Updated at 3:26 p.m., Saturday, April 28, 2007
Japanese government to honor two Hawai'i citizens
Advertiser Staff
The Japanese government will honor Kenneth Takao Saiki, former president of the United Japanese Society of Hawai'i, and Katsugo Miho, a retired judge and former Hawai'i state legislator, for their contributions to the promotion ofmutual understanding and friendship between Japan and the United States.
Saiki will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette.
Saiki served in the U.S. Navy and in the U.S. Naval Reserves and retired at the rank of captain. He also served as vice president for communications at HONFED Bank in Honolulu and has been a leader with many Japan-related
organizations, such as the United Japanese Society of Hawaii, Honolulu Hiroshima Kenjinkai, Hawaii Ehime Maru Association and Hawaii Meiji Kai.
Saiki was president of the United Japanese Society of Hawaii when the Navy's USS Greeneville attack submarine crashed into the Japanese fishing training vessel, the Ehime Maru in 2001.
Saiki traveled to Ehime Prefecture with other representatives from Hawai'i to offer condolences to family members and to deliver funds to officials in Uwajima. Since the Ehime Maru Memorial was erected at Kakaako Waterfront Park in 2002, Saiki has coordinated the weekly cleaning and maintenance of the memorial by various community groups, schools and individuals.
Miho will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.
He was a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. In 1959, he was elected to the first of five terms in the state House of Representatives. He was then appointed as a District Family Court Judge. From 1962 to 1987, Miho served as chairman of nine Japan Goodwill Sumo Tournaments in Hawai'i sponsored by the 442nd Veterans Club.
Miho also served as co-chairman of the Japan Hawaii High School Goodwill and Friendship baseball series from 1957 to 1995.
Miho is a past president of the 442nd Veterans Club of Honolulu, and serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Foundation.