Jan Ken Po Gakko is a parent cooperative program that educates children and their families about Japanese-American culture through exploration in  language, music, arts and cooking.

The name, Jan Ken Po Gakko was adopted from a Japanese children`s game, it is an Americanized version of Jan Ken Pon (paper-scissors-stone).

The name illiustrates the emphasis the parents wanted to place about learning Japanese culture within an atmosphere of fun. Mrs. Fumiko Nishio, a Kibei (American born and educated in Japan) added a symbolic interpretation to the name when told about the school. She commented, “Maa, rippa na namae desu ne”, (My, such a grand name). What forethought of the young parents in selecting such a name. Jan Ken Pon is played by at least two persons and is symbolic of our two countries, Japan and America, and the bridging of our two cultures.