Foreign Minister's Commendation Awarded to the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans
- 100thibvohana
- Aug 29
- 6 min read
Updated: Sep 13
The 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) is honored to be one of 51 recipients of the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for FY 2025, awarded to groups outside of Japan for outstanding achievements in international fields that contribute to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. Other groups receiving commendations come from Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Brazil, Australia, Switzerland, Venezuela, and more. Also receiving Foreign Minister's Commendations are the 442nd Legacy Center and the Military Intelligence Service Veterans of Hawaii.
▶︎ Press Release: Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2025 (English)
▶︎ Press Release: Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2025 (Japanese)
▶︎ Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu - Foreign Minister’s Commendations for FY 2025
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan announced that the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans, the 442nd Legacy Center, and the Military Intelligence Service Veterans of Hawaii will receive the Foreign Minister’s Commendations. These three organizations have, for many years, worked to preserve and pass on to future generations the identity and glorious achievements of US military units primarily composed of Japanese Americans, through activities such as preserving and exhibiting historical materials, holding memorial services, and public relations activities. Through these activities, the three organizations have contributed to the preservation and dissemination of the history of Japanese Americans in the United States, thereby contributing to the improvement of the status of Japanese Americans in the United States, and significantly contributing to the deepening of mutual understanding and the promotion of friendly relations between Japan and Hawaii, and consequently between Japan and the United States.
The 100th Infantry Battalion was the pioneer U.S. Army unit composed primarily of Americans of Japanese ancestry (AJA), and the first such unit to see combat in Italy and France. They were segregated from the multi-ethnic Hawaii National Guard solely because they looked like the Japanese soldiers of the Imperial Navy that had attacked Pearl Harbor. They endured discrimination and unfounded accusations of sabotage. These men from Hawai‘i proved their loyalty and became known as “The Purple Heart Battalion.”
The outstanding training record of the 100th Infantry Battalion led to the formation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, allowing other AJA to volunteer for service. This, in turn, led President Franklin D. Roosevelt to rescind the "enemy alien" IV-C status for AJA. Together, the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd RCT would be known as one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history.
The Ministry commended Club 100 for preserving historical materials and perpetuating the legacy of the 100th Infantry Battalion in meaningful ways, in keeping with its mission, "For Continuing Service." This commendation is significant because it honors 80 years of dedication by the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans (Club 100) members to fostering healing, promoting peace, and strengthening collaboration between Japan and the United States.
Immediately after the war, Club 100 members began fundraising to support Japan’s postwar recovery. They helped to send clothing, food, and other aid. One member, 100th Infantry Battalion veteran Thomas "Taro" Higa, successfully led an effort in Hawai‘i to send 500 breeding pigs to Okinawa to help revive the local pork industry and provide food for the people. His 1965 documentary, “Hawaii Ni Ikiru (Life in Hawaii),” will be shown in September by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association at the Hawaii Okinawa Center, and at the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans Clubhouse. 100th Infantry Battalion morale officer and Club 100’s first president, Dr. Katsumi Kometani, was instrumental in raising funds for Japan’s delegate to attend the 1947 International Olympic Committee meeting in Rome, enabling Japan’s return to the Olympics after World War II.
In turn, representatives from Japan would reciprocate support to foster mutual recognition of the importance of peace. Singer Hibari Misora, came to Hawai‘i and helped the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans to raise funds to build their 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Building (Clubhouse). The 1962 Club 100 group tour to Japan was filled with moments symbolizing healing, including meeting then-Crown Prince Akihito and Crown Princess Michiko in Tokyo, visiting the Holy Family Home "Wolfhounds Orphanage" in Osaka, participating in ceremonies at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and attending an elaborate memorial service held at Ryouzen Kannon in Kyoto, at a memorial built for World War II soldiers who died to protect their respective countries.
Today, we continue to warmly welcome many visitors from Japan to our Clubhouse and Education Center, and we remain committed to strengthening our relationships. We are honored to host numerous guests interested in the 100th Infantry Battalion and inspired by the story of how these AJA men overcame obstacles of racial injustice and their small stature to become one of America’s best fighting units.
Many visitors are student groups, including orphans from the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami disaster, and youth from Hiroshima who accompanied two hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) visiting Hawaii to share their firsthand accounts of the devastation caused by nuclear weapons, among others. We work with Hawai‘i students through our education program, Legacy2Action, in partnership with Central Pacific Bank, the University of Hawai‘i Center on Aging, and 'Iolani School. Students identify a problem facing Hawai‘i and using the high-performance values of the 100th, create a community service solution. One participant’s project focused on the elimination of nuclear weapons.
We look forward to visits by film director Hiroyuki Matsumoto, a devoted supporter of the 100th who has spent considerable time personally getting to know our veterans over the years. He has produced the documentary films "Go for Broke! ~Hawaii Nikkei Nisei no Kioku~ (Memories of Hawai‘i Japanese Nisei)," and most recently, "Okagesama de ~Hawaii Nikkei Jyosei no Kiseki~ (Hawai‘i Nikkei Women's Trajectory)," to perpetuate the legacy of the AJA and share their story with Japanese audiences.
We have been honored to host several dignitaries from Japan who visit to pay their respects to the men of the 100th who gave their lives in the war and to learn more about the unit’s legacy.
In August 2018, Taro Kono, serving as Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (and later served as Minister of Defense), visited the Clubhouse and established bonds with the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans.
▶︎ Foreign Minister Kono Visits United States of America (Honolulu) https://www.mofa.go.jp/na/na1/us/page3e_000911.html
In May 2024, then-Defense Minister of Japan Minoru Kihara took time from his busy schedule of defense meetings with his counterparts from the United States, Australia, and the Philippines, to visit the 100th Infantry Battalion Clubhouse. We shared the story of the 100th with the Minister and his staff, and joined together in prayer with the lighting of senko.
▶︎ Defense Minister Kihara’s Visit to the United States (Summary) https://www.mod.go.jp/en/article/2024/05/f62d350215c24733ac509ec2514a99c231781e4a.html
In March 2025, Mayor Hikaru Sato of Chigasaki City, sister city of Honolulu, visited with his staff to learn about the 100th and the 442nd, and to pay respects to the men for their duty and sacrifice.
These acts of kindness, like this Commendation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, mean so much and we feel even more passion to work together toward peace and understanding.
The Hawai‘i-born 100th Infantry Battalion fought for freedom, to prove their loyalty to America, and to advance equal rights for all people of color. Today, only six known veterans of the 100th remain. Current members continue their legacy by working with representatives from Japan and worldwide to carry on the mission of our 100th patriarchs.
Our deepest appreciation goes to our good friends at the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu, led by Consul General Yoshinori Kodama, for recommending us for this commendation. We also extend our sincere thanks to Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for granting us this esteemed honor.
MEDIA COVERAGE:
"100th Infantry Battalion Veterans receive special honor" Hawaii News Now - 2025.08.30 https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2025/08/30/100th-infantry-battalion-veterans-receive-special-honor/
"Japan honors 3 Nisei veterans groups in Hawaii" Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Kevin Knodell) - 2025.09.07 https://www.staradvertiser.com/2025/09/07/hawaii-news/japan-honors-3-nisei-veterans-groups-in-hawaii/?HSA=9e951e6719bb95a5ba461bfd2afc42eeadec2688#tbzofhxjjgelo1rwr78cij283ahgfx3qq
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