Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service of San Jose

What Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service of San Jose does

Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 94-2427398) founded in April 1974 by community leaders Dan Kubo, Chris Yasuda, and Clara Abe, unifying 19 Japanese American organizations in San Jose. Operating under the DBA "Yu-Ai Kai" (organization of friendship and love), the organization runs the only Japanese American senior center in San Jose's historic Japantown, serving Japanese American seniors aged 50+ and their caregivers across Santa Clara County. Its mission is to promote healthy aging, successful independent living, and advocacy while embracing Japanese American tradition. The organization has grown from one paid staff in 1977 to 39 full- and part-time employees today and serves approximately 130 cooked-on-site meals daily (up from 40 in 1978).

The core product offering centers on four integrated programs: (1) Senior Day Service — adult daycare with structured activities, intergenerational programming, and bilingual Japanese/English staff; (2) the Nutrition Program — Asian-inspired hot meals at the Yu-Ai Cafe in Japantown plus home delivery via the Neighborhood Meals on Wheels program; (3) Social Services — bilingual case management, Medicare/Medi-Cal assistance, and referrals for housing, legal, and transportation; and (4) the Activities Program — fitness classes (Enhance Fitness, Tai Chi, Yoga), arts and crafts, Japanese language instruction, and the Harnessing Technology digital literacy curriculum. Two physical facilities anchor operations: the main Yu-Ai Kai center at 588 N. 4th Street and the Dr. James Akiyama Wellness Center at 110 Jackson Street (opened October 2010). Supporting infrastructure includes van transportation, Zoom-based virtual programming, and a community room rental business. The technology stack is deliberately basic — Squarespace website, Square for payments, Donorbox for donations, Zoom for virtual classes — chosen for ease of use by senior staff and members rather than for technical sophistication.

Yu-Ai Kai operates a hybrid nonprofit revenue model combining government grants, foundation and corporate philanthropy, individual donations, nominal program fees, and facility rentals. Revenue streams include the County of Santa Clara Senior Nutrition Program, Mitsui USA Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, AARP, the Sobrato Family Foundation, and individual contributions processed through Donorbox. Earned revenue is contribution-based and deliberately low — $5 suggested meal contribution for seniors 60+, $62 annual Senior Club Membership providing discounted classes, and fee-based room rentals. The organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (chaired by Nicole Sato) and led by Executive Director Jennifer Masuda. It carries GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency and Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating. The go-to-market motion is community-led: outreach through Japantown word-of-mouth, the annual Japantown Fun Run, partnerships with AACI and Sourcewise, bilingual newsletters (English and Japanese), and earned media via NBC Asian Pacific America.

Name

Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service of San Jose

Legal name

Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service

Website

https://yuaikai.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yu-Ai Kai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit senior center founded in 1974 that serves Japanese American seniors aged 50+ in San Jose's Japantown through nutrition, adult daycare, social services, and wellness programs across two facilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Senior Services / Senior Care

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Community-Based Senior Centers with Adult Day Services (HLADAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF), Culturally & Linguistically Specific Adult Day Programs (HLADAIAL), Senior Social Clubs & Community-Based Day Programs (Non-Clinical) (HSABANAK)

Keywords

• Senior community services
• Nonprofit senior center
• Adult daycare programs
• Senior nutrition services
• Healthy aging programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Individual Contributions and Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporate sponsors, and employer gift programs. Yu-Ai Kai is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
2. Senior Club Membership Fees: Annual membership at $62 per person for seniors 50+, providing access to exclusive events, discounts on classes, trips, and programs
3. Nutrition Program Contributions: Suggested contribution of $5.00 per meal for seniors 60+, $9.00 for those under 60, and punch cards available
4. Program and Class Fees: Fees for various activities and classes ranging from free to $15-20 per session for non-members, with discounts for Senior Club Members
5. Room Rentals: Rental of facilities (Yu-Ai Kai and Akiyama Wellness Center rooms) to the public after agency operating hours
6. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from County of Santa Clara Senior Nutrition Program, State Farm Insurance grants, and other government/community sources
7. Vehicle and In-Kind Donations: Vehicle donation program through CARS and in-kind donations of supplies and services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Yu-Ai Kai is a nonprofit community senior center that provides healthy aging, nutrition, social services, and adult daycare programs to Japanese American seniors (50+) and their caregivers in San Jose's Japantown. Its core offerings include Senior Day Service (adult daycare), the Nutrition Program (Asian-inspired hot meals and Meals on Wheels), bilingual Social Services case management, and a comprehensive Activities Program covering fitness, arts, technology, and cultural classes. The center operates two physical facilities and is funded through donations, grants, membership fees, and programmatic fees.

Product overview

Yu-Ai Kai is a nonprofit senior center in San Jose's Japantown offering a comprehensive suite of services for seniors (50+) and their families centered around its Healthy Aging Initiative. The core offerings include: Senior Day Service (adult daycare providing socialization, activities, and respite care), the Nutrition Program (Asian-inspired hot meals and Meals on Wheels), Social Services (bilingual case management and referrals), and Activities (fitness classes, arts, technology education, language instruction, and recreational programs). The organization operates two facilities: Yu-Ai Kai (588 N. 4th Street) and Akiyama Wellness Center (110 Jackson Street). Additional services include Senior Club Membership (a paid annual membership unlocking discounts), Support Groups (caregiver and grief support), Room Rentals (event space at both facilities), and the Harnessing Technology Program (digital literacy education). The organization has evolved from its founding in 1974 to serving 130 meals daily with 39 staff members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Senior Day Service Adult daycare program offering dependent older adults a warm, safe, and encouraging environment with structured activities including music, games, art, gentle exercise, dog therapy, intergenerational programming, wellness activities, nutritious snacks, and hot lunch. Bilingual Japanese/English staff. Provides respite for caregivers.
• Nutrition Program Senior nutrition program providing nutritious Asian-inspired hot meals to seniors aged 60+ Monday through Friday. Includes the Yu-Ai Cafe at Japantown and Neighborhood Meals on Wheels home delivery for qualifying seniors in Santa Clara County.
• Social Services Program Bilingual Japanese/English case management services including home visits, assessments, resource connections, form assistance, advocacy, and referrals to social security, Medicare, Medi-Cal, housing, legal assistance, transportation, and food programs.
• Activities Program Comprehensive activity programming around the Healthy Aging Initiative covering fitness classes (Enhance Fitness, Tai Chi, Yoga, Posture Fit), arts and crafts, technology classes, Japanese language instruction, games, movie screenings, and cemetery visits.
• Senior Club Membership Annual membership program ($62/year for ages 50+) providing access to exclusive events, discounted classes, free birthday vouchers, reduced bingo fees, discounts on day trips and room rentals, priority acupuncture scheduling, iPad rentals, and mailed newsletters.
• Support Groups Caregiver Support Groups (English and Japanese) providing emotional, educational, and social support for caregivers, and a Grief Support Group for those experiencing loss of loved ones.
• Room Rentals Rental of event spaces at both Yu-Ai Kai (Rooms 100, 200, 202, 300, 301) and Akiyama Wellness Center (Ginkgo, Kaki, Maple, Sakura, Pine rooms) after agency hours for meetings, luncheons, and events. Discounts for Senior Club Members.
• Harnessing Technology Program Educational technology program teaching seniors how to use technology tools including online grocery services, password management, reminders, rideshare apps (Lyft, Uber, Ryde), and video conferencing via Zoom.
• Yu-Ai Kai Lecture Series Educational lecture and luncheon series featuring guest speakers on topics including Japanese culture, cooking demonstrations, history, arts, and author presentations, distributed via the Yu-Ai Kai Video series.

Quantifiable outcome

• 130 nutritious meals served daily at the nutrition program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• County of Santa ClaracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary funder of Senior Nutrition Program and social services. County Social Services Department provides transportation support. Multiple department partnerships including Senior Nutrition Program, Social Services, and Public Health.
• SourcewisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner for social services and transportation support for seniors accessing nutrition programs.
• Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner organization supporting Asian American seniors.
• Health TrustminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare-focused nonprofit partner supporting wellness programs.
• California WalksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting pedestrian safety and senior mobility programs.
• San Jose BeerwalkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent organizer partner for community fundraising events.
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides food through the Brown Bag Program and supports the nutrition program.
• VTA (Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransportation partner providing VTA Liaison services and Clipper Card assistance for seniors.
• Asian Law AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferral partner for legal assistance services for seniors.
• Neighbors Not Enemies CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition working to repeal the Alien Enemies Act. Yu-Ai Kai joined in 2025 as part of community advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kimochi: San Francisco Japantown senior services nonprofit providing adult day care, nutrition, social services, and in-home support to Japanese American and broader API seniors; directly comparable in mission, culturally-specific focus, and program mix.
• AACI (Asian Americans for Community Involvement): Santa Clara County-based nonprofit serving Asian American communities with social services, behavioral health, and senior programs. Direct regional peer with overlapping target population and referral relationships to Yu-Ai Kai.
• Self-Help for the Elderly: San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) serving Asian (including Japanese American) and other seniors with adult day care, nutrition, social services, and wellness programming — the most direct structural analog to Yu-Ai Kai in another Bay Area Japantown-adjacent community.
• Institute on Aging: San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit providing adult day care, home care, caregiver support, and social services for older adults. Comparable community-based senior services portfolio with strong caregiver and aging-in-place programming.
• Bay Area Community Services: Santa Clara County nonprofit offering community-based senior services, behavioral health, and case management with culturally-competent programs. Comparable regional footprint and adult/community-services model.

Broad incumbents

• On Lok: Bay Area nonprofit pioneering PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) for seniors, providing adult day health, medical, and social services. Comparable service pillars (adult day services, nutrition, case management) but operates at much greater scale and clinical intensity.
• Sourcewise: Santa Clara County's designated Area Agency on Aging, providing county-wide senior services coordination, funding, and resource navigation. Acts as a core funder/referral partner and a broader-incumbent peer operating at scale across the same geography.
• Front Porch: California-based nonprofit operating senior living communities and community programs. Comparable senior-services focus at greater scale and with residential-care offerings Yu-Ai Kai does not provide.
• Covia (formerly Episcopal Senior Communities): Bay Area nonprofit senior services organization offering community programs, wellness, and housing support. Operates at broader scale with similar healthy-aging and community-programming orientation.

Regional players

• Little Tokyo Service Center: Los Angeles Japantown-based community development and social services nonprofit serving Japanese American and broader API seniors with adult day care, case management, and wellness. Comparable mission and culturally-specific model in a different region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/YAKSeniorCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/YuAi-Kai-Japanese-American-Community-4355686

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Community Senior Service of San Jose