Japan wants to honor Kaua’i centurions

Islanders of Japanese ancestry to hear from prime minister

The consulate general of Japan in Honolulu wants to honor Kauaians of Japanese ancestry who are 100 years old.

In observance of Respect for the Aged Day, celebrated as a national holiday in Japan on Sept.15, information is being collected about Japanese nationals and Japanese who became U.S. citizens who were born before March 31, 1902,

“When U.S. citizens get to be 100 years old, the president of the United States gives recognition. We are doing the same,” said Judy Yamauchi, a spokeswoman for the consulate.

The undertaking also is aimed at helping strengthen relations between the United States and Japan following the collision of the USS Greeneville, a Navy nuclear submarine, and the Ehime Maru, a Japanese fishing training vessel, off O’ahu Feb. 9. Nine crew members and students on the Ehime Maru weren’t found after the accident and are presumed to have died in the boat’s sinking.

Japanese nationals may receive a congratulatory message and a commemorative gift from Japan Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Officials also said Japanese who have become naturalized U.S. citizens may receive a congratulatory message and a commemorative gift from Minoru Shibuya, counsul general in Honolulu, in October or November.

Art Umezu, a member of the Kaua’i-Japanese Cultural Society, said he was asked at a meeting of the organization to help locate Kauaians who might be eligible for the honors.

Of the roughly 57,000 people living on Kaua’i, 937 are 85 or older, according to the U.S. Census Buruea.

A June 12 deadline has been set for finding qualified applicants. People can call Umezu at 822-0056 or the consulate general of Japan at (808) 543-3111.

Staff writer Lester Chang can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) and mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net