On September 27, 2024, the Japan Society of Northern California hosted its 38th annual “Award of Honor” Gala! The event honored Koichiro Nakamura and Peanuts, and served as a major fundraising event for the Japan Society of Northern California.
Over 200 Gala attendees congregated at the Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, taking pictures with Snoopy and networking with fellow professionals. The night began with a VIP reception, where Board Chair Larry Greenwood gave a toast to the event awardees. The Gala later kicked off in the ballroom, with Consul General Yo Osumi delivering the opening remarks as guests ate before the awards presentation.
This year’s Award of Honor recipient was Koicho Nakamura, Co-Founder/General Partner of Sozo Ventures and the first Japanese person in the Forbes Midas List 100. He was presented with this prestigious award for his contributions in promoting the connection between the U.S. and Japan. Peanuts, the globally recognized comic strip that made its start in 1949, was also recognized and honored at the Gala. The Peanuts team, which included Jean Schulz and Snoopy, were awarded as Cultural Ambassadors, signifying their long-standing contributions to both Japanese and American culture. David Benoit, the Grammy-nominated music director for The Peanuts Movie, was then invited onto the stage to perform on the piano, with Snoopy providing the best supporting dance moves that he could.
Two auctions happened during the event. An online silent auction ran in the background of the Gala throughout the night, and a live auction was hosted by our dynamic auctioneer, Jay Huston. The silent auction had around 70 products provided by our generous donors. The wines looked amazing, and I really wanted the Jujutsu Kaisen skateboard! The live auction had 4 experiences up for grabs, including a tour of the Charles M. Schulz Museum led by Jean Schulz and a Japan travel package, complete with three nights at the luxurious Imperial Hotel in Tokyo.
I was a volunteer for this event, and I had a great time. Meeting Jean Schulz (and Snoopy!) was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and my fellow volunteers were amazing to work with. Overall, the Gala was very successful, so thank you so much to our donors, guests, and volunteers!
