Ruth Tanbara celebrates her 100th birthday at Sakura Restaurant last Sunday. Her nephew Tom Kurihara, is at right. Her niece Judy Murakami, is at left.ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Asian American Press), October 14, 2007:
Ruth Tanbara, a cornerstone of the Japanese American community of Minnesota, celebrated her 100th birthday on Ocober 14 at Sakura Restaurant in St. Paul. The event was an informal gathering of about a dozen long-time friends and relatives, much smaller than recent events to honor an individual who has worked to make better lives for people in Minnesota for the past 65 years.
A table contained several newspaper clippings, photos and artifacts that reflected a great life that has touched so many people over the past century.
Miyoko Omori, owner of Sakura, closed the restaurant on Sunday afternoon just for the event. She was pleased that Tanbara, who enjoys Japanese food, frequented the restaurant over the years. “She is a very alert and enjoys her many friends,” said Omori.”
“Ruth continues to be amazing,” said Judy Murakami, her niece. “She is in excellent health without taking any medications, reads the newspaper, and doesn't wear glasses or a hearing aid. “She enjoyed immensely the birthday luncheon with the Japanese food and especially the chance to visit with some of her relatives and old friends,” she added.
Tanbara earned a bachelor’s degree in Oregon in 1930. She came to Minnesota in 1942 with special permission to help evacuate families and relocate to Minnesota. She helped more than 100 people find sponsors, housing and jobs. Some were spouses and children of the 6,000 Nisei graduates of the Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) at Camp Savage and Fort Snelling, and soldiers of the 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team.
Some of these soldiers would join their families in Minnesota after the war, along with other families that were interned in camps for the duration. They would form the foundation for the Japanese American community of Minnesota.
Tanbara’s niece, Judy Murakami, noted that the Saint Paul YWCA celebrated Tanbara’s birthday on September 27, 2007, along with their own centennial celebration with a reception and dinner at Travelers, which was the site of the original YWCA. During the program, Ruth Tanbara was honored as a special leader in the YWCA’s Century of Achievement.
The YWCA praised the work of Tanbara as a staffer and volunteer for over 30 years. The program booklet described her as having a passion for building intercultural understanding and bringing people together. She worked to eliminate racism and get people to move beyond fear and stereotypes long before it became YWCA’s national mission.
Murakami said that in Japanese culture, to reach the age of 99 is the monumental year. So, last year’s birthday was a much bigger celebration than this more intimate event in comparison. At age 90, Kimi was given a major celebration with many of her network of friends and family that stretched back for her half century in Minnesota.
Yoshi Tani, a long time friend, spoke about the “Reflections book: Memoirs of Japanese American Women in Minnesota,” and credited Tanbara as the guiding force and a featured author in the 1992 publication.
The anthology includes 14 biographical essays written by Japanese American women in Minnesota, who originally came from Washington, Oregon, and California. The book tells the stories of how citizens of Japanese ancestry were affected on a personal level on account of their ethnic background and American racism, as well as how they endured and have achieved personal success.
“Fourteen of us ended up putting the book together from a group of about 75 people that gave input,” said Tani, who served on the board of the YMCA when Tanbara was hired as staff. The two have traveled together to Japan and many other places over the years.
Tanbara has taken on many leadership roles in many organizations through the years. She has held leaderships roles at Family Service of Greater Saint Paul, the Saint Paul Council of Human Relations, the Minnesota Museum of Art, and the Unity-Unitarian Church.
She was active with the International Institute's Festival of Nations, the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), which named a scholarship after her husband Earl, the Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee, and the Japan America Society of Minnesota as a long-time board member and later as an emeritus director.
Tanbara was a founding member of the Saint Paul Nagasaki Sister City Committee and served as president and later as secretary. For countless other years she was in charge of the Festival of Nations' Japanese food booth.
In 1995 St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman awarded Ruth the committee's highest honor, the Chip Fricke Award.
The Japan America Society of Minnesota presented Tanbara with its 2000 Mondale Award for Japan-Minnesota Partnership. The award letter described her as always having an interest in building bridges of understanding between America and Japan.
Tanbara first traveled to Japan at age 18, in 1926, together with other young Nisei (second generation Japanese-Americans). They were sponsored by a Japanese-American newspaper with a goal of developing youth to bolster better understanding between the two countries.
Tom Kurihara, a nephew, was present with his daughter Paula Shiflett, who also came from Virginia Beach, Virginia for the event.
“We are very proud that she has reached this age and that so many people are present to share this wonderful event,” he said.
Kurihara credits part of her longevity to moving her to an assisted living facility seven years ago. The full time care and an environment where her safety and wellbeing is a priority, helped to prevent falls and other health issues that are common to senior citizens.
By Tom LaVenture
Copyright © 2006 Asian American Press.
