MR. SAKAI "SAKI" ARAI, 100, Seattle, WA born Nisei, resident of Gardena, who passed away on February 2, 2006. He is predeceased by his wife, Kimi Arai.
He is survived by his sons, Ross (Cindy) and Jun (Erni) Arai; daughters, Riki (Tadamasa) Tsuboi and Meiko (Yuji) Masumiya; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Hide Hamaguchi; brother-in-law, Roy (Hanna) Yoshitomi; sister-in-law, Teru Nakashima; many nephews and nieces.
"Saki" was an acclaimed athlete in football, baseball and basketball during his school days in Seattle, Washington. He held many athletic accolades and awards that honored him at a time when the Japanese Americans were a rarity on the Pacific Northwest sports scene. Saki was instrumental in initiating the Nippon Athletic Club, a forerunner of organizations that fostered community sports for the JA youth along the Pacific coast. Saki was well remembered for inspiring and motivating many, including, Pinky & Whitey Nordstrom, the Bekins brothers and the late Asian American actor Keye Luke who claimed, "It was a pleasure to pay money to see Saki play baseball!" Not only participating in sports into adulthood, Saki was active in coaching, counseling and organizing team sports throughout the Minidoka interment camp days and also after settling in the Los Angeles area after WW II. Up until age 94, Saki was honing his athletic abilities as an avid bowler. He celebrated his 100th birthday last year by bowling a few lines at the Cerritos Lanes with 100 friends and family. Grampa Saki will be forever remembered as the perennial athlete and leaves a legacy of inspiration to his large, large family in California and Seattle, Washington.
Funeral service will be held on Friday, February 10, at 6:00PM at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles. The family requests that flowers be omitted.