The Zebra Legacy

Over sixty years ago, the San Jose Zebras were formally organized. It might  be considered that the San Jose Y.M.B.A (Young Men’s Buddhist Association) was  the unofficial umbrella organization for the team. It was the church which  provided a social outlet and gathering place for young Japanese-American adults  in the 1930′s. Athletic programs and other opportunities were not as available  to those of Japanese origin as they would be in later years. Like young people  of all generations, Zebras through the years have been sports enthusiasts.  Basketball and baseball proved to be the favorites.

Along with basketball, baseball was played through the 1950′s; first under  the name of the San Jose Asahi and later as the Zebras. From among the baseball  teams of the past, Russell Hinaga traveled to Japan and pitched against Babe  Ruth in an exhibition game. Several others would play on the fringes of  semi-pro ball. A few others made the rosters of other sports at the college  level. San Jose Municipal Stadium was home to the Zebra baseball team for many  years.

The 1930 Zebra basketball team was coached by Everett Roseveare. It was Mr.  Roseveare who secured those first striped uniforms which game birth to the  name, “Zebras”, an organization which continues to survive to this  day. Basketball would continue beyond the 1950′s. Through the years, the Zebra  teams would travel the length of the Pacific Coast, from Seattle to Los  Angeles. Its teams would play in the mid-west, Salt Lake City, Denver, and  Chicago. In the modern era, the San Jose Zebras/Zebraettes would cross the  Pacific Ocean to the villages,towns, and cities of Japan. In those early  decades, the team members were mostly beyond high school. Some were young  parents and most were already in the work force and played basketball in their  spare time.

The distaff side of Zebra basketball was not to be left out. By the early  1930′s, the forerunner of the present day “Zebraettes” began playing  basketball as the “Purplettes”, using the purple and white colors of  the Buddhist Church. Like their male counterparts, team members were, in many  cases, out of high school, working, and/or young mothers. During the early  postwar years, the Purplettes gave way to the immediate predecessors of the  Zebraettes, the “Alphas”. It was in the 1970??s that the Zebraettes  were formed and it was also then that the sponsorship of the organization  changed hands from the church to the players and their families.

There is what might be called a line of demarcation at the end of the  1950′s; and end of an era as the late 1960′s brought in Zebra teams consisting  of high school age players and teams. Prior to this time, there was a wide  range of ages and most of the team members were not prep players. In the modern  era, beginning with the 1970′s, the Zebras were led by Herman Santo and other  old-timers like Chi (“Mr. Zebra”) Akizuki, Clark Taketa, Dan  Fukushima (the former President of the United States High School Basketball  Coaches Association), Tom Ichishi ta, and many other former players. Hoping to  pass on the legacy and tradition of early Zebras, they “re-founded”  the organization to meet the needs of the times, thus making it possible once  again the opportunity for Japanese youth, this time the Sansei (third) and  Yonsei (fourth) generations, to reap the benefits of early and quality  preparations for high school basketball, lifelong friendships, Nikkei  fellowship, and family activities.

Through the 1970′s and 1980′s the Zebra/Zebraette organization would go  through many changes and growing pains. In the 1980′s, the Zebra/Zebraette  Organization was one of the very few basketball organizations in existence that  participated in the sport beyond CYS and concurrently with high school  basketball. At that time, Herman Santo was instrumental in recruiting potential  players. The organization at that time consisted of only older high school age  teams (Juniors/Seniors). Things were very different then. Although the  commitment is still to a small closely knit organization, the organization?s  members realized the need to adjust with the times. Within the organization,  elementary and middle school teams began forming, always guided by the Zebra  philosophy and legacy. In most recent times, many Zebras and Zebraettes have gone on to play and  star on many of the prep basketball teams in the county. Many have been named  to various All-Star, All-City, and All-Tournament teams as prep stars and  Zebra/Zebraette players. Lee Anne Sera played for the two time NCAA champion USC Trojans. Other Zebraettes who would go on to play basketball in college are Shelby Taketa (Cal Poly), Lisa Imahara (San Jose State), Lori  Kozuki (UC Davis), Miranda Seto (UC San Diego), Emily Dinger (Brown), Paige Song (UC San Diego), and Ilene Tsao (Emory University). On the boys’ side, Rex Walters would play in the NCAA  Final Four for the University of Kansas Jayhawks. In 1993, Rex would be the  sixteenth player chosen in the NBA draft and went on to sign a multi-year  contract with the New Jersey Nets. Rex also spent a season as the head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive in the NBA Developmental League and he worked as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons in player development. Rex is currently serving as an Assistant Coach for Wake Forrest. Rex has over 10 years of collegiate head coaching experience (eight years at San Francisco, Florida Atlantic, University of Nevada).  The Terry Maruyama-coached Zebra team on which Rex played would be named the best Japanese-American basketball team of  all time in a Nichi-Bei Times salute to Nikkei athletes and sports.

Today’s Zebras and Zebraettes are the recipients of a torch that has been  passed from generation to generation in hope that they will continue the Zebra  legacy: the best in athletic performance, sportsmanship of the highest quality,  pride in their ethnic background, and adherence to work ethic. In the  beginning, the organization had been founded to promote cultural, economic, and  social exchange along with equitable ethnic competition. In the 1990′s, the  organization reflects the changing and shrinking world in which we live, as the  ethnic make-up of the organization has begun to change. Regardless of what  changes take place or in what direction the organization moves, it will always  be an organization whose players and families keep in mind the Zebra legacy to  which they all owe a great deal of gratitude, a deep sense of responsibility,  and the utmost respect.

The primary role of our coaches is to continually develop basketball skills of our players.  Coaches are recruited by Zebra advisers and team managers.  Our coaches typically have extensive experience coaching both youth basketball and at the high school level.  Our coaches run regular practices once a week during our two seasons (Fall Aug-Nov) and (Spring Mar-June). 

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