The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles held a conferment ceremony for Fall 2020 Decoration recipient Glenn Takeo Tanaka, former president of Orange Coast Optimist Club, on March 15.
Tanaka was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ceremony was held at the Consul General’s Official Residence with a very small number of guests.
While Tanaka has been producing high-quality vegetables and fruits at his farm in Irvine for over 40 years, he has contributed to the community by organizing nutritional education for children as well as harvest tours at his farm. Tanaka has also donated to the victims at the affected farms as well as the students who study agriculture at the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
Tanaka started “Walk the Farm,” a fund-raising event for Eastern Japan, including Fukushima Prefecture, with the Orange Coast Optimist Club’s “Helping Farms Feed Families,” which was established in 2011 when he was president of OCO. At the event, the participants have an opportunity to enjoy seasonal harvests at the farm, and at the same time deepen their understanding of the earthquake/tsunami disaster at the exhibition booth. The funds raised at the event have been donated to the earthquake victims.
Since its launching in 2011, the event has been supported by a total of over 5,000 volunteers, with more than 15,000 visitors participating. As a result, more than $800,000 has been donated to Japan. In 2020, the event was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic; however, Tanaka raised $20,000 for a donation.
So far, the donations have been distributed to 20 farmers in the affected areas as well as eight students of agriculture at Iwate University and Fukushima University.
When Tanaka was president of OCO, he was actively involved in youth education. In 2012, he set up the Youth Advisory Committee within the organization, which made it possible to provide coordinated support to youth activities and ensure the continuity of the activities.
That same year, Tanaka also launched an exchange program for Japanese secondary and high school students. Every year, the club invites 30 to 120 students to “Walk the Farm” to interact with students in California.
For the past four decades, Tanaka has been involved in the joint operation of the farm with his son. He is not only producing agricultural products, but also providing an opportunity to experience farming to a wide range of the community. In 1988, he launched a farm experience program for local children. In 1998, he opened his farm to the public with educational tours and agritourism. Currently, he provides agricultural experiences to 150,000 people, including 35,000 children from urban areas, every year and engages in agricultural education and training of his successors.
Tanaka has been organizing the New Year’s mochi pounding event at Tanaka Farms to preserve Japanese culture. He also co-presents many harvest events, such as strawberry and pumpkin, with the Japan Business Association of Southern California. The annual pumpkin harvest festival in October is the biggest event with more than 100,000 visitors.
Tanaka’s long-time contribution to the community was recognized by many organizations. For example, in 2017, he received the Green-White Achievement Award from the Agricultural Society of Japan.
For more information on programs at Tanaka Farms, visit www.tanakafarms.com.
Knowers of BallScientists look for alien technology from the TRAPPIST planetsHurricane Milton storm surge video: National Weather Service releases dire warningSpace footage shows Hurricane Milton explode into monster stormMexico vs. Costa Rica 2025 livestream: Watch Concacaf Gold Cup for freeThe rise of YouTube: 20 years of creators, culture, and content at VidConThis nearby dwarf planet's ice may be left over from a dirty oceanAstronomers just found a galaxy way too advanced for its timeWhy Do Image Files Need Different Formats?Alcaraz vs. Rinderknech 2025 livestream: Watch Queens Tennis for free Hong Kong Literature’s Growing Pains Best earbuds deal: Beats Studio Buds+ down to their lowest price ever Wordle today: The answer and hints for October 11 The Devil’s Milkshake Home retail giant Haier rumored to acquire car media platform Autohome · TechNode From the Deep Forests and Seas of Yambaru Best Amazon deals of the day: Beats Solo 4, Shark SpeedStyle, Sonos Ray, and more PS5 Slim 30th Anniversary preorders: Get early access with Walmart+ Summer Freeze Arizona State vs. Utah football livestreams: kickoff time, streaming deals, and more
0.2151s , 9967.9140625 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【?? ?? ??】Enter to watch online.Decoration Conferment Ceremony Held for Glenn Tanaka,