JAVA Awards
The Courage, Honor, and Patriotism Award
The Courage, Honor, and Patriotism Award is JAVA’s highest award. Started in 2005, this award honors a person or an organization that has (in either the public, private or nonprofit sector) demonstrated superior courage, honor, and patriotism (as exemplified by Nisei who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service, and the U.S. Army Air Corps as gunners during World War II), or performed outstanding work to benefit the nation – including Japanese Americans – over a sustained period of time.
- Sandra Tanamachi - November 5, 2005
- U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka - March 6, 2007
- Dr. James C. McNaughton - March 6, 2007
- The Honorable Jim Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs - September 27, 2007
- Japan Ambassador Ryozo Kato - May 25, 2008
- Kyoko Tsuboi Taubkin - February 6, 2009
- GEN Eric K. Shinseki, U.S. Army (Ret), Secretary of Veterans Affairs - January 8, 2010
- Christine Sato-Yamazaki - May 25, 2010
- Japan Ambassador Ichiro Fujisaki - September 6, 2012
- Robert Nakamoto - October 11, 2013
- U.S. Ambassador John Malott - March 6, 2014
- 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment - March 23, 2014
- The Honorable Ed Chow - January 17, 2015
- U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff - March 14, 2015
- The Honorable Norman Y. Mineta - October 14, 2017
- Japan Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae - February 15, 2018
- LTG Michael K. Nagata, U.S. Army (Ret) - January 25, 2020
- COL Kay K. Wakatake, U.S. Army - July 24, 2021
- MG Garrett S. Yee, USA - February 5, 2022
- GEN Paul M. Nakasone, U.S. Army – February 4, 2023
- Gerald H. Yamada, Esq. - February 10, 2024
Terry T. Shima Leadership Award
Started in 2012, this award recognizes exemplary meritorious conduct in service and achievements in support of JAVA’s goals and missions, for veterans, and for leadership portrayed. The award also recognizes outstanding visionary leadership.
This award has been presented to Embassy of Japan Defense Attachés, Deputy Chiefs of Mission, or Heads of Chancery who have distinguished themselves by performing projects supporting Japanese American veterans. It has also been awarded to others who have distinguished themselves under the same criteria.
- Terry T. Shima - September 6, 2012
- Grant Ichikawa - October 11, 2013
- Robert Nakamoto - March 6, 2014
- William E. Houston, Esq. - January 25, 2020
- CPT Wade Ishimoto, U.S. Army (Ret) - July 24, 2021
- Jeffrey H. Morita - February 5, 2022
- CDR Michael Omatsu, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret) (award to posthumously) - February 4, 2023
- LTC Rodney S. Azama, U.S. Army (Ret) - February 10, 2024
JAVA Legacy Award, Bronze Replica of the Nisei Soldier Congressional Gold Medal
The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award bestowed by the United States Congress. It is awarded to persons or groups whose achievements have impacted American history and culture and is recognized as a major achievement in their fields. The Nisei Soldier CGM was awarded to Japanese American World War II veterans of the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the Military Intelligence Service. JAVA presents an inscribed bronze replica to individuals who provide sustained support to perpetuate the legacy of the Nisei who served in the 100th, 442nd, MIS, and in internment camps.
- U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka - 2012
- Scott Monfils, Administrator of the Taubkin estate - 2015
- Roger Eaton (for development of a database of deceased Nikkei veterans, composing obituaries for the Round Robin, and identifying list of Nisei linguists who served overseas) - 2020
- Seiki Oshiro (for project to identify all graduates of the MIS Language School from the first class to the Occupation of Japan) - 2020
- Dr. James T. McIlwain, Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience, Brown University (for service on the JAVA Research Team, work on the credential committee for the CGM award ceremony in 2011, and creation of the “Soldiers and the Camps” database - 2021
- Paul Yoshio Tani (award to posthumously) - 2021
- Daniel James Brown, author of Facing the Mountain, A True Story of Japanese American Heroes in World War II - 2022
- Bruce Henderson, Author of Bridge to the Sun, the Secret Role of Japanese Americans Who Fought in the Pacific in WW II - 2023
- Turner Kobayashi, Legacy started by his parents in 1948 when the first Nisei were interned at Arlington National Cemetery. The Memorial Day observation is the longest, continuous annual event held at Arlington National Cemetery - 2024
JAVA Veterans’ Advocate Award
Started in 2008, this award recognizes individuals who have supported JAVA’s perpetuation of the Japanese American World War II legacy.
This award has been presented to Japanese Embassy Defense Attachés, Deputy Chiefs of Mission, or Heads of Chancery who have distinguished themselves by performing projects supporting Japanese American veterans. It has also been awarded to others who have distinguished themselves under the same criteria.
- Honorable Yudai Ueno, 1st Secretary, Certificate of Appreciation and Book, Nisei Linguists - August 22, 2008
- Barbara Nekoba, Marcia Mau, and Betty Taira, members of the Hospitality Committee - May 16, 2009
- Japan Minister Motohiko Kato, Head of Chancery - February 1, 2010
- Japan Minister Kenji Shinoda, Deputy Chief of Mission - July 21, 2010
- Japan Minister Hideo Suzuki, Head of Chancery - 13 September 12, 2011
- U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka on the occasion of his retirement - September 27, 2012
- COL Yoshihiro Iseri, JGSDF, Military Attaché - June 19, 2014
- Japan Minister Hideaki Mizukoshi, Head of Chancery - July 7, 2014
- LTC Kaname Yamashita, JGSDF, Assistant Military Attaché - June 17, 2015
- Judy Brubaker, Retired Principal, Spark Matsunaga Elementary School - January 25, 2020
- Theresa Potterton, Retired Music Director, Spark Matsunaga Elementary School. - January 25, 2020
- Japan Minister Kenichiro Mukai, Minister, Head of Chancery, Embassy of Japan - July 24, 2021
- Holly Rotondi, Executive Director of Friends of the National World War II Memorial - July 24, 2021
- LTC Mark Nakagawa, U.S. Army (Ret) - July 24, 2021
- Seiki Oshiro - July 24, 2021
- Rosalyn Tonai, Executive Director of the National Japanese American Historical Society - February 5, 2022
- Chris DeRosa, JAVA Scholarship Chair – February 4, 2023
- Mrs. Mary Murakami - February 10, 2024
JAVA Service Pin
Presented to any awardee of a JAVA award who has served JAVA substantively over a considerable period of time. The JAVA Service Pin was awarded separately for meeting the award criteria in 2012-2014.
- Terry T. Shima - 2012
- Chris DeRosa - 2012
- Metta Tanikawa -2012
- Connie Ishio - 2013
- Sumi Okubo - 2014
- LTG Michael K. Nagata, U.S. Army (Ret) - 2020
- William E. Houston, Esq. - 2020
- Judy Brubaker, Retired Principal, Spark M. Matsunaga Elementary School - 2020
- Theresa Potterton, Retired Music Director, Spark Matsunaga Elementary School - 2020
- Japan Minister Kenichiro Mukai, Minister, Head of Chancery, Embassy of Japan - 2021
- Holly Rotondi, Executive Director of Friends of the National World War II Memorial - 2021
- LTC Mark T. Nakagawa, U.S. Army (Ret) - 2021
- Seiki Oshiro - 2021
JAVA Honor Roll
The JAVA Honor Roll recognizes generous supporters making significant financial contributions of $5,000 or more to the Japanese American Veterans Association’s programs which safeguard our cherished values and empower us to adapt to future opportunities.
- Glen S. Fukushima
- Robert Nakamoto
- Tanimura Family Foundation
- Kiyoko Tsuboi Taubkin
- Dr. Tom Yoshikawa
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Mailing Address: Japanese American Veterans Association, P.O. Box 341198, Bethesda, MD 20827
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