Building Bridges to the Next Century

For 100 remarkable years, JASSW has forged friendship and understanding between the peoples of Japan and Washington State.

We delight in bringing people together in so many ways:

  • From classrooms to boardrooms
  • Lively discussions with community partners
  • In-person opportunities to learn from and celebrate each other

We also participate in the national network of JAS organizations to sustain and strengthen the vital U.S.-Japan relationship.

It is an important mission, but it is also lots of fun.

Join us in helping shape the next 100 years of the Japan-U.S. relationship through educational, cultural, business and opportunities for life-long friendships.

Thank You to Our Centennial 百寿 Milestone Sponsors!

Kiku

James G Wilders Reed & Family

Sakura

Tsubaki
椿

Fuji

The Farmer Family

Yuka Shimizu (BCA/WPS)

Ume

Sara Sandford

Ken and Shoko Farmer

Takeo Sato

Karin Zaugg Black and Dan Black

Tsutomu (Tom) and Yoko Sasaki

Toshi and Yukiko Kawachi

Akiko Sato

Yoshi Minegishi

Kenichi Uchikura

Naomi Minegishi

Ken Shibusawa

Sarah Ellerbrock

Maki (Hasegawa) Kawamura

Dennis Yamashita

Tsuneko Nakatani

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Kanako Matsumoto

Medallion Foods Inc.

Lt Col (Ret) Michael Yaguchi and Mrs. Diane Yaguchi

Christopher Cummins

Shigeki and Iyoko Okano

Yoshio Nose

Jane Stonecipher

Adam Goff

Amya Miller

Akemi Sagawa

Christopher and Victoria Helm

Masami Katayama

Pac-Maru Inc.

Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland, PLLC

In Honor of Kay Hashimoto

*Sponsors in each level are listed in order of when the sponsorship was received.


News

Geonwoong YoonNovember 12, 2024 ~ April 27, 2025
Sakurai RyuichiJuly 24, 2024 ~ December 5, 2024
Yumi TsunodaApril 29, 2024 ~ August 15, 2024
Shion YamazakiApril 15, 2024 ~ May 31, 2024
Ryutaro KinzoFebruary 6, 2024 ~ May 31, 2024
Yujin HeoDecember 18, 2023 ~ December 12, 2024
KyungYoung (Jenny) KimApril 10, 2023 ~ November 19, 2023
Christie JungMarch 31, 2023 ~ July 8, 2023
Taira ShimotsuyaFebruary 27, 2023 ~ June 1, 2023
Koki MatsumuraJanuary 23, 2023 ~ March 30, 2023
Harin ParkOctober 3, 2022 ~ January 20, 2023
Chihiro MatsuoJune 29, 2022 ~ September 2, 2022
Moena YamakawaJune 29, 2022 ~ August 19, 2022
Jiwoo JungApril 4, 2022 ~ July 31, 2022
Satoshi MikiJune 2022
Ellen UchidaApril 2021 ~ December 19, 2023
Isami February 24, 2020 ~ April 3, 2020
RioFebruary 3, 2020 ~ February 27, 2020
DaichiFebruary 3, 2020 ~ February 27, 2020
Tomohiro IshiiJanuary 2020 ~ February 2020
Naoki KokubuNovember 1, 2019 ~ 
Randy UnJuly 2019 ~ September 2019
Tomomi July 1, 2019 ~September 13, 2019
Nanami KikuchiAug 7, 2019 ~ August 30, 2019
ChirikoJuly 2019 ~
Misako SatoJuly 22, 2019 ~
Kana KitahamaFebruary 6, 2019 ~ April 30, 2019
Aya OgataFebruary 1, 2019 ~ February 26, 2019
Yuno TanifujiJanuary 28, 2019 ~ March 30, 2019
Shari MonsonOctober 2018 ~ February 2019
Midori NakanoAugust 16, 2018 ~ August 31, 2018
Hiroki IshiiJune 26, 2018 ~ August 31, 2018
Yuka MuroiFebruary 7, 2018 ~ March 2, 2018
Lee Hyung WooFebruary 2018 ~ June 2018
Nao MiyamotoJanuary 28, 2018 ~ April 1, 2018
Hitomi Kase January 2018 ~
Ryoko YamamotoOctober 11, 2017 ~
Raymond SimOctober, 2017 ~
Chihiro KurokawaOctober 9, 2017 ~ December 1, 2017
Tomomi TsukadaAugust 25, 2017 ~ September 13, 2017
Shohgo MiuraJuly 6, 2017 ~ 
Jumpei AsakuraEnd of February 2017 - Mid-March 2017

List of Our Past Interns

Sponsor NameTsutomu (Tom) & Yoko Sasaki
Sponsor TypeIndividual
Sponsor LevelUme
Association with JASSW1979 - 1990: Member (Seafirst Bank)
1990 - 2007: Member (BBS International)
2007 - Present: Member (Individual)

1997 - 2005: Chair Membership Committee
2006 - 2007: Board Chair
2007 - 2018: Golf Committee 
MessageJASSW has been a part of my volunteer work life.  Wish the Society for next 100 years.
BirthplaceTokyo, Japan
Sponsor NameLt Col (Ret) Michael J. Yaguchi & Mrs. Diane Yaguchi
Sponsor TypeIndividual
Sponsor LevelUme
MessageCongratulations for 100 years of fabulous work enhancing mutual friendship and understanding between the United States and Japan. May JASSW continue to succeed and grow as the momentum of the first 100 years creates even more goodwill as JASSW actualizes new dreams and goals.
BirthplaceSeattle, Washington (For Both)
Sponsor NameMaki (Hasegawa) Kawamura
Sponsor TypeIndividual
Sponsor LevelUme
Association with JASSWFrom June 2021 to March 2023
MessageCongratulations for the Centennial Celebration!! Japan-America Society of the State of Washington (JASSW) has played a great role to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of Japan and Washington State for long time. JASSW has also provided diverse membership of Japanese and American corporations and individuals from throughout the state. I enjoyed wonderful friendship and good memories at JASSW's activities when I posted at Seattle. I sincerely wish all the best for the JASSW and JASSW will continue to be the center of the people to people exchange between Japan and the United States.
BirthplaceSendai, Miyagi, Japan
Sponsor NameAkiko Sato
Sponsor TypeIndividual
Sponsor LevelUme
Association with JASSW2009 - 2011 "Japan In the Schools" Coordinator
2012 - 2014 Program Manager
2015 - 2023 Program and Operations Director
MessageBest wishes to keep the strong bond between Japan and the United States.
関わる人全てに大切にされるワシントン州日米協会でありますように!
BirthplaceHiroshima, Japan
Sponsor NameSara Sandford
Sponsor TypeIndividual
Sponsor LevelUme
Association with JASSWChair 2002-2003
MessageCongratulations to Japan-America Society of the State of Washington on its 100th anniversary.  May the organization and all of its members carry on for another century the wonderful work of JASSW of the past 100 years -- continuing to further cross-cultural understanding and appreciation between the people of Washington and Japan.  You are an outstanding example for the world at large of how regular, varied activities can be the bridge to higher understanding and appreciation of one another.  
BirthplacePortland, Oregon, USA
Sponsor Name(s)Kenneth Vern Farmer
Kyle Keita Farmer
Paul Kenji Farmer
Shoko Tamaki Farmer
Sponsor TypeIndividual
Sponsor LevelUme
Association with JASSWJIS/AIS Volunteer: 2005 – Present
Education Committee Chair 2015 - 2019
Chair 2022-2023
MessageCongratulations to JASSW for 100 year milestone.
BirthplaceKenneth Vern Farmer – Texas, USA
Kyle Keita Farmer – Washington, USA
Paul Kenji Farmer – Washington, USA
Shoko Tamaki Farmer – Okinawa, Japan
Sponsor NameRussell Investments
Sponsor TypeCorporate
Sponsor LevelKiku
Association with JASSWAdam Goff – Chair 2017 – 2018
Shoko Farmer – Chair 2022-2023
Yoshie Phillips – Education Committee Member
Mayumi Ohata – Volunteer
MessageCongratulations to JASSW for 100 year milestone. Commitment to community is one of our core values.  Russell has been a corporate member of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington since 1994.  We’re proud to support the mission of JASSW for the next century.