The JACL National Board (Photos: Darrell Miho)
JACL concludes its national convention with nods
to Folt and Yoshimura; organization also recognizes New Mexico chapter.
By Allison Haramoto, P.C. Executive Editor
Although its name implies farewell and goodbye, the Sayonara Banquet at the 2025 JACL National Convention at the Hotel Albuquerque on July 19 was quite the opposite as JACLers united to make new connections, renew old friendships and celebrate the organization’s achievements.
The evening’s festivities kicked-off with an official welcome by National Board VP of Public Affairs Seia Watanabe, who told the audience, “Over the past several days, we’ve come together to learn, reflect and recommit ourselves to JACL’s mission: to secure and uphold the civil and human rights of all people while promoting cultural, educational and social values within the Japanese American community. Tonight, we take a moment to celebrate that work — and the community that makes it possible.”
She then introduced the presentation of the colors by Rio Rancho, N.M.-based Boy Scout Troops 1919 and 714, led by Rhiannon Moore, followed by the singing of the “National Anthem” by convention planner Victoria Meaney. The audience then together surprised New Mexico chapter member Greg Suko with the singing of “Happy Birthday.”
Watanabe then took a moment to thank JACL’s key partners and sponsors, specifically State Farm’s Kyle Ward, and then introduced National Board President Larry Oda.
“As we gather to close this year’s convention, I want to offer my deep thanks to all of you — members, supporters and community leaders — who brought passion, insight and unity to our time together. We want to thank the New Mexico JACL for their hard work in hosting us this week,” said Oda, who also acknowledged the organization’s chapters and sponsors for their continued support.
Watanabe then retook the podium to introduce Remy Kageyama from the NY/SC to announce the group’s silent auction winners.
“We exceeded our initial goal and raised $4,634,” Kageyama said. “We are so grateful to all of our amazing sponsors, districts and chapters. . . . Funds will be absolutely instrumental in our ability to host youth programming and help shape JACL’s future.”
Kageyama then announced that the winners of the auction’s Caesars Palace Las Vegas trip was Selanoco chapter’s Ken Inouye and Paris Las Vegas trip was Washington, D.C., chapter’s Kim Hirose.
Leo Yoshimura accepts his award from JACL National President Larry Oda.
Oda next presented the JACL President’s Lifetime Achievement Award to Leo Akira Yoshimura. For 50 years, Yoshimura has worked on “Saturday Night Live,” amassing 13 Emmy nominations and seven wins, as well as seven Art Directors Guild Awards, all while completing work that has “opened doors, told stories and made space for future generations of Asian American artists.”
“This honor will always have a very special place in my heart,” said Yoshimura, who earlier in the day participated in a Fireside Chat with performer/activist/storyteller Nobuko Miyamoto (Read related story here).
Oda then made a special presentation to the New Mexico chapter, where he gifted its members a 48-star flag from Judge Johnny Gogo’s American flag-signing project that displays the signatures of Japanese American incarceration camp survivors and Nisei veterans, which was made available for conventiongoers to sign throughout the four-day New Mexico confab.
Larry Oda (left) presents the 48-star flag to New Mexico chapter’s Calvin Kobayashi and Nikki Nojima Louis.
Accepting the flag on behalf of the chapter was Nikki Nojima Louis, a surviving WWII incarceree, writer and storyteller who has dedicated her life to honoring all those who endured this injustice.
“I represent the history, a long history of emotion and care for a group of people right now who are sitting at that table and are descendants of the founding families of the New Mexico chapter,” said Louis. “I am very proud to be part of that obligation and that legacy.”
JACL National Board Secretary/Treasurer Jonathan Okamoto then introduced JACL’s newest honor, the Robert Emmett Fletcher Jr. Humanitarian Award, which honors Fletcher’s courage in aiding Japanese American families in the Sacramento agricultural region who were forced to move away from their homes as a result of Executive Order 9066.
Fletcher’s actions helped the Kadokawa family return to Florin, Calif., and rebuild their lives — Okamoto shared remarks on behalf of Marielle Tsukamoto, whose grandmother, Ito Kadokawa, was Okamoto’s grandfather’s aunt.
“. . . Many Japanese American families lost everything — homes, farms and the dreams they had worked so hard to achieve. But our story was different, thanks to Bob Fletcher. . . . Bob Fletcher’s selfless actions changed our lives forever. He gave us back not only our land, but our dignity and hope.”
Dr. Carol Folt accepts her humanitarian award.
Okamoto also introduced Michael and Lisa Kanazawa (who is a descendant of Fletcher’s), who created the award (Read related story here.) and presented it to this year’s inaugural recipient, Dr. Carol Folt, former president at the University of Southern California. Under her leadership, USC posthumously conferred degrees to 33 Nisei who were denied their diplomas because of WWII. (Read related story here.)
Recounting her decision, Folt was overcome with gratitude in accepting her award. “What an amazing story and the families touched — it gives us hope in a moment when we might not feel it. . … It was one of those moments that was really a gift in my life, and that moment was so important, and it brought the community together.”
Following Folt’s moving speech, Watanabe then paid tribute to JACL members who passed away in 2025 by introducing an in memoriam video. PSW District Gov. Joseph Gu next announced that 2026’s JACL National Convention will be held in Las Vegas from July 29-Aug. 2.
To close out the evening, Gu introduced legendary songwriter/artist Nobuko Miyamoto, who performed several iconic songs along with her musical director, Derek Nakamoto, as well as led JACLers in her take on traditional bon odori dancing, “Bambutsu no Tsunagari.”
Convention sponsors this year included State Farm Insurance, Comcast, AARP, Verizon, the Motion Picture Assn., Compassion and Choices, U.S. Bank, the JACL Credit Union, Caesars Entertainment, the Japanese American National Museum, Keiro, the New Mexico Tea Company and Pepsi.
The JACL National Staff
