Museum exhibition honors 45 years of Ikoi no Kai nourishing 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 mirrors the community spirit, as dozens of elders enjoy a traditional meal of ebi fry (Japanese fried shrimp), swap produce from their gardens, and rehearse for a weekly singalong.

The Ikoi no Kai program , which translates to "a place of rest" in Japanese, is a community lunch program that started in 1979. The program was originally founded to provide nutritious meals to elders in the Japanese American community. Since then, it has grown into an essential institution, offering a variety of social and cultural activities.

To honor 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 exhibition, opening on Sept. 21 and running through Jan. 5, offers a glimpse into the program's history and its ongoing impact on Portland's Japanese American community.

"It's really comforting for people, because it reminds them of their childhood," said Lucy Capehart, director of collections and exhibitions for the museum. "Some of the patrons are Japanese, recently immigrated here, and then some of them 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 that care for elders, which is a concept of Japanese culture that we will care for and respect our elders," 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 scattered due to the impact of Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced removal of Japanese Americans from the West Coast.

Ikoi no Kai became a crucial gathering place for the Issei — the first-generation immigrants — offering them a sense of community and connection in the face of this displacement, said Capehart.

"This was a place for them to come and pass on news and share opportunities," Capehart said. "Some did not speak English, so it was a place for them to have fellowship and to also be able to speak Japanese."

The exhibition centers the experiences of community members that have contributed to the program over its history, including Jeannine Shinoda, the current director of Ikoi no Kai. For Shinoda, the program represents more than just a meal service; it's a place of connection and joy.

"I knew it was going to be a place that would spark joy," said Shinoda, who began as a volunteer before becoming the director three years ago. "It's such a lovely feeling to walk into a place where everybody wants to be."

Shinoda oversees the lunch program and many of the other activities that have naturally grown through fellowship with the community. Regular events include Japanese language exchange, mahjong, singing groups, chair yoga and field trips to museums, gardens and Asian markets.

"Jeannine got the idea to start working through a ride connection, which is an organization that provides transportation for seniors to have a couple of outings a month," said Rick March, a member of the community.

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

The exhibition highlights the program's evolution from its early days as a part of the Loaves and Fishes program , which served meals to the elderly, to its current status as an independent organization run by volunteers and dedicated chefs.

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

"It takes an enormous amount of energy, time and care," Shinoda said. "I think that I recognized it as soon as I walked in the door the first time."

Community support plays a critical role in sustaining the program. Each week, local farms, residents and food vendors donate ingredients that are turned into nutritious meals.

"We're really just wanting to create a place where everybody can be together," Shinoda said. "It's so simple, it's just eating ... but it's always more than that."