[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 79 (Thursday, May 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1244]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE IN RECOGNITION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF JAPAN AMERICA 
                     SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 21, 2009

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Japan 
America Society of Southern California, a non-profit charitable and 
educational organization dedicated to fostering friendship, 
understanding and relationship building opportunities for the people of 
Japan and the United States, on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.
  Sixteen American and Japanese volunteer leaders in Los Angeles 
founded the Japan America Society of Southern California in 1909. These 
visionaries understood the long-term role that such a unique 
organization could play in their diverse community and were committed 
to its establishment during a period of increasing anti-Asian 
sentiment. The fledgling society soon grew to as many as 800 members by 
the time of the opening in Los Angeles of the first Consulate General 
of Japan in 1915.
  Since those early, formative years, the Japan America Society has 
undertaken the primary responsibility for forging relationships between 
Americans and the Japanese in Southern California. Its mission is to 
promote mutual understanding and to strengthen economic, cultural, 
governmental and personal relationships between Americans and the 
Japanese.
  The Japan America Society offers unique opportunities to become 
involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two 
countries. Its active calendar of events includes breakfast and 
luncheon programs, business networking mixers, weekend family events, 
and programs highlighting art, music, fashion, film, performing arts 
and other special activities. Annual events include the Anniversary 
Gala Dinner, Golf Classic & Tennis Open, Family Fishing Trip and Family 
Whale Watch Cruise, Japan America Kite Festival  and United States-
Japan Green Conference.
  Throughout the year of its Centennial, the Japan America Society is 
celebrating its history by presenting an extraordinary series of 
programs focusing on the United States-Japan relationship. It will 
showcase Japan-related programming through collaborations with numerous 
Japanese-American and Japanese organizations, and other cultural and 
educational organizations throughout Southern California and Japan.
  The Japan America Society's Centennial Dinner & Gala Celebration, 
scheduled for June 15, 2009, at The Globe Theatre, Universal Studios 
Hollywood, will commemorate the important role of the United States-
Japan relationship, past, present and future.
  The future agenda of the Japan America Society includes the 
establishment of a Japan America Language Center that will offer 
comprehensive introductory, advanced and business Japanese-language 
courses for Los Angeles residents. These language courses will be 
designed to build and improve upon the language skills of non-native 
Japanese speakers so they can more fully appreciate Japanese history 
and culture and open doors to lasting personal and professional 
relationships. Other specialized courses and workshops will be offered, 
including shodo (Japanese calligraphy). In addition, the Center will 
cater to native Japanese speakers living in Los Angeles by providing 
English conversation (ESL) classes and a Japanese Language Teacher 
Training Program.
  The society also plans to expand the elementary school Hitachi 
Japanese Kite Workshops that take place throughout Southern California, 
including Los Angeles, every fall. The workshops are ``hands-on,'' in-
classroom special events that help to teach our very young children the 
concept of different perspectives. They also provide a positive 
introduction to Japan and Japanese culture through the building of a 
traditional Japanese kite. Led by Japanese kite masters from Japan, 
elementary students learn how to build and fly a Japanese bamboo and 
washi (rice paper) kite. To date, nearly 4,000 students have benefited 
from this program.
  Madam Speaker, on the occasion of the Japan America Society of 
Southern California's 100th Anniversary, I join today with fellow 
leaders from throughout the state in recognizing Board Chairman Robert 
Brasch, Co-Vice Chairs Kappei Morishita and Nancy Woo Hiromoto, 
President Douglas Erber, the Board of Directors, the Board of Governors 
and the organization's employees and members for their outstanding work 
to promote mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the 
United States. I extend my thanks on behalf of the residents of the 
34th Congressional District for their passion to provide educational 
opportunities for school children and their determination to strengthen 
economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between 
Americans and Japanese, and I wish them many years of continued 
success.

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