Our History

Formally incorporated in 1971 as East Bay Japanese for Action (EBJA), the program was initiated by a handful of Sansei students at UC Berkeley, and opened quietly in a small storefront shared with Yamasaki Realty. The first projects were simple outings and parties, as the young Sansei struggled to communicate with the Issei to discover a rich Japanese heritage that had eluded them in an American upbringing.

The need for a social services was recognized 2 years later when the first Health Day was organized. It involved more than 230 participants, over 175 volunteers and over 80 medical professionals. Concurrently, three senior centers were established – Berkeley Nikkei Senior Center, Sakura Kai, and Eden Japanese Senior Center – and they began as a three-legged stool on which JASEB stands.

This first generation of immigrants were confronted with cultural and language barriers preventing them from accessing needed services. Services were added in response to the growing needs of an aging population; soon followed a quarterly newsletter, a Nutrition Program, and bilingual support services. Six years later, in 1976, EBJA launched into residential programs by organizing East Bay Issei Housing (EBIH). In 1981, EBIH established Channing Way Home for the frail elderly; and in 1984, it added the Eden Issei Terrace and the JASEB Home in Hayward to its list of accomplishments. EBJA developed socialization and recreational programs for the Issei, including one of the first federally funded ethnic lunch programs in the nation. In 1976, the East Bay Issei Housing (EBIH) was formed to address the housing needs of the Issei. EBIH developed co-operative housing for frail seniors and the Eden Issei Terrace. Later in 1986 the two organizations merged to form JASEB, providing the Japanese American (Nikkei) community a way to address aging in a more comprehensive and effective manner.

And today, almost 40 years later, Japanese American Services of the East Bay (JASEB) plays an important role in enabling seniors to age well, to receive appropriate assistance as their independence decreases, and the opportunity to live within the community with assistance from caregivers. Our East Bay community of seniors has grown beyond the first generation Issei to include newer immigrants from Japan and generations of Japanese Americans. JASEB provides bi-lingual and bi-cultural programs and services relevant to varying needs.

JASEB operates a Senior Center in Berkeley with activities and classes in conjunction with lunch and home-delivered meals provided four days a week. The Case Management program works with individuals, families and community groups to discuss and problem solve various aspects of aging. Case managers assist in identifying appropriate resources and options for their situation, provide caregiver support, consult on long-term care or retirement planning and develop care plans. JASEB has partnered with Eden Housing, Inc. in the Eden Issei Terrace, a 100-unit apartment complex Hayward offering federally subsidized rents for low-income seniors able to live independently.

Twenty-two community groups and churches throughout the East Bay support JASEB’s efforts and each is represented on the Board of Directors. Additional community members at-large round out the Board of Directors which develops policies and governs the organization.

To leverage the funding provided by the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging, the City of Berkeley General Fund, the Tri-City Nutrition Program, and various foundations, JASEB conducts various fundraising activities throughout the year, allowing us to serve additional clients and to expand upon our programming.