Congratulations to USJC Senior Vice President Kaz Maniwa, who the Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco recently named as a recipient of this year’s Foreign Minister’s Commendation! Mr. Maniwa has a long history of involvement in the Japanese American community, including as a founding member of the JCYC, former Board member and president of Kimochi INC and a member of the Board of Directors of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California for 45 years. Mr. Maniwa participated in the first class of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) Program, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Through his work at USJC, he enhances exchanges between Japan and the United States, and has led over 10 delegations to Japan, including the 2019 JALD class and the TOMODACHI-Mitsui & Co. Leadership Program (please see above).