Located in a brand new building in the middle of Japantown, the Yu-Ai Kai presently provides services for 1,150 senior in the Japanese American community. This non-profit organization offers a number of programs that allow seniors to live independently while still being active and social. The Senior Activities Programs offers a variety of different classes in Japanese and English for independent seniors, including arts and crafts, shuji (calligraphy), Minyo (singing), watercolor painting, English conversation, and dancing. Outings are also planned including trips to Reno, day trips, and fishing trips. They also hold drop-in activities, such as Go, Mah Jong, Bridge and Hanafuda. To make necessary activities easier for the seniors, they offer such services as BART sales, Flu shots, Income Tax assistance and grocery shopping. The Senior Day Service Program is a senior daycare offered in both Japanese and English for those seniors that are functionally impaired. This program offers a variety of different activities including cooking projects, arts and crafts, exercise, music and dance and indoor and outdoor recreation. The Senior Nutrition program provides nutritious ethnic meals to seniors 60 and older to ensure that they receive at least one balanced meal a day to maintain their health. Lunch is served at noon and light stretching exercises are offered 1/2 hour before. Also available is a meal delivery service within a limited radius of the center, as well as transportation to the center for those who need it.This program, not only offers a healthy meal, but also a time to socialize and learn important nutritional information. Membership is limited to those seniors 60 and older with prices varying for the different services. Volunteers are also needed to help provide a variety of services to the seniors. If you are interested in becoming a member or a volunteer please contact the number given above.
Kim Bergheim, "Community Center Expands in Japantown: Moving Day at Yu-Ai Kai", San Jose Mercury News, Wednesday, 17 March 1993, Morning Final Edition, East Extra Sec., Part 2, p. 1 Editorial, "Community Building: Yu-Ai Kai Center is a Tribute to Elders and to Service", San Jose Mercury News, Friday, 19 February 1993, Morning Final Edition, Editorial Sec., p. 6B Donna Kato, "A Diverse Community of South Bay Retirees Has Discovered That Aging Doesn't Have to Mean Narrowing Option: Growing Old Gracefully", San Jose Mercury News, Wednesday, 12 April 1995, Morning Final Edition, Living Sec., p.1C Mark Moreno, "Construction Begin on Building for Nisei", San Jose Mercury News, Wednesday, 18 December 1991, Morning Final Edition, East Extra Sec., p.1Erin Kimura
