Japan America Society of Southern California Celebrates 103rd Anniversary

LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC) is proud to present its 103^rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration at the Disneyland Hotel, 1150 Magic Way, Anaheim, Calif., on Friday, June 15, 2012. Established to build meaningful relationships between Japanese and Americans, the JASCC this year will honor organizations and personnel who contributed greatly to relief efforts in the wake of last year's tragic Japan earthquake and tsunami.

Disneyland Resort will receive JASSC's Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award."  Operation Tomodachi, the joint U.S. Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces humanitarian relief effort after the March 11, 2011 Great Japan East Earthquake and Tsunami, also will be honored.  Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (Ret.), and General Shigeru Iwasaki, chief of staff, JSDF (invited), will accept the JASSC's Kokusai Shimin Sho "International Citizens Award" on behalf of the 20,000 American service personnel and the 107,000 Japanese service personnel who, side-by-side, made Operation Tomodachi a success.

"We are delighted to honor the Disneyland Resort for its more than 50 years of help in strengthening the relationship between Japan and the United States through the world's most beloved theme parks," said Nancy Woo Hiromoto, chairman of JASSC. "Honoring the service personnel of Operation Tomodachi, one of the greatest joint U.S.-Japan humanitarian relief efforts after last year's earthquake and tsunami, is a capstone to the JASSC's 2011 Japan Relief Fund, which raised more than $1.4 million to help victims in Japan."

Disneyland Resort is being recognized for Tokyo Disney Resort's immediate response after the March 11, 2011 earthquake, which initially stranded 69,000 people at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea.  Disney employees provided humanitarian aid in the form of blankets, food and water, heaters and raincoats for visitors who were required to stay due to the transportation challenges associated with the earthquake.

"Whether it's helping others across town or across the world, Disney cast members have a long history of providing assistance in times of crisis," said Jill Bolton, director of community relations for Disneyland Resort. "It is gratifying to know that we were able to make a difference in the lives of many people affected by the tsunami, and we are grateful to be recognized with the Japan America Society's International Citizens Award for our efforts."

Highlights for the evening include musical performances by six-time GRAMMY Award winner, Daniel Ho, and by acclaimed jazz and classical pianist-composer-arranger, Yuko Maruyama.  The evening begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction and concludes with a raffle drawing for a 2012 Lexus CT 200h.

More information and reservations for the JASSC's 103^rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration, including how to enter the raffle drawing for a 2012 Lexus CT 200h (winner need not be present), can be found online at www.jas-socal.org or by calling Kay Amano at (213) 627-6217, ext. 207.

About Disneyland Resort
Located on approximately 500 acres in Anaheim, Calif., the Disneyland Resort features two spectacular theme parks – Disneyland (the original Disney theme park) and Disney California Adventure park – plus the Downtown Disney District composed of unique dining, entertainment and shopping experiences. The Resort's three hotels are the 948-room Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, the 969-room Disneyland Hotel and the 481-room Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. With 23,000 Cast Members, the Disneyland Resort is Orange County's largest employer and generates $4.7 billion for the Southern California economy. The Resort has welcomed more than 600 million guests since opening on July 17, 1955. For detailed information about the Disneyland Resort, please visit www.disneyland.com.

About Operation Tomodachi
Operation Tomodachi, named for the Japanese word for "friendship," was launched after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011.  United States Forces (USF) and Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF) worked together in one of the world's most successful, bi-lateral military responses to provide humanitarian assistance.  

Admiral Patrick M. Walsh recently retired as the 59th commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.  Last year, Walsh served as commander of the Joint Support Force that carried out Operation Tomodachi.

In Feb. 2012, General Shigeru Iwasaki was promoted to chief of staff, Japan Self Defense Forces, where he supervises the operations of Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF), Maritime Self Defense Force (MSDF) and Air Self Defense Force (ASDF) under the control and supervision of the Minister of Defense.  Prior to his promotion, and during Operation Tomodachi, General Iwasaki served as chief of staff of the ASDF.

About Japan America Society of Southern California
The Japan America Society was founded in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America.  It has grown to become the West Coast's premier educational and public affairs forum dedicated to the United States–Japan relationship by offering unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries.  The Japan America Society's active calendar of events includes breakfast and luncheon programs, business networking mixers, weekend family events, and programs highlighting art, music, fashion, film, performing arts and other special activities.  Annual events include the 44th Japan America Golf Classic & Tennis Open, Family Fishing Trip and Family Whale Watch Cruise, 16th Japan America Kite Festival® and 6th U.S.-Japan Green Conference.  The Japan America Society of Southern California is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization and it is supported by 135 Japanese and American corporate members and more than 2,000 individual members. 

Contact:
Douglas G. Erber
President, Japan America Society of Southern California
Office: (213) 627-6217 ext. 208; Mobile: (213) 220-6569
[email protected]

Dan Zukowski
GolinHarris
Mobile: (213) 321-3400
[email protected]

SOURCE Japan America Society of Southern California