The Government of Japan in presenting
its traditional awards in Spring

On April 29th (Japan Time), the Government of Japan announced the recipients of its Spring 2008 Decorations. This system was set up in 1871 in order to honor those who have performed meritorious service to the Japanese nation or public, or else distinguished themselves by their excellence in various field of society.
From Southern California, the following three people will be awarded.
Mr. George Aratani is scheduled to attend the May 8th audience with the Emperor of Japan and Conferral Ceremony by the Prime Minister at the Imperial Palace, and Mr. Russell Hanlin is scheduled to attend the May 9th audience with the Emperor of Japan and the Conferral Ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Mr. George Aratani – The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star

Mr. Russell Lowell Hanlin - The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon

Mr. Yoshinori Kawaguchi - The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays

Mr. George Aratani
George Aratani was born in Gardena, California.
From childhood he was influenced by his father’s great commitment to social service and upon achieving a great deal of success in his business endeavors, he took an interest in social activism. In his active promotion of and support for youth sports, he fostered strong personal connections in the Southern California Nikkei community. Due to his surpassing contributions to the establishment and management of Keiro Nursing Home and his great efforts to aid in fundraising for the Nikkei Retirement Home Construction Fund, in Spring 1988 he received the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Rosette from the Japanese Government.　Mr. Aratani has served with a great deal of distinction as a Member of the Board of Trustees and Governors of the Japanese American National Museum, which was founded with the mission of preserving Japanese American culture and history, the only one of its kind on a national scale.
Mr. Aratani serves the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, which over a span of close to 30 years has widely introduced Japanese traditions along with contemporary fine arts and performing arts to the American public. As Advisor, he has contributed efforts to fundraising for construction of the center through to its operation today, contributing greatly to the promulgation, passing on, and development of Japanese culture. In addition, he established the Aratani Foundation, and as Chairman and President, continues his many contributions to the passing on and development of Japanese culture, U.S.-Japan cultural interchange, and the development of the Nikkei community.

Mr. Russell Lowell Hanlin
Russell Lowell Hanlin was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Mr. Hanlin became a member of the Board of Directors of the Japan-America Society of Southern California in 1978, and in addition to contributing to the nurturing of juniors, he contributed to the progress of cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the United States and Japan through the Society’s activities. From 1996 to 1998 he served as Chairman of the Japan-America Society, conducted lectures, and while increasing interest in Japan, worked to expand the Society’s activities.
After graduating from Los Angeles Manual Arts High School, Mr. Hanlin became employed at Sunkist Corporation (formerly known as California Fruit Growers Exchange). He proceeded to play a role at the Sunkist Corporation in international affairs and public relations. In 1964, after Japan opened its market to lemon imports, he garnered great success as the primary representative for lemon sales to Japan, and in 1978 became President of Sunkist Corporation. In 1998 he became President Emeritus and until retirement took on the important task of serving in these concurrent positions. During that time, he aided in efforts to lift a quarantine on Japanese tangerine exports to the United States and as an expert on the Japanese citrus fruit industry and a businessman that understood Japan very well, helped the United States gain a deeper understanding of Japan.
Furthermore, from 1980s, he held key posts such as on the Export Council of the President of the United States and Chairman of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, contributing to the expansion and stability of international agricultural trade.

Mr. Yoshinori Kawaguchi
The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
Yoshinori Kawaguchi was born in Yamagawa of Ibusuki City, in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Over a period of more than 30 years, he has taken on important posts such as Chairman of the Japanese Language School Unified System, and rather than school management, has assisted in areas such as school expansion and maintenance and the passing on of Japanese language and culture to Nikkei children, contributing tremendously to the propagation of Japanese language. Further, through donating educational funds he helped establish a program geared towards high school graduates, and aided in introducing subjects in addition to the Japanese language such as Japanese history, social studies, economics, and religion. While on the Japanese Language School Unified System’s “Japan Speech Training Trip” to Japan, he represented the school as Chairman during an audience at Higashimiya Imperial Palace with his Highness the Crown Prince (currently his Majesty the Emperor) and was bestown words of gratitude.
As President of the Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California, he promoted the “revitalization of Japanese language education” with a sense of utmost priority. His initiatives included placing bilingual Japanese-English advertisements promoting Japanese language education in newspapers and magazines, demonstrating great commitment to handing down the Japanese language to future generations.
As President of the Japanese Community Pioneer Center, he started a car ride service for the elderly in which he himself volunteered, contributing to the welfare of Nikkei seniors.