Senator Inouye Honored at Annual Dinner

Over 260 members of the Society and their guests gathered at the JW Marriott Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue on January 22, as the Japan-America Society honored Senator Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii at its 19th Annual Public Affairs Dinner.

Senator Inouye is the third most senior member of the United States Senate. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, he is known for his distinguished record as a legislative leader and as a World War II combat veteran who earned the nation's highest award for military valor, the Medal of Honor.

The Honorary Chairman for this year's dinner, which launched the Society's 50th anniversary year celebrations, was Senator Bob Dole. The Dinner Co-Chairs were Mr. Tetsuo Kadoya of Toshiba America, Inc. and Nao Matsukata of Alston + Bird, LLP.

The dinner was preceeded by the Society's Silent Auction.

The Society expresses its great appreciation to the Dinner's Patrons: Alston + Bird LLP; AMGEN; Boeing; Canon; Lockheed Martin; Mitsubishi International Corporation; Mitsui USA; Toshiba; and Toyota.

It also thanks the Dinner's table sponsors: The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd; Bill and Peggy Breer; The Embassy of Japan; The Federation of Electric Power; Hitachi, Ltd.; ITOCHU International Inc.; Keidanren USA; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.; and Tokyo Electric Power Company.

The Annual Public Affairs Dinner is a major source of support for the many educational, cultural, and public affairs programs that the Society presents throughout the year.