On the evening of December 2, 2025, the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington (JASSW) hosted its 101st Holiday Gala at The Westin Seattle, welcoming members, supporters, and community leaders for a night filled with unity, inspiration, and generosity. Guests arrived early to enjoy a lively networking hour with festive activities such as an airplane toss, caroling by the Evergreen Glee Club, a photo booth, raffle ticket sales, a wine ring toss, and a traditional tea ceremony by Urasenke Tankokai. This joyful atmosphere set the perfect tone for the evening ahead.
The dinner program opened with a stunning musical performance by Seattle Symphony concertmaster Noah Geller and his wife, professional percussionist Mari Yoshinaga. The program, smoothly emceed by JASSW Board Member Karin Zaugg Black and guest host Andrew McMasters, included moving presentations such as the Distinguished Tom Foley International Citizen Award presented to Mr. Tomio Moriguchi, former CEO of Uwajimaya, in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the Japanese and American communities. JASSW Chair Masami Katayama reflected on the organization’s impactful work in education, small business support, and membership engagement, highlighting the society’s ongoing commitment to cultural exchange and community building.
The gala also featured inspiring speeches from King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci, arts advocate Mimi Gates, and Akemi Saitoh of the Saitoh Foundation, who presented the rare JOMON artifact as a symbolic gift to the city of Seattle. SEA 2026 CEO Peter Tomozawa shared his vision of Seattle’s exciting role as a host city for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Guests were entertained by jazz performances from Sarah Shea and the powerful taiko drumming of Chijinshu OKK Taiko. A spirited live auction, led by Andrew McMasters, raised $80,000, contributing to a total of $120,000 funds raised throughout the evening, generously supported by sponsors including new partners Watermark Bellevue and Shin-Etsu.
The gala concluded on a heartfelt note with Noah and Mari’s rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” inviting the audience to join in humming the melody and sharing a collective hope for peace and unity in the year ahead. JASSW extends sincere gratitude to everyone who made the event possible, especially the dedicated Holiday Dinner Committee, whose tireless efforts brought to life an unforgettable celebration of culture, community, and giving.
