Honorable Chairman, Kyoto Seika Godo Co., Ltd.
The Kyoto Seika Godo Company (Kyoka) has been the largest Japanese importer of U.S. fresh fruits and vegetables for the past 50 years, including citrus, cherries, watermelons and lettuce. The Kyoka Group has well-known subsidiary companies in the produce industry (Royal and Delta) that import and wholesale fresh and processed products. The states of Florida and Texas have bestowed the title of “Honorable Citizen” to Mr. Uchida for his dedication to supporting their grapefruit trade with Japan.
President, Toyo Nut Co., Ltd.
The Toyo Nut Company is one of the largest Japanese importers of California tree nuts and dried fruits, and, at its own expense, frequently sends technical experts to work with their American counterparts to adapt product quality for the Japanese market. Over the past 25 years, Mr. Nakajima has been holding a California Almond Festival at his factory in Kobe. This two-day festival features the blooming almond trees and attracts more than 20,000 people every year.
Chairman, UCC Holdings Co., Ltd.
Accepting award for UCC Holdings is Mr. Masaro Ueshima, Executive Vice President of UCC Ueshima Coffee Co., Ltd.
Mr. Ueshima has been a major supporter of Hawaiian coffee over the past 50 years. The UCC Coffee Company, based in Tokyo, began cultivation of coffee on Hawaii Island in 1989, and their product has become known in Japan as the famous “Kona Coffee.” Currently, UCC maintains a 30 acre farm in Hawaii that features a sophisticated facility for tourists, attracting more than 10,000 visitors annually, helping promote the high-value image for U.S. coffee in this market.
Former Representative, Future Farmers of Japan
Mr. Chidani, former representative from the Future Farmers of Japan (FFJ) organization, has facilitated agricultural exchanges, primarily between members of the FFJ and the National Future Farmers of America (National FFA) since 1989. Over the last twenty-four years, Mr. Chidani has led twenty-two delegations of young Japanese Farmers to the states of Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa, Washington, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, and has supported about twenty delegations from the U.S. National FFA, by arranging agricultural field trips and finding agricultural host families in Japan.
President, Shingu Shoko Ltd.
Shingu Shoko Ltd., Hokkaido based company, has been the largest Japanese importer of U. S. hardwood lumber since 1999, and Mr. Sakaguchi, has worked with the American Hardwood Export Council throughout that time to support developing the market for U. S. hardwoods in Japan. With its comprehensive distribution system, Shingu Shoko’s distribution system has been critical in support of the U. S. hardwood industry’s success in Japan.
