Our history

1940s

Shut out of the ABC

Japanese American bowlers were barred from the American Bowling Congress, so they organized competition of their own.

1947

The first national tournament

The first annual Japanese American bowling tournament was held in Salt Lake City, run by the JACL.

1974

After a joint meeting of JACL officers and the National Advisory Board on Bowling, it is decided to break away from JACL control. It was then, under Mas Satow's leadership that the Japanese American National Bowling Association was formed. Ozzie Shimada served as President Pro Tem for the first year.

1975

JANBA is founded

The Japanese American National Bowling Association formally takes over the tournament.

First National Tournament under JANBA was hosted by the San Jose Nisei Bowling Association at Futurama Bowl, chaired by Ozzie Shimada and Sayo Togami. Fred Takagi, Seattle, was elected President of JANBA. Serving under Fred were Vice President Ozzie Shimada, Vice President Mary Yuba, and Treasurer Gish Endo.

1976

Las Vegas! Hosted by Hawaii NBA. Our largest turnout for a National Nisei Bowling Tournament. Peter Yamaguchi chaired the tournament held at the Showboat Lanes. We lost our beloved leader Mas Satow, a leader of Nisei bowling since 1947 when the first National Nisei Tournament was held in Salt Lake City.

1977

Third JANBA held at L & L Castle Lanes in San Francisco and co-chaired by Kayo Hayakawa and Tats Nagase. Mas Satow Memorial Trophy was awarded to Men's and Women's all events champions. Many outstanding series were shot in both men's and women's events.

1978

Rocky Mountain High. Jean Sunada and Rich Nakamura co-chaired our 4th JANBA in Denver at Celebrity Sports Center. Another outstanding turnout. Women's and Men's Singles Elimination was a great success.

1979

Kenmore Lanes in Bothell, Washington was the site for the 5th JANBA. Hosted by the Seattle NBA and co-chaired by Lois Yut and Jack Shiota. The largest turnout for a Nisei National in the Northwest with five new records set.

1980

Hilo, Hawaii, beautiful site of the 6th JANBA, the Nisei tournament held outside the mainland. Chaired by Wilbert Lau and Jerry Tango. Lessie Yamamoto was honored as the oldest woman participant. "Pop" Okumura also honored as the oldest male participant. Both were from Salt Lake City.

1981

Timber Lanes, home of our 7th JANBA in Portland, Oregon. Co-hosted by the Oregon Nisei VFW and the Portland NBA, it was chaired by Yuji Hiromura. The honored guest was Hiroshi "Hershey" Miyamura, a holder of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Steve Shimada of Santa Clara shot the first official "300" game in JANBA history in the Sweepers Event. He also set a new record in the Sweepers, 1441. Dick Ogawa of Hayward set new records in Singles, 740 and All Events, 2115.

1982

Our 8th Annual JANBA was held at Holiday Bowl in Los Angeles. It was hosted by the Southern Cal JANBA and chaired by J.J. Kanegae. Four new records were set. Carol Yasuda Team of Pearl City, 2876, Women's Team Event; Judy Kikuta of Los Angeles, 1823, All Events; T & J Appliances of Downey, 3172, Men's Team Event; Lynn Furuike and Bill Yee of San Jose, 1390, Mixed Doubles.

1983

Salt Lake City hosted our 9th Annual JANBA, co-chaired by Jeff Okumura and Mark Tsuyuki at Rancho Lanes. June Utsurogi set a new record in Women's All Events with 1858. Our first tournament to use a computer for tabulating scores, program written by Roger Nakayu of Salt Lake City.

1984

San Jose hosted the 10th Annual JANBA, chaired by Ozzie Shimada. The tournament was held at Oakridge Lanes. New records: Team by T & J Appliances, Gardena, California, 3361; Doubles, Art Nish and Tony Figuiera, 1497; and All Events, Tony Figuiera, 2177. There was a 300 game shot by Yuji Okumura in Singles and an 821 Series by Tony Figuiera in Doubles. Ozzie Shimada was elected JANBA President for three years.

1985

The 11th Annual JANBA held in Sacramento at Country Club Lanes, chaired by Dubby Tsugawa. A new tournament record was set in Sweepers by Linda Miyai, Sacramento, CA with a nice 855.

1986

The "Mile High City" was the site of the 12th Annual JANBA, co-chaired by Jane Hada and Ken Numoto. The tournament was held at Celebrity Sports Center with another outstanding turnout. Sharon Eshima from Denver set a new record in Women's Four-Game Classic Singles with a nice 876.

1987

Sportsworld was the site of the 13th Annual JANBA in Seattle, Washington. Co-chaired by Ray Ko and Diana Ohashi. Four new records were set: Travel Planners Team of San Jose, 2961, Women's Team Event. Diana Ohashi of Seattle, 1941, Women's All Events; Blaine Yoshimura of Salt Lake City, 1490, Men's Sweeper; and Wayne Tanouye, Canyon Country, CA, 776 in Singles. Jerilyn Oi, Gardena, CA and Alecia Kanazawa, Mountain View, CA, tied the Women's Doubles record with a 1209. Ken Numoto, Denver, and Tommy Handa, San Jose, posted "300" games in the Six Game Sweeper.

1988

Southern California JANBA hosted the 14th Annual Tournament at Holiday Bowl for the second time in the 1980's. Keiko Kuida and Gary Nishitsuji co-chaired. All of the records stayed intact except for the Women's Singles, won by Helen Arao, 679. Of special note: Jerilyn Oi and Alecia Kanazawa, 1179 repeated as Women's Doubles champions, while Jerilyn Oi also won the Mixed Doubles title with Cecil Ohashi, 1298.

1989

Hilo, Hawaii JANBA hosted the 15th Annual Tournament held at Hilo Lanes. Tournament co-chaired by Bob Aoki and Jane Wakimoto. Alecia Kanazawa rolled a 683 series to set a new record in Women's Singles.

1990

The 16th Annual JANBA Tournament was held at Japantown Bowl in San Francisco and was chaired by Yuki Kawaguchi. One new record was set in Women's 4-Game Classic by Alecia Kanazawa, Mountain View, with a 901. Jerilyn Imamura, Gardena, CA, and Alecia Kanazawa won the Women's Doubles for the fourth consecutive year. Alecia Kanazawa also repeated as Women's Singles champion. Ozzie Shimada was elected to a second three-year term as JANBA President.

1991

The Hollywood Bowl was the site of the 17th Annual JANBA Tournament held in Portland, Oregon. Tremendous scoring highlighted JANBA's second visit to the "City of Roses". Five new records were set: Suzanne Okumura, Salt Lake City, 903 in the Women's 4-Game Classic; Gary Yamasaki, Portland, 1534 in the Men's 6-Game Classic; Lauren Takahashi, Panorama City, CA and Alecia Kanazawa, Mountain View, CA, 1307 in Women's Doubles. Lauren Takahashi also set new records in Women's Singles with a 735 and Women's All Events with a 1969. Kathy Fitzgerald, Portland, shot a 278 in Women's Doubles. Gary Yamasaki fired a 300/814 in the 6-Game Classic. Jim Burch, Portland, also shot a 300 Game in the 6-Game Classic.

1992

The 18th Annual JANBA Tournament was held at Ritz Classic Lanes in Salt Lake City, Utah. This was JANBA's second visit to Salt Lake City. For the first time, there was a Senior All Events division. Winners were Yutaka Handa, San Francisco, and Jean Sunada, Denver. This first time event was very successful. Scoring highlights included a 299 by David Yamauchi, Gardena, and 279 by June Shimoda, Fresno.

1993

For the second time, Oakridge Lanes was the site of the 19th Annual JANBA Tournament. This was also JANBA's third visit to San Jose. The General Chairman was Ozzie Shimada and the Tournament Chairman was Lon Handa. New records were set in the Women's 4-Game Classic by Jodi Hiraoka, San Francisco, with a 957; Men's Singles by Ed Sanwo, Fresno, with a 784; and by the HAPPA Team, Walnut Creek, CA, with a 3086. 300 Games were shot in the 6-Game Classic by Scott Mitamura, Hawaii, and Matt Tanagi, Seattle. Jeff Okumura was elected to a three-year term as JANBA President.

1994

The 20th Annual JANBA Tournament held in Sacramento, returned to Country Club Lanes for the second time. The tournament was chaired by Dubby Tsugawa. New records were set in the Men's Singles by Darren Tsumura, San Jose with an 831; Men's All Events by Darren Tsumura with a 2221; and Lauren Takahashi, Panorama City, CA set a new Women's All Events record with a score of 1973. The first women's 300 game was shot by Wendy Sone, Gardena, CA, in Women's Doubles. Other 300 games were shot by Gary Higashi, Las Vegas, in Men's Doubles, and Darren Tsumura in Men's Singles.

1995

JANBA returned to Denver for the 3rd time. The 21st Annual Tournament was held at Sierra Vista Lanes. The tournament was co-chaired by Sharon Eshima and Russell Ota.

1996

For the first time in 20 Years, JANBA returned to Las Vegas and the Showboat Lanes. This was the 22nd Annual JANBA Tournament and the 50th Nisei National Tournament. The tournament was chaired by the National Board. Jeff Okumura served as the general chairman and the JANBA reps served as committee chairpersons. High scoring highlighted the week. New records were set in Women's Team by Laminated Tops, San Jose, CA, with 3113; Lyn Handa, Sunnyvale, CA. and Jeannie Sakoda, Stockton, CA in women's Doubles with 1309; Lauren Takahashi, West Hills, CA in Women's All Events with 2109; and Moe Asato, Torrance, CA with 2018. Paul Dote, Gardena, CA shot a 300 game in Men's Singles. Colleen Goto, Pearl City, HI had a 290 game in the Women's 4-Game Classic. Also in the Women's 4-Game Classic, Julie Kodama, Freedom, CA shot a 281 game, Jeff Okumura was re-elected as JANBA President.

1997

Sportsworld Lanes in Seattle was the site of the 23rd Annual JANBA Tournament. The tournament was co-chaired by Barbara Nagaoka and Louise Ono. Laminated Tops from San Mateo, CA repeated as Women's Team champions, Jami Tanihana, Gardena, CA and Alecia Kanazawa, Redwood City, CA set a new record in Women's Doubles with a 1324. This tournament also honored the first inductees of the JANBA Hall of Fame. Choppy Umemoto, Maki Kaizumi, Bill Honda and Dr. Jun Kurumada were inducted in the Pioneers category. Wat Misaka, Ozzie Shimada, Fred Takagi, Gish Endo and Mas Satow were honored in the Meritorious Service category. Ed Dong, Dick Ogawa, Nobu Asami, Amy Konishi, Fuzzy Shimada and Lois Yut were inducted in the Performance category.

1998

The 24th Annual JANBA Tournament returned to Los Angeles for the third time and the first time at Regal Lanes in Orange County. The tournament was chaired by Jan Sone. JANBA Hall of Fame inductees included Shozo Hiraizumi in the Pioneer category. Isao "Easy" Fujimoto, Shigeru "J. J." Kanagae, Bubbles Keikoan, Wataru "Dubby" Tsugawa and Peter Yamaguchi in the Meritorious Service category. Matsuno "Mats" Ito, Judy Kikuta, Mari Matsuzawa, Dusty Mizunoue and Chiyo Tashima in the Performance category. Lauren Takahashi and Wayne Tanouye from Los Angeles repeated as Mixed Doubles Champions. Jim Burch and Gary Yamasaki from Portland repeated as Men's Doubles Champions.

2026

Sacramento hosts

The National tournament comes to Sacramento, California.

2027

Denver hosts

Next stop: Denver, Colorado.