Consul General’s Commendation Awarded to Pam Yoshida at 2025 San Jose Japantown Bonenkai

On Sunday, December 28, Consul General Kotaro Otsuki attended San Jose Japantown’s annual year-end Bonenkai event, organized by the Japantown Community Congress of San Jose (JCCsj) at the Buddhist Church of San Jose, and presented the Consul General’s Commendation to JCCsj Co-President Pam Yoshida. In his remarks, Consul General Otsuki expressed his admiration for Ms. Yoshida’s efforts across multiple organizations and activities to strengthen understanding and friendship between Japan and California, particularly in San Jose Japantown and its community. The Consul General also expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the San Jose Japantown community in a big year which included an exhibit at the Japanese Overseas Migration Museum in Yokohama, and the selection of San Jose Japantown as a California Cultural District.
 
The event was attended by representatives and members of several Japantown organizations and also included remarks by Rimban Gerald Sakamoto of the San Jose Buddhist Church, and toast by Mr. Roy Hirabayashi of San Jose Taiko and Ms. Reiko Iwanaga, former Head Odori (dance) Instructor of San Jose Obon. Attendees enjoyed the Japanese New Year’s Eve tradition of toshikoshi soba.
 
JCCsj is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for the preservation of the historic and cultural heritage of San Jose’s Japantown.