“The Bridge Between Hawaii and Japan” featuring Dr. Dennis Ogawa and Sunshine Katsura

Speaker Saeki

Mike McCartney

The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu hosted a special program for Hawaii State Legislators and City and County Officials at the Hawaii State Capitol Auditorium on January 29, 2019. The special program, in which JASH helped to coordinate, was based on the friendship and goodwill built between Japan and Hawaii and Japan and the U.S. The program began with opening remarks by Consul General Koichi Ito, Senate President Ronald Kouchi, House Speaker Scott Saiki and Director Mike McCartney of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Dr. Dennis Ogawa a celebrated professor of American Studies at the University of Hawaii with teaching and research expertise in the areas of Japanese American Studies, Television and Ethnic Identity, and Multicultural Studies, and JASH board director gave a talk about the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii-The Gannenmono.

Katsura Sunshine is a Canadian-born performer of Rakugo, traditional Japanese Comedic storytelling. He has been performing around the world since 2012, sharing his views on Japanese society and acting as a cultural ambassador.