were built with major donations from cultural organizations but could end up demolished by a buyer after a foreclosure sale.

An attempt to sell the building at a profit last month fell through and efforts are now focused on raising the needed money through donations.

Glenn Masunaga, a Honolulu orthodontist and chairman of the Makiki Japanese Language School, pledged $500,000 toward saving the center.

"It was the goal of the Makiki Japanese Language School, which was organized more than 90 years ago by the first Japanese immigrants, to teach and promote the language, culture and ethics of our Japanese heritage," Masunaga said. "It is fitting and appropriate that we support the (center) with our donation. We, in turn, would like to make a personal plea to all former students to step forward to help."

Committee general chairman Colbert Matsumoto said that if the building is saved, the board will have to do a better job handling finances to keep the center solvent.

If enough money cannot be raised, donation checks will be returned, Miyao said.