310-324-6611
GVJCI
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • History of GVJCI
    • Board and Staff >
      • Jobs
    • About the Logo
    • Contact Us/ Map
    • Email List
  • Programs/Classes
    • Seniors >
      • Tomo No Kai
      • Bento Program
      • Senior Tech Classes
    • Youth >
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
        • Counselor Registration
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • MAC
      • Boy Scout Troop 683
      • Boy Scout Troop 719
    • Sports >
      • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sansei Baseball League
      • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
      • South Bay Youth Basketball
    • Arts/Music/Dance >
      • Bando Hidesomi
      • Hawaiian Music Class
      • Meito Calligraphy
      • Mel's Ukulele Picking
      • Saga Art Center
      • Sansei Stories
      • Taiko
      • Tanoshii Tanka For Everyone
    • Health and Wellness >
      • Donation Reiki Clinic
      • Kokoro Yoga
    • Martial Arts >
      • Gardena JCI Kendo
      • Gardena Judo Club
      • Gardena Kendo
      • Gardena Naginata
      • Shotokan Karate
      • Shorinji Kempo
      • Kyudo Renmei
    • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
      • Book Club
    • Japanese Language School
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Manzanar Immersive
      • Past Program Resources
    • GVJCI Matsuri
  • How to Help
    • Volunteer
    • Donations
    • Car Donation
  • Resources
    • Weekly Calendar of Classes
    • Quarterly Newsletter
    • Rentals
  • GVJCI Blog
    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • History of GVJCI
    • Board and Staff >
      • Jobs
    • About the Logo
    • Contact Us/ Map
    • Email List
  • Programs/Classes
    • Seniors >
      • Tomo No Kai
      • Bento Program
      • Senior Tech Classes
    • Youth >
      • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
        • Camper Registration
        • Testimonials
        • Camp Supporters
        • Activities
        • FAQ
        • Counselor Registration
      • GVJCI Scholarship
      • MAC
      • Boy Scout Troop 683
      • Boy Scout Troop 719
    • Sports >
      • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
      • Sansei Baseball League
      • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
      • South Bay Youth Basketball
    • Arts/Music/Dance >
      • Bando Hidesomi
      • Hawaiian Music Class
      • Meito Calligraphy
      • Mel's Ukulele Picking
      • Saga Art Center
      • Sansei Stories
      • Taiko
      • Tanoshii Tanka For Everyone
    • Health and Wellness >
      • Donation Reiki Clinic
      • Kokoro Yoga
    • Martial Arts >
      • Gardena JCI Kendo
      • Gardena Judo Club
      • Gardena Kendo
      • Gardena Naginata
      • Shotokan Karate
      • Shorinji Kempo
      • Kyudo Renmei
    • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center >
      • Book Club
    • Japanese Language School
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Manzanar Immersive
      • Past Program Resources
    • GVJCI Matsuri
  • How to Help
    • Volunteer
    • Donations
    • Car Donation
  • Resources
    • Weekly Calendar of Classes
    • Quarterly Newsletter
    • Rentals
  • GVJCI Blog
    • Blog Terms of Use
    • Want to write for us?

About Us

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About Us

The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community center housing various classes, services, and programs for seniors, non-senior adults, and youth in the South Bay for over 40 years.  Our mission is to serve the needs of the local Japanese American community through educational, cultural, and social programs that share the Japanese and Japanese American cultural heritage.

Our Mission

​A space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

Our Vision

The GVJCI envisions a vibrant network and a welcoming space for all persons interested in Japanese heritage and culture where history and tradition are honored, people are inspired to create action and change, and cultural pride and respect for all humanity are promoted.

What is Nikkei? 
​日系

The first character日 comes from the Chinese character for Sun, used to write out the proper kanji for Japan. The pronunciation of this Kanji varies between Nippon or Nihon, but the most commonly used pronunciation is Nihon (Japan).
The second character 系 means descendants of or relation to.  However, it can have multiple meanings as well. 

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The direct translation commonly used for Nikkei would be anyone of Japanese descent.

Like so many words and phrases in Japan,  Nikkei can have multiple meanings. This is probably the reason why there is no one true definition for the term Nikkei. However, we think this ambiguity allows for more peoples of Japanese descent (mixed-race, mixed-culture, and multiple generations) to embrace the term and unify the community. 
As our community becomes more diverse, we would like to use the term Nikkei to welcome and embrace folks of varied walks of life to participate in our programs, events, and classes.  In a similar movement to the Little Tokyo community, we will use the term Nikkei to create a vibrant and thriving community for all in the South Bay.

​Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy

​The Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.  It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational and admissions policies or programs.

Come and visit!

GVJCI's Mission and Vision

Our mission is to create a space to engage, share, and embrace the Nikkei experience and culture.

The GVJCI envisions a vibrant network and a welcoming space for all persons interested in Japanese heritage and culture where history and tradition are honored, people are inspired to create action and change, and cultural pride and respect for all humanity are promoted.




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Contact Us

 1964 W. 162nd St., Gardena, CA, 90247  |     (310) 324-6611    |      info@jci-gardena.org
Office Hours: Mon - Fri 9 AM - 5 PM