The "Nisei" or first-generation children of the Japanese immigrants (Issei), began forming a football team in 1949, playing in the Seattle Independent Leagues and averaged 165lbs/man.  The first official game occured in 1949 when the Nisei accepted an invitation to play the 1949 Associated Boys' Clubs Champion Ballard squad on Dec 4th, 1949.  Roy Mar came over to the Nisei from the China Clippers.
 
Coach Keiji Sato got his start with the Japanese Marmots of the Courier League in 1940 prior to World War II,

Ray Saito knifed through his right tackle into the open and raced 80-yards for the first TD to kickoff the 1950 season.
 
Charlie "Choo-Choo" Chiahara, a former O'Dea High star ran for three TD's in the 1951 season opener of White Center. Gaylord Iwasaki scored the other and kicked PATs. 

Hardhitting fullback Ted Shinoda was named MVP and the Most Inspirational Award went to tackle and linebacker Fred Sato announced during intermission of the Thanksgiving Dance.  Sato was also picked as honorary captain.

Charlie "Choo-Choo" Chiahara was named the teams 1951 Inspirational Player at a banquet at the China Pheasant.
 
The Korean War hit the manpower of the Nisei Vet team so hard the team could not take the field for 1952.  Chiahara, Chuck Kinoshita, and Fred Sato went on to coach little leaguers (12-yrs-old or under 100 lbs).

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