[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 88 (Friday, May 23, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E475-E476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING TAKEMASA ISHIKURA FOR HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA 
        DURING ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 23, 2025

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, Takemasa lshikura is the president of the 
Japan Association of Orlando (JAO) and has played a vital role in 
preserving and promoting Japanese heritage in Central Florida for over 
two decades. He first came to the United States in 1983 as a performer 
at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center. What began as a three-month 
engagement led to the founding of Matsuriza, a professional taiko group 
that continues to perform weekly at the Japan Pavilion in Epcot, 
delighting millions of guests from around the world. Matsuriza has also 
traveled extensively across the United States to entertain audiences at 
cultural events and festivals.
  In addition to his performance work, Takemasa has dedicated himself 
to community cultural exchange through the Orlando Taiko Dojo, a 
nonprofit organization he founded to teach traditional Japanese 
drumming. His students, ranging in age from 10 to over 80, regularly 
perform at marathons, festivals, and local events throughout the 
region.
  Beyond drumming, Takemasa has contributed to cultural education as 
principal of a local Japanese language school and through his 
leadership of JAO. Since 2000, he has helped grow the Orlando Japan 
Festival from a small gathering at a restaurant into a major annual 
celebration in Kissimmee, now drawing over 10,000 attendees. Festival 
proceeds support Japanese language education and have contributed over 
$20,000 to disaster relief efforts nationwide, including California and 
Hawaii, as well as in Asian countries, including Japan and the 
Philippines.

[[Page E476]]

  In 2015, Takemasa received the Foreign Minister's Commendation from 
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of only 94 overseas recipients 
that year. Additional honors include the Commendation Award of the 
Consul General, recognition by the Orange County Asian Committee, and 
acknowledgment from Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer for strengthening the 
Sister-City relationship with Urayasu, Japan. His lifelong dedication 
continues to inspire cross-cultural understanding throughout Central 
Florida.

                          ____________________