Chapter History

With the efforts of Edwin Mitoma and the sponsorship of the Orange County chapter, the Riverside chapter was founded in 1968 with 47 charter members.

The first Board of Directors included:

• Dr. Gen Ogata - President.
• William Takano
• Sumi Harada
• Michiko Yoshimura

The Riverside Chapter focused their programs in four areas:

1. Youth activities
2. Education
3. Community relations
4. Fellowship

The Chapter continues to provide programs in these areas through its various committees such as Civil Rights, Scholarship, Youth/Student, Sunshine and the Harada House. Many people became acquainted with the Riverside Chapter through the annual Sendai Festival it sponsored for many years. It included cultural exhibits and demonstrations and the sale of Japanese foods.

Currently the Chapter sponsors annually an Installation Luncheon, Graduation/Scholarship Dinner, Community Picnic and General Meeting. The members have also participated in the Day of Remembrance, Chinese Lunar Festival, California Citrus State Historic Park events, Asian Pacific Student Programs at UCR, Save Our Chinatown events and other community activities.

Sumi Harada served on the first Board of Directors and many years thereafter. She actively participated in our annual events. Prior to her death Sumi witnessed local and national recognition of her family’s history through the Harada House’s nomination as a City Landmark in 1977 and a National Historic Landmark in 1990. Members, Michiko Yoshimura and Meiko Inaba currently serve on the Harada House Foundation. For more information, please click here: https://www.facebook.com/HaradaHF/ For more information about the Harada House, please see our separate page – Harada House