Inducted by OCA Greater Cleveland President, Lisa Wong.
One of Cleveland’s most devoted leaders in our multicultural society, Beverly Hashiguchi Kerecman, is the first person of Japanese ancestry to receive the Cleveland International Hall of Fame award for her lifetime achievements in the Japanese American community in Cleveland.
Beverly Haru Hashiguchi was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She is an educator and a strong advocate for the Japanese American community.
It’s important to note that Beverly is Sansei, or a third-generation Japanese American. Both her parents’ families were incarcerated in internment camps during WWII, along with 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry. With the loss of their California homes and businesses, they resettle in the Cleveland area alongside other displaced Japanese Americans.
While growing up in the Midwest after the war, being Japanese American presented unique challenges. Consequently, Japanese Americans formed social clubs and organizations out of necessity. The family only spoke English and strived to excel in all areas while becoming exemplary citizens.
Beverly has served as an officer of the Cleveland JACL, the local chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. This is the first and oldest Asian American Pacific Islander civil rights organization in the United States (OCA is the second). She organized workshops, advocated for civil rights, and coordinated youth programs and events for the Japanese American community in Cleveland.
She is most known for her role as the co-lead of Shojoji Japanese Dance, which preserves the Traditional art form of Japanese dance. They perform locally at the Lunar New Year events, the Akron Sakura Festival, the Cleveland Asian Festival, and One World Day. She even taught Japanese dance to Spider-Man and friends at the Cleveland FanExpo.
Last year, Beverly played a key role in restructuring the Annual Obon Festival to uphold its tradition of honoring families and ancestors. She effectively coordinated the 79th Obon Festival of Cleveland by uniting ShoJoJi Japanese Dancers, JACL, and the Cleveland Japanese American Foundation as sponsors. This year will mark the 80th Obon Festival in Cleveland on July 20th.
Beverly also serves as the President of the Cleveland Asian Retired Persons, known as CARP, and is a member of the JACL Scholarship Committee. Even though she is retired, she continues to serve as an educator through dance, works as a substitute teacher, and remains actively involved in the community.
Beverly and her husband, Mark, are proud parents of David, Michael, and Kathleen Kerecman, and they feel blessed to have five grandchildren.
Learn more about the Cleveland International Hall of Fame HERE.