Come to Japanese Art and Cultural Places in Southern California

 
Consul general in Los Angeles honors US military personnel who have been stationed in Japan 

From left, Col. James Bell, Space and Missile System Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base; Mr. Richard Weir (Lt. Col. Ret.), Northrop Grumman Corporation: Mr. Karl Risinger, Adjutant of the Hollywood American Legion Post 43; Mr. Doug Erber, Present, Japan America Society of Southern California; and Japanese Consul General Harry H. Horinouchi. (Cultural News Photo)

On March 24 at his official residence in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, the Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, Harry H. Horinouchi, hosted the first and inaugural "Service in Japan Alumni" reception in honor of members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses who have been stationed at American bases in Japan.
 
The evening event included freshly prepared Japanese cuisines of sushi, shabushabu and okonomi-yaki, superb sakes and other refreshments, entertaining cultural programs of Japanese folk song and jazz fusion music by Minyo Station and tea ceremony demonstrations by the Urasenke Los Angeles Association
 
Over 100 active service members, reservists, veterans, and their families from Los Angeles, San Diego and Arizona enjoyed foods and drinks, networking and camaraderie with colleagues.
 
"Service in Japan Alumni" reception was emceed by Mr. Doug Erber, president of the Japan America Society of Southern California, and the following dignitaries were introduced:
 
Col. James Bell who was stationed in Yokota from 1998 to 2001, currently at Space and Missile System Center in Los Angeles Air Force Base; Mr. Richard Weir (Lt. Col. Ret.) who was Deputy Chief, Northeast Asia Division, The Joint Staff in Pentagon, and Japan Country Director in the Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, currently at Northrop Grumman Corporation; Mr. Karl Risinger who was in Japan from 1994 to 2005, currently Adjutant to the Hollywood American Legion Post 43; and Mr. Frank Pierson, 91-year-old, who landed Sasebo, Japan in 1945.  
 
The Japanese consul general's "Service in Japan Alumni" reception was the second event in the Southern California as a part of the Japan U.S. Military Program (JUMP) which is a collaborative effort between Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, the Embassy of Japan in the U.S.A. and the National Association of Japan-America Society.
 
The inaugural JUMP event in Los Angeles areas was held by the Japan America Society and the Consulate General of Japan on Nov. 19, 2015 on board Battleship USS Iowa Museum at San Pedro Port.
 
Approximately 55,000 U.S. service personnel are stationed in Japan under the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, with addition of their families and U.S. civilian employees bringing the total figure to more than 100,000.
 
For many, their time of deployment in Japan ranks among the most positive experiences of their military careers, and they maintain an interest and understanding of Japan based upon their time spent there.

 
 

     
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