Each year, the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) honors an individual, company, or organization with the Bridge Award for promoting understanding and friendship between Hawaii and Japan. In the spirit of building bridges of friendship, we are pleased to announce this year’s Bridge Awards theme, “GO-EN Destined Connection.”
A BENEFIT FOR
PRESENTED BY
OVERVIEW
Event Date: Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Location: Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, Grand Ballroom
Registration: 5:00pm
Program: 6:00pm
Attire: Japanese Inspired or Aloha Attire
ONLINE SILENT AUCTION
All are welcome to participate in JASH's online silent auction!
The Bridge Awards Dinner & Silent Auction supports JASH’s beloved community programs that serve people of all ages and backgrounds. And aims to build bridges of friendship between the U.S. and Japan through the unique perspective Hawaii.
Preview: October 3 at Noon (HST)
Opens: October 4 at Noon
Closes: October 9 at 7:30PM
LUCKY DRAW FUNDRAISER
Donate to support JASH and enter to win one of FIVE $100 gift cards to Costco, Whole Foods Market, Target, Amazon or The Rice Factory Honolulu!
Donate More, Get BONUS Entries!
You don’t need to be present at the Bridge Awards Dinner to win!
RECIPIENTS
2024 BRIDGE AWARD
Each year, JASH honors an individual, company, or organization with the Bridge Award for promoting understanding and friendship between Hawaii and Japan. In the spirit of building bridges of friendship, we are pleased to announce this year’s Bridge Award recipients.
Kenny and Chizuko Endo
Kenny Endo, a pioneering figure in the taiko genre, blends traditional Japanese percussion with global influences, enriching the art form with his innovative compositions. As the first non-Japanese national to receive a natori in hogaku hayashi, he has been a vital cultural bridge between Japan and the USA, promoting collaboration and understanding through music. With nearly 50 years of taiko performance experience and accolades including the Hompa Hongwanji Living Treasures of Hawaii Award, he continues to inspire audiences worldwide. Meanwhile, Chizuko Endo, a seasoned taiko artist and educator, contributes to the art's growth and accessibility, conducting residencies and promoting female representation through initiatives like HERbeat. Her dedication to preserving Japanese culture extends beyond taiko, encompassing mask-making and academic pursuits, embodying a commitment to inclusivity and cultural exchange.
Roy and Denise Yamaguchi
Roy Yamaguchi, a pioneering Japanese-American chef and restaurateur, is renowned for his global culinary influence and as a founding member of Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine. His esteemed career spans from acclaimed restaurants to international partnerships, showcasing his dedication to innovation and education in the culinary world. Denise Hayashi Yamaguchi, CEO of the Hawai‘i Ag & Culinary Alliance, complements his vision by championing Hawai‘i's agricultural industry through initiatives like the Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival, fostering culinary talent, and amplifying the state's cultural and culinary prominence through Hashi Media's acclaimed productions. Together, their combined efforts have not only elevated Hawai‘i's culinary landscape but also supported its local communities and sustainable agriculture.
PRESIDENT
A MESSAGE FROM OUR
The JASH Bridge Awards Dinner is an esteemed event that celebrates nearly 48 years of fostering friendship and understanding between Japan and the United States. As we approach our society's golden anniversary, we are proud to honor the relationship builders with a unique and meaningful ceremony.
We cordially invite you to join us on October 9th at the Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, as we proudly present the theme, "GO-EN (ご縁): Destined Connection", to celebrate the achievements of our Bridge Awardees, Roy and Denise Yamaguchi and Kenny and Chizuko Endo, along with our members, friends and family. The 2024 JASH Bridge Awards Dinner & Silent Auction is an in-person event, and we are excited to partner with our community in supporting our efforts to continue building strong connections between Japan and the United States through Hawaii's unique perspective.
You share our vision, and through your support, JASH will make a positive impact on our community. This year we are thrilled to host an exclusive silent auction that will support JASH's programs, including educational programs geared towards Hawaii's youth, motivating them to develop a deeper appreciation of Japan and Japanese culture.
On behalf of the Japan-America Society of Hawaii, I want to express our deep gratitude for your continued generosity and tireless support. We look forward to welcoming you at the 2024 JASH Bridge Awards Dinner & Silent Auction, and know that it will be an unforgettable and truly meaningful event.
REYNA KANEKO
PRESIDENT
FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT
Taiko Center of the Pacific
Consummate taiko artist, Kenny Endo, is at the vanguard of taiko, paving new paths in Japanese drumming blending taiko with rhythms influenced from around the world. Taiko Center of the Pacific is Endo’s school and performing group of traditional and contemporary Japanese drumming.
The school offers public classes in taiko drumming starting from age two and has drawn people from around the world to study taiko in Hawaii. Next year, 2025, Kenny celebrates his 50th year of taiko drumming, so we are planning two celebration concerts on August 9 and 10 at the University of Hawaii's Kennedy Theatre.
Kosuke
Kosuke is a half-Japanese American singer/songwriter from Kailua, Hawaii. While living in Japan, he started off uploading covers on YouTube. He was contacted by two Japanese brothers and they formed a band called The HYKE in 2016. Eager to learn more about the music making process, he moved back to Hawaii in 2019 and received an AS in Audio Engineering in the MELE Program at HCC.
Since then, he’s released three solo works “Wake Up,” “Don’t Lie,” and “On Top” and was also KZOO radio’s grand champion in their last karaoke competition.
Kosuke currently works alongside Shawn Pimental with various well-known Hawaii artists, including Justin Kawika Young, Jake Shimabukuro, and many more. He is also a member of four-piece R&B group, soLUXE, and was recently chosen for Henry Kapono Foundation’s On the Rise Artists for 2024. He plans to release an artist EP in 2025.
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Ms. Jean Rolles
GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
TaikoVentures, LLC
Student Tables
Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel LLP
Mr. Ed Hawkins
Ms. Atsuko Igarashi
Mr. Larry Kumabe
Mr. & Mrs. Chad & Kazuko Love
Dr. Glenn Miyataki
Nippon Golden Network
Ms. Jean Rolles
Ms. Barbara Tanabe
TRUSTA
Monetary Donors
Ms. Betty Brow
Ms. Meredith Ching
Haseko
Ambassador. James Kelly
Mr. Jonathan Kindred
Mr. & Mrs. Greg & Karen Knudsen
Mr. Stan Kuriyama
Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, LP
Mr. David Lenoir
Resorttrust Hawaii, LLC
River Capital, LLC
SPRIX, Ltd.
Stanford Carr Development
Mr. Alex Yee
Silent Auction Donors
808 Island Cravingz
88 Tees Hawaii INC.
Allison Izu
Aloha Bakehouse & Cafe
Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
Anne Namba Designs
Aoki Teppanyaki
Asahi-Shuzo Sake Brewing Co., Ltd.
Mr. David Asanuma
Bess Press / da Shop: books + curiosities
Big City Diner Hawaii
Big Island Candies
Blue Note Hawaii
Bradley & Lily
Break'N Anger, Inc.
Castle Resorts & Hotels
The Cherry Co., Ltd.
Clint
Consolidated Theatres
Culture Girl Boutique
The Curb Kaimuki
Daily Whisk Matcha
Dear You, Honolulu
Diamond Head Theatre
Dinell Consulting LLC
Dry Clean Express
Dr. Cecile Sebastian
Mr. Steve Dyer
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Espacio The Jewel of Waikiki
Expressions by Rochelle
Fete Hawaii
First Hawaiian Bank
Mr. Tatsuya Fujimoto
Fujioka's Wine TIMES at Market City
Giovanni Pastrami
Haleʻiwa Beach House
Halekulani Corporation
Halekulani Okinawa
Hangang Korean BBQ
Ms. Ann Hartman
Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival
Hawaii International Film Festival
Hawaii News Now
Hawaii Theatre Center
Hawaiian Host Group
Hawaiian Shochu Company
Highgate
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort
Mr. Cosmo Hirai
Mr. Tyler Hiranaka
Ms. Michelle Hirose
Hokulani Bake Shop
Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach
Mr. Robert Ichikawa
Imperial Hotel Tokyo
Iromusubisho
Island Boy
ISLANDER SAKE BREWERY
Japan Airlines
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai`i
JTB Hawaii Inc.
Mr. Yasuaki Kagami
The Kahala Hotel & Resort
Kapa Hale
Kauai Hemp Company
Kayanoya by Kubara Honke USA, Inc.
Khan Skewers
Kissy Hawaii
Ms. Karen Knudsen
Mr. Go Kobayashi
KOHANA Rum
Kokoro Care Packages
KOMO Studio
Kona Brewing Hawaii
Ku'uipo Collection
Ms. Christine Kubota
Mr. Akemi Kurokawa
KYOCERA International, Inc.
Lighthouse Hawaii
Ms. Wendy Lum
Mana Up
Market City, Ltd.
Matsuba Tatamiten
Mililani High School
Mr. Sal Miwa
Miyako & Co.
MizMatched Star
Mocheeks
Mohala Eyewear
Moriki Nouen
Morton's The Steakhouse
Mr. Ojisan Neo Bar & Sushi Restaurant
Ms. Joy Ishihara Labrador
Nana Ai Katsu
Nanstar
Nanzan Giro Giro
Mr. Ken Niimura
Noho Home
Olomana Golf
Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel
Parkshore Waikiki
PASHA
Pawloha
Pinpoint Marketing LLC dba "Captain Bruce"
Pitch Sports Bar
R. M. Towill Corporation
Mr. John Rankin
Reecie B's Onolicious Food
Reneux Med & Day Spa
Restaurant Suntory
Romer Waikiki at the Ambassador
Royal Hawaiian Center
Mr. Jonah Sasaki
Sheraton Waikiki
Shimada Kimono Sanpo
Mr. Steve Sombrero
StretchLab Hawaii
Sugah Daddeh's Kane Juice
Sugar Bar Hawaii
Sugarcane
Sumofish
Sun Noodle
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club / Hoshino Resorts Hawaii, LLC.
Taiko Center of the Pacific
Talk Kaimuki
Ms. Barbara Tanabe
Tanaka of Tokyo Restaurants
Tanaka Saimin
TATCHA
Ten Tomorrow
TOKYU HOTELS & RESORTS CO., LTD.
Tonkatsu Tamafuji
TONY GROUP
Touch a Heart
Toys and Things HI
K. Minamoto Hawaii, LLC
Ms. Eiko Ushida
Mr. Hikaru Utsugi
VH07V
Via Gelato
Waipahu High School
Mr. David Watanabe
The Wedding Ring Shop
The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort
Wine & Roses
Yo Mama's Mochi & Snacks
ZETTON INC.
Zippy's Restaurant
ABOUT JASH
The Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) was founded in 1976 with the mission of promoting understanding and friendship between the people of Japan and the United States through the special and unique perspective of Hawaii.
JASH offers unique programs and events that draw on the rich history of Japanese in Hawaii and the depth of knowledge, insight and resources available in our local community due to Hawaii’s proximity to Japan. Our programs feature Japan, America, and Hawaii-related topics in areas such as education, business, economics, politics, culture, and environmental issues all with the purpose of advancing U.S.-Japan understanding and collaboration.
FOR SPONSORSHIP & DONATION INQUIRIES, CONTACT:
LILA FRISBIE
Director of Events & Programs
(808) 524-4450