
半田俊夫さん
ロサンゼルス総領事館プレス・リリース November, 2014:
半田俊夫氏 経歴:
半田氏は1942年9月27日、東京都文京区生まれ。65年に慶應義塾大学商学部を卒業の後、伊藤忠商事に就職、72年にはロサンゼルス支店に転勤、パサデナにて駐在員生活を始めました。その後一旦日本に帰国後、81年に家族で再渡米、個人商社を一から立ち上げ、2011年に引退するまで続けました。
事業が軌道に乗り始めると同氏は各種日系人団体の活動に積極的に参加するようになりました。当時日本人団体のイベントはサウスベイエリアで開催されることが多いことを受け、同氏は2003年に第一回パサデナセミナー会を主宰、ロサンゼルス北東のエリアの日系人に時事問題の講演、日系人の交流の場をその後10年以上の長きにわたり提供してきました。
同氏は日本人としての誇り、日本への愛国心を高く持ち、日米友好推進、当地の日系コミュニティの活性化、日本文化の普及に長年取り組んできました。
南加日系商工会議所では要職を歴任した後に、会頭を3年間務め各種イベントの開催、リトル東京の発展、及び米国一般社会との友好関係の促進に貢献しました。さらに、同氏は副会長の時代から資金難の問題に熱心に取り組んできました。
会頭在任3年目に東日本大震災が発生した際にはリーダシップを発揮、日系社会をとりまとめての義援金募金活動に尽力、最終的に総額56万ドルもの寄付金をUNICEFを通して被災地に寄付しました。
また、震災後毎年被災地巡拝の旅をし、被災地の方々との交流を継続しています。同様に要職を歴任、2014年より会長を務める日系パイオニアセンターでは、日系人高齢者に福祉サービスとして各種セミナーの開催や、タクシー券の配布などを行っています。さらに、同氏は副会長の時代から資金難の問題に熱心に取り組んできました。
同氏は当地の日系人の心の拠り所として重要な意味を持つ日系ヘルプライン「命の電話」の運営を支える為の資金集めにも奮闘しています。ロサンゼルスの「命の電話」は北米地区で唯一日本語の相談窓口として行われています。パサデナセミナー会の収益を全額寄付、他にも「命のコンサート」を主催する等して資金集めを続けています。
同氏の日系コミュニティーに対する貢献は多岐に渡り、上記に述べられた団体以外にも茶道裏千家淡交会オレンジ郡協会、日米文化会館、リトル東京コミュニティー・カウンシル、南加県人会協議会、米国書道研究会、LA東京会、大正クラブ、日米協会にて活躍、同氏の活動は、現在の日系社会に欠かせないものとなっています。
Biography:
Mr. Toshio Handa was born on September 27th, 1942 in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from the School of Commerce, Keio University in 1965, he began his career at ITO CHU Corporation, eventually moving to Pasadena as the Aircraft Department Manager for ITO CHU Corporation Los Angeles. Despite returning once to Japan, he came back to America in 1981 with his family and began his private trading company until his retirement in 2011.
Once his company became successful, Mr. Handa started participating in various Japanese American organizations and actively contributing to the com m unity. Due to the fact that most Japanese American organization events were being held in the Southbay area, he sponsored the first Pasadena Seminar in 2003, providing those of Japanese descent in the north-eastern region of Los Angeles with a valuable opportunity for lectures on current affairs and a social outlet for over 10 years.
With his Japanese pride and love for Japan, Mr. Handa has spent m any years enlightening the com m unity and disseminating Japanese culture in the Greater Los Angeles area.
After serving in many key posts of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, Mr. Handa served as President for 3 years, hosting various events leading to the development of Little Tokyo and the promotion of friendly relations with the general public in the United States.
During his third year as President, the Great East Japan Earthquake struck and Mr. Handa, taking leadership, gathered the Japanese American community and through his efforts, was able to raise a total of $560,000 in donations, which was all donated to the disaster area through the UNICEF.
He has also continued his annual visitation of the disaster area by nurturing his relations with local people. Mr. Handa began his term as President of the Japanese Community Pioneer Center in 2014, also after serving other key posts, and has provided m any welfare services to the elderly Japanese Americans such as hosting various seminars and providing taxi coupons. He has also been actively involved with the serious financial issues the organization faces since his Vice Presidency.
Mr. Handa has helped provide operational support for the Nikkei Helpline which has become the heart and soul of the Japanese people here. The Nikkei Helpline in Los Angeles is the sole provider of support in Japanese in North America. He has donated all profits from the Pasadena Seminar and has hosted events such as benefit concerts in order to raise funds.
Mr. Handa has contributed to a wide variety of organizations, such as the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Orange County Association, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, the Little Tokyo Community Council, the Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California, the Beikoku Shodo Kenkyukai, the LA Tokyo-kai, the Taisho Club, the Japan America Society of Southern California, in addition to the ones listed above, making his activities an integral part of the community.