JAA News Vol.42 No.1 Jan. 2025 – May. 2025

Contents

1. 55th JAA Scholarship & 19th Honjo Scholarship Award Dinner
2. 2025 Officers and Directors
3. New Year’s Celebration
4. New Year Luncheon for Seniors
5. Fred Korematsu Day
6. JAA’s 3.11 Volunteer Event
7. 17th Sakura Health Fair
8. 20th JAA Sakura Matsuri
9. 4th Japan Parade
10. 29th JAA Art Exhibition
11. Mets Community Night
12. Memorial Day Service
13. Young Professionals Career Panel Discussion
14. Congraturations!
15. Social Services
16. Obituary

55th JAA Scholarship &
19th Honjo Scholarship Award Dinner

May 29 at the Harvard Club

At the 55th JAA Scholarship and the 19th Honjo Scholarship Award Dinner, 15 high school seniors and 5 graduate students were recognized for their academic excellence, interest in U.S.-Japan relations, and dedication to community service. It was held on May 29, 2025 at the Harvard Club and well-attended by 165 guests. JAA President Koji Sato led the evening’s program, which included remarks from Ambassador Mikio Mori of the Consulate General of Japan in New York, and Tetsuo Kawate, CEO and President of Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee. As Keynote Speaker this year, Miyoko Demay, former president of Tiffany Japan and a Board Member of Nintendo, offered advice and encouragement to the awardees based on her own experiences and the 4Cs of diamonds: Curiosity, Confidence, Courage, and Compassion. On behalf of the high school awardees, Keita Horiko, winner of the Hiroko Murase Family Scholarship, and Sarah O’Connell, winner of the JAA Honjo Scholarship, expressed their gratitude to the JAA community.

Co-Chair of the Scholarship Committee Satoru Murase expressed gratitude to all the guests, donors, staff, and volunteers who made the event possible.

A total of $84,000 in JAA Scholarships and two All Nippon Airways roundtrip tickets to Japan went to 15 students entering college this fall. The Honjo Scholarship Awards provided a total of $30,000 to five graduate students. Congratulations to all the scholarship awardees!

55th JAA Scholarship Awardees (Total $84,000)
(for graduating high school students)

1. The Hiroko Murase Family Scholarship
   ($12,000 plus Round-Trip Air Ticket to Japan, courtesy of All Nippon Airways)
   Keita Horiko / Collegiate School, will attend University of Pennsylvania
2. MUFG Scholarship　($10,000)
   Adrien Godefroy Akira Bouvard / Riverdale Country School, will attend Stanford University
3. Eri Kakuta Scholarship ($8,000)
   Hanako April Stepper / Trinity School, will attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts
4. Dr. Soji Tomikawa Scholarship  ($7,500)
   Jun Shimada / Professional Children’s School, will attend The Juilliard School
5. Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas) Scholarship ($5,000)
   Jolie Grace Gruson / The Bronx High School of Science, will attend University of Michigan
6. Mitsui USA Foundation Scholarship ($5,000)
   Ryo Ide / Harrison High School, will attend University of California, San Diego
7. Orient Corporation of America Scholarship ($5,000)
   Ayaka Utsumi / Sleepy Hollow High School, will attend Johns Hopkins University
8. Tokio Marine America Scholarship ($5,000)
   Asa Taku Hoshino Glassman / Columbia High School, will attend University of California, Berkeley
9. Yayoi Asoma Memorial Scholarship ($5,000)
   Julia Sakura Onishi / Pearl River High School, will attend Vassar College
10. Dr. Robert K. Emy Scholarship ($5,000)
    Keita Takahashi / Jericho High School, will attend Emory University
11. Ichinohe & Horishige Scholarship ($5,000)
    Evan Keito Friedman-Ogino
    Paul D. Schreiber High School, will attend University of Southern California, Marshall School of Business
12. Dr. George Nagamatsu and Mrs. Kazuko Nagamatsu Scholarship ($5,000)
    Leo Langley / Bergen County Technical High School, will attend University of California, San Diego
13. NHK Cosmomedia America Scholarship ($3,000)
    Noni Hardaway / The Bronx High School of Science, will attend Northwestern University
14. Ambassador Shinichi Nishimiya Scholarship ($2,500)
    Akihito Shinozaki / Eastchester High School, will attend University of Minnesota
15. ANA Japan Travel Scholarship
    ($1,000 from JAA plus Round Trip Air Ticket to Japan, courtesy of All Nippon Airways)
    Thomas Christopher McKinney / Greenwich High School, will attend Cornell University

19th JAA Honjo Scholarships Awardees (total $30,000)
(for graduate students)

1. Ms. Sarah O’Connell, master’s degree candidate at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, for an award of $8.000. She will be focusing on AI and cybersecurity issues that affect Japanese and American citizens, non-profits, businesses and the government sector.
2. Mr. Etienne Gagnon, Ph.D. candidate at Princeton University studying politics and international relations, for an award of $7,000. His focus is on recruitment issues that affect the Japanese Self Defense Force.
3. Ms. Charlotte Fitzek, Ph.D. candidate in the department of politics at Princeton University, for an award of $5,000. She will be investigating the interaction among policy makers in the United States and how Japanese policy makers can access and incorporate that information.
4. Mr. Rikio John Inouye, Ph.D. candidate in the department of politics at Princeton University, for an award of $5,000. His concentration is on the impact of racial and religious biases on foreign policy.
5. Ms. Christina Pao, Ph.D. candidate in the sociology department of Princeton University, for an award of $5,000. Her research looks at how social identities (race, ethnicity, gender identity etc.) are quantified in different cultures.

2025 Annual JAA Scholarship Dinner Benefactors

Platinum Sponsors

• ITO EN (North America), Inc.
• MUFG Bank, Ltd.
• Orient Corporation of America
• the Murase Family

Gold Sponsor

• Hiroko Onoyama and Ken Sugawara

Silver Sponsors

• Yuzuru Anzai
• Japanese Medical Society of America, Inc. (JMSA)
• Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)
• Orix Corporation USA
• Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

We thank you for your contributions and express our gratitude to the award donors and sponsors.

Please support us through contributions and join us in our volunteer charitable activities which each year help thousands in the community and support better US Japan relations. The Japanese American Association of New York, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization with over 110 years of history helping others.

Keynote Speaker

Miyoko Demay

Outside Director, Member of the Board, Nintendo; Former President, Tiffany & Co. Japan; Vice Chair, Women in Business Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in Japan; Demay Luxury Consulting

Demay is a seasoned global executive with a distinguished 30-year career at Tiffany & Co., one of America’s most iconic institutions and a world-renowned jeweler. During her tenure, she held key leadership roles at the company’s New York headquarters and across international markets. As President of Tiffany Japan and Vice President of Global Sales Operations, among other roles, she led transformative initiatives, building high-performing teams and comprehensive 360º strategies that redefined the client journey. Her efforts encompassed retail operations, clienteling, visual presentation, merchandising, and omnichannel growth, driving innovation and excellence across the brand’s more than 350 global stores. Demay currently serves as an Outside Director and Board Member at Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, and as an Advisor to Japan Airport Terminal Building Co., Ltd., a company specializing in the construction, management, and operation of passenger terminals at Haneda Airport. Demay was awarded the prestigious Dame Chevalier status from the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, the 300-year-old official guild representing the champagne industry.

2025 Honorary Officers

As of 1/29/2025

Honorary Advisor

Ambassador Mikio Mori, Consul General, Consulate General of Japan in New York

Life Trustees

Robert K. Emy, MD, Toshio Kiso, Gary S. Moriwaki

Honorary Directors

Hiroko Onoyama, Joe Oshima, Suki Terada Ports

Honorary President

Susan J. Onuma

Board Officers

President: Koji Sato
Vice Presidents: Yuzuru Anzai, M.D., Julie Azuma, David Hiromura, Shunichi Homma, M.D.,
Keiko Ishida, Riki Ito, Makoto Iwahara, M.D., Yuki Kaneshige, Maki Kano-Lueckerath, M.D. (new),
Susan McCormac,Tsuneko Mitsunaka, Satoru Murase, Kamal Ramani, M.D., Katsuo Takeda
Secretary: Nobuhisa Ishizuka
Assistant Secretary: Yuki Kaneshige
Treasurer: Kumiko Hasegawa
Assistant Treasurer: Masaki Shimomura

Directors:
Yuzuru Anzai M.D., Julie Azuma, Aiko Brody, Tak Furumoto, Kumiko Hasegawa, David Hiromura,
George Hirose, Shunichi Homma M.D., Keiko Ishida, Nobuhisa Ishizuka,Riki Ito, Makoto Iwahara M.D., Yuki Kaneshige, Maki Kano-Lueckerath, M.D., Keiko Kato, Nobuko Kodama, Naoki Matsunaga (new), Susan McCormac, Tsuneko Mitsunaka, Gary Moriwaki, Satoru Murase, Michiyo Noda, Kimihiko Oishi, M.D., Toru Okamoto, Susan Onuma, Kamal Ramani, M.D., Koji Sato, Masaki Shimomura, Michi Tahara, Wendy Takahisa, Katsuo Takeda, Robert Yanagisawa, M.D., and Naoki Yaguchi (new)

Junior Board:
Nana Alster, Matt D’Aquila, Ryoko Hirose, Stephanie Kato,Haruka Kokaze, Hiro Sato, Chad Tanioka

2025 New Year’s Celebration at the Nippon Club

From noon on January 17th, the annual New Year’s Celebration was held at the Nippon Club, sponsored by the Consulate General of Japan in New York and supported by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in New York, the Nippon Club, and JAA. 100 people attended.

Mr. Sayu Ueno (Nippon Club), Ambassador Mikio Mori, Mr. Koji Sato (JAA), Mr. Tetsuo Kawate JCCI ) gave greetings and a toast, followed by a lively New Year’s business card exchange /networking party with New Year’s dishes and pleasant conversation.

New Year Luncheon for Seniors at the Nippon Club

Mr. Sato (left) and Mr. Naito

Nippon Club Chorus and TOMO

On February 6th, the 34th annual “New Year Luncheon for Seniors,” sponsored by the Nippon Club and supported by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, seniors living in the New York area were invited to the Nippon Club. After the opening remarks and a toast by Mr. Hisaya Naito, General Manager of the Nippon Club, the lunch began. 80 seniors participated and enjoyed the heartfelt New Year’s dishes of the Nippon Club, with 30 additional obento which were delivered and picked-up. Also, people enjoyed the singing of the Nippon Club Chorus and TOMO and Ms. Ruriko Iwasaki. Finally, Mr. Koji Sato, President of JAA, gave Mr. Naito, an orchid flowerpot as a token of appreciation.

Fred Korematsu Day

Fred T. Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution was celebrated in Fort Lee, NJ on Tuesday, January 30th, 2025. JAA Board Member Takeshi Furumoto, who championed this legislation in Fort Lee, the States of NJ and NY City with his wife, Carol Furumoto. This was Fort Lee’s 6th and NJ’s 3rd annual celebration.

JAA’s 3.11 Volunteer Event

To commemorate the 14th anniversary of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 40 volunteers from JAA, the Consulate General of Japan in NY, MUFG, JETAANY, and other Japan-related organizations served hot meals to 400 guests and sorted clothing donations at The Bowery Mission. By helping those in need across communities each year on 3.11, volunteers honor those lost in Tohoku’s triple disaster. (Reported by Yuki Kaneshige, Chair of the JAA Community Services Committee)

17th Sakura Health Fair

Lecture by Mr. Koichi Nakamoto

NY Sukusuku-kai: CPR Workshop

Film Screening: Megumi no Chikai

Kendo by David Hiromura (by Kobu-kan)

Calligraphy Class

Posture Wellness for Seniors by Ms. Aya Takeno

Great Japanese American Artis by Mr. Joseph T. Field

Dr. Takayuki Ueno — BC Network

Film “the Vow from Hiroshima”

Karate by Ryu Goshima (Nichibei Budokan)

Music and Art

NY Sukusuku-kai: Tea Time and Parent-Child Activities

Haircut for seniors

Ako New book “It’s me Ako”

Keirokai song by Urara Kamo

Held from April 4th to May 4th, the 17th annual Sakura Health Fair was organized by JAA and supported by the Consulate General of Japan in New York, the Japanese Medical Society of America (JMSA), the Japanese Medical Support Network (JAMSNET), Mitsui USA Foundation, and New York Japanese American Lions Club. Offerings, held both online and at JAA Hall, included healthy exercises, lectures by doctors and specialists on breast cancer, dementia, osteoporosis, mental wellness, medical insurance, and children’s education for all ages, including the Life Science Forum for Children, Japanese language education for children, classes focused on parents-children and other family aspects of life in the United States, as well as introductions to Japanese culture through calligraphy, tea, and origami. Over 50 programs were attended by over 2,000 people.

20th JAA Sakura Matsuri

Soh Daiko

New York Okinawa Club

Japanese Folk Dance

Tenri Drum & Fire Corp

JAA Chorus

Tea Ceremony

With the cherry blossoms in full bloom, we celebrated JAA’s 20th annual Sakura Matsuri on April 19, 2025! JAA’s “21st Century New York Cherry Blossom Project” began on Arbor Day, April 24, 1992, at City Hall Park. JAA President Shigeru Inagaki donated sakura seeds to Commissioner of New York Parks Betsy Gotbaum. On April 3, 2001, 168 cherry trees nursed in the greenhouses of Van Cortlandt Park were planted in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. The first JAA Sakura Matsuri was celebrated on April 12th, 2003, beginning an annual event in close cooperation with the Flushing Meadows Corona Park staff. This year, we planted a cherry tree sapling to honor JAA Vice President Julie Azuma for her stalwart support and leadership of the Japanese American and Asian American communities.

JAA members and fellow New Yorkers enjoyed the gorgeous day thanks to the efforts of its organizer and JAA VP Susan McCormac, and performances from Soh Daiko, The Japanese Folk Dance Institute of NY, Inc., New York Okinawa Club, Tenri Drum & Fire Corp/ Blurb, and JAA’s Tea Ceremony Class. Ambassador Mikio Mori, JAA Young Professional Chad Tanioka, Anthony Sama of the NYC Department of Parks & Recreation spoke of the significance of the Sakura Matsuri in U.S.-Japan and community relations.

We were pleased to hear that many residents look forward to our cherry blossom festival every year. Thank you very much to JAA Board Member George Hirose for supporting our Sakura Matsuri!

4th Japan Parade in New York

On Saturday, May 10, JAA took part in the 4th Japan Parade in New York. About 2,800 people from 110 Japan-related groups marched before the applause and cheers of 60,000 New Yorkers who filled the roadside on Central Park West.

Heading the parade was Grand Marshal Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. JAA President Koji Sato was honored as the parade’s first Community Leader and rode in a convertible in front of JAA members marching in t-shirts that featured the JAA logo. Our hard-working JAA Calligraphy class taught the artform at the adjoining Japan Street Fair on West 72nd St. It was a great day out for the Japanese American community in New York!

29th JAA Art Exhibition of Japanese & Japanese American Artists in New York

This exhibition was held from May 15 to May 31, starting with an opening reception on May 15 that included a greeting from Deputy Consul General Kazuya Mori before 150 attendees. This year, artworks by 32 artists (including the 93-year-old, renowned artist Ushio Shinohara) were displayed, thanks to Committee Chair George Hirose. Next year, we will celebrate our 30th Anniversary!

Japanese and Japanese American Community Night @ Citi Field

On May 23, 2025, former JCCI President Tetsuo Kawate threw out the first pitch to catcher Japan Society President Dr. Joshua Walker on Japanese and Japanese American Community Night. Mets’ Amazin Awards were given out to Japan-related organizations in NYC for their community contributions: JAA, accepted by Koji Sato; JCCI NY, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, Inc., accepted by Masaaki Maeda; The Nippon Club, accepted by Hisashi Naito; Japan Society, accepted by Gary Moriwaki; U.S.-Japan Council, represented by Mr. Arita; & the Japanese American National Museum, accepted by Kathryn Bannai. Other highlights included a great video about Japanese and Japanese American baseball history. The LA Dodgers vs. NY Mets game resumed after a brief rain interruption, and finally after midnight, Shohei Otani’s Dodgers beat the Mets 7-5. It was a very exciting night!

Memorial Day Service

On May 26, the annual Memorial Day visit was held at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Queens, with about 30 people in attendance, including Ambassador Mikio Mori of the Consulate General of Japan in NY; JAA President Koji Sato; Rev. Kurt Rye of the NY Buddhist Church; Pastor Stanley Wayne of the NY Japanese American United Church; President Nobuo Miki of the NY Japanese- American Lions Club; Principal Keisaku Mori of the New York Japanese School; and Principal Toru Okamoto of the Japanese Children’s Society. As a special guest, Robin Takami, the great grandson of JAA’s founder, Dr. Toyohiko Takami, spoke of exploring his roots in Kumamoto. JAA Vice President Katsuo Takeda moderated the ceremony, and with the chanting of the NY Buddhist Church priest, each person offered flowers and burned incense. The day before, the NY Japanese-American Lions Club volunteers cleaned the gravestones and displayed small Japanese and U.S. flags made by Ikuei Gakuen students. Nearly 100 Japanese people are buried in the cemetery. Flowers were donated by the Japanese Consulate, NY Japanese-American Lions Club, NY Buddhist Church, NY Japanese American United Church, Japanese Medical Society of America, and JAA.

Young Professionals Career Panel Discussion

On March 21st, the JAA Young Professionals Committee and JCCI NY co-hosted an inspiring evening of connection, reflection, and community-building at JAA Hall for over 80 attendees from diverse professional backgrounds. Featured at this panel discussion on career transitions were speakers Ryu Goto, international violinist turned martial artist and founder of the Japanese American Budokan, who shared his story of reinvention, discipline, and finding purpose, and Naoki Yaguchi, former NYPD Deputy Inspector and current elder law attorney, who reflected on leadership, identity, and navigating complex transitions. Haruka Kokaze, Workplace Mental Health Research Associate at Columbia University and One Mind, guided the dialogue with empathy and a networking mixer followed.

On April 25th, the JAA Young Professionals Committee presented a second wonderful lecture by Joseph Tokumasu Field of the Noguchi Museum, “Art, Identity and Incarceration: Great Japanese American Artists, George Nakajima and Ruth Asawa.” Before a deeply engaged multigenerational audience of JAA members and friends, he spoke of the effects of wartime incarceration, relocation, and social consciousness in the lives and artistic practice of these important artists.

Yoshio Kano: JAA offers its warm congratulations to longtime JAA Member Yoshio Kano. As an anchor and catalyst for Japan-related nonprofits in NY, he was awarded the Consul General’s Commendation by Ambassador Mikio Mori of the Consulate General of Japan in NY on January 24, 2025.
While supporting many JAA events, Mr. Kano has advanced the capacity of the Japanese Medical Society of America, as its Executive Secretary, and has been actively involved in 7 other organizations such as JAMSNET, NY Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society, JASSI (Japanese American Social Services, Inc.), NY Japanese-American Lions Club, & Hamilton-Madison House.
The honoree spoke of his long-held, ongoing devotion to helping those in need, with heartwarming speeches of appreciation by Ambassador Mori, Dr. Shunichi Homma, and Dr. Makoto Iwahara before his family including his daughter, Dr. Maki Kano Lueckerath, JMSA President, and guests.

Dr. Shunichi Homma JAA congratulates its Vice President Dr. Shunichi Homma who was awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. To honor his distinguished service to the Japanese and Japanese American community and humanitarian work in the field of medicine, a ceremony was held on March 6, 2025 at Ambassador Mori’s residence.
Dr. Homma is Founder of JAMSNET (Japanese Medical Support Network and the NY Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society; former President of JMSA; Margaret Milliken Hatch Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Deputy Chief of its Cardiology Division; headed Columbia’s Consortium for Japan Relief, established after the 2011 Tohoku triple disaster; and Japan History Council Member for the Digital Museum of the History of the Japanese in NY.

He attributed his achievements to teamwork, calling his wife, Yoko Otani, his North Star; Yosuke Honjo, CEO of ITO EN North America Inc., and Professor Allan Schwartz of Columbia University gave warm congratulatory remarks; & his daughter, Dr. Kirsten Homma, offered a toast.

Social Services

We held 9 Keirokai-senior luncheons from January to May 2025. Each time, about 120 obento were ordered, with 70 seniors enjoying music and chats with friends, and celebrating their birthdays at JAA Hall. Another 50 obento were delivered and picked up. On April 24, Dr. Anzai talked about dementia, which was deeply appreciated by the seniors.

• With her daughter, Mari Matsumoto, at her bedside, Ms. Etsuko Inoue passed away at home at the age of 87 on February 26, 2025. She established three schools for nursing in Kumamoto and was a pioneer in U.S.-Japan medical exchanges. Memorial services in her honor were held in NY and in Kumamoto, attended by her former students.
• Mr. Kazuo Tsuda passed away at home on February 18, 2025 at the age of 76. He was the leader of JAA’s Japanese Language Education Committee and a Japanese language educator in the U.S. On March 3, many of his students attended a memorial service at JAA Hall.
• Mr. Charles Tsutomu Kito passed away at home on May 17, 2025 after celebrating his 101st birthday with his family. Born in South Dakota and educated in Japan, he was a graduate of Waseda University, and then earned an MBA at Chicago University post-WWII. He was a journalist, and worked at Fuji Television, JISO, and Entel Communications.

Our deepest condolences go to their families and friends and we are grateful for their invaluable contributions.