Emperor’s Birthday Reception 2026

On February 27, a reception celebrating the birthday of His Majesty the Emperor was held at the official residence of the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles.

The event is hosted annually by the Consulate General to mark the Emperor’s birthday on February 23 and to strengthen ties with the local community.

This year, about 400 guests attended, including representatives of Japanese American organizations, members of the diplomatic corps, and leaders from state and city political and business communities.
They celebrated the Emperor’s birthday and reaffirmed community unity.

Consul General Kosei Murota shared an episode related to His Majesty the Emperor at the Consulate General.

He also highlighted three factors for further Japan–U.S. economic growth: collaboration with young Japanese Americans, stronger ties among Japanese companies beyond competition, and the expansion of Japanese food culture and Japanese-style education as a foundation for business development abroad.

Reflecting this spirit, rival travel agencies and airlines set up booths side by side to promote Japan.

The reception featured traditional sushi, street food such as yakitori, and contemporary Japanese cuisine by the restaurant Nobu, allowing guests to enjoy a wide variety of Japanese dishes and what Japan has to offer.

2026 JABA Award Dinner

On February 10, in downtown Los Angeles, JABA, the Japanese American Bar Association, held its officer installation ceremony and awards dinner.

The association was founded in 1977 by Japanese American legal professionals and currently has more than 300 members.

It works to expand opportunities for Japanese American lawyers through networking and mentoring young attorneys while also engaging in community service.

This year Gary Tokumori became the new president.

This year’s 49th anniversary dinner was attended by about 1,000 people, including members, their families, and representatives from government and related organizations, fostering connections.

2026 OCJAA Community Service Awards Banquet

On Sunday, March 1, OCJAA, the Orange County Japanese American Association, held its Community Service Awards Banquet in Fountain Valley.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, OCJAA is a nonprofit serving the Japanese American community in Orange County with cultural, educational, and welfare programs.

Following his reappointment as president last year, Yasuyuki Okazoe thanked the pioneers who built OCJAA over the past 40 years and shared his vision for engaging the next generation.

After lunch, greetings were delivered by the president of Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai, the President of Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, and Kosei Murota, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles.

Certificates of Appreciation were presented to the Shin-Sen-Gumi Restaurant Group, Nihon Yakken, and the Chado Urasenke Tankokai OC for their support of OCJAA’s activities.

The Community Service Award went to Mapfre Insurance and Seiichi Nagao of OCJAA.
Distinguished Service Awards were given to Mac Miyazaki and Akemi Miyake, both OCJAA President Emeritus.

The event also featured raffle tickets for fundraising, a blind auction, and entertainment, allowing members and guests to enjoy a pleasant afternoon.