39^th Award of Honor Gala

Nobuko Saito Cleary is the President of Cross Cultural Communications, an International Business Consulting firm that specializes in U. S. – Japan business relationships and introducing Japanese Culture. Her 57 years of living in the United States gave her the opportunity to be a bridge between two countries. 

As an executive board member of the Japan Society of Northern California since 1997, she has chaired or co-chaired the many annual galas, resulting in successfully bringing four Prime Ministers, many diplomats, top leaders in business, entertainment, sports world, wine business, including a Nobel Peace Prize awarded scientist.

Nobuko serves on the board of the Community School of Music and Arts, helping to raise $13 million to build the school, including Tateuchi Hall and the Cleary Ensemble Room. She brings real traditional Japanese arts and culture to CSMA, an institution that helps 30,000 students each year.

Her board positions have included Northeastern University where she helped to build the Asian American Center and established the Nobuko Saito Cleary Trailblazer Scholarship for two Asian women students each year. Other boards are the Glaucoma Research Foundation; Hidden Villa, where she started Japanese Culture Day; Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation where Dr. Cleary dontated19^th century antiques pharmaceutical medical equipment; Satsuki Kai and Hakone Foundation, where she produced an opera performance of Madame Butterfly as an Annual Fundraising Musical event.

As a film producer, she has guided completion of award-winning films, such as Challenged, Dr. Bala and Paper Lanterns. The latter was screened globally at venues such as the UN and WTO, as well as many universities in the U.S. and Japan.

For peace building efforts, she received honors from the UN Institute for Disarmament Research and from the Government of Japan, including the Order of the Rising Sun and many more.

Mrs. Cleary has dedicated her life work to making connections with both countries to promote understanding and knowledge of the unique yet unifying relationships that exist between two important countries and peoples.