Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2026
2026/9/24
On September 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced the recipients of the 2026 Foreign Minister’s Commendations. Within the jurisdiction of our Consulate General, the following individuals and organizations were selected:
Patsy Surh O’Connell, Founder and President of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) — for her contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Toshiko Takenaka, Professor at the University of Washington School of Law — for her contribution to promoting the rule of law in the international community.
Makiko Doi, Professor Emerita at Central Washington University — for her contribution to promoting academic exchange between Japan and the United States.
Michael Joseph Forrester, Former Chairman of the Seattle Japanese Language School — for his contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Ikebana International Seattle Chapter — for its contribution to promoting ikebana in the United States.
Seattle Kendo Kai — for its contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States through the practice of martial arts.
Patsy Surh O’Connell, Founder and President of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC)
In 1996, Ms. O’Connell established the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma, Washington, and served as its President. Over many years, she has planned and hosted a wide range of events introducing the cultures and arts of the Asia-Pacific region, with the aim of advancing understanding, awareness, and equity for Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
The Center provides a platform for people from Japan and across the Asia-Pacific to share their cultures and heritage, and has led numerous Japan-related cultural programs and Japanese-language classes, thereby significantly enhancing Japan’s presence in the community. Through these efforts, Ms. O’Connell has contributed to fostering friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, particularly within the Greater Seattle area community.
Toshiko Takenaka, Professor at the University of Washington School of Law
Professor Takenaka has taught at the University of Washington since 1993 and became a professor in 2003. Over the course of her career, she has taught approximately 6,000 students, including students from Japan and other countries, in the field of intellectual property law.
Her students have included attorneys, judges, and researchers from the Japan Patent Office and the Supreme Court of Japan. Through her teaching, she has played a significant role in deepening the Japanese legal community’s understanding of intellectual property systems in the United States and Europe.
She has also contributed to the development of future generations of legal professionals by publishing books and academic papers in English on Japan’s legal and intellectual property systems, as well as numerous books and papers in Japanese on intellectual property systems in the United States and Europe. In addition, she has contributed to Japan’s intellectual property policy, including through her service on various committees of the Cabinet Office and other Japanese government bodies.
Makiko Doi, Professor Emerita at Central Washington University
Professor Doi joined the Central Washington University Library in 1974 as head of periodicals and became a professor in 1992. She played a key role in promoting sister-school relationships between Central Washington University and universities in Japan.
In 1982, she was involved in establishing a sister-school relationship with Shimane University and an academic exchange agreement with Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. In 1990, she also helped establish an academic exchange agreement with Shimane Women’s Junior College. Through these efforts, she contributed to promoting friendship and goodwill between universities in Japan and the United States.
Professor Doi also led the construction of a Japanese garden on the university campus and secured funding from the Japan World Exposition Commemorative Fund, contributing to its completion in 1992. The garden continues to be cherished as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States.
Michael Joseph Forrester, Former Chairman of the Seattle Japanese Language School
Mr. Forrester became a board member of the Seattle Japanese Language School in 1992, served as Vice Chairman in 1999, and became Chairman in 2010. For many years, he devoted himself to the school’s administration and development.
At a time when the Japanese Community Service of Seattle, which had operated the school, was facing increasing difficulties in maintaining and managing the institution, Mr. Forrester took the lead in transferring management of the school to the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington. The transfer was completed in 2007.
As a result, the school established a stable organizational structure that enabled it to continue operating and become a core program of the Center. Today, approximately 430 students are enrolled, including about 365 adults and 70 children, the majority of whom are neither Japanese nor Japanese American. The school has made a significant contribution to expanding access to Japanese language education in the region.
Ikebana International Seattle Chapter
The Ikebana International Seattle Chapter was established in Seattle in 1959 and has worked for 67 years to promote the art of ikebana.
In addition to providing ikebana instruction to Americans, the organization has showcased the appeal of ikebana to a broad audience through exhibitions and workshops at local Japanese cultural events, flower and garden festivals, museums, and other venues. Through these activities, it has contributed significantly to the promotion and understanding of Japanese culture.
The organization has also collaborated with local cultural organizations, contributing to the introduction of Japanese culture and the promotion of mutual understanding through ikebana.
Seattle Kendo Kai
Seattle Kendo Kai was established in Seattle, Washington, in 1924 and has promoted kendo and iaido for approximately 100 years.
Before World War II, the organization placed particular emphasis on the spiritual development and character building of second-generation Japanese Americans through the practice of kendo. Although its activities were temporarily suspended as a result of the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, the organization resumed its activities after the war and has continued to teach and promote kendo while contributing to strengthening ties within the Japanese American community.
Today, Seattle Kendo Kai continues to promote understanding of Japan and cultural exchange by demonstrating kendo at events organized by Japanese American organizations and maintaining exchanges with kendo organizations both in the United States and abroad.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are presented to individuals and organizations that have made particularly outstanding contributions to international relations in various fields and to the promotion of friendship and goodwill between Japan and other countries. The commendations recognize these achievements and seek to encourage greater public understanding and support for such activities.
In 2026, a total of 160 individuals and 67 organizations worldwide received Foreign Minister’s Commendations.
Patsy Surh O’Connell, Founder and President of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) — for her contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Toshiko Takenaka, Professor at the University of Washington School of Law — for her contribution to promoting the rule of law in the international community.
Makiko Doi, Professor Emerita at Central Washington University — for her contribution to promoting academic exchange between Japan and the United States.
Michael Joseph Forrester, Former Chairman of the Seattle Japanese Language School — for his contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Ikebana International Seattle Chapter — for its contribution to promoting ikebana in the United States.
Seattle Kendo Kai — for its contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States through the practice of martial arts.
Patsy Surh O’Connell, Founder and President of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC)
In 1996, Ms. O’Connell established the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (APCC) in Tacoma, Washington, and served as its President. Over many years, she has planned and hosted a wide range of events introducing the cultures and arts of the Asia-Pacific region, with the aim of advancing understanding, awareness, and equity for Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
The Center provides a platform for people from Japan and across the Asia-Pacific to share their cultures and heritage, and has led numerous Japan-related cultural programs and Japanese-language classes, thereby significantly enhancing Japan’s presence in the community. Through these efforts, Ms. O’Connell has contributed to fostering friendship and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States, particularly within the Greater Seattle area community.
Toshiko Takenaka, Professor at the University of Washington School of Law
Professor Takenaka has taught at the University of Washington since 1993 and became a professor in 2003. Over the course of her career, she has taught approximately 6,000 students, including students from Japan and other countries, in the field of intellectual property law.
Her students have included attorneys, judges, and researchers from the Japan Patent Office and the Supreme Court of Japan. Through her teaching, she has played a significant role in deepening the Japanese legal community’s understanding of intellectual property systems in the United States and Europe.
She has also contributed to the development of future generations of legal professionals by publishing books and academic papers in English on Japan’s legal and intellectual property systems, as well as numerous books and papers in Japanese on intellectual property systems in the United States and Europe. In addition, she has contributed to Japan’s intellectual property policy, including through her service on various committees of the Cabinet Office and other Japanese government bodies.
Makiko Doi, Professor Emerita at Central Washington University
Professor Doi joined the Central Washington University Library in 1974 as head of periodicals and became a professor in 1992. She played a key role in promoting sister-school relationships between Central Washington University and universities in Japan.
In 1982, she was involved in establishing a sister-school relationship with Shimane University and an academic exchange agreement with Kyoto University of Foreign Studies. In 1990, she also helped establish an academic exchange agreement with Shimane Women’s Junior College. Through these efforts, she contributed to promoting friendship and goodwill between universities in Japan and the United States.
Professor Doi also led the construction of a Japanese garden on the university campus and secured funding from the Japan World Exposition Commemorative Fund, contributing to its completion in 1992. The garden continues to be cherished as a symbol of friendship between Japan and the United States.
Michael Joseph Forrester, Former Chairman of the Seattle Japanese Language School
Mr. Forrester became a board member of the Seattle Japanese Language School in 1992, served as Vice Chairman in 1999, and became Chairman in 2010. For many years, he devoted himself to the school’s administration and development.
At a time when the Japanese Community Service of Seattle, which had operated the school, was facing increasing difficulties in maintaining and managing the institution, Mr. Forrester took the lead in transferring management of the school to the Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Washington. The transfer was completed in 2007.
As a result, the school established a stable organizational structure that enabled it to continue operating and become a core program of the Center. Today, approximately 430 students are enrolled, including about 365 adults and 70 children, the majority of whom are neither Japanese nor Japanese American. The school has made a significant contribution to expanding access to Japanese language education in the region.
Ikebana International Seattle Chapter
The Ikebana International Seattle Chapter was established in Seattle in 1959 and has worked for 67 years to promote the art of ikebana.
In addition to providing ikebana instruction to Americans, the organization has showcased the appeal of ikebana to a broad audience through exhibitions and workshops at local Japanese cultural events, flower and garden festivals, museums, and other venues. Through these activities, it has contributed significantly to the promotion and understanding of Japanese culture.
The organization has also collaborated with local cultural organizations, contributing to the introduction of Japanese culture and the promotion of mutual understanding through ikebana.
Seattle Kendo Kai
Seattle Kendo Kai was established in Seattle, Washington, in 1924 and has promoted kendo and iaido for approximately 100 years.
Before World War II, the organization placed particular emphasis on the spiritual development and character building of second-generation Japanese Americans through the practice of kendo. Although its activities were temporarily suspended as a result of the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, the organization resumed its activities after the war and has continued to teach and promote kendo while contributing to strengthening ties within the Japanese American community.
Today, Seattle Kendo Kai continues to promote understanding of Japan and cultural exchange by demonstrating kendo at events organized by Japanese American organizations and maintaining exchanges with kendo organizations both in the United States and abroad.
The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are presented to individuals and organizations that have made particularly outstanding contributions to international relations in various fields and to the promotion of friendship and goodwill between Japan and other countries. The commendations recognize these achievements and seek to encourage greater public understanding and support for such activities.
In 2026, a total of 160 individuals and 67 organizations worldwide received Foreign Minister’s Commendations.