Ben Enta Japan House Yukonowa Internship Program Fund
The Ben Enta Japan House Yukonowa Internship Program Fund will be used to support Japan House's student internship program.
Chinoree “Ben” Enta earned a BS in Chemistry and Bacteriology in 1951, and he held a lifelong career as a chemist for the City of Chicago’s water department. Prior to his studies at the University of Illinois, he served in the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division during World War II where he was deployed to Europe. His wife, Kimiyo, worked in insurance, was a professional dancer, and taught Japanese folk dancing. Kimiyo taught Japanese dance for 30 years at the Japanese American Service Committee and the Buddhist Temple of Chicago. Kimiyo passed away at 82 years old in 2006 and Ben passed away at 103 years old in 2019. Both deeply valued sharing Japanese arts and culture and promoting cultural understanding. Their generosity enabled Japan House's student internship program, which began in 2013, to become a paid internship program.
Ben Enta celebrated his 100th Birthday at Japan House in 2017 with a surprise performance from the Marching Illini. Then Consul-General of Japan in Chicago, Koji Kaneko, presented him with the Japanese government's Certificate of the Centenarian!
At 100 years old, he visited Japan House and walked along the Sen Cherry Tree Allée with Gary Nakai of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago.
A lifelong Illini, Ben Enta received an award in 2010 for his generous gift to the Brilliant Futures fundraising campaign. This campaign was the largest development campaign in UofI's history. In addition to supporting Japan House, he established fellowships in chemistry and microbiology as well as general support for the College of LAS.
From left to right: Ben demonstrating his work in the Chicago Water Department, Ben and Kimiyo Enta, and Kimiyo Enta playing koto.