Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu

Japanese（日本語）

Consulate General of Japan at Honolulu
在ホノルル日本国総領事館

2014 Fall Conferment of Japanese Decoration on Mr. Howard Hamamoto

On Monday, November 3, 2014 (JST), the Government of Japan announced it will confer The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon on Hawaii resident and Honorary President of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation, Mr. Howard Hiromi Hamamoto, in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

After graduating from the University of Hawaii in 1953, Mr. Hamamoto began his employment with the Bank of Hawaii, where in September 1955, he became the head of operations and management of its Land Development Department. From 1973 to 1984, Mr. Hamamoto was the President of the Property Division of Amfac, Inc.. Mr. Hamamoto has been the President of Quarters, Inc. from 1982 to present, and has been involved in numerous real estate development ventures and business investments in Hawaii.

Mr. Hamamoto’s extensive involvement in community service spans three-and-a-half decades. He served as President of the Aloha United Way and President of Goodwill Industries in 1979. He has served as a Trustee of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii from 1984 to present, and was President from 1989 to 1991. Mr. Hamamoto also served as the Vice Chairman of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation from 1991 to 1999, and as its Chairman from 1999 to 2013, upholding the Foundation’s mission of promoting understanding through exchange of scholars between Japan and Hawaii. The organization was established in 1959 to commemorate the wedding of the then-Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko of Japan.

For more information on Japanese decorations or medals, please refer to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Award website: http:// www8.cao.go.jp/shokun/index.html）
Inquiries related to this Fall decoration, please contact Consul Murabe at (808) 543-3111.