BryMar Celebrates Yu-Ai Kai’s 52nd Anniversary Gala

What does 52 years of community, culture, and connection look like in one room? At Yu-Ai Kai’s 52^nd Anniversary Gala, it looked like laughter shared across generations, stories passed between tables, and a celebration that felt as meaningful as the mission behind it. 

Yu-Ai Kai, a Japanese American senior service organization in San Jose’s Japantown, has spent more than five decades creating a space where older adults can connect, belong, and thrive. This milestone event was not just about marking time—it was about honoring the people, relationships, and traditions that have shaped its impact. 

The evening brought together community members, board leadership, and local officials, all united by a shared appreciation for Yu-Ai Kai’s work. For BryMar, attending as both partner and supporter added another layer of meaning. Senior Manager Jill Stenton, Supervising Senior Alex Baron, and Supervising Senior Leon Hsia were proud to be part of a night that celebrated not just an organization, but the community it continues to uplift. 

A Night Full of Energy 

From the moment the evening got underway, the room felt lively. Dinner tables filled quickly; conversations flowed easily, and the casino theme brought a playful energy that carried through the night. Guests moved between blackjack, roulette, and craps, using play money for the games and later turning whatever chips remained into raffle tickets for auction items, which added to the fun. For Leon, the blackjack table stood out as a favorite part of the evening, not only for the game itself but for the chance to socialize with others at the table.  

Jill and Alex, meanwhile, enjoyed connecting with members of Yu-Ai Kai’s finance board and taking in one of the night’s most memorable surprises: a magician whose card tricks had everyone at their table in disbelief. As Jill put it, they were doing “fantastic card tricks, like making them disappear and reappear and other things that made our table jaws drop. We couldn’t believe it.” 

The Moment Everyone Remembered 

Later, the tone shifted in the best way. Beyond the games and the excitement, the heart of the evening came through in the seniors Yu-Ai Kai serves.  

During dinner, seniors sang beloved songs, filling the room with a kind of warmth that no theme or activity could manufacture. Jill described the moment as “really sweet,” and that tenderness gave the celebration its emotional center. It was a reminder that while the celebration was full of fun, it was ultimately about connection, care, and creating community for Yu-Ai Kai’s members.  

 More Than a Celebration 

By the end of the evening, raffle tickets had been dropped, stories had been shared, and what began as an anniversary event felt like something more personal. That is what makes this story worth telling. Yu-Ai Kai’s celebration was not only about 52 years of service, but about the community that continues to gather around its mission. 

For BryMar, being there meant more than attending a client event. It was a chance to celebrate Yu-Ai Kai not just as our audit client, but as an organization whose work has a real and lasting impact in San Jose’s Japantown. Nights like this are a reminder that behind every client relationship is a mission, a community, and people whose work matters. We are proud to support Yu-Ai Kai and the role it continues to play in bringing people together.