As this year marks our 67 th Anniversary, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our website and thank you for taking an interest in our organization. UJSH’s theme during my tenure as President is “Heiwa no Tame ni” (For the Sake of Peace). Given our current world situation, we believe it is fitting to look beyond our daily lives and activities and give some attention to what is happening to people in other countries.
While you have probably already reviewed UJSH’s array of events and activities, I would like to point out that we also sponsored a special 80 th Anniversary commemoration of the Atom bombing of Hiroshima last year in August. This was at the Hiroshima Torii in Moiliili on August 5, 2025. The event included various speakers including Governor Josh Green, was attended by Mrs. Faith Fukumoto, one of few surviving Hibakusha in Hawaii and included a message from then Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki. The highlight was the ringing of a bell by Bishop Shuji Komagata at exactly 1:15 pm (Hawaii time) which was the exact time (8:15 am) on August 6 in Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped in 1945. Those who attended the ceremony found it to be very meaningful and spurred thoughts of “No more war, No more Nagasaki, No more Hiroshima!” – “Heiwa no Tame ni”.
Please consider joining the United Japanese Society of Hawaii. We are a hard-working, fun-loving group of Japanese American and Japanese people who welcome those of all ages, especially young people. I found that I did not really pursue an interest in my rich family heritage and in Japanese culture until I was quite old, in my fifties. I deeply regret not connecting with my grandparents and even my parents about our family history in Japan and in Hawaii. For the young people, I hope this might be a wakeup call to get you to become involved, if not with UJSH, then with your parents and grandparents and family.
Mahalo for your attention and here’s hoping you take action!
Aloha,
Brian Taniguchi
