Nikkei Youth
Sports, Arts & Culture Bursary
What is the Nikkei Youth Sports, Arts & Culture Bursary?
The Nikkei Youth Sports, Arts and Culture Bursary supports young Japanese Canadian students who are actively pursuing their passions in sports, the arts, or cultural activities. This $1250 bursary recognizes youth who demonstrate leadership, dedication to their field, and active involvement in their community.
Established through the generosity of the Nikkei Hockey Club, this bursary reflects a legacy of teamwork and community spirit. Its goal is to encourage and empower youth to become strong leaders and positive voices within their communities, fostering healthy communities and lifestyles.
Application Process
The bursary is open to:
Graduating Nikkei students (Grade 12) attending a British Columbia or elsewhere in Canada
Graduates from a community college
Past graduates of B.C./Canadian high school who are pursuing further post-secondary education, such as a degree or certificate program.
Deadline:
Completed applications and materials must be received by July 1
Applicant Criteria:
Be a Canadian citizen or Canadian permanent resident at the time of application.
Be of Japanese ancestry.
Be a youth (25 and under) able to demonstrate leadership, commitment and involvement in your local community as a volunteer, participant or staff.
A student who:
Plans to enroll and does enroll at (i) an accredited degree program, two/four-year university, junior or community college in Canada or (ii) an accredited certificate program in Canada, pursuing an advancement in an athletics, arts, or community leadership and/or
Is involved in a local athletic, cultural or community association in a leadership role and is training to participate in a national or international non-professional sports, arts, culture or community leadership event.
A student who is able to demonstrate the potential to successfully complete their chosen program (degree, diploma, or certificate).
Priority will be given to applicants who have demonstrated a need for financial support.
The successful applicant must be available to attend the subsequent Nikkei Place event to accept their award, and agree to be in public relations materials.
Application Materials Required:
An official copy of your most recent high school or college/university transcripts
Cover Letter
Resume
Completed online application
Evaluation Criteria:
Academic Potential: Awards will be given to full or part-time students who have been accepted to or are attending a Canadian or Non-Canadian post-secondary institution during the academic year and are able to demonstrate a commitment to their education.
Demonstrated leadership: The Selection Committee will look for situations where students have challenged themselves in order to influence others and address local community issues that are important to them.
Community involvement: Recipients will be able to demonstrate genuine commitment and connection at a neighbourhood level.
Financial need: The Selection Committee will make it a priority to select recipients who have demonstrated a need for financial support.
Application Form
Intake for 2025 applications will open in May.
Bursary Recipients
2022-23 | Kamloops Judo Club
The Kamloops Judo Club Society has been dedicated to teaching the principles and philosophy established by the founder of judo over the years. The Club has not only produced many champions at the national and provincial levels but has developed many outstanding citizens who became leaders in the City of Kamloops.
2021-22 | Kenji Yamamoto
Kenji Yamamoto is a second year student at Douglas College, enrolled in the Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching (BPEC) program. His passion for sports and physical activities developed from a young age. Throughout highschool he played basketball, volleyball, and rugby, but he loved soccer the most. During his time with the Cliff Avenue F.C., his team won many competitions and trophies, including Bronze in the B.C. division 1 league.He grew up surrounded by great influences, which not only gave him an amazing childhood, but ultimately the passion to become a P.E. teacher. He aspires to be a role model for younger generations, to inspire and help them achieve their highest potential.
2021-22 | Max Hamanishi
Max Hamanishi is currently an undergraduate student-athlete in the Sports Science program, majoring in Kinesiology at Douglas College. He is a varsity baseball player with the Douglas College Royals and has played baseball for 13 years. He was the bronze medal BC team pitcher in the 2017 and 2018 Little League Canadian Championships. Max was also a competitive swimmer for 10 years and competed at the BC provincials each year from 2016 to 2019.Max studied at Gladstone Japanese Language School and Coquitlam Japanese Language Academy. He spends time volunteering in the community picking up litter on neighbourhood streets and shovelling snow and delivering meals to seniors. Max’s favourite Japanese foods are chirashi zushi and zenzai.
2019-20 | Kianna Darbyshire
Kianna Darbyshire is currently an undergraduate student studying Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia, and a competitive Kendoka. She most recently became the U18 National Champion at the 2017 Canadian National Kenko Championships and placed 3rd for Team Championships at the 2018 World Kendo Championships in Incheon Korea. She is currently training in hopes to represent Canada again at the 2021 World Kendo Championships in Paris; she also competes at local tournaments — the next big competition is the Canadian Nationals.Her ultimate goal is to pursue a career as a commercial pilot, a dream she has had since she was twelve years old when she flew in the Air Cadets. She is currently working towards a private license at The Pacific Flying Club, and studying at UBC to help reach her dream. As a member of both the Vancouver Kendo Club and the Air Cadets, she spends part of her time volunteering and teaching. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1929, Raymond Moriyama is an internationally renowned Japanese-Canadian architect. He has designed projects around the globe, including: Ottawa's City Hall, the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, the Saudi Arabian National Museum, and the Canadian War Museum, among others.
2018-19 | Shin Asahi Baseball Team
The Asahi Baseball Association is spreading the Japanese way of baseball — inspired by the original Asahi team's skill, perseverance, accomplishments, and wishes to inspire a new generation of ball players in Nikkei community in Canada. They are dedicated to building healthy communities through baseball.
2017-2018 | Dante St. Prix
Dante is currently an undergraduate student majoring in Engineering Physics at the University of British Columbia. He is a competitive Judoka, most recently winning a senior silver medal at the 2017 Pacific International and a U-21 gold medal at the 2017 Provincials. In 2014-15, he represented Canada at the Junior European Cup and the International Masters.Dante became part of the Nikkei Place community as a student at Gladstone Japanese Language School, and graduated from the middle school program. He spends time volunteering as an assistant instructor and coach with the Ishikawa Judo Club.
2016-17 | Beth Kamimura
Beth Kamimura is a student-athlete, currently enrolled in her first year at Simon Fraser University. She has been a catcher for the Delta Heat 98 Fastpitch team for the past 8 years. Her great-grandfather, John Nihei was also a catcher for the Vancouver Asahi.Contact Us
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