Museum exhibit honors Ikoi no Kai’s 45 years of serving Portland’s Japanese elders

In the basement of Epworth United Methodist Church, the sound of laughter and music fills the cozy room that serves as a gathering space for Japanese elders and community members. They come together to celebrate their shared heritage and bond over a love of food.

The warmth of the room reflects the community spirit, as dozens of elders enjoy a traditional meal of ebi fry (Japanese fried shrimp), exchange produce from their gardens and rehearse for a weekly chant.

The Ikoi no Kai program, which means “resting place” in Japanese, is a community meal program that began in 1979. The program was originally founded to provide nutritious meals to seniors in the Japanese-American community. Since then, it has grown into a vital institution, offering a variety of social and cultural activities.

To celebrate the program’s 45th anniversary, the Japanese American Museum of Oregon is presenting a special exhibition titled “Made with Love: 45 Years of Ikoi no Kai.” The exhibit, which opens September 21 and runs through January 5, offers a look at the program’s history and its current impact on Portland’s Japanese American community.

“It’s very comforting for people because it reminds them of their childhood,” said Lucy Capehart, the museum’s director of collections and exhibitions. “Some of the patrons are Japanese, recent immigrants here, and others have been in the community for generations.”

According to Capehart, Ikoi no Kai holds a special place in the Japanese-American community.

“I think it represents elder care, which is a concept in Japanese culture that we will take care of our elders and respect them,” Capehart said.

By the time Ikoi no Kai was founded, Portland’s once vibrant Japantown had largely dissipated. After World War II, the Japanese-American community was dispersed due to the impact of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

Ikoi no Kai has become a crucial gathering place for the Issei – first-generation immigrants – providing them with a sense of community and connection in the face of displacement, Capehart said.

“It was a place where they could come and share news and opportunities,” Capehart said. “Some of them didn’t speak English, so it was a place where they could share and also speak Japanese.”

The exhibit highlights the experiences of community members who have contributed to the program throughout its history, including Jeannine Shinoda, Ikoi no Kai’s current director. For Shinoda, the program is more than just a meal service; it’s a place of connection and joy.

“I knew it would be a place that would spark joy,” said Shinoda, who started as a volunteer before becoming director three years ago. “It’s such a great feeling to walk into a place where everyone wants to be.”

Shinoda oversees the lunch program and many other activities that have grown organically out of the camaraderie with the community. Regular events include Japanese language exchanges, mahjong, singing groups, chair yoga, and trips to museums, gardens, and Asian markets.

“Jeannine had the idea to start working through a transportation association, which is an organization that provides transportation for seniors to go out a few times a month,” said community member Rick March.

Their next trip: a Sunday visit to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon to see the Ikoi no Kai exhibit.

The exhibit highlights the program’s evolution from its beginnings as part of the Loaves and Fishes program, which served meals to seniors, to its current status as an independent organization run by dedicated volunteers and chefs.

The program currently serves between 20 and 80 people for lunch four days a week. Ikoi no Kai also runs a bento program, which delivers meals to homebound Japanese seniors throughout Portland on Wednesdays.

“It takes a lot of energy, time and care,” Shinoda said. “I think I realized that the first time I walked through the door.”

Community support plays a vital role in the program’s sustainability. Each week, local farms, residents and food vendors donate ingredients that are transformed into nutritious meals.

“We just want to create a place where everyone can come together,” Shinoda said. “It’s very simple, it’s just about eating… but it’s always more than that.”

Visit the exhibit September 21 through January 5 at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, 411 NW Flanders St. For more information, visit jamo.org/ikoi-no-kai.

— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Contact her at 503-221-4327; [email protected] or @chiara_profenna

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