Sports Intake 2 Recipients Announced

Community Fund • November 15, 2024

The Japanese Canadian Legacies Society thanks the many Japanese Canadian Descendants, both athletes and coaches, who applied to the second and final intake of Sports. Congratulations to the 48 successful applicants listed below. Together with the funding recipients from Intake 1, we have funded 80 individuals across a wide range of sports disciplines. We look forward to following their achievements as their careers in athletics move forward.

Category 1A
Elite/High-Performance Athletes

Lyndsy Masayo Acheson | Hockey

Keisa Ayame Bleiler | Sprint Canoeing

Carolyn Eiko Eby | Field Hockey

Midori Jean Holland | Luge

Kiyomi Nyima Huestis | Basketball

Gareth Kenji Tanaka Jones | Water Polo

Haruki Mori | Karate

Travis Brooks Murao | Wheelchair Rugby

Jenna Sumiko Proulx | Ball Hockey

Crystal Patricia Schatz | Karate

Kayla Shepard | Weightlifting

Kelly Aiko Sumiya | Synchronized Skating

Hailey Takasaki | Ringette

Claire Leanne Taniguchi | Ringette

Daniel Wenzek | Mixed Doubles Curling

Marisa Mariko Wong | Judo

Nyl Kiyoshi Yakura | Badminton

Category 1B
High-Level Athletes

Zenia Miyuki Alexander | Rock ­Climbing

Sadie Momoko Hanazawa Root | Track and Field

John Benjamin Henderson | Kickboxing

Scott Hirsch | Iaido

Makenna Aiko Kamiya | Rugby

Gavin Mariner Kawaguchi | Baseball

Coleman Danroth Kawaguchi | Baseball

Kiyoshi Kerr | Ultimate Frisbee

Lowen Kitagawa | Baseball

Hayley Miyoko Lee | Ball Hockey

Jillian Yoneko Matsubara | Softball

Geoffrey Bruce Takeshi McDonald | Karate

Robert Tatsuo Morioka | Slo-pitch Baseball

Kai Pierre Nagamatsu | Football

Mariza Nasu | Wrestling

Sarah Arisa Sakurai | Bodybuilding

Benjamin Takashi Senay | Hockey

Keene Aukai Shigehiro | Football

Mackenna Judith Suzuki | Track and Field: Pole Vaulting

Sierra Kiyoko Tohana-Belisle | Soccer

Maclean Shinichi Van Raay | Baseball

Alexander Makoto Paul Van Raay | Baseball

Sebastian Ryo Verklan | Baseball

Category 2
High-Performance Coaches

Leslie Irie | Volleyball

Kevin Seiji Iwasa-Madge | Cycling

Thomas Kyle McWhirter | Baseball

Kane Shigekazu Morishita | Judo

Myriam Manami Okuda-Rayfuse | Rowing

Ryan Takagi | Rowing

Steven Masao Takahashi | Wrestling

Brad Richard Yamaoka | Football

Japanese Canadian Legacies are initiatives that honour our elders past and present. We are grateful to be doing this work on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish peoples.