Foreign Minister's Commendation Held for Judge Kathryn Doi Todd, Mr. Gary Kawaguchi and the late Kazuo George Sugimoto
2025/12/5
On August 28, 2025, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of its 2025 Foreign Minister’s Commendation. From the jurisdiction of the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, three individuals from Southern California and one from Arizona were awarded. The conferment ceremony for Southern California region awardees Judge Kathryn Doi Todd, Mr. Gary Kawaguchi and the late Kazuo George Sugimoto took place on December 3, 2025, at the official residence of Consul General of Japan MUROTA Kosei.
The Foreign Minister's Commendations recognize individuals and groups for outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contributions to promoting friendship between Japan and other countries. The Commendation also aims to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for their activities. The achievements of the three awardees are as follows.
Kazuo George Sugimoto (deceased October 12, 2025) was appointed member of the board of directors of Keiro in 2007, an organization providing support services for Japanese American seniors. He dedicated many years to supporting Japanese and Japanese American seniors residing in the U.S. He served on numerous committees of the organization, helping to develop future leadership succession, research focused on older adult health and wellness programs, and regulatory compliance, improving the quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. He also contributed to promoting mutual understanding and elevating the status of Japanese Americans through his longtime dedication to charitable activities of Japanese American organizations such as the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Japanese American National Museum, and Nisei Week Foundation.
Kathryn Doi Todd was appointed member of the board of directors of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in 1983, and in 2000 became the chair. She has made extensive contributions to the promotion and preservation of Japanese culture and strengthening the Japan-U.S. friendship. She has facilitated the performances of Japanese traditional arts such as kabuki and bunraku, and she realized the invitation of the president of Keidanren and the former ambassador of the United States to Japan to the “Pacific Pioneer Award” award ceremony, which recognized contributions to strengthening Japan-U.S. relations. Ms. Doi Todd has also been active in her career as a judge, and in 1977 helped established the Japanese American Bar Association to address issues impacting Japanese Americans; and she has contributed to elevating the status of Japanese Americans.
Gary Kawaguchi was appointed representative of the Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation in 2006. His primary contributions include dedicated efforts supporting Japanese Americans and their community organizations and elevating the status of the community. Through supporting the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Japanese American National Museum and other organizations, he has helped preserve the culture and history of Japanese Americans. He has also supported Keiro, serving Japanese American seniors, and the cultural activities of Kizuna, dedicated to developing the next generation. Mr. Kawaguchi has also contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture and support of Japanese Americans as vice chair of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and chair of Keiro.
The Foreign Minister's Commendations recognize individuals and groups for outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contributions to promoting friendship between Japan and other countries. The Commendation also aims to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for their activities. The achievements of the three awardees are as follows.
Kazuo George Sugimoto (deceased October 12, 2025) was appointed member of the board of directors of Keiro in 2007, an organization providing support services for Japanese American seniors. He dedicated many years to supporting Japanese and Japanese American seniors residing in the U.S. He served on numerous committees of the organization, helping to develop future leadership succession, research focused on older adult health and wellness programs, and regulatory compliance, improving the quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. He also contributed to promoting mutual understanding and elevating the status of Japanese Americans through his longtime dedication to charitable activities of Japanese American organizations such as the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Japanese American National Museum, and Nisei Week Foundation.
Kathryn Doi Todd was appointed member of the board of directors of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in 1983, and in 2000 became the chair. She has made extensive contributions to the promotion and preservation of Japanese culture and strengthening the Japan-U.S. friendship. She has facilitated the performances of Japanese traditional arts such as kabuki and bunraku, and she realized the invitation of the president of Keidanren and the former ambassador of the United States to Japan to the “Pacific Pioneer Award” award ceremony, which recognized contributions to strengthening Japan-U.S. relations. Ms. Doi Todd has also been active in her career as a judge, and in 1977 helped established the Japanese American Bar Association to address issues impacting Japanese Americans; and she has contributed to elevating the status of Japanese Americans.
Gary Kawaguchi was appointed representative of the Kawaguchi-Kihara Memorial Foundation in 2006. His primary contributions include dedicated efforts supporting Japanese Americans and their community organizations and elevating the status of the community. Through supporting the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Japanese American National Museum and other organizations, he has helped preserve the culture and history of Japanese Americans. He has also supported Keiro, serving Japanese American seniors, and the cultural activities of Kizuna, dedicated to developing the next generation. Mr. Kawaguchi has also contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture and support of Japanese Americans as vice chair of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center and chair of Keiro.
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