• 1930s
  • 1933
  • 1934
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• 1940s
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  • 1947
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• 1960s
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• 1970s
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• 1980s
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Origins of the Nisei Athletic Union
While there is evidence of organized Japanese basketball leagues as early as the mid-1920s, the beginnings of the Nisei Athletic Union can be traced back to the Northern California formation of the Japanese American Athletic Union (JAAU) in 1929. The first mention of a JAAU-sponsored basketball division occured in 1931, with nine teams joining the "A" division (Berkeley Nissei Varsity, Berkeley Nissei Bees, Merritts, Oakland ME, Oakland Sons and Daughters, San Francisco YMBA, San Francisco YMBA 2nds, UC Students and UC Student Bees). A year later, the Southern California Japanese Athletic Union (SCJAU) was established, with their first season originating in 1933.

The first JAU North-South championship game was held in March of 1934. The champions of Southern California, the Los Angeles Spartans, travelled north to face the San Francisco YMCA Soko Greyhounds, the NCJAAU champions. As was customary for a number of years to follow, the travelling champion played exhibition games against other local teams in the days leading up to the championship. After beating the Alameda Mudhens and bowing to the San Francisco YMBA Protos, the Spartans faced the Greyhounds on March 31, 1934 for the "California Basketball Championship". The Greyhounds ended up victorious, by a score of 33 to 15.

The two leagues continued until 1942, when Executive Order 9095 forced the Japanese-American communities into internment camps during World War II. During the internment, basketball continued to be played, with teams being organized in the camps. However, the JAU ceased operations permanently.

1946 marks the beginning of the Nisei Athletic Union. Funded in part by money belonging to the defunct JAU, Akira Komai, Paul Uyemura, Yuichi Hirata and Paul Izumida formed the Nisei Athletic Union in Southern California. By the end of the year, the Northern California Nisei Athletic Union was organized, in part by members of the former JAU and sponsored by The Nichi Bei Times and the JACL. Both leagues began their initial basketball seasons in 1947.

The Nisei Athletic Union leagues, along with the season-ending State Finals have been played ever since. Year-by-year summaries (if available) can be accessed by the links to the left, along with listings of Northern California and State Champions for all divisions on record. Information will continue to be added, as it becomes available.

Let Us Hear From You!
We would greatly appreciate any information you may have about the history of the league (photos, programs, newspaper articles, memories, etc). You can direct any information to Darren Yamashita at davesdougout@aol.com.

Sources
Information on this web site has been furnished by the NCNAU and SCNAU records, as well as a thesis written by Dexter Fong titled, A Socialhistorical Study of the California Nisei Athletic Union "AA" North-South Basketball Championship Games for Men from 1934 to 1971. Mr. Fong's thesis was based on personal interviews, along with Japanese newspaper articles from the Hokubei Mainichi, The Nichi Bei Times and The Rafu Shimpo.

Additional information, news clippings and photos provided by Bill Fujita.