Japan America Society of Southern California to Honor American Honda Motor Co. and IndyCar Racer Takuma Sato

LOS ANGELES, June 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC) is proud to present its 106th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel® & Spa, 1600 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, Calif., on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.  Established as a membership organization to build meaningful relationships between Japanese and Americans, the JASSC this year will honor American Honda Motor Co., Inc. for serving as an engine of growth for the U.S. economy and for its deep commitment to corporate social responsibility. JASSC will also honor Takuma Sato, Japan's championed Formula 1 and IndyCar race car driver. In 2003, Sato became the first Japanese to win an IndyCar race in the 106 year history of the championship open-wheel auto racing series.

"We are pleased to honor American Honda Motor Co. for its more than 50 years of investing in the U.S. and creating a positive economic impact on communities across the nation," said Joseph C. Portillo, chairman of JASSC. "Honoring Takuma Sato, Japan's greatest race car driver, and who is now living in the U.S., is our way of highlighting one of Japan's unofficial cultural ambassadors."

Highlights for the evening include a kimono fashion show by Kimono Project. Renowned Japanese taiko drum group, Nobushi, will also perform, accompanied by pianist Makiyo Miura and shakuhachi bamboo flute player Kohzan Yamazaki. The evening begins with a cocktail reception and silent auction and concludes with an opportunity drawing for a 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring vehicle.

More information and reservations for the JASSC's 106th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration, including how to enter the opportunity drawing for a 2015 Honda Accord Hybrid Touring vehicle (winner need not be present), can be found online at www.jas-socal.org or by calling Kay Amano at (310) 965-9050, ext. 104.

About American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Honda established operations in America in 1959 and now employs more than 39,000 associates in its North American sales, R&D and manufacturing operations with total capital investment in North America exceeding $22 billion. Based on its longstanding commitment to "build products close to the customer," Honda operates 16 major manufacturing facilities in North America producing a wide range of Honda and Acura automobiles, automobile engines and transmissions, Honda all-terrain vehicles, power equipment products, such as lawn mowers, mini-tillers and general purpose engines, and the HondaJet advanced light jet.

Eight Honda auto plants in the region, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year. In 2014, more than 97 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America. Those plants today manufacture 12 different models, including five passenger cars and seven light trucks using domestic and globally sourced parts. A fifth U.S. auto plant, the Performance Manufacturing Center, is under construction in Marysville, Ohio, and will be the exclusive global production location for the next generation Acura NSX supercar. Honda also operates 14 major research and development centers in the U.S. with the capacity to fully design, develop and engineer many of the products Honda produces in North America.

About Takuma Sato
Born in Tokyo, Takuma Sato - or 'Taku' as he likes to be known - began his motorsport career racing bicycles in his native Japan, quickly becoming a high school champion. In 1996, he took up kart racing and by the following year had won the Kanto region championship. That same season he entered Suzuka Racing School where he won a scholarship for the All-Japan Formula 3 Championship. He then chose to move to Europe to pursue his ambition of reaching Formula 1.

In 2001, Sato won the British Formula 3 title in impressive fashion and began competing in Formula 1 in 2002. He scored a podium finish at the 2004 US Grand Prix and finished eighth in the championship standings driving for BAR Honda. Moving to IndyCar in 2010, Sato has won five pole positions and finished in the top-10 23 times in 95 starts.  His IndyCar career has been highlighted by winning the 2013 Long Beach Grand Prix, when he became the first Japanese ever to win an IndyCar race.

Sato is also founder of the charity, "With you Japan," that supports recovery efforts for those affected by the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, and resulting tsunami and nuclear crisis. He is married and has two children.

About Japan America Society of Southern California (JASSC)
The JASSC was founded in 1909 as a membership organization 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. The JASSC is a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization and it is supported by 145 Japanese and American corporate members and more than 2,000 individual members. 

Contact:
Douglas G. Erber
President, Japan America Society of Southern California
Office: (310) 965-9050 ext. 107; Mobile: (213) 220-6569
[email protected]

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SOURCE Japan America Society of Southern California

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