Houston, TX — May 18, 2026 — The spirit of friendship between Houston and Japan was on full display at JASH BASH 2026, as the Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH) welcomed distinguished guests, business leaders, diplomats, and community supporters to Daikin Park for an evening celebrating the enduring ties between the United States and Japan.
Held during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month and in the lead-up to the nationwide America250 commemoration, this year’s gala highlighted the many ways cultural exchange, international partnership, and shared community values continue to strengthen the relationship between Houston and Japan. Against the backdrop of Daikin Park — the first Major League Baseball stadium to bear the name of a Japanese company — the evening served as a powerful reminder of Houston’s unique role as a global city shaped by international collaboration and friendship.
From the thunderous opening performance by Kaminari Taiko to a engaging rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by the Sakura Choir, the evening celebrated the shared traditions and cultural connections that continue to bring people together across the Pacific. Guests also reflected on another milestone year for JASH programming and outreach, including more than 170 educational and cultural programs throughout Greater Houston and a record-setting Japan Festival Houston that welcomed nearly 80,000 attendees in 2025.
In remarks throughout the evening, speakers emphasized the importance of people-to-people exchange and the role Houston continues to play in advancing U.S.-Japan relations through business, education, culture, and community engagement. JASH President & CEO Patsy Brown reflected on the organization’s 58-year mission of building bridges of understanding between Japan and Houston, while newly arrived Consul General of Japan in Houston, The Honorable Takeshi Koyama, offered a toast celebrating the strength and future of the bilateral relationship.
One of the evening’s most memorable moments came with reflections from former U.S. Ambassador to Japan J. Thomas Schieffer, who spoke about baseball’s unique ability to foster friendship and mutual understanding between the United States and Japan — a fitting theme for an evening held at the home of the Houston Astros.
The gala also recognized two leaders whose work has helped deepen ties between Houston and Japan.
The Houston-Japan Friendship Award was presented to Jim Crane, Owner and Chairman of the Houston Astros, by Laird Doran, Vice Chair of the Japan-America Society of Houston and Senior Vice President of Public and Legal Affairs at The Friedkin Group. Crane was recognized for his leadership in business, sports, and community engagement, as well as his support of partnerships that continue to strengthen ties between Houston and Japan.
The J. Thomas Schieffer Leadership Award was presented to Satoru Akama, CEO of Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, by Takajiro Ishikawa, Chairman of the Japan-America Society of Houston and Senior Executive Advisor at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America. Akama was honored for his leadership in advancing U.S.-Japan business relations and for Daikin’s long-term investment in Houston and the broader North American region.
As the evening concluded, guests departed with a renewed sense of optimism and appreciation for the enduring friendship between Japan and Houston — a relationship built not only through diplomacy and business, but through cultural exchange, shared experiences, and the countless personal connections that continue to unite the two communities.
JASH extends its sincere gratitude to all sponsors, supporters, volunteers, and guests whose generosity and partnership made JASH BASH 2026 possible and who continue to support the mission of strengthening friendship and understanding between Japan and Houston for generations to come.
Photos: Jay Ford of NightSkyCreative
Photos: Jay Ford of NightSkyCreative