Upcoming events

Switch to Calendar View

• JASSC 116th Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration

  • When
    Thursday, October 16, 2025
  •  
    6:30 PM - 10:00 PM
  • Location
    The Biltmore Los Angeles

  
  

  
  

  - Registlation Closed -

  
  

  Thursday, October 16, 2025

  6:30pm  Check-in
  7pm Reception
  8pm   Dinner & Gala Celebration
  
  PLACE
  

  The Biltmore Los Angeles
  506 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071

   Map & Directions

  ATTIRE

  Cocktail or Business

  PARKING

  Parking will be complimentary as we will provide validation
  

  TICKETS & SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

  Click here for the 116th Gala Sponsorship Brochure

  Individual Seats are $450 per guest
  Table Sponsorship begin at $6,500

  
  

  Your participation will make educational programs possible that benefit children attending Title I programs (i.e., schools serving a high percentage of children from low-income families). The programs you will help make possible include the Kite Workshops, and Japan Bowl of California. 
  

  
  

  スポンサーシップ
  

  アニバーサリーディナーの寄付金や協賛金は、南加日米協会が開催する教育プログラムを継続するための重要な資金源となっております。Title I プログラム（NCLB第 1 章で定められた不利な状況にある児童・生徒の学力の向上に向けた取組に対する財政支援） に参加している学校に通う低所得層の生徒が対象で、和凧作製ワークショップや、ジャパンボウルオブカリフォルニアなどのプログラムを開催しています。
  

  
  For additional information about  attractive sponsorship opportunities, please contact Chie McHaffie at mchaffie@jas-socal.org.

  GALA TRIBUTE BOOK 
  

  Increase your company's visibility and marketing outreach!  To place an ad in the Gala Tribute Book, please contact Chie McHaffie at mchaffie@jas-socal.org.

  
  

  International Citizens Award - 国際市民賞

  
  

  Frank Buckley

  Frank Buckley is the award-winning co-anchor of KTLA 5 Morning News, hosting the flagship weekday broadcast from 7:00–11:00 AM. He joined KTLA in June 2005 after serving as a correspondent with KCAL‑TV and CNN.

  Buckley also hosts the nationally syndicated weekly show and podcast “Frank Buckley Interviews”, and co-anchors “Inside California Politics”. Throughout his career, he has reported on major international and regional events, including hurricanes in the Caribbean, earthquakes in Kobe and Northridge, wildfires in Southern California, the Los Angeles riots, and high-profile trials such as O.J. Simpson.

  In recognition of his longstanding efforts to strengthen Japan–U.S. relations, Buckley received the Consul General’s Commendation from the Japanese Consulate in Los Angeles in September 2024. He was also an early member of the U.S.–Japan Council, and participated in the 2006 Japanese American Leadership Delegation to Japan.

  Frank frequently lends his voice and presence to community engagement events, serving as an MC and host for organizations such as JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, the Japanese American National Museum, and the Japan–America Society of Southern California—where he is also honored as this year’s recipient of the Kokusai Shimin Sho (International Citizens Award) for his exemplary public service and community leadership.

  
  

  
  

  Mikio Toki

  Mikio Toki is a master of traditional Edo-style kite making and a beloved cultural ambassador of Japan. Since 2001, he has visited Southern California annually to lead the Japan America Society of Southern California’s Japanese Kite Workshops, teaching thousands of local elementary school students—many from under-resourced communities—how to illustrate, construct, and fly handmade kites using washi paper and bamboo. Through these workshops, Toki has introduced Japanese culture to more than 18,000 children in Southern California.

  Born in Tokyo in 1950, Toki was drawn to kites from a young age and pursued formal training in graphic design. He later apprenticed under the founder of the Edo Kite Preservation Society, Katsuhisa Ota, and became known for his beautifully painted Edo kites that feature samurai, mythical creatures, and traditional symbols rendered in sumi ink and vibrant colors. His kites are works of art that come to life in the sky.

  In addition to his artistry, Toki has dedicated his life to education and cultural exchange, sharing his work at major venues like Walt Disney World and the Smithsonian Museum. His legacy continues through his daughter, Asami, who is also a kite maker.

  JASSC is proud to present Mikio Toki with the Kokusai Shimin Sho (International Citizens Award) in recognition of his lifelong dedication to cultural outreach and Japan–U.S. friendship.

   

  Next Generation Rising Star Award

  
  

  美麗-Bi-ray-

  美麗-Bi-ray- is an emerging J-pop girl group produced by legendary musician YOSHIKI, known for his work with X Japan and global collaborations. Launched in 2024, 美麗-Bi-ray- made an immediate impact with their debut single “Butterfly,” showcasing a bold blend of powerful vocals, captivating choreography, and a fresh, international appeal. The group’s name, “美麗-Bi-ray-”, symbolizes a duality of light and strength—embodying beauty, diversity, and forward-looking creativity.

  Handpicked through a competitive global audition, 美麗-Bi-ray-’s members hail from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared passion for music and performance. Under YOSHIKI’s mentorship, they are redefining what it means to be a next-generation global pop act, blending traditional Japanese influences with modern pop sensibilities.

  In recognition of their artistic promise and cross-cultural influence, the Japan America Society of Southern California is proud to present 美麗-Bi-ray- with the Next Generation Rising Star Award. As they rise to international stages, 美麗-Bi-ray- represents the bright future of global cultural exchange and the enduring power of music to connect people—citizen to citizen.

  
  

  Master of Ceremonies

  
  

  Mitchell T. Maki

  Dr. Mitchell T. Maki is the President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving the legacy of Nisei World War II veterans. A leading scholar on the Japanese American redress movement, he is the author of the award-winning book Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress, which received the Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award.

  He has held senior academic leadership roles at California State University, Dominguez Hills and UCLA, and is recognized internationally as a speaker on social justice and civil rights. Dr. Maki earned his Ph.D. and M.S.W. from the University of Southern California and is a licensed clinical social worker.

  
  

  Platinum Sponsor

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Gold Sponsor

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  Silver Sponsor

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  Show details
• Strategic Synergies: Reinforcing the Japan–U.S. Alliance

  • When
    Wednesday, November 05, 2025
  •  
    11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
  • Location
    Democracy Center, Japanese American National Museum

  

  Register Here

  Amid the growing instability in global security, the resilience of the U.S.-Japan relations has never been more vital to the Indo-Pacific region. This presents a prime opportunity to reexamine the future of the bilateral relationship particularly in the area of trade and security. Professor Tosh Minohara, a Japanese American from California, who currently heads a nonprofit think tank will provide an assessment to the current state of global affairs while also offering insight into how to further strengthen this key alliance across the Pacific.

  
  

  
  

  Wednesday, November 5, 2025

     11:30pm  Welcome Reception (Buffet lunch & drinks)
  12:30pm  Seminar
  1:30pm  Networking Reception (Light snacks & drinks)

  Conference Venue:
  Democracy Center at the Japanese American National Museum
  100 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

  Admission:
  Free

  Directions
  Please note that parking is self-service. For detailed information about parking locations and access, please refer to the Japanese American National Museum website.

  
  

  

  
  

  Register Here

  Application deadline: October 31
  Please note that registration may close earlier if capacity is reached.
  In the event of full capacity, participants will be selected by lottery.

  Enquiries:
  For any questions or inquiries, please contact:
  la_seminar2025@kreab.com

  
  

  

  
  

  Speaker

  
  

  
  

  Tosh Minohara
  Professor, Graduate School of Law, Kobe University
  Chairman, Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA)

  Tosh Minohara is a Japanese American born in California, USA. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, and later obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science and Diplomatic History from Kobe University. Since 1999, he has been teaching at the Graduate School of Political Science at Kobe University, and has held his current position since 2007. He also serves concurrently as a professor at the Graduate School of International Cooperation Studies and lectured at the Command and Staff College for Japan’s Self-Defense Forces.

  Most recently, he was invited as a visiting fellow at the Library & Archives of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. In 2019, he founded the Research Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs (RIIPA), a Cabinet Office-certified non-profit organization, and currently serves as its president.

  He is an expert in U.S.-Japan relations, American foreign policy, international politics, and international security, and has authored numerous books and essays. In 2024, he served as editor of the Handbook of Japan's Foreign and Domestic Policies During the Decade of Abe (MHM and Amsterdam University Press, 2024). He regularly contributes to various domestic and international media outlets, and his academic achievements have been recognized with the Shimizu Hiroshi Prize and the Japan Research Prize.

  Show details