Foreign Minister’s Commendation Ceremony for Mr. Yoshiaki Minegishi, Celebrate Asia Founder

　On August 28, 2024, a conferment ceremony and reception were held at the Official Residence to congratulate Mr. Yoshiaki Minegishi, Celebrate Asia Founder, on his receipt of the Foreign Minister’s Commendation. Mr. Minegishi’s family, friends, colleagues, and many others were in attendance. 

　Consul General of Japan in Seattle IYORI Makoto expressed his appreciation for Mr. Minegishi’s many years of continued contributions and formally conferred the Commendation. Mr. Minegishi spoke about the purpose of Celebrate Asia: to create a community concert that showcases unknown but talented musicians from Asia and fosters greater respect for Asia—not through street demonstrations, but through music, a universal language.

　Mr. Minegishi joined the Seattle Symphony Board in 2001 and later founded “Celebrate Asia,” an annual concert dedicated to promoting harmony across the local Asian community regardless of ethnicity. This concert, held annually since 2009, celebrated its 16th anniversary in January 2024. It draws approximately 2,000 attendees of Asian descent, including individuals from Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai, and other communities. Through this groundbreaking event, Mr. Minegishi has made significant contributions to fostering a positive and collaborative spirit within the local Asian community. 

　Additionally, Mr. Minegishi served on the board of the Seattle Youth Symphony from 2011 to 2019, and has served on the board of the Japan-America Society of the State of Washington since 2000. Through his service to these organizations, he has made substantial contributions to promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.