Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for Harvey Yamagata, President of Fort Worth Japanese Society
2022/11/17
On November 9, 2022, Mr. Harvey Yamagata, President of the Fort Worth Japanese Society, received a Commendation from Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in recognition of his contributions towards promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Consul General Murabayashi presented a certificate and commemorative gift during a luncheon held in Fort Worth to celebrate the 35-year sister-city relationship between Fort Worth and Nagaoka, Japan.
The Fort Worth Japanese Society was founded in 1985 with the mission of fostering understanding between Japanese and Americans by providing opportunities to learn about Japanese language and culture. Mr. Yamagata became a member of the Society’s board of directors in 1997, and became its president in 2004. Since the start of Mr. Yamagata’s tenure, the Society has continued to grow its membership and programs. The Society currently has more than 300 members including Americans, Japanese, and Japanese-Americans, and offers classes in Japanese language, calligraphy, origami, ikebana, folk dances, tea ceremony, and taiko drums. Mr. Yamagata has also been active in preserving and sharing the history of Japanese Americans, serving as a member on the board of trustees of the Japanese American National Museum since 2010, and as the treasurer of the board since 2021.
During the ceremony, Consul General Murabayashi expressed his deep appreciation for Mr. Yamagata’s contribution to promoting better understanding between Japanese and Americans for nearly 20 years as the President of Fort Worth Japanese Society. He especially commended his leadership during the annual spring and fall festival at the Fort Worth Japanese Gardens, which attracts over 15,000 visitors each year.
In accepting the Commendation, Mr. Yamagata said, “We shouldn’t forget why we are engaged so much in building mutual understanding between the American and Japanese peoples. Understanding each other is a foundation for peace, creates fertile ground for commerce… and understanding different cultures enriches us all.”
The Fort Worth Japanese Society was founded in 1985 with the mission of fostering understanding between Japanese and Americans by providing opportunities to learn about Japanese language and culture. Mr. Yamagata became a member of the Society’s board of directors in 1997, and became its president in 2004. Since the start of Mr. Yamagata’s tenure, the Society has continued to grow its membership and programs. The Society currently has more than 300 members including Americans, Japanese, and Japanese-Americans, and offers classes in Japanese language, calligraphy, origami, ikebana, folk dances, tea ceremony, and taiko drums. Mr. Yamagata has also been active in preserving and sharing the history of Japanese Americans, serving as a member on the board of trustees of the Japanese American National Museum since 2010, and as the treasurer of the board since 2021.
During the ceremony, Consul General Murabayashi expressed his deep appreciation for Mr. Yamagata’s contribution to promoting better understanding between Japanese and Americans for nearly 20 years as the President of Fort Worth Japanese Society. He especially commended his leadership during the annual spring and fall festival at the Fort Worth Japanese Gardens, which attracts over 15,000 visitors each year.
In accepting the Commendation, Mr. Yamagata said, “We shouldn’t forget why we are engaged so much in building mutual understanding between the American and Japanese peoples. Understanding each other is a foundation for peace, creates fertile ground for commerce… and understanding different cultures enriches us all.”