Written by: Dr. Kichiemon Asoma, JMSA Board Member, Co-Chair, JMSA Scholarship Program

On January 24, 2025, Mr. Yoshio Kano, Executive Secretary of JMSA, was bestowed the Consul General of Japan’s Commendation at the Consul’s residence in NYC.  The evening’s event was attended by over 60 guests, including the representatives of the major Japanese American community service groups of which Mr. Kano either directed, served on the board, and/or supported over the past several decades. These groups included JMSA, The Japanese American Association of NY (JAANY), The Japanese Medical Support Network, Inc (JAMSNET), The Japanese American Social Services, Inc (JASSI), The Hamilton Madison House, Inc, The Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Society, Inc, NY Sukusukukai (NYSK), The Nippon Club, The Japanese American Lions Club (JALC), and The New York Japanese Community Club, Inc. 

The evening was started off by Kaoriko Kuge of Fujisankei introducing the H.E. Ambassador Mikio Mori, who recognized Mr. Kano’s unparalleled dedication to serving the Japanese American and Japanese communities, not just in New York, but globally.  He thanked Mr. Kano for his many years of service but also mentioned his surprise that he was the first to bestow this Commendation upon Mr. Kano. 

This was followed by a speech by Dr Shunichi Homma and Dr Makoto Iwahara, former presidents of JMSA.  They recognized how Mr. Kano, who through his expertise in the business and commerce sectors of both Japan and America and his commitment to service, was able to achieve the feat of bringing the various community service groups together and was critical in the creation of several other groups.  A Japanese proverb equivalent to “unsung hero” was used by Dr Homma to describe Mr. Kano’s selfless and tireless dedication to serving others without regard for recognition.  He also called Mr. Kano the “wind beneath his wings” to emphasize how Mr. Kano was instrumental in his efforts to change JMSA from a social group of a few physician friends into the international community service group that it is today.  Dr Iwahara made special mention of how Mr. Kano’s unique business acumen and his easternly formal, yet disarmingly western charm helped galvanize the private sector into supporting the various Japanese-American NPO groups.

Then, it was Mr. Kano’s turn to speak.  Mr. Kano came to the United States in 1973 with his wife and three daughters as a businessman tasked as the head representative of Daimaru, one of the largest department stores in Japan.  He spoke of how privileged he felt to have been able to experience life in the US and to raise his family here, but also spoke of the challenges he encountered while doing so.  And he spoke of how it was the support and generosity of his friends, and the people in the community he encountered along the way, that got him and his family through those challenges.  The realization that no one goes it alone, that everyone needs and can use help, instilled and forged within him, his desire to serve others.  He spoke of his fortuitous encounter with Dr Homma in 2005 that served as the spark that set him on his path of community service. In the heartwarming final moments of his speech, Mr. Kano thanked his wife, Fumiko Kano, who, as all the other speakers testified, is perhaps the true “unsung hero” in the life of Mr. Kano.

Susan Onuma, JMSA Board Member, gave the celebratory toast at the end of the ceremony. After the ceremony, a reception took place on the second floor of the ambassador’s residence.

The Board members of JMSA are very proud of this well-deserved recognition of Mr. Kano and would like to thank him for his many years of tireless service and effort as its Executive Secretary, past, present, and into the future! 

Congratulations, Mr. Kano!