Achievements for Japan

(1) Contributions to the development of a strong, supportive network for the benefit of Japanese and Japanese Americans as the President of the Japanese American Association (JAA) of New York

JAA is a nonprofit organization with more than 100 years of history in advancing the social welfare and goodwill between Japanese and Japanese American communities in the New York area.

Born and raised in New York by Japanese parents, Ms. Onuma joined JAA with the desire to use her background and understanding of both Japanese and American cultures to contribute to the Japanese and Japanese American community. In the more than 30 years since she first became a Director of the board in 1986, she has played a central role in the operation of JAA by utilizing her specialized knowledge as a lawyer and has contributed to the strengthening of the Japanese and Japanese American community, and thus the improvement of the welfare of its members.

In 2005, she became the first woman to become the President of JAA and established the Committee on Aging Issues that same year, with herself as its Chairperson. The committee focused on the aging problems facing the Japanese and Japanese American communities in and around New York and clarified the needs of the elderly through a fact-finding survey. In 2007, she helped launch a Japanese website to provide essential information for the elderly, such as the differences in the social welfare systems in Japan and the United States. She also established "Senior Week" which focused on lectures and counseling to help improve the welfare and care of elder Japanese and Japanese Americans.　

From 2008 to 2013, Ms. Onuma continued to work on issues such as the welfare of seniors as Honorary President and Director of JAA, including starting the Sakura Health Fair in the spring. In 2014, she became President of JAA again and in 2016, in cooperation with other Japanese community groups, expanded the length of "Senior Week" and developed it into an annual "Autumn Health Fair" with more than 75 public programs related to health, culture, education and safety. This not only helped the elderly, but improved the quality of life for Japanese and Japanese American community members of all ages. As Chairperson of this committee, she continues to tackle problems facing the elderly to this day. In April 2020, JAA launched “Project Bento’’ in collaboration with other Japanese organizations and businesses and delivered Japanese lunch boxes once a week free of charge to Japanese and Japanese American seniors and people with disabilities who had to stay at home in COVID-19-affected areas.

Ms. Onuma is also a strong supporter of women’s issues and in 2004, the "Business Women's Committee" (currently called "JAA Women in Business"), was launched. JAA Women in Business has supported business development through activities such as establishing a place where Japanese businesswomen can expand their network, consult with one another, deepen friendships and share valuable information.

(2) Contribution to Japan-U.S. goodwill through reconstruction assistance for Japan’s disaster-affected areas as President of the Japanese American Association of New York

In 2011, Ms. Onuma was instrumental in having JAA set up a relief fund immediately after the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, helping to raise over $1 million. JAA continues to support reconstruction efforts in Tohoku Region, and continues to organize meetings with high school students from the affected areas who visit New York.

During her time as President of the association, JAA went on to organize several other relief efforts: the "Kyushu Earthquake Support Fund," following the April 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake; the "West Japan Heavy Rain Relief Fund," after the devastating rains in the region in July of 2018, and, later that same year, the "Hokkaido Earthquake Relief Fund" in the aftermath of the Eastern Iburi Earthquake in Hokkaido. These disasters came one after another, and JAA solicited relief funds to help the affected areas, which contributed to the promotion of goodwill between Japan and the United States and a unifying drive to support Japanese disaster victims throughout the New York region.

(3) Contribution to the promotion of the Japan-U.S. friendship and goodwill through other institutions such as the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC)

(i) As a Founding Director of the U.S.-Japan Council
In 2009, Ms. Onuma became one of the founding directors of the U.S.-Japan Council, which has contributed to the strengthening U.S.-Japan relations by establishing forums for exchange between Japan and the United States. As a Director (2009-2014) and also Secretary/Director (2011-2013), she contributed to the growth and development of the organization for six years, which is the maximum term limit one may serve as a director. She is currently involved in USJC’s management as Regional Chair of the New York area, making use of her knowledge as a lawyer and her extensive network of business and community leaders. By also supporting a wide range of exchange programs between Japan and the United States, she has contributed to the promotion of goodwill and mutual understanding between Japan and the United States by helping to build a strong, diverse and vast network of people-to-people connections.

(ii) As Corporate Secretary of Japan Society
Japan Society is a nonprofit organization in New York that has contributed to the development of exchanges and friendly relations between Japan and the United States. It has been promoting an understanding of Japan through programs in a wide range of fields for over 100 years. Since 2005, Ms. Onuma has been involved in “behind the scenes” management of the organization as Corporate Secretary, and has deepened ties of mutual appreciation between Japan and the United States.

(iii) As an attorney
Since becoming an attorney nearly forty years ago, she has contributed to the strengthening of relations between Japan and the United States in the field of business by supporting the establishment and expansion of many Japanese companies in the United States. Over the years, she has also provided legal advice to individual Japanese and Japanese Americans in need on a pro bono basis. Additionally, she has also provided support when a Japanese national or Japanese American becomes disabled or dies with no next-of-kin living close by.

(iv) Participation in the Japanese American Leadership Delegation Program
Ms. Onuma was selected as one of the Japanese American leaders in the 2012 Japanese American Leadership Delegation Program, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and she visited Japan in March of the same year. While on this program, she visited Miyagi Prefecture, which was one of the areas most severely affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. She interacted with young social entrepreneurs and volunteers working on reconstruction efforts, and participated as a panelist in a symposium on the reconstruction of Tohoku.

<< The Japanese government awarding Autumn 2020 decorations

対日功績

（１）ニューヨーク日系人会会長兼理事として日本人・日系人の福祉向上に寄与

　ニューヨーク日系人会は、１００年以上にわたりニューヨーク地区の日本人・日系人コミュニティの社会福祉の充実と日米親善を推進してきた歴史を有する非営利団体である。
　日本人の両親のもとニューヨークで生まれ育った同人は、日米双方の文化を理解する自らの背景と経験を日本人・日系人コミュニティのために役立てたいという想いから、同会に入会した。昭和６１年に同会の理事となり、以後、現在まで３０年以上の長きにわたって、生業である弁護士としての専門的知見を活かして同会運営の中核を担い、日本人・日系人の福祉の向上、日米親善に寄与してきた。
　平成１７年には、女性として初めて同会の会長に就任すると、同年に「邦人・日系人高齢者問題協議会」を設立し、自ら委員長に就任した。同協議会は、ニューヨークやその周辺地域の日本人・日系人コミュニティが抱える高齢化問題に光を当て、綿密な実態調査を通して高齢者のニーズを明らかにした。平成１９年には、日米の社会福祉制度など高齢者に必要な情報を提供するため、日本語でのウェブ・サイトを立ち上げたほか、講演会や相談室を中心とした「シニア・ウィーク」を新設し、日本人・日系人高齢者の福祉の充実に尽力した。
　平成２０年から同２５年までは同会名誉会長兼理事として引き続き高齢者問題等に取り組み、春の「サクラ・ヘルスフェア」を新設した。その後、同２６年に再び同会会長に就任した。平成２８年には「シニア・ウィーク」の期間を拡大し、内容をさらに充実させた「秋のヘルス・フェア」へと発展させ、他の日系コミュニティ団体等とも協力して、高齢者のみならず幅広い世代へ健康、文化、教育、安全等に関わる７５を超える様々な公開プログラムを定期的に提供し、日本人・日系人コミュニティの強化と福祉の向上に寄与した。
　令和２年４月には、新型コロナウイルスの感染が拡大した当地において自宅待機を強いられる日本人・日系人の高齢者・障害者に対して週一回日本食のお弁当を無償で届ける「プロジェクト弁当」を当地日系企業とともに立ち上げた。
　また、女性たちの心強いサポーターでもある同人は、平成１６年にニューヨーク日系人会の元に「女性実業家の会」（現在の名称は「ビジネスウーマンの会」）を立ち上げた。同会は、当地において邦人女性実業家が交流を広げ、相談し合える場を設けたり、米国の女性実業家組織と懇親を深め、有益な情報を共有したりする活動等を通じて、邦人女性実業家の事業の発展を支えてきた。

（２）ニューヨーク日系人会会長兼理事として日本の被災地復興支援を通して日米親善に寄与

　同人は、平成２３年３月に東日本大震災が起きた際、ニューヨーク日系人会が速やかに救済基金を設立できるよう尽力し、百万ドルを超える基金を集めることに貢献した。同会は、東日本大震災の被災地復興支援を現在も継続しており、ニューヨークを訪れた被災地出身の高校生との交流も続いている。
　また、会長在任中にも同会は、平成２８年４月に発生した熊本地震に際して「九州地震支援基金」を、平成３０年７月豪雨の際には「西日本豪雨救済基金」を、同年９月の北海道胆振東部地震の際には「北海道地震救済基金」を相次いで立ち上げて救済基金を募り、ニューヨーク地域からの被災地支援を通して、日米親善の促進に寄与した。

（３）米日カウンシル等その他の活動を通じて日米友好親善の促進に寄与　

ア　米日カウンシルの創設理事として
　同人は、平成２１年、日米の交流の場を設けることにより日米関係の強化に貢献している米日カウンシルの創設理事となり、理事（平成２１年から平成２６年）、書記役兼理事（平成２３年から平成２５年）として、理事としての任期の上限である６年間にわたり、同団体の発展に貢献した。同人は、弁護士としての知見と日系アメリカ人としての人脈を生かしてその運営に携わり、幅広い日米の交流プログラムを支えることにより、人的ネットワークの構築による日米の親善と相互理解の促進に寄与した。同人は現在もニューヨーク地区長として米日カウンシルの運営に携わっている。

イ　ジャパン・ソサエティ主事として
　同人は、ニューヨークで１００年以上にわたり様々な分野のプログラムを通じて対日理解を促進し日米交流と両国の友好関係の発展に貢献している非営利団体であるジャパン・ソサエティにおいて、平成１７年から現在まで主事兼理事として舞台裏で同団体の運営に携わっており、日米の親善と相互理解の深化・促進のために貢献している。

ウ　弁護士として
　同人は、およそ４０年前に弁護士となって以来、数多くの日系企業の米国での会社設立や事業拡大を支援することにより、経済分野における日米の関係強化に寄与している。また、長年にわたり、困窮している邦人や日系人に対して無償で法律相談に応じてきたほか、当地に身寄りのない邦人や日系人が障がいを抱えたり、お亡くなりになった際に、法的手続を自ら進んで引き受けるなど、親身になって邦人らを支援してきた。

エ　在米日系人リーダー招へいプログラムへの参加
　同人は、外務省主催による平成２４年の在米日系人リーダー招へいプログラムにおいて日系人指導者の一人として選ばれ、同年３月に訪日した。同プログラムでは、東日本大震災の被災地である宮城県を訪問し、復興に取り組む若い社会起業家やボランティアと交流したほか、復興に関するシンポジウムにパネリストとして参加した。その他、政財界の要人と日米関係の発展のため意見交換を行うなど、日米の友好親善の促進に寄与した。

<< 令和２年秋の叙勲について