Tsuru for Solidarity honors and remembers beloved healer, community member and friend Alan Tadao Maeda, who we lost on Friday, March 14. Alan was integral to shaping the healing circles for change and healing work that TFS offered, and was a pillar in his local community as well as our national community of healers. 

Alan was one of the early facilitators that joined TFS healing circles when they were formalized in 2020, in addition to supporting multiple support groups across his community in the Bay Area. Alan has been described by both healing circle participants and healing circle co-facilitators as a man with a big heart, gentle, and making you feel like you were his best friend. Alan was also integral in supporting the healing work with some of our community partners, such as supporting regular healing circles with our partner La Resistencia, supporting the on ground healing work and training in the Kanaka Maoli community with our partner Maui Medic Healers Hui, Tule Lake Pilgrimage, and was a consistent trainer for the Healing Circles new facilitator program. Alan was also a Board member at J-Sei, a community and cultural organization where he led long-standing groups including Family Caregiver Support, Aging Together, Healthy Aging, and Men’s Group. He also was part of the local ukulele group, The Sentimental Strummers. He could often be found at the annual J-Sei Crab Feed with his characteristic welcome and warm smile. Alan’s TFS Maui team and flock remembers his culinary confidence, love of water, appreciation of POG juice, and his compassionate dedication to challenge himself in the service of growth and community.

 Alan taught us to really “pause” to be fully present with each other and in our healing circle groups, the importance of human connection, and listening.  Alan dedicated his life to healing and supporting others with their healing journey by laying a foundation of trust and warmth by being his true self. 

Those of us who crossed paths with Alan were always impacted by his joy, his big laugh, and the warmth he radiated. Alan’s legacy of warmth, joy, and not being afraid to be vulnerable will live on in each of us, and he will be remembered with fondness, appreciation, and love. Tsuru for Solidarity is eternally grateful to Alan for all that he has given and modeled for us. We send him a deep bow of appreciation, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family. Mahalo nui loa, beloved Alan!

TFS Healing Circles & Healing Justice team would like to dedicate the Five Daily Reflections of Buddha to Alan:

• Gently breathing, I lovingly remember this body is aging.

• Gently breathing, I lovingly remember this body is vulnerable to illness.

• Gently breathing, I lovingly remember, this body will die.

• Gently breathing, I lovingly remember that I will be separated from all who I love.  That is the nature of change.

• Gently breathing, I lovingly remember to live each moment with love, compassion, shared joy, and equanimity.

In lieu of flowers, Alan requested donations go to J-SEI, Japanese American Community Center  1285 66th Street, Emeryville, CA 94608, (510) 654-4000.

Thank you to TFS Healing Justice team and Kayoko Yokoyama for providing the below videos: