Ambassador Kaoru Ishikawa addresses the guests at the Sakura Ball.
Ambassador Ishikawa Attends the Sakura Ball
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre hosted its Third Annual Sakura Ball on April 9, and His Excellency Ambassador Kaoru Ishikawa came to Toronto from Ottawa in order to attend. In addition to being a fundraising event, the gala event also features the presentation ceremony of the Sakura Award, given to an individual who has contributed to the promotion of Japanese culture or of greater understanding of Japanese Canadian heritage. Also in attendance were His Honour, the Honourable David Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and Her Honour Mrs. Ruth Ann Onley.
The Ambassador is greeted at the door by, among others:
JCCC Special Ambassador Sid Ikeda (far left);
former President Martin Kobayashi (third from right);
and Executive Director James Heron (far right) with his wife Masayo.
The first Sakura Award was awarded to Brian Mulroney as the Prime Minister who contributed greatly toward redress for Japanese Canadians interned during the Second World War. The second award was given to internationally celebrated architect Raymond Moriyama. This year, the third Sakura Award was presented to scientist, environmentalist and television personality David Suzuki.
The JCCC also forwarded $100,000 from among the donations raised during the evening to the Canadian Red Cross to be used for relief efforts related to the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake. At the end of the evening, JCCC President Gary Kawaguchi presented a cheque to Edward (Ted) Tanaka, President of the Red Cross’s Board of Governors.
With celebrated environmentalist David Suzuki.