Consul General Kamo’s Remarks for the 2010 Autumn Imperial Decoration Award Ceremony 

 November 30, 2010, 

Official Residence

Ms. Mary Matayoshi,

Mr. Hiroshi Arisumi,

Mr. Sadato Yanai,

Your respective 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 Ms. Matayoshi, Mr. Arisumi, and Mr. Yanai, with 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 appreciation to each one of you for your 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.

Ms. Mary Y. Matayoshi

Ms. Mary Y. Matayoshi, former Director of the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s College of Continuing Education and Community Service, is being presented the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for her contribution to the promotion of mutual understanding and good relationship between Japan and the United States.

In her time as Director, she devoted herself to promoting academic exchanges between Japan and the United States through agreements with Japanese Universities. She was one of the first teachers to offer language courses and lectures in American culture for researchers at the Japan-America Institute of Management Science.

After retiring from public service, she established in 2002 a non-profit organization called the Volunteer Resource Center of Hawaii which is an organization that coordinates an exchange program for Japanese college students interested volunteer activities in social work in Hawaii.

Ms. Mayayoshi’s accomplishments have contributed to improving the positions of Japanese Americans in Hawaii and have fostered the relations of mutual advancement and friendship between Japan and the United States. 

Mr. Hiroshi Arisumi

Mr. Hiroshi Arisumi, a WWII veteran, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, for his contribution to the promotion of cultural exchanges and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

Mr. Arisumi has been a generous benefactor to the Maui Japanese Community Association and the Japanese Cultural Society of Maui since the 1950s and a steadfast supporter of their programs that promote friendly relations, cultural exchanges, and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.

As a surviving member of the 442^nd Regimental Combat Team, he ardently supported the effort to establish the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center on Maui since the idea was conceived in 1985 until it opened its doors in 2006. In his role as President of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center, he continues to work on programs to teach the youth and inform the public about the valor of and the sacrifices made by the Nisei (second generation; Americans born to Japanese immigrant parents) soldiers during the Second World War.

Mr. Sadato Yanai

柳井様、この度のご受章まことにおめでとうございます。柳井様が永年奉仕精神にあふれる諸活動に率先して取り組まれ多大な成果をあげられましたことに対し、深い敬意を表するものです。

Mr. Sadato Yanai, a former staff of the Consulate General of Japan at Honolulu, will receive the Order of Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays, for his contribution to Japanese Government and Japanese American community. During his tenure at the Consulate, he devoted himself not only to assisting Japanese citizens in Hawaii but also to reproducing official family registers of Okinawan families whose original documents had been destroyed by fire during World War II.

After retiring, he devoted himself to the caretaking of the Imperial Navy Cemetery which is located in the Makiki area of Honolulu and maintains its facilities and premises as the Director of Management.

Mr. Yanai also serves as the President of ‘Mokuyo Gosankai’, an organization with more than 90 years of history in the community which hosts regular lecture meetings on Thursdays that give Japanese residents living in Hawaii opportunities to cultivate their knowledge.  

It is my sincere hope that each one of you will continue to lend your steadfast commitment and valuable expertise for the betterment of US-Japan relationship in the coming years.

Congratulations!

(c) Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu
1742 Nuuanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817 USA
Tel: 808-543-3111