Rafu Bussan Founder Remembered

Akiko Kawaratani, owner of Rafu Bussan, Inc., presents donations to Setsuko Nakama, acting director of Little Tokyo Nutrition Services, and Rev. Shumyo Kojima of Zenshuji Soto Mission on Oct. 22. Kawaratani gave donations totaling $50,000 to 10 organizations that work in the Japanese and Japanese American communities. She explained that the donations were made to honor the one-year anniversary of the passing of her late husband, Skip Kawaratani.

Back row, from left: Mike Okamura (Little Tokyo Historical Society), Nancy Takayama (Pacific Southwest District JACL), Chris Aihara (Budokan and Little Tokyo Service Center), Helen Ota (Japanese American Cultural and Community Center) and Michael Komai (Rafu Foundation and Little Tokyo Public Safety Association); front row, from left: Nakama, Kojima, Kawaratani, Rev. Al Tsuyuki (Konko Church of Los Angeles) and Kitty Sankey (Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California). (Photos by MARIO G. REYES/Rafu Shimpo)