Japan America Society of Southern California
Building Japan-America Relationships Since 1909
JASSC 116th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
Thursday, October 16, 2025
6:30pm Check-in
7pm Reception
8pm Dinner & Gala Celebration
PLACE
The Biltmore Los Angeles
506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Map & Directions
ATTIRE
Cocktail or Business
PARKING
Parking will be complimentary as we will provide validation
TICKETS & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Click here for the 116th Gala Sponsorship Brochure
Individual Seats are $450 per guest
Table Sponsorship begin at $6,500
Your participation will make educational programs possible that benefit children attending Title I programs (i.e., schools serving a high percentage of children from low-income families). The programs you will help make possible include the Kite Workshops, and Japan Bowl of California.
スポンサーシップ
アニバーサリーディナーの寄付金や協賛金は、南加日米協会が開催する教育プログラムを継続するための重要な資金源となっております。Title I プログラム（NCLB第 1 章で定められた不利な状況にある児童・生徒の学力の向上に向けた取組に対する財政支援） に参加している学校に通う低所得層の生徒が対象で、和凧作製ワークショップや、ジャパンボウルオブカリフォルニアなどのプログラムを開催しています。
For additional information about attractive sponsorship opportunities, please contact Chie McHaffie at mchaffie@jas-socal.org.
GALA TRIBUTE BOOK
Click here for the 116th Gala Tribute Book
Increase your company's visibility and marketing outreach! To place an ad in the Gala Tribute Book, please contact Chie McHaffie at mchaffie@jas-socal.org.
International Citizens Award - 国際市民賞
Frank Buckley
Frank Buckley is the award-winning co-anchor of KTLA 5 Morning News, hosting the flagship weekday broadcast from 7:00–11:00 AM. He joined KTLA in June 2005 after serving as a correspondent with KCAL‑TV and CNN.
Buckley also hosts the nationally syndicated weekly show and podcast “Frank Buckley Interviews”, and co-anchors “Inside California Politics”. Throughout his career, he has reported on major international and regional events, including hurricanes in the Caribbean, earthquakes in Kobe and Northridge, wildfires in Southern California, the Los Angeles riots, and high-profile trials such as O.J. Simpson.
In recognition of his longstanding efforts to strengthen Japan–U.S. relations, Buckley received the Consul General’s Commendation from the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles in September 2024. He was also an early member of the U.S.–Japan Council, and participated in the 2006 Japanese American Leadership Delegation to Japan.
Frank frequently lends his voice and presence to community engagement events, serving as an MC and host for organizations such as JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, the Japanese American National Museum, and the Japan–America Society of Southern California—where he is also honored as this year’s recipient of the Kokusai Shimin Sho (International Citizens Award) for his exemplary public service and community leadership.
Mikio Toki
Mikio Toki is a master of traditional Edo-style kite making and a beloved cultural ambassador of Japan. Since 2001, he has visited Southern California annually to lead the Japan America Society of Southern California’s Japanese Kite Workshops, teaching thousands of local elementary school students—many from under-resourced communities—how to illustrate, construct, and fly handmade kites using washi paper and bamboo. Through these workshops, Toki has introduced Japanese culture to more than 18,000 children in Southern California.
Born in Tokyo in 1950, Toki was drawn to kites from a young age and pursued formal training in graphic design. He later apprenticed under the founder of the Edo Kite Preservation Society, Katsuhisa Ota, and became known for his beautifully painted Edo kites that feature samurai, mythical creatures, and traditional symbols rendered in sumi ink and vibrant colors. His kites are works of art that come to life in the sky.
In addition to his artistry, Toki has dedicated his life to education and cultural exchange, sharing his work at major venues like Walt Disney World and the Smithsonian Museum. His legacy continues through his daughter, Asami, who is also a kite maker.
JASSC is proud to present Mikio Toki with the Kokusai Shimin Sho (International Citizens Award) in recognition of his lifelong dedication to cultural outreach and Japan–U.S. friendship.
Next Generation Rising Star Award
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美麗-Bi-ray-
美麗-Bi-ray- is an emerging J-pop girl group produced by legendary musician YOSHIKI, known for his work with X Japan and global collaborations. Launched in 2024, 美麗-Bi-ray- made an immediate impact with their debut single “Butterfly,” showcasing a bold blend of powerful vocals, captivating choreography, and a fresh, international appeal. The group’s name, “美麗-Bi-ray-”, symbolizes a duality of light and strength—embodying beauty, diversity, and forward-looking creativity.
Handpicked through a competitive global audition, 美麗-Bi-ray-’s members hail from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared passion for music and performance. Under YOSHIKI’s mentorship, they are redefining what it means to be a next-generation global pop act, blending traditional Japanese influences with modern pop sensibilities.
In recognition of their artistic promise and cross-cultural influence, the Japan America Society of Southern California is proud to present 美麗-Bi-ray- with the Next Generation Rising Star Award. As they rise to international stages, 美麗-Bi-ray- represents the bright future of global cultural exchange and the enduring power of music to connect people—citizen to citizen.
Master of Ceremonies
Mitchell T. Maki
Dr. Mitchell T. Maki is the President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the legacy of Nisei World War II veterans. A leading scholar on the Japanese American redress movement, he is the author of the award-winning book Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress, which received the Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award.
He has held senior academic leadership roles at California State University, Dominguez Hills and UCLA, and is recognized internationally as a speaker on social justice and civil rights. Dr. Maki earned his Ph.D. and M.S.W. from the University of Southern California and is a licensed clinical social worker.
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
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KOKUSAI SHIMIN SHO
"International Citizens Award"
Award Recipients
The Award honors and recognizes “individuals, businesses or organizations that have substantively and significantly enhanced the Japan–United States relationship and that are committed to the strengthening of bonds between the two nations.” Please see the list of past Honorees below (Titles indicate position at the time award received).
Arts, Culture, Literature and Sport
- MIYAVI, musician, actor and philanthropist
- Shohei Ohtani, MLB’s first two-way player since Babe Ruth, Angels Baseball Pitcher and Hitter, and 2018 MLB Rookie of the Year
- Marie Kondo, Best-selling Author of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, and hit Netflix series inspiring home makeovers, helping American families clear out the clutter -- and choose joy.
- The Disneyland® Resort
- Taylor Anderson, JET Programme Assistant Language Teacher (Awarded Posthumously)
- James Clavell, Best-selling Novelist, Screenwriter and Director
- Rod Dedeaux, Legendary USC Coach; "Coach of the Century"; Co-Founder, U.S.-Japan College Baseball Championship Series
- Montgomery "Monty" Dickson, JET Programme Assistant Language Teacher (Awarded Posthumously)
- Irene Hirano Inouye, President, U.S.-Japan Council
- Renzo Ishii, Legendary Waseda University Player and Coach; Co-Founder, U.S.-Japan College Baseball Championship Series
- Kitaro, Grammy and Golden Globe Award Winning Composer and Musician
- Tommy Lasorda, Legendary Coach and Special Advisor to the Chairman, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Etsuko and Joe D. Price, Founders, Shin’enkan Foundation, Recipients, 2006 Japan Foundation Award
- Takuma Sato, FIrst Japanese Race Car Driver to win and IndyCar Race and first to win the iconic Indianapolis 500
- Yuko Kaifu, President of JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles
- Japan Self-Defense Forces and U.S. Forces of “OPERATION TOMODACHI”
- Ambassador James D. Hodgson, 22nd United States Ambassador to Japan and Chairman Emeritus, JASSC
- Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, Government of Japan
- Ambassador John V. Roos, 29th United States Ambassador to Japan
- Ambassador Taizo Watanabe, Government of Japan
- Governor Pete Wilson, State of California
- Bob Graziano, Vice Chairman of J.P. Morgan Private Bank
- Seiichiro Akita, Executive Officer, Head of Asian Corporate Banking, MUFG Americas Holdings
- Yukiatsu Akizawa, President and CEO, am/pm Japan Company, Ltd.
- C. Michael Armstrong, Chairman and CEO, AT&T
- Walter F. Beran, Co-Chairman Emeritus, Ernst & Young LLP and Chairman Emeritus, JASSC
- Philip M. Condit, Chairman and CEO, The Boeing Company
- Yoshikazu Hanawa, Chairman and CEO, Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
- Russell Hanlin, Jr., President, Sunkist Growers, Inc.
- Yoshi Inaba, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
- Dr. Kazuo Inamori, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Kyocera Corporation
- Takashi Kiuchi, Chairman and CEO, Mitsubishi America Corporation and Co-Vice Chair Emeritus, JASSC
- Minoru Makihara, Chairman, Mitsubishi International Corporation
- Tomo Mizutani, President, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc.
- Akira Ohno, Chairman Emeritus, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.
- Edward Perron, Firm-wide Managing Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Chairman Emeritus, JASSC
- Richard Rosenberg, Chairman and CEO, Bank of America
- Tasuku Takagaki, Chairman, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi
- Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, Chairman, Toyota Motor Corporation
- Kazuhiro Tsuga, CEO, Panasonic Corporation
- Takuji Yamada, President & CEO, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
- All Nippon Airways
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- Japan Airlines
- United Airlines
- Port of Hueneme
- Port of Long Beach
- Port of Los Angeles
- Port of Kobe
Victor M. Carter Award
Award Recipients
Victor M. Carter Award Recipients were all Community Leaders of the Greater Los Angeles Area who have Fostered and Perpetuated Friendship and Understanding between the United States and Japan
Sakaye Aratani, JASSC Vice President (1965-1983) and Founder, JASSC Annual Japan America Golf Classic (1968)
Roy L. Ash, Co-Founder, Litton Industries
Hans H. Baerwald, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Political Science, UCLA; Internationally recognized scholar of Japanese politics
Will Hippen, Jr., President, San Diego-Yokohama Friendship Board; Founder of the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, San Diego and Honorary Consul General of Japan in San Diego
Madame Maria Hodgson
Sara Hopkins and Yvonne Fedderson, Co-Founders, Childhelp
Yutaka Katayama, First President, Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A.
Koichi Kawana, Professor and Lecturer at UCLA on Japanese art, environmental design, and Japanese landscape/architecture
Akira Kikukawa, Founder & Music Director, Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra of L.A.
Sydney Kronenthal, Founder & Director, Parks, Recreation & Human Services, Culver City and Founder of the Culver - Kaizuka Sister City City Relationship in 1965
Frank Kuwahara, Founder, L.A. Wholesale Flower Terminal of So. Calif. Growers, Inc.; Producer, Descanso’s Japanese Garden
John C. McHose, Founding partner of the major California law firm, Lillick & McHose (today known as PIllsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP). McHose was a West Coast pioneer of maritime and international law. He was one of the first American lawyers to represent Japanese business interests in California
Muriel L. Merrell, President, Ikebana International
Katsuma Mukaeda, Founder & Chairman, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Dr. Franklin D. Murphy, Chairman & CEO, Times Mirror Co. and Chancellor, UCLA
Dr. H. Carroll Parish, Dean of Students, UCLA (Adopted father to Koichi Kawana)
Jean Tsuchiya, Secretary, JASSC; Volunteer for LANSCA and JACCC
Fred I. Wada, Co-Founder, KEIRO; Lifetime Member, International Olympic CommitteeAnniversary Dinner & Gala Celebrations
The Japan America Society of Southern California has held its Anniversary Dinners at unique venues, providing a once-in-a-lifetime, memorable evening for supporters and guests.
116th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Frank Buckley, Newscaster, KTLA
Mikio Toki, Japanese Kite Master
- New Generation Rising Star
- October 16, 2025
- The Biltmore Los Angeles
- 116th Anniversary Digital Tribute Book
115th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
David Ono, News anchor, KABC-TV
Yoko Narahashi, Japanese casting director, film producer and lyricist
- New Generation Rising Star
- July 18, 2024
- The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
114th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Yuko Kaifu, President, Diplomat, Business & Community Leader
Bob Graziano, Business, Community and Civic Leader
MIYAVI, Musician Actor & Philanthropist
- New Generation Rising Star
- August 23, 2023
- Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach CA
- 114th Anniversary Digital Tribute Book
- Photos
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Marie Kondo, Best-selling Author, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, as well as her hit Netflix series inspiring home makeovers, helping American families clear out the clutter -- and choose joy.
- July 11, 2019
- Anaheim Stadium (Anaheim, CA)
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Photos
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Seiichiro Akita, Executive Officer, Head of Asian Corporate Banking, MUFG Americas Holdings
Irene Hirano Inouye, President, U.S.-Japan Council
- May 16, 2018
- The Queen Mary (Long Beach, CA)
- Photos
- 109th Anniversary Dinner Digital Tribute Book
108th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Edward A. Perron, Firm-wide Managing Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Chairman Emeritus, JASSC
Kazuhiro Tsuga, CEO, Panasonic Corporation
- June 7, 2017
- Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles Music Center (Los Angeles, CA)
- Photos
- Silent Auction Catalog
- 108th Anniversary Dinner Digital Tribute Book
107th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Akira Ohno, Chairman Emeritus, Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.
- May 26, 2016
- The Langham Hotel Huntington (Pasadena, CA)
- Photos Part I | Photos Part II
- 107th Anniversary Dinner Digital Tribute Book
106th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Takuma Sato, IndyCar Race Car Driver
- June 30, 2015
- Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa (Anaheim, CA)
- Photos
- 106th Anniversary Dinner Digital Tribute Book
105th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients: Tomo Mizutani, President, Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas, Inc., Taylor Anderson and Montgomery "Monty" Dickson, JET Programme Assistant Language Teachers
- June 17, 2014
- Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel (Beverly Hills, CA)
- Photos
- 105th Anniversary Dinner Tribute CD
104th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipient
- July 2, 2013
- Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Pavilion at the California Science Center (Los Angeles, CA)
- Photos
- Silent Auction Catalog
- 104th Anniversary Dinner Tribute CD
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipient
The Disneyland® Resort
- June 15, 2012
- The Disneyland Hotel® (Anaheim, CA)
- Photos
- 103rd Anniversary Dinner Tribute CD
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipient: Dr. Kazuo Inamori, Founder and Chairman Emeritus, Kyocera Corporation and Founder, KDDI Corporation and Chairman, Japan Airlines
- April 2, 2011
- The Westin South Coast Plaza (Costa Mesa, CA)
- Silent Auction Catalog
- 102nd Anniversary Dinner Tribute CD
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipient
- June 9, 2010
- Club Nokia, L.A. Live (Los Angeles, CA)
Centennial Dinner & Gala Celebration
- Centennial Celebration of Japan America Society of Southern California
- June 15, 2009
- The Globe Theatre, Universal Studios Hollywood (Hollywood, CA)
99th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
Featuring "The Age of Imagination: Japanese Art from the Price Collection"
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipient
- June 25, 2008
- Pavilion for Japanese Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA)
98th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
"Gateway Across the Pacific"
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
- April 18, 2007
- World Cruise Center (San Pedro, CA)
97th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
"Bridging the Skies Across the Pacific"
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
- July 15, 2006
- Air Force One Pavilion at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum (Simi Valley, CA)
96th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
"Celebrating Amateur Baseball Across the Pacific"
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipiens
Renzo Ishii, Legendary Waseda University Player and Coach; Co-Founder, U.S.-Japan College Baseball Championship Series
- May 11, 2005
- On the Playing Field of Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
94th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration
"Celebrating National Pastimes Across the Pacific"
- Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" Recipients
Yukiatsu Akizawa, President & CEO, am/pm Japan
- May 19, 2003
- On the Playing Field of Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)