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America-Japan Society announces recipients of 2024 Kentaro Kaneko Award

The 2024 Kentaro Kaneko Award ceremony will be held Oct. 15 at the International House of Japan in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. 

The America-Japan Society has announced this year’s recipients of the Kentaro Kaneko Award, which honors individuals who have significantly contributed to bilateral relations through grassroots efforts.

This year’s awardees are Masako Kawai from Gifu Prefecture, who has been involved in volunteer activities relating to international exchange, and Susan Schmidt from Colorado, who has worked to promote Japanese-language education in the United States as well as via exchange programs in higher education.

In addition to the two main awards, a special award will be presented to Sadao Watanabe, a renowned jazz musician from Tochigi Prefecture.

Kawai, 74, has been a driving force in volunteer activities related to international exchange. She played a pivotal role in organizing the "Hello Gifu, Hello World" international exchange event, which promotes American culture in collaboration with the Nagoya American Center.

She also spearheaded an English-language discussion and issue-driven presentation event for high school students in Gifu co-hosted by the Gifu Prefecture Japan-America Society and the U.S. Consulate in Nagoya, in order to foster students’ English in language study and studying abroad.

In 2015, she arranged the planting site in Gifu for the centennial celebration of the 1915 gift of flowering dogwood trees made to Japan by then-U.S. President William Taft and organized related ceremonies with local governments.

Since 1999, Schmidt, 76, has served as a director and secretary-general of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese and managed scholarship programs for American students studying in Japan and related projects, greatly influencing Japanese-language education and higher education exchanges between Japan and the U.S.

She has also promoted publications and teaching materials for the Japanese- language education community and expanded professional development opportunities for teachers.

Watanabe, 91, has been a prominent figure in jazz for decades, known for incorporating Brazilian and African elements into his music. He has released over 80 albums and continues to perform live, maintaining his influence in the jazz world.

In 1996, Watanabe played the saxophone at a luncheon hosted by then-Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto during then-U.S. President Bill Clinton’s visit to Japan and presented the instrument to the president, himself a saxophone enthusiast.

Named after the first president of the America-Japan Society, the Kentaro Kaneko Award was established in 2017 to commemorate the society’s 100th anniversary and is based on recommendations from members of America-Japan Societies in both countries. Recipients receive a plaque featuring Kaneko's portrait and a monetary prize. e award ceremony will be held Oct. 15 at the International House of Japan in Tokyo’s Minato Ward.

BY JESSICA SPEED, STAFF WRITER Aug 24, 2024
The Japan Times