Japan-America Journal
Volume 22, Number 3 - Fall 2004
- The 2004 Annual Dinner: Ambassador Kato, the Students, and 150 Years of Relationship
- Message from the Chair
- Imperial Award Decoration
- Junior Ambassadors participate in 16th APCC
- Atop the First Hawaiian Center: FHB 5:01
- Japan America Student Conference
- Sword Program with Dr. Gordon Robson
- Changes in Japan's Judicial System
- In Memorium
- Annual General Membership Meeting
- Servco-Lexus 5:01
- Tomodachi Temple and Shrine Tour
- Mahalo to Northwest Airlines
- Korea Trilogy II: A Second Look at the Impact of Korea on U.S.-Japan Relations
- An Evening of Art and Education: UH CBA 5:01
- Start up of Sister Schools Program
- CPASF Alumni Association Update
- Hawaii Opera Theatre's "The Mikado"
- Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
- Welcome to the Society's New Corporate Members
The attendance of Society members and friends, ranging from students to community leaders, further deepened U.S.-Japan friendships at the Society's 28th Annual Dinner on August 10th at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Classical music, provided by an Iolani School string quartet, and poster boards displaying the Society's many programs such as Japan Perspectives school programs and membership programs, welcomed the many guests at the pre-dinner reception.
The Society was honored to have Ambassador Ryozo Kato as its keynote speaker. During his keynote address, Ambassador Kato expressed his pleasure to be in Hawaii and that it was a wonderful opportunity to take a look at Japan-U.S. relations. He stated that the U.S.-Japan relationship has never been stronger, at a time it needs to be strong due to the current state of world affairs. The Ambassador focused "…on how our two nations are coming together in new and expanding ways" and cited examples such as the restructuring of the Japanese economy, and an increase in cross-cultural understanding and familiarity. Most importantly, U.S. and Japan are actively coming together to work on international issues such as fighting the war on terrorism. Ambassador Kato concluded his speech by recognizing the strength of our countries' alliance and the close relationship between our leaders with "…Japan is proud to be America's friend. Japan is proud to be America's ally." Ambassador Kato's words reaffirmed the Society's mission of "promoting understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and the United States through the unique perspective of Hawaii."
As part of the program, the Society invited the winning high school teams from the Japan Wizards Competition to share their competition experiences with Annual Dinner guests. Cory Black (Roosevelt High School), Melisa Chiem (McKinley High School), Joleen Oshiro (Iolani School), and Scott Seki (Punahou School) all conveyed how each of their school team's hard work and dedication paid off and how the prize trip to Japan turned their studies in the classroom to real life. Teachers Jo Ann Akamine (Iolani School) and Francine Fujinaka (Roosevelt High School) described their students' learning and appreciation to the Society for providing their students with this exceptional opportunity. The Society sincerely thanks Mrs. Marjorie Midkiff for sponsoring the two tables for the students and teachers at the Annual Dinner.
The Society sincerely thanks the following: all members and guests who attended; the table sponsors and donors (see list on next page); Ambassador Ryozo Kato and his wife Hanayo; Senator Daniel Inouye for introducing the Ambassador, Kaori Varney and the Sheraton Waikiki staff for their excellent service; the Iolani student string quartet and harpist Nyle Hallman for their lovely music welcoming guests and during dinner; Watanabe Floral for their beautiful rose donation; The Cherry Company for donating the sake for the kanpai and to Paradise Beverages for the wine served with dinner; Stryker Weiner & Yokota Public Relations for designing the invitations and programs; Consul General Masatoshi Muto for presenting the kanpai and to Mr. Siegfried Ramler for his terrific job as Master of Ceremonies. Last but not least, mahalo nui loa to Society Director Robin Campaniano, 2004 Annual Dinner Chair and his staff at AIG Hawaii for their tremendous support for a very successful evening. We couldn't have done it without all of you!
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Aloha pume hana,
It is a pleasure to open this message with words of appreciation and congratulations to those who carry out our mission to promote friendship between the peoples of the United States and Japan.
Our Junior Ambassadors, eight 11-year-old delegates to the 16th Asian-Pacific Children's Convention, spent two weeks with 300 students from 52 countries in Fukuoka, learning about each other. They shared their experiences with Governor Linda Lingle during a private "welcome home" meeting, and told her what they value most from their trip was learning how to respect each other.
Our Society also sponsored the Japan trip for the winning teams of the Japan Wizards Competition. Twelve high school students from Punahou and Iolani Schools, and McKinley and Roosevelt High Schools attended our Annual Dinner with a team representative speaking about the understanding they gained by experiencing the culture and traditions of Japan. Our keynote speaker, Ambassador Ryozo Kato, was impressed with the students, as he called on the young generation to continue the strong friendship that has lasted 150 years.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry each year recognizes individuals and organizations who have contributed to the bilateral relationship. This year, our affiliated organization, the Ehime Maru Memorial Association, was awarded the prestigious Foreign Minister's award. Our congratulations and thanks to Earl Okawa and his staff who have led the community effort to honor the lost members of the Ehime Maru crew with a lasting memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park.
In September, we welcomed new directors and bid aloha to departing directors at our annual meeting (please see Annual Meeting article). Special recognition went to Ruth Ono and Marjorie Midkiff who joined our Senior Advisory Council after many decades of service. We look forward to their continued support and counsel.
On behalf of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, dozo yoroshiku onegai itashimasu. Our deep appreciation for your continued support.
Mahalo pono,
Barbara Tanabe
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Congratulations to Mr. Howard Karr, past chair of the Society and current chair of the Society's Development Committee on receiving the Imperial Award, "The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette." This honor was awarded by the Government of Japan for Mr. Karr's commitment to U.S.-Japan relations, especially during the time of the Ehime Maru accident when he was Chair of the Society. Mahalo and congratulations to Mr. Karr.
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Eight 11-year old Junior Ambassadors (JAs) represented Hawaii at the 16th Annual Asian-Pacific Children's Convention in Fukuoka from July 14-28. During the convention, the JAs had the opportunity to interact with other JAs from 52 different Asian-Pacific countries. They attended a Global Camp the first week, where they lived in dormitories and took part with the other participants in many activities such as Japanese arts and crafts, a Japanese style sports day, the wearing of traditional Japanese clothing, and a cultural performance where they danced the hula. During the second week, each JA lived with a homestay family in Nakagawa town and learned more about Japanese culture through daily workshops in ikebana, tea ceremony, and calligraphy. They also visited a junior high school. Additionally, the mayor of Nakagawa honored the JAs with a special ceremony and gift.
Before leaving for Japan, Governor Linda Lingle honored the JAs on July 6 for being selected to participate in the 16th APCC. The Governor spoke to the JAs about their responsibility of representing Hawaii while in Japan and to the participants from other countries. The JAs each received a Commendation certificate personally from the Governor, and were featured in the Governor's weekly e-newsletter. After returning from their trip, the JAs were able to meet with Governor Lingle again on August 6 to share their observations and experiences in Japan. The JAs expressed their appreciation to participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity and individually spoke about their most memorable experience such as making friends with peers from many different countries and the warm welcome they received from their host families. The Governor also asked the JAs, "If you could bring one thing back from Japan that we don't have in Hawaii, what would it be?" One of the JAs responded that he wished he could bring back a professional baseball team like the Daiei Hawks back to Hawaii while another wished for the convenience of vending machines on all street corners as in Japan.
A special mahalo nui loa to Governor Lingle for taking the time to meet our Junior Ambassadors, and to Jim McCoy from Ho'akea Communications and Leslie Chow, Loke Kim, Candace Lee Kraughto, and Gloria Shigeta from the Governor's Office for arranging the courtesy visits. JASH would also like to thank JAS Fukuoka for their terrific support, as they greeted our Hawaii group with gifts at the airport and attended cultural performances during the Convention.
Applications for the next APCC will be available in the fall for children born between September 1, 1993 and August 31, 1994. Applications are expected to be sent out in late November or early December.
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JASH members and guests of First Hawaiian Bank's July 8th Hawaii 5:01 Program were treated to wonderful panoramic views from the Banker's Club atop the First Hawaiian Center. During the program, Mr. Tony Guerrero, FHB Executive Vice President, shared First Hawaiian's deep relationship and experiences with the Society. President Earl Okawa also acknowledged Society Vice President Loren Petrowski, who was leaving the Society to re-pursue a career in catering and conventions at the Royal Hawaiian. We wish Loren the best of luck! The Society also welcomed two friends from JAS Osaka who were visiting Hawaii, Dr. Motoko Tsuzuku and her mother, Mrs. Reiko Tsuzuku. We hope they enjoyed an evening of "opening minds and hearts in friendship" with us.
First Hawaiian Bank (www.fhb.com), founded in 1858, is Hawaii's oldest financial institution and its largest, based on total assets. The bank is headquartered in Honolulu and has 56 branches throughout Hawaii, three in Guam and two in Saipan; an offshore branch in Grand Cayman, British West Indies; and a representative office in Tokyo, Japan. Its subsidiaries include First Hawaiian Insurance, Inc., which sells life insurance and long-term care and disability insurance products; First Hawaiian Leasing, Inc., primarily engaged in commercial equipment and vehicle leasing; and Bishop Street Capital -Management Corporation, a registered investment advisor which furnishes money management services to institutional and individual clients.
A warm mahalo to FHB's Mr. Walter Dods, Mr. Raymond Ono, and Mr. Tony Guerrero for a successful 5:01 program and their unwavering support of the Society. We appreciate the opportunity FHB provided for our new and prospective corporate members to become acquainted with the Society.
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The JASC recently met in Hawaii to celebrate its 70th anniversary and the 56th JASC. Society president Earl Okawa participated in the program, joining Dr. Robert Huey, moderator, and panelists Dr. George Tanabe and Dr. Takie Lebra to discuss the Ehime Maru lessons learned. Forty Japanese and 39 American college students participated in learning about each other and learning about their roles in promoting the United States-Japan relationship. President Okawa also gave the keynote address at the JASC Alumni meeting. Former Japan Society of New York president, Ambassador William Clark, was present as JASC president and chair.
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Perhaps it was The Last Samurai or the realization of this rare opportunity to see and learn about swords from the Yamato era that drew a turn-away crowd. Unfortunately, the number of participants had to be limited because of safety and security reasons. Thanks to the support of Society member Mark Robinson who is also a member of the Pacific International Japanese Sword Society, members were able to hear Dr. Gordon Robson explain about the 10 special swords from Japan. Dr. Robson, Director of the Nihon Token Hozon Kai, described the differences in the kitae, hamon, boshi, and nakago of the swords and schools-Senjuin (late Heian to Muromachi), Taema (late Kamakura to early Muromachi), Shikkake (late Kamakura to late Muromachi), Tegai (mid-Kamakura to late Muromachi) and Kanabo (late Muromachi). The swords were valued at over a half-million dollars. After a short course on sword etiquette and handling technique, attendees were allowed to handle the swords to more closely examine the fine points made during the lecture. The Society expresses its appreciation to Mark Robinson for his continued support of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii.
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On Monday, July 26, JASH members and guests had the pleasure of attending an informative lecture by UH Richardson School of Law Professor Mark Levin on "Changes in Japan's Judicial System." Levin gave a brief history on Japan's legal education and its issues, explaining that before 1999, reform was not on the agenda. Some of the shortcomings of the Japanese legal system education included unilateral teaching styles of law professors without active participation from students; university law majors not necessarily leading to law careers due to the Ministry of Justice's strict limitations on the number of available lawyer seats each year; and the existence of only an exclusive handful of law schools. Other problems were the challenges of citizens' access to justice, especially in rural areas, and business interests concerned with the legal setup.
But in a wave of idealism and revolution, a carefully designed re-creation of the Japanese judicial system has taken place over the past five years. Much of the restructuring has been based on the American legal education system, and in April 2004, 66 new law schools opened in Japan. Some of the expected improvements include a decrease in the diversity of social classes with the expansion of schools, and a shift of more professors practicing Socratic methods of teaching. With the increase of Japanese law students graduating in the next three years, there is a possible impact for Hawaii employers as these graduates may look for employment here.
Levin shared many of his short, intermediate, and long- term questions of Japan's new legal system, such as "Can American style legal education happen in Japan?" and "Will this new legal education system be again fossilized into the new framework?" With all of the hard work the Japanese have put into reforming their legal system, Levin hopes that there will be results to be proud of. He will be interested and waiting to see if the U.S. will be able to learn from Japanese legal education in the future.
The lunch session also included two other professors, Kent Anderson, who has a dual appointment with Waseda Law School and The Australian National University, and Masaki Igawa of Meijo University, who is currently in Richardson School of Law's LLM Program, to share comments and opinions on the current changes.
Arigatou gozaimasu to Mark Levin, Kent Anderson, and Masaki Igawa for presenting their views on the interesting transformation of the Japanese judicial system. A special thank you goes out to Mr. Wayne Ishihara, Senior VP of American Savings Bank and Society Director, for allowing the Society access to the HEI Conference Room and to former dean Larry Foster of the UH Law School.
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The Japan-America Society of Hawaii lost another of its leaders recently. Society Board member and former chair, Dr. Robert K. Sakai, passed away on August 15, 2004. Dr. Sakai was instrumental in the sister society relationship between the Society and the Japan-America Society of Hiroshima signed on May 27, 1997. Dr. Sakai was also a Trustee on the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation Board of Trustees and for many years, chaired the important Screening Committee for the scholarship program. A dedicated supporter of the Society and the CPASF and especially to students, Dr. Sakai will be sorely missed by many. The Society extends its deepest condolences to Mrs. Sady Sakai and son Robert and daughter Ann.
The Society also lost two other members recently, Masao Wakatake and George Takabayashi. Both were former presidents of the United Japanese Society and community leaders. Mr. Wakatake assisted the Ehime Maru Memorial Association by helping to coordinate volunteers to clean the Memorial. The Society extends its deepest condolences to the Wakatake and Takabayashi families.
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On September 8, 2004, members of the Society gathered for the Annual General Membership Meeting at Hawaii Tokai International College. The annual meeting allows members to learn the current status of the Society and to elect members to the Board of Directors. Members were also treated to two presentations by Crown Prince Akihito Scholars Hiromi Monobe, who spoke about the "Americanization of the Nisei," and Aya Kitamura, who spoke about "Multiplicities of Japanese Women in Hawaii." Both presentations were excellent and very well received. The Society thanks Ms. Monobe and Ms. Kitamura for their continued support of the Society.
Chair Tanabe expressed her appreciation to all of the Directors and members of the Society for their continued support. She also introduced the new members of the staff, including Marsha Yokomichi, the new vice president; Eileen Beamis, the program coordinator who started in April; and Hiromi Monobe, director of the Society's Sister Schools Relationship Program. She also extended her appreciation to Yukari Naka, an intern from Southern Oregon University and Elna Oshiro, volunteer.
The Board of Directors Class of 2002-2004 was up for reelection as the Class of 2005-2007. Also nominated were nine prominent members of the community. They are: Mr. Francis Sogi, Admiral Thomas Fargo, Dr. Thomas Kosasa, Ms. Judith Perry, Dr. Stephen Little, Mr. Atsuhiko Tateuchi, Mr. Michael Tomihara, Mr. Neil Takekawa, and Mr. Lawrence Okinaga. The election of the Class of 2005-2007 and the nine nominees was approved by the membership. The nine new directors will assume their role as directors of the Board of Directors on January 1, 2005. Thus, the entire Board of Directors is depicted in the classes shown below:
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Class of 2003-2005
Clinton Arnoldus
Paul Devens
Brenda Lei Foster
Lloyd Fujie
Norman Goldstein
Howard Hamamoto
Wayne Hamano
Momi Utako Hudson
Robert Lees
Michael Leineweber
Stephen Little
David McClain
Sharon Minichiello
Yoshimori Nakajima
Lawrence Okinaga
Siegfried Ramler
Peter Shaindlin
Noriharu Takazawa
Jack Takeda
Barbara Tanabe
Dennis Tsuhako
Tetsushi Uno
Sharon Weiner
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Class of 2004-2006
Stan Brown
Stanford Carr
Clayton Fujie
Robert Ichikawa
Atsuko Igarashi
Wayne Ishihara
Joseph Kim
Bert Kobayashi
Akemi Kurokawa
Glenn Miyataki
Charles Morrison
Gary Oda
Akira Ohtomo
Merle Okawara
Judith Perry
Jean Rolles
Ted Saeki
Joichi Saito
Ryozo Sakai
Peter Schall
Millie Takesue
Joyce Tsunoda
Allen Uyeda
Allan Yasue
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Class of 2005-2007
Sachi Braden
Robin Campaniano
Cedric Choi
Norrie Del Vecchio
George Ellis
Thomas Fargo
Michael Fisch
Andrew Friedlander
Mark Fukunaga
Andrew Hashimoto
Howard Karr
Thomas Kosasa
Wayne Miyao
Albert Miyasato
Yoji Nakamura
Margaret Oda
Yoshiharu Satoh
Stanley Sawai
Francis Sogi
Kenji Sumida
Neil Takekawa
Atsuhiko Tateuchi
Michael Tomihara
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The Nominating Committee also nominated the following officers for 2005 (to be elected at the next Board of Directors meeting): Chair of the Board of Directors- Barbara Tanabe; Vice Chair/Secretary- Michael Leineweber; Vice Chair/Treasurer- Gary Oda;Vice Chairs- Ryozo Sakai, Peter Schall, Kenji Sumida, and Allen Uyeda. Directors Mrs. Marjorie Midkiff and Dr. Ruth Ono were nominated to the Senior Advisory Council.
The Society extends sincere appreciation to all of these community leaders who voluntarily support the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, providing the lead ership, expertise, support in fundraising and programs and building relationships locally, nationally, and internationally. MAHALO!
The Treasurer's Report was also approved by the membership. The Society's finances at the end of August 31, 2004 showed a surplus in operations of $56,640. Chair Tanabe informed the membership of her intention of establishing a Finance & Audit Committee and Human Resource Committee. This is in response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act for stronger corporate governance. She will propose establishing these two committees at the next Board meeting.
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Society members and guests were treated to an evening filled with warm camaraderie, great conversation, and beautiful cars at the Servco-Lexus Showroom at 650 Kapiolani Boulevard on Thursday, August 19, 2004. Society Director, Mark Fukunaga, Chairman and CEO of Servco Pacific Inc, and Rick Ching, Senior VP of Retail Operations, hosted this 5:01 event where attendees enjoyed an impressive assortment of delicious pupus from L'Uraku restaurant. All that attended were drawn to take a closer look at the beautiful Millennium Silver Metallic Hardtop Convertible SL430 parked right outside the Lexus showroom. One member had the opportunity to take the car for a test drive!
Servco-Lexus, a Servco Pacific Company, has represented the fine line of Lexus automobiles since 1989. The Lexus line-up now includes luxurious and sporty sedans, coupes and sports utility vehicles. Servco-Lexus is a full service dealer with their parts, service and sales departments. Their two locations on Oahu and Maui are committed to providing the best quality, the best driving experience, and the best service. For more information about Servco-Lexus, visit www.ServcoLexus.com.
Mahalo nui loa to Mr. Fukunaga, Mr. Ching, Ms. Dany Okamura, and the Servco-Lexus staff for organizing such an exciting night for our members, guests, and prospective members to become more acquainted with the Society!
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Society members and guests enjoyed another great "Temple and Shrine Tour" led by Dr. George Tanabe, Professor of Religion at the University of Hawaii, on Friday, September 17, 2004. Dr. Tanabe's first Tomodachi Temple Tour was held in the summer of 2001 and was so popular that Dr. Tanabe was asked to host another tour this year. This time, 25 lucky participants went on an excursion touring two Buddhist temples - Jodo Mission and Soto Mission and one Shinto shrine - Izumo Taisha. Members met with Bishop Nakamura of the Jodo Mission, Bishop Machida of the Soto Mission, and Reverend Amano of Izumo Taisha and listened as they spoke about the histories of their temples and shrine.
The ornate gold decorations of the Buddhist altars were in stark contrast to the understated simplicity of the Shinto shrine. All three shared a similar purpose when they were first established: "To minister to Japanese citizens who migrated to Hawaii." Over the years, all three have had their own challenges with the dwindling size of their congregations. However, these days, the numbers seem to be on the rise as all three renewed their efforts to appeal to the local Americanized population, who are now the third and fourth generation families of the Japanese immigrants.
The tour ended with a delicious lunch at Legends Chinese Restaurant, where members compared their views of the differences between the temples and shrine and shared their own experiences visiting temples and shrines in Japan.
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The Society would like to acknowledge and thank our corporate friend, Northwest Airlines, for their wonderful support. Ms. Nani Mahoe, Director of District Sales, has shown NWA's continued dedication through the donation of airlines tickets for various Society fundraisers, and has provided tickets for Society staff to attend the annual meeting for the National Association of Japan-America Societies in October in Boston. The Society would be at a loss without NWA's support. Doomo arigatou gozaimasu!
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The Japan-America Society of Hawaii and co-sponsor Pacific and Asian Affairs Council presented its second Korea Trilogy on Tuesday, September 28th at Hawaii Tokai International College. The first Korea Trilogy was held in 1998 and initially discussed the historical/cultural, economic/business, and political/security perspectives of the trilateral relationship. The Society's Program Committee decided to hold another Korea Trilogy because of the many issues on the Korean Peninsula (North Korea nuclear weapons development, NK abduction of Japanese citizens, U.S. force restructuring in the Republic of Korea (ROK), growing anti-American sentiment in the ROK, etc) that are impacting the United States-Japan relationship.
Korea Trilogy II consisted of two panels covering the internal and external perspectives of the trilateral relationship. Ambassador Charles Salmon, State Department Advisor for the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), served as moderator during the discussions and the Q&A following each session.
Dr. Jung Hyun Shin, a visiting East-West Center scholar in residence and Professor of Political Science at Kyung Hee University, discussed the changing North and South Korea relationship and the U.S.-ROK relationship. Dr. Shin began by explaining about the South's "Sunshine Policy," a policy seeking peace and reconciliation with the North. He cited an industrial complex being built 50 miles north of Seoul that will accommodate 900 companies when completed in 2008. Dr. Shin stated that the last election gave President Roh Moo-Hyun a mandate for the policy of engagement with the North. However, the Bush administration has not supported the ROK's engagement policy and as a result, U.S.-ROK relations are strained. He added that the South sees Kim Jong-Il as someone they can deal with while the Bush administration sees a failing totalitarian state willing to sell weapons of mass destruction. With a growing anti-American sentiment, he sees the ROK-U.S. alliance in jeopardy.
Mr. Brad Glosserman, Director of Research at Pacific Forum CSIS, provided insights on U.S. relations with Japan and Korea as an Internal U.S. presenter. He noted that U.S.-Japan relations are at an all time best and cited poll results in both the U.S. and Japan that reflected this. Additionally, Americans are positive with Prime Minister Koizumi who has broken the role of Japanese bureaucrats with the dispatch of the Japan Self Defense Forces to Iraq and other initiatives. With the pullout of U.S. forces from Korea, Mr. Glosserman felt that Japan would want a stronger U.S.-Japan alliance for regional stability. On U.S.-ROK relations, he cited how they had been Cold War partners and how the ROK has fought with the U.S. in every war. However, he saw trouble in the relationship. The 2002 deaths of two Korean school girls by U.S. soldiers and the U.S. silence to the anti-American effort of the Progressives have shaken the alliance. The U.S. is also concerned with the NK threat of proliferation of WMD.
Dr. Yoichiro Sato, an Associate Professor at the APCSS who had just returned from a trip to Japan, explored Japan's perspective of the U.S. and ROK as an Internal Japan speaker. He agreed with Mr. Glosserman that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the best it has ever been. Economically, he said the U.S. is Japan's number one trade partner. However, he gave credit to Japan's economic rise to trade with China. Militarily, Dr. Sato cited several legislation, including the overseas use of the Japan Self Defense Forces; the Peace Keeping Operations (PKO) law that permits the JSDF to serve in Cambodia, the Golan Heights, East Timor and Mozambique. He stated that Japan is gradually shedding its stance on collective defense. Regarding force deployments, he said any move of U.S. forces out of Okinawa would be welcome by the central and prefectural governments. He added that there is discussion about making Yokota Air Base a joint use U.S./JSDF base but not for commercial use, which Tokyo Governor Ishihara has been seeking. Culturally, Dr. Sato cited America's growing affinity of Japanese culture, especially in anime. Focusing on the Japan-ROK relationship, Dr. Sato said it is better than ever. He cited strong Japanese investment in the ROK, including technology transfer and a move towards forming a free trade area for Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia. Militarily, Japan and the ROK have begun military exchanges, especially between the navies. Japan's main threat is North Korea but is concerned about reunification. Culturally, the ROK has lifted import restrictions on Japanese music, TV, and movies. He cited the World Cup as an example of the closer relationship and the popularity of Korean soap dramas in Japan and the growing number of tours to Korea.
Mr. Ralph Cossa, President of Pacific Forum CSIS, opened the second session as an External Korea speaker. He spoke about the 2000 Sunshine Policy and how it has changed the way people think on the Korean Peninsula. He noted how different segments in the ROK have different views of the U.S. stating that on one hand, the U.S. is asking the ROK to assist with dealing with North Korea but on the other hand, aggravating U.S.-ROK relations (two school girls killed, restructuring of forces). There is also change in the attitude of North Korea where instead of only blaming the U.S., NK now also blames the ROK. This change is a result of the revelation of ROK's experiment with uranium enrichment. Mr. Cossa stated that a unified view is required to deal with NK where the U.S. wants to have a complete disarmament of NK's nuclear and uranium enrichment programs. He cautioned that should the ROK and NK unify and then turn to China for support rather than the U.S., it would present a threat to Japan and cause an unstable situation. Then Mr. Cossa made the case for a three-way relationship between the U.S.-Japan-ROK, a virtual alliance, which will best serve stability and the interests of all three countries.
Dr. Sheila Smith, East-West Center Fellow, shared her insights as an External Japan speaker. She posed the question, "How do you cope with domestic political change within the societies, in addition to changing politics?" She stated that public perceptions in the U.S. and Japan differ, such as on global views. But on the government side, the U.S. and Japan are close, perhaps with some difference in implementation of policies. Domestically, Koizumi went to NK in 2001 and met with Kim Jong Il and got an admission that NK had abducted Japanese citizens. In 2004, Koizumi made another trip to NK. At the same time, Japan's Defense Agency has completed contingency planning to attack NK and additional measures have been taken against NK, such as measures to board NK ships. Dr. Smith then gave some background on Japan-ROK relations, noting that relations were normalized only from 1965. There are 600,000 Koreans living in Japan. A positive step in the relationship was when Kim Dae Jung told the Emperor that the two countries should focus on the 1000 years of positive relations. Regarding reunification, she stated that no one in Korea wants to have it anytime soon.
Consul Takashi Hatori, Consul for General Affairs at the Consulate General of Japan at Honolulu, mentioned that he had accompanied Prime Minister Koizumi on his last trip to North Korea in May 2004. Key concerns Consul Hatori mentioned about NK are how to stop NK's misconduct and to have NK become a responsible member of the international community. He said NK is key to peace and stability in Northeast Asia but there are many concerns such as its missile development, nuclear program, deployment of a million soldiers along the DMZ, and conducting terrorist acts in the 1970s and 1980s. While NK expects Japan and the ROK to provide economic assistance, he said it would be difficult for Japan to do so based on the current situation. He suggested that only upon completion of normalization would it be possible to provide substantial economic assistance. Study had been done earlier on how much economic assistance could be provided and while he could not give the amount, he stated that the media speculated that it would have amounted to $10B over ten years. He quickly noted that the Japanese people would not agree to that amount based on the current situation. He did provide an insight to the economic difficulty NK is facing. During the trip to Pyongyang they had to go to a meeting at night and although they were on the main street, the streetlights were not turned on and they were forced to take the 15-minute walk in the dark. He ended by saying that since he was initially asked to talk about the U.S. and he had been here only two years, he would ask the Consul General for an extension of four more years to better prepare himself.
The Society and PAAC thank all speakers for sharing their expertise, allowing each attendee to better understand the complex issues facing the negotiators and officials as they deal with North Korea and stability in Northeast Asia. Special thanks to Ambassador Salmon for emceeing the trilogy and also for serving on the planning committee. Thanks also to Program Chair Kenji Sumida and other members of the Program Committee for their help and support and to Hawaii Tokai International College for providing the use of their conference facilities.
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The beautiful courtyard behind UH Manoa's John Young Museum of Art was the venue for UH College of Business Administration's 5:01 reception on Thursday, September 23, 2004. This program was in cooperation with the Center for Japanese Studies and the School of Hawaiian, Asian & Pacific Studies, and provided an opportune time to congratulate some of our Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship recipients and broaden awareness of the scholarship. Attendees were able to see the regular museum exhibit, as well as a special display of ceramics by Shungen Inouye, a Japanese man who studied art and received a BA and MFA at UH. Also in attendance were Ambassador Masaji Takahashi, former Japanese Consul General of Honolulu, and his wife, Yuri, who were in town for a short visit to Hawaii. The Society was delighted to have Ambassador Takahashi share a few remarks regarding his experiences of attending past 5:01s and the great opportunities scholars have as CPASF recipients.
Established in 1949, the UH College of Business Administration is renowned for its expertise in international management education and was once again ranked among the nation's top 20 graduate schools for international business by U.S. News & World Report. Long recognized for its Asia-Pacific focus, the College offers a wide variety of degree, certificate and executive programs featuring leading-edge courses in entrepreneurship and e-commerce. UH CBA is the only business program in the State of Hawaii accredited by AACSB International-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
A great big mahalo to Society Director and UH Acting President David McClain, CBA Interim Dean Jim Wills, Vice Chancellor Neal Smatresk, CJS Director Bob Huey, Gay Satsuma, Kazutoh Ishida, Laurel King, Dolly Omiya, and CBA and Museum staff for a fun and educational night!
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The Japan-America Society of Hawaii is launching its Sister Schools Program, under the direction of new staff member Dr. Hiromi Monobe, with generous financial support from the Freeman Foundation. The goal of the program is to establish sister school relationships between middle schools in Japan and in Hawaii to deepen understanding and friendship through school visits, correspondence, joint web projects, and other activities. Dr. Monobe is a recent graduate of UH and a recipient of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship. She visited Japan in September to begin the search for appropriate schools and establish new connections.
The Sister Schools Program is an integral part of the Society's new Continuum of School Programs Project for K-12 students in Hawaii. The Society's educational programs' primary focus is to teach children the concept of different perspectives, i.e. to gain the skill of inquiry and to develop an open-minded attitude. The Sister Schools Program will provide middle school students with opportunities to reinforce and experience this concept of different perspectives. Going abroad during their younger ages will have a profound impact on our youth and will help them to become future leaders and true global citizens, especially in this rapidly shrinking world and increasingly multicultural society of the United States.
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Forty-five years ago, Mr. Ralph Honda offered an idea of establishing a scholarship as a wedding tribute to the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Japan. That scholarship, the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship (CPAS), benefits scholars from Japan and the United States and continues to this day. As of September 2004, the number of scholarship recipients stands at 116 (71 Americans and 45 Japanese). There are six current Crown Prince Akihito Scholars studying at the University of Hawaii Graduate School and in institutions in Japan.
The CPAS alumni, 107 (3 scholars whereabouts are unknown at this time) strong, are living and working throughout the international community. Hawaii is home to 39 alumni and 31 others live in 18 states throughout the United States, 32 alumni live in 17 of Japan's prefectures. Five alumni live in Brazil, England, Switzerland and American Samoa.
A survey is currently being administered to the CPAS alumni in an effort to document the scholars' accomplishments, interests, and talents. We hope to summarize the results in a future issue of the Japan-America Journal.
Unfortunately, the whereabouts of three alumni remain unknown. The three alumni the CPASF is still trying to locate are: (1) Ruth W. Robertson (Stevens), a member of the first class of Americans who received the scholarship; (2) Roy Kenichi Yoshimoto received the scholarship in 1978-79 and co-translated An Introduction to Zen Training: A Translation of Sanzen Nyumon (Tuttle, 2002); and (3) Masahide Kato who received the scholarship in 1986-87 and worked for some time at KTUH. If anyone has contact information on these three scholars, please notify the CPASF Office at (808) 524-4450 or at cpasf@mac.com.
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Those who were fortunate enough to see Hawaii Opera Theatre's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" from August 6-15 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall, were treated to an evening filled with hilarious antics and innuendos highlighting Japanese customs. Artistic Director, Henry Akina, revised some of the character lines to bring this classic 1885 "light opera" up to modern times. The result was a presentation that the audience could easily relate to, despite Japanese Consul General Masatoshi Muto's humour claim (made in his cameo appearance) that "this is a different Japan than the one I know and represent." Add to this, the distinctive sounds of the taiko (Kenny Endo), beautifully-designed costumes (Anne Namba), and an authentic sumo wrestler (Ace Yonamine) and you have a show that was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
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As the 150th anniversary commemoration draws to a close, all in Hawaii were reminded of the rich cultural relationship that exists between Hawaii and Japan. The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra made only its second trip ever to Hawaii to help commemorate the 150 years of the United States-Japan relationship. Coordinated by Sawayaka Hawaii and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu and the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra gave two sterling performances at the Blaisdell Concert Hall on August 24 and 25, 2004 under the direction of music director and chief conductor Kenichiro Kobayashi. Also featured were violinist Masayuki Kino and guitarist Kaori Muraji. The Society is proud to have been a supporter and extends appreciation to the Consul General Masatoshi Muto and Sawayaka Hawaii for bringing this major musical event to Hawaii.
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Miller/Watts Constructors, Inc.: As a heavy engineering and general contractor, Miller/Watts build projects that include, but are not limited to, complex concrete structures, underground utilities, deep-shored excavations, high voltage underground electrical transmission, marine waterfront construction, and design-build projects of all types. Miller/Watts' work mix is a combination of both public and private work with sites ranging from downtown urban locations and heavy industrial facilities to remote rural locations. Miller/Watts Constructors Inc. spans the Western United States with offices in California, Washington, and Hawaii. Miller/ Watts has an outstanding staff of project managers, superintendents, quality control managers, and safety personnel to support its field operations. Miller/Watts' commitment to safety is second to none, with back-to-back first place California State safety awards from AGC in 2000 and 2001.
Mishina & Company: Coordinates wedding ceremonies, receptions, and related services for Japanese couples. Motto is "high quality," serving one couple a day. Please visit www.mishinawedding.com for more information.
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