Japan America Society of New Hampshire Commended by Japanese Government
Press Release July 28, 2014
On July 24 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced that it was giving the Minister of Foreign Affairs Commendation to the Japan America Society of New Hampshire in recognition of the Society’s significant contributions to the furthering of mutual understanding between Japan and the United States.
Beginning in 1994 and in many subsequent years, the Society organized the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Forum. In 2005, as part of the year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty organized by JASNH, the Society created an exhibit now displayed in the Portsmouth Historical Society Museum, created a website that is a scholarly resource for information about the Portsmouth Peace Treaty negotiations, devised the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Trail, together with maps to key sites in the history of the Peace Treaty negotiations, and sponsored a Teacher’s Guide to the Portsmouth Peace Treaty for grades 4-12.
In 2010, a bill initiated by Japan America Society of New Hampshire was passed by the New Hampshire Legislature and signed into law by the Governor making Sept. 5-- the day that the Portsmouth Peace Treaty was signed in 1905—Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day throughout the state. Also on Sept. 5 every year, the Society ensures that bells are rung throughout the city as an acknowledgement of the important role that the people of Portsmouth played in facilitating the negotiations in the summer of 1905. In 2013, in collaboration with the City of Portsmouth, the Japan America Society installed an historic marker to the Peace Treaty in the center of the city. In addition, the Society has been an active participant in the Portsmouth-Nichinan Sister City relationship and in the creation of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial of cherry trees planted around the state.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan decided to award the Foreign Minister’s Commendation to the Japan America Society of New Hampshire to show its support for the activities of the Society, and in recognition of the many years of service that the Society has performed on behalf of promoting Japan-U.S. exchange and furthering mutual understanding between the countries.
On receiving news of the Commendation, Japan America Society of NH president, Charles B. Doleac commented, “We are honored that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of commends the efforts of the Japan America Society of NH to strengthen the tradition of citizen diplomacy in New Hampshire. People-to-people efforts, like those demonstrated in Portsmouth during the Treaty proceedings of 1905, are still the most important foundations for peace we have.”
For more about the Portsmouth Peace Treaty: (http://www.portsmouthpeacetreaty.org)