この度、JBSD（デトロイト日本商工会）基金が、日米間の友好親善の増進に顕著な功績があったとして、外務大臣表彰を受賞しました。去る11月17日に総領事公邸において開催された天皇誕生日祝賀レセプションにて、和田充広デトロイト日本国総領事より、JBSD基金を代表して加藤栄治理事長に表彰状が授与されました。
本表彰は、戦後70周年を迎えた節目に、日本と他国との友好関係促進に大いに貢献した個人や団体を称えるため行われた不定期の表彰です。そして今回、日米の二国間関係と相互理解を促進する活動を称えJBSD基金が表彰されることとなりました。また、基金の母団体であるデトロイト日本商工会（JBSD）も、2004年に外務大臣表彰を受賞しています。
JBSD基金は、地域活動、教育、慈善事業ほか日米相互理解に資するプロジェクトを支援するため、ミシガン州の非営利団体や学術機関に多くの助成金を提供してきました。同基金はこれまでの23年間で、総額180万米ドルの助成金提供を行っており、またアメリカの高校生や大学生に日本留学のための奨学金も提供し、過去19年間で、159人の学生がJBSD基金奨学金を通して日本留学を果たしました。
和田充広総領事は「JBSD基金は、表彰状に述べられるとおり、日本と米国との相互理解促進に尽力され、日米間の友好親善に多大なる貢献をされたことから、戦後70周年を迎える節目の外務大臣表彰の受賞者として相応しい。この地域の日本人コミュニティを代表する素晴らしい活動を続けてこられたJBSDおよびJBSD基金と協同して仕事ができることを誇りに思います。」と話した。
JBSD (Japan Business Society of Detroit)
Foundation Receives Foreign Minister Commendation
from Consul General of Japan in Detroit
DETROIT, Mich. – Nov. 25, 2015 – JBSD (the Japan Business Society in Detroit) Foundation has been awarded a Foreign Minister’s Commendation by Fumio Kishida, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan. The commendation was presented on November 17, 2015 to Mr. Eiji Kato, president of the JBSD Foundation, by Mitsuhiro Wada, who recently was appointed Consul General of Japan in Detroit, with jurisdiction of Michigan and Ohio, at a reception commemorating the 82nd birthday of Emperor Akihito of Japan.
This specific Foreign Minister’s Commendation was presented, on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary after WWII, to recognize individuals and organizations which have increasingly contributed to the promotion of goodwill and friendship between Japan and other countries. The JBSD Foundation’s commendation is in recognition of its activities for promoting U.S.-Japan bilateral relations and mutual understanding. The Japan Business
Society of Detroit (JBSD), the mother organization of the Foundation, received the Foreign Minister’s commendation in 2004.
The JBSD Foundation has been providing many grants to Michigan nonprofit organizations and academic institutions for community activities, education and research programs and projects promoting Japan-U.S. bilateral relations. In total they have given 1.8 million US dollars over 23 years. The Foundation also provides scholarships to American high school and university students to study in Japan. Through the JBSD Foundation scholarship initiative, over the last 19 years, 159 students have participated in the program and traveled to Japan to study.
“The JBSD Foundation’s exemplary contributions and commitment to the community and education make it an ideal recipient of this commendation on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary after WWII,” said Wada. “As the commendation states, The Foundation has made outstanding efforts toward mutual understanding between Japan and the United States with distinguished achievements contributing to friendship and goodwill. The JBSD Foundation has created and is continually fostering great activities which represent the Japanese community in this region and it is an honor to work with the JBSD and its Foundation.”
About the Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit
The Consulate-General of Japan in Detroit was established in 1993 by the Government of Japan to serve in the states of Michigan and Ohio. The Detroit office is one of 14 Japanese Consulates General in the United States. The Consulate strives to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture through educational and cultural programs. The office protects the interests of Japanese citizens and strengthens the Japan-U.S. alliance through furthering relations with local governments, companies, educational institutions, cultural organizations and the general public.
For more information, visit www.detroit.us.emb-japan.go.jp/
or call (313) 567-0120.
