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Remark for the 2009 Autumn Imperial Decorations Award Ceremony

Mrs. Sakihara,

Her family members, friends, and supporters,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning and alo-ha!

It is a privilege and honor for me to be here this morning at this auspicious occasion to present Mrs. Jean Sakihara with an Imperial Decoration.

First of all, on behalf of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, and the Government of Japan, I would like to express my deepest, most heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Sakihara, who is being recognized by the Government of Japan for her tireless efforts and steadfast commitment to furthering the bonds of friendship and cooperation shared between Hawaii and Japan, and between the United States and Japan.

Mrs. Jean Masako Sakihara

Mrs. Jean Masako Sakihara is being presented “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays" from His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan, for her outstanding contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture, specifically in kimono culture, in Hawaii .

Mrs. Sakihara began teaching Japanese language and kimono culture at the University of Hawaii Laboratory School in 1981, and still continues to teach the latter there, twenty eight years later.  In the nineties, she contributed to promoting cultural exchange and goodwill between Japan and Hawaii by initiating the development of sister-school relationships between the Lab School and a couple high schools in Japan .  On the college level, Mrs. Sakihara was instrumental in the establishment of a previously offered credit course in kimono culture at the University of Hawaii . 

Over the past decades, Mrs. Sakihara has remained committed to preserving and perpetuating Japanese culture within the Japanese-American community here.  She continues to dedicate her expertise and time at such events as the annual Shichi-go-san at the Japanese Cultural Center , as well as holding classes every Saturday for the last decade to teach the art of kimono.

I sincerely hope that Mrs. Sakihara will continue to lend her steadfast focus towards the perpetuation of Japanese culture for the sake of our younger generations of Japanese-Americans in the coming years.

Thank you for your kind attention.