Activities And Accomplishments

. : Contributions to Local, National and International Communities

Society planned and hosted First International Symposium of Japan-America Societies in Honolulu in 1995

• brought together all the societies in Japan and America for the first time
• societies learned about each other for the first time, leading to greater cooperation between and among societies across the Pacific
• strengthened the network of societies, i.e., National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS) in the United States and the National Association of America-Japan Societies (NAAJS) in Japan and bringing visibility to the work of societies
• since 1995 the number of societies in Japan has grown by five; in the United States by six (Japan now has 29 societies; U.S. has 40)
• Second International Symposium of Japan-America Societies held in Fukuoka, Japan in 1998 (hosted by the Japan-America Society of Fukuoka); the Third International Symposium was held in September 2001 in San Francisco (hosted by the Japan Society of Northern California); Fourth to be hosted by the Japan Society of Boston in 2004 in conjunction with their 100th anniversary; Fifth to be held in Kanazawa, Japan

Ehime Maru Fund

• Provided leadership by initiating the Ehime Maru Fund as a means for the people of Hawaii and elsewhere to show their sympathy and support to the families of the Ehime Maru. Established the Organizing Committee of twelve community organizations to support the effort and coordinate the fund raising. $168,000 raised and distributed to the bereaved families of the nine who lost their lives, the survivors and the Uwajima Fisheries High School. Effort helped to maintain and strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship.

Zero Fighter Pilots Association (ZFPA)/Unabarakai Visits

• Assisted the Unabarakai (Association of Japanese WWII veterans) and the Zero Fighter Pilots Association's visit to Hawaii. The Unabarakai visited in December 2000; the ZFPA visited in December 2001. Coordinated a reconciliation "handshaking" ceremony between Japanese and American WWII veterans on both occasions. Assisted the Unabarakai WWII Japanese Veterans in handshaking ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in 2000. Assisted the ZFPA in a handshaking ceremony at Hickam AFB in 2001. Possibly the last reunion of American and Japanese WWII veterans will occur in May 2004 in Los Angeles with the Japan Society of Southern California coordinating the event.