Okagesamade

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Originally a Buddhist term, Okagesamade was used to thank the unseen, supernatural forces (gods or ancestors) protecting a person’s life.  Today, it has evolved into a secular acknowledgment that we never achieve anything entirely on our own.  It roughly translates to “I am who I am because of you.” 

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So it is with immense gratitude that we share this recognition as NAPABA’s 2026 Affiliate of the Year with our members, officers, and Board of Governors (both past and present) who have supported and nurtured JABA for nearly 50 years.

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JABA was founded on the belief that community, mentorship, and service can strengthen both the legal profession and the communities we serve. We are deeply honored to be recognized by NAPABA as Affiliate of the Year and grateful to the generations of members whose commitment continues to inspire our work. Through programs like our Young Lawyers Group and the JABA Legal Legacy Pioneers Project, we strive to invest in future generations while honoring those who paved the way before us. Behind the scenes, our Community Concerns Committee has driven significant advocacy work year after year, including our recent statement joining NAPABA Coalition to Defend Birthright Citizenship in the U.S. Supreme Court — part of JABA's ongoing commitment to speaking up on issues that matter to our community. This recognition belongs to our entire community, whose commitment to lifting others up and building connections across generations makes our work possible.

 

- Marty Chao, Current JABA President

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Two major efforts stand out this year. In February, we hosted U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor for two days built around the theme "Inspiration" — a private tour of the Go For Broke National Education Center to share the Nisei soldiers' story, a visit to the Eaton Fire burn area with a book reading for 400 elementary students, a private Q&A with 40 high school, college, and law students from affinity bar associations across Los Angeles, and an Installation and Awards Dinner that brought nearly 1,000 members of the Los Angeles legal community together. We priced it for accessibility, not fundraising, because the moment mattered more than the margin.

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We also continued our work with the Los Angeles County Unity Bar, which JABA helped found in 2024 as the first AANHPI association at the table — a coalition that has since grown to 11 bar associations and endorsed more than 50 diverse, qualified candidates to the California bench.

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Serving as JABA President in 2026 was the privilege of a lifetime. It was an honor to work alongside board members whose vision shaped programs and initiatives reaching the Japanese American and AANHPI communities, and the broader legal community in Los Angeles and beyond—work that won't soon be forgotten. As JABA embarks on its 50th anniversary, I'm proud of what we built together. Cheers!

 

- Honorable Gary Tokumori, Immediate-Past JABA President

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None of this happens without our members, our Board of Governors, and the sister bar associations — APABA, APAWLA, IALA, KABA, MABA, PABA, SABA-SC, SCCLA, and so many others — who stand alongside us, year after year. Thank you to NAPABA for this recognition, and to everyone who makes JABA what it is.