The JACL’s NY/SC awards Austin Fujii with its 2025 Vision Award.
By P.C. Staff
JACL’s National Youth/Student Council hosted its Youth Awards Luncheon in the Alvarado Room at the Hotel Albuquerque on July 18 to recognize the impactful contributions of youth within the organization and honor its 2025 Vision Award recipient.
The NY/SC luncheon featured emcees Simon Kutz, EDC youth representative, and Claire Inouye, national youth representative. (Photos: Darrell Miho)
Led by emcees Claire Inouye, national youth representative, and Simon Kutz, EDC youth representative, the NY/SC welcomed conventiongoers to its “Youth in Unity” luncheon as it celebrated “the achievements and leadership of young members in the JACL.”
Inouye began by thanking the group’s partners, especially State Farm, for its continued sponsorship and support throughout the year of the NY/SC’s programs. She also presented highlights of the group’s activities, including its recent youth retreat summit in Portland, Ore.
“During the summit, we visited significant historical sites, engaged in meaningful conversations about legacy and activism and had the opportunity to meet with (lawyer) Peggy Nagae (lead attorney for civil rights pioneer Minoru Yasui, who was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015), a trailblazer in the fight for redress and civil rights,” said Inouye. “This summit was a meaningful opportunity to exchange ideas and deepen connections among youth leaders and gain inspiration for the work still to come.”
Kutz then went on to introduce this year’s recipient of the NY/SC Vision Award, which is given every two years to an individual who has shown exceptional leadership and has dedicated extensive time to advocacy/social justice work in the community.
“When it came time to selecting this year’s awardee, the exceptional work this individual has done both within the Japanese American community and in coalition with others made this choice a no-brainer. We are thrilled to present the 2025 Vision Award to Austin Fujii,” said Kutz.
NY/SC awardee Austin Fujii (center) with mentor Mike Honda and mother Naoko Fujii.
Fujii, a member of the San Jose JACL chapter, is an incoming second-year honors scholar at Foothill College in the Bay Area, studying sociology and economics.
Upon joining the JACL in 2022, he was then mentored by former U.S. Congressman Mike Honda during the reintroduction of the Neighbors Not Enemies Act. Among his many chapter initiatives, Fujii has redesigned new marketing panels, created a social justice walking tour of San Jose’s Japantown, updated print brochures and created digital QR codes to promote local small businesses and uncovered the depth of Japantown’s history.
Fujii also established Foothill College’s Nikkei Student Union, serves as the college’s student body vp of administration and is a member of a semiprofessional taiko ensemble, all while preparing to transfer to a four-year university in addition to continuing his involvement in the JACL.
Upon taking the stage to accept his award, Fujii immediately thanked Honda for taking him under his wing and mentoring him, his mother, Naoko, for her support, as well as the NY/SC for choosing him, particularly Halle Sousa, NCWNP youth representative, for being her one nominee.
“I’m just happy to give back to my community and connect culturally with the people who continue to make an impact today,” said Fujii. “It never crossed my mind that my work would be recognized to this extent, but I hope it will inspire people to realize, start and get spurred into action.”
Fujii went on to speak about the importance of Japanese American youth to execute a vision for the future, a task that has become more vital than ever before.
“I really appreciate that we are able to provide an outlet for community impact because people want to help, but they don’t know where to start,” he continued. “. . . I’ve already gotten people to reach out and give support. . . . This includes not only Japanese Americans but also students with immigrant parents because that includes those who may not have been interned or detained, but it’s more important now because we’re stronger together.
“I’m incredibly honored to be the recipient of the 2025 Vision Award, and I look forward to representing JACL youth in whatever form that may take in the future,” Fujii concluded.
Austin Fujii (center) with members of JACL’s NY/SC
