NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

The Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco announced on April 28 the recipients of the 2010 Spring Conferment of Decoration.  Among the honorees are Tomoye “Tami” Takahashi and Masako Martha Suzuki, co-founders of the Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation of San Francisco.

Takahashi and Suzuki have been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays for promoting exports of Japanese hand-crafted items and toys to the U.S.; for promoting Japanese culture, history and arts in the U.S.; and for preserving and educating the public on the history and culture of Japanese Americans.

Tomoye “Tami” Takahashi

A native San Franciscan and a UC Berkeley graduate in Oriental studies, Takahashi has maintained a strong commitment to helping others maintain their relationship with Japan. After returning to San Francisco from the Topaz, Utah concentration camp, she and her late husband, Henri, opened a small store in San Francisco’s Japantown to sell items to Japanese Americans who had also returned the city.

At that time, it was very difficult for Japanese Americans to find housing and employment as racial discrimination was still very prevalent in the larger community.

In addition to providing the supplies their customers needed, the Takahashis knew that many of their customers had family members in Japan who were living in extreme poverty. Despite their meager wages and their own lack of resources, many Issei wanted to send money, food and clothing to Japan to help their relatives, but the language barrier and lack of information made the task difficult.

Learning of this plight, the Takahashis made a commitment to help the Issei. Although no monetary profit was made, they made this community service a priority. As a result, several thousand care packages were shipped to Japan within a 10-year span.

In the 1950s, the couple created the Takahashi Trading Company to import hand-crafted items and children’s toys from various rural prefectures in Japan to America. They specifically selected toys as their main import to encourage children to promote friendship and a commonality between the two countries.

This philosophy and approach was a big success, As time went on, Mrs. Takahashi became a well-known consultant and liaison, sharing her expert knowledge on new quality merchandise from Japan.

Her commitment to sharing Japanese culture with the general community began before World War II with such activities as participation in the Japan Pavilion as an interpreter during the Golden Gate World Exposition on San Francisco’s Treasure Island in 1939. In later years, she assisted artist and UC Berkeley professor Chiura Obata as he led several tours of Japan to introduce Americans to Japanese art.

In 1985, she established the Henri and Tomoye Takahashi Charitable Foundation with her husband and Suzuki, her younger sister, to further develop and encourage an understanding and appreciation of Japanese culture, values and arts. Throughout the past 25 years, she has supported numerous non-profit organizations across the country to promote the goals of the foundation.

Takahashi has provided significant support through the foundation as well as personal donations to numerous projects, including preservation of the site of the first Japanese colony in California; sending a local Japanese American Boy Scout troop to Japan; a photo exhibit of the concentration camps; the commemoration of San Francisco Japantown’s centennial; and sending Nikkei youth to Japan for goodwill basketball games.

She has also been a major contributor to the Asian Art Museum, donating funds as well as antique Japanese screens and other items.

Further, she is the founder of the Stanford-Takahashi Lecture Series originally created under Dr. Robert Ward, director of the Center for Japanese Studies. The series provided seven free lectures by specialists and professors to discuss reasons for Issei immigration to the U.S.; the Japanese family structure; the history of Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Wakayama and Fukuoka prefectures; family crests; family registries in Japan; protocol of Japanese celebrations; and Issei contributions to the U.S.

Masako Martha Suzuki

Suzuki joined the Takahashi business in the 1950s. To help the business, she and her late husband, Risaburo Suzuki, served as liaisons for Tozai Kogei K.K., a company funded by the Takahashi Trading Company to export Japanese items that could be adapted for the contemporary American home.

This challenge was not an easy one for Suzuki as she had never spent an extended amount of time in Japan prior to the establishment of the business. Yet, she was very successful in her negotiations with Japanese craftsmen to encourage and convince them to produce or develop merchandise to be sold and used in the U.S. Her efforts led to the wide acceptance and appreciation of the high quality and practicality of each item.

Tozai Kogei KK recognized that many of the craftsmen, who were descendants and apprentices of many generations of artisans, and who took great pride in their work, had been severely impacted by the war and were struggling to survive. Thus, the company is also credited for appreciating the importance of carrying on the art of Japanese crafts and keeping the tradition of quality merchandise alive.

In addition, because of Suzuki’s personal and professional experience in Japan, she has first-hand knowledge as to the role individuals can play in cultural preservation.  She therefore recommended that Mr. and Mrs. Takahashi establish a foundation to support projects that promote public awareness of Japan’s art and culture as well as Japanese American history.

For the past 25 years, Suzuki has served as the lead decision-maker for the foundation and is responsible for the yearly grant-making and finances. Upwards of $3 million in funding has been distributed.

As an individual, Suzuki has actively supported events and activities implemented by major cultural institutions, such as the creation of an authentic Japanese tea room at the Asian Art Museum.

“Long Overdue”

Paul Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, commented, “This award is long overdue for two of the greatest Japanese American cultural ambassadors in our community. Through their hard work and philanthropic efforts, they have allowed and opened the doors for thousands of people to better appreciate and understand the Japanese and Japanese American culture and history.”

Daisy Satoda of Nikkei and Retirement said in a congratulatory message to Takakashi and Suzuki, “It is a shame that Henri (who passed away in 2002) is no longer here to share in this glory with you. The two of you have been so generous in promoting goodwill for successful Japan-U.S. relations for many, many years. You have looked beyond the average Nikkei’s outlook in fostering the importance and need to maintain this diplomatic, educational, and cultural position.

“We continue to be amazed at your energy and especially your continuing concern for the welfare of others. You are the outstanding role models for other Nikkei women.”

Diane Matsuda, coordinator of Japan cultural tours for JCCCNC, recalled, “My first ‘lesson’ from Mrs. T and Martha was over two hours long. I sat on the floor while they stood the entire time, patiently sharing their intricate knowledge and enthusiasm for traditional and folk arts and crafts of Japan.

“Since then, they have both been my mentors, educators, wisdom holders and great friends. I thank them for their many years of generosity in teaching me to develop a better understanding and my own passion for Japanese culture and crafts, and for their commitment to sponsor so many programs to educate us all about our culture, history and community.”

“For more than 10 years, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco — and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who have participated in the museum’s programs — have been the fortunate recipients of the insightful benevolence of Mrs. Tomoye Takahashi and Mrs. Martha Suzuki,” said Dr. Jay Xu, the museum’s director.

“Their undying generosity, commitment to excellence, and keen passion for sharing the rich cultural legacy of Japan has enabled the Asian Art Museum to successfully serve its community as a ‘bridge to understanding’ between East and West. I can think of no one more deserving of this important honor from the Japanese government.”