"Excellence And Innovation" - Theme for Japanese American National Museum Annual Dinner set for Friday, March 5

The Japanese American National Museum will honor several outstanding individuals for their contributions to education, architecture, medicine, international relations, and bonsai at the institution’s 2004 Annual Dinner under the theme, “Excellence and Innovation: Celebrating Lifetime Achievements”, set for Friday, March 5, at the Century Plaza Hotel and Spa.

The National Museum, the only museum in the United States dedicated to promoting appreciation for America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by preserving and sharing the Japanese American experience, has organized its fundraising annual dinners as a way to honor individuals and organizations whose work has made the country and the world a better place. Last year, the National Museum recognized over 70 Japanese American family businesses that have been handed down at least three generations.

This year, the National Museum is recognizing individuals who have exemplified excellence and innovation in four areas where the institution has concentrated its programming in recent years: Nisei Legacy, the arts, education and international relations. To be presented Lifetime Achievement Awards in these areas are Paul Terasaki, pioneering tissue-typing researcher whose work has made organ transplants significantly more successful (Nisei Legacy); Gyo Obata, co-founder of Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK) and designer of the Smithsonian’s popular National Air and Space Museum and the Japanese American National Museum’s Pavilion (arts); James Hirabayashi, dean of the first ethnic studies department in the country at San Francisco State University (education); and former Hawai`i Governor George and First Lady Jean Ariyoshi, who have spent their lives reaching out to people around the world (international).

For the first time, the National Museum will present a new award to John Naka, considered the “patron saint of bonsai” by many enthusiasts of the Japanese cultural art of miniature trees. Naka will be the institution’s first Cultural Ambassador for having shared bonsai with people in Europe, South Africa, Australia, South America, Canada and all over the United States, and in doing so, creating closer relations between individuals of various backgrounds.

Sachi Koto, CNN Headline News anchor, will be this year’s emcee. Koto has worked for CNN for over 15 years and was the first Japanese on-air talent in the Southeast and the first Asian on-air talent in Atlanta. Previous to her work at CNN, Koto worked as an anchor for Tokyo’s Japan Cable Television and Nippon Hoso Kyoku (NHK) Radio. She earned her diploma in Japanese language and culture from Gendai Japanese School in Tokyo. Her relationship with the National Museum began when the institution sent two exhibitions to Atlanta in 1999.

The Annual Dinners raise funds to support the National Museum’s educational programs. A highlight since 2000 has been the Bid for Education, which has collected monies to provide transportation for school classes to visit the Museum. Many public schools do not have the funds to transport their students on field trips. This program fills that gap and since the inception of the Bid for Education, the number of school tours to the Museum has tripled.

The 2004 Annual Dinner’s Premiere Sponsor is Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A, Inc. Last year, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. donated a 2003 Lexus GS 430 which was given away through an opportunity drawing. That fundraiser brought in over $100,000. This year, Toyota has donated a 2004 LS 430 and the prizewinner will be announced at the dinner. Last year, a San Jose policeman named Kevin Kyono was the prizewinner. He had bought five tickets. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. is dedicated to promoting diversity in its work and through its support of organizations like the National Museum.

Platinum dinner sponsors include American Airlines, George and Sakaye Aratani, The Boeing Company, Bill and Carol Ouchi, the Pacific Bridge Companies, Paul and Hisako Terasaki and Wells Fargo. Platinum tables are $10,000, which includes 10 guests and a full-page color ad in the dinner journal; Gold tables are $5,000 and include a half-page ad; Silver tables are $3,500 with a quarter-page ad; and Bronze tables are $2,250. Community tables are available to non-profit community organizations at the special rate of $1,500. Individual dinner tickets are available at $500, $350 and $225. Last year’s dinner had almost 1,400 guests.

For more information on the 2004 Annual Dinner or on the Japanese American National Museum, please call (213) 625-0414.