Mineta House Open House and Dedication Article

On November 23, 2025, Wesley Church hosted a joyful Open House and Dedication to celebrate the renovations completed at the Mineta House. After the SOS Thanksgiving luncheon, some of the congregation gathered in the Wesley Garden to welcome members of the Mineta family, many Japantown community partners, and our special guest, City Councilmember Anthony Tordillos.  Wayne Haraguchi honored the Mineta House acquisition team that made the parsonage purchase possible.  Rob Hikido thanked all those who worked on the plans for the renovations itself.  And finally, Bob Yasukawa, the Remodel Project Lead, recognized the many hands who actually turned this historic home into a wonderful parsonage which will house many Wesley ministers for years to come. The afternoon closed with a hands-on water blessing of the Mineta House and an invitation to walk through the beautifully renewed home.

A special word of thanks belongs to Kelli Martines, whose leadership shaped nearly every part of this event. Kelli essentially organized the entire celebration, from logistics to hospitality, ensuring everything flowed with ease and warmth. She crafted the agenda and the poster boards which listed all of the many renovations done to the Mineta House.  She also created the stunning “Mineta House Garden Windows” which were from the original windowpanes taken out during the renovations.  She personally sanded, repainted, restored, and even transformed one pane into a mirror, turning salvaged windows from the house into meaningful pieces of art. The six windowpanes were presented to each member of the Mineta family.  Kelli’s creativity and dedication gave the event its heart.
We are grateful to everyone who attended, and we thank all those who supported the renovations of the Mineta House.

More than a year after purchase, the newly renovated Mineta House was ready to be shown.  An Open House for church members was held on Nov. 16 and the complement was impressed with each room.

Cynthia Fukuda explained what went into the kitchen with new appliances and counters to Barbara Mulford and Misao Kusuda above and Its Yokota below.

The history of the renovation project and imprints of the 1929 house were set up to explain all that had transpired.

Joyce Mineta & family members attended the parsonage dedication on Nov. 22

Rob Hikido (left) was one of the principle project team members and conversed with Mari Mineta Clapp.

Director of Administration and boots on the ground doing much of the behind the scenes organizing this event, Kelli Martines has a chat with Victoria Taketa of the Japantown Community Congress.

Wesley was thrilled to host community members who were pleased that this historical building would remain an integral part of Japantown's history.

David Mineta talked about the Mineta family especially his dad, Norman Mineta who grew up in the house which has become our new Parsonage.  He spoke of how appreciative that it all worked out that Wesley put in a high enough bid to purchase it and keep the families legacy and history alive.

Wayne Haraguchi talked about all the activity and negotiations ongoing during the sale of the property to Wesley. It was never a sure thing.

Rev. John gave words of thanksgiving and was pleased at the thought that in a few months, he and his family will be able to move in having been living in boxes and moving three times this past 3 years, waiting.

The entire BOT project rested on the dedication and tedious work of the folks so honored on Nov. 23.

Lead project manager, Bob Yasukawa, who was on site daily for over a year talks about the changes made to the inside of the Mineta house to community folk.

Cindy Fukuda demonstrates the black out blinds located in the master bedroom to Victoria Taketa.

Jim Nagareda talks with Todd Yoshida in this very well lighted bedroom.