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rs. Kaneko Bishop was awarded the Commendation of the Consul General for her contributions in the promotion of mutual understanding and friendship between Japan and America.

As a member of the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society, Mrs. Bishop has been promoting the relationship through various activities, including friendship delegation exchanges, events planning, and fundraising. She became president of the Society in 2002 and has continued to exert significant efforts to strengthen and support sister city relations between San Diego and Yokohama. Mrs. Bishop coordinated major gifts between the cities such as the “Girl with Red Shoes” statue in San Diego from the people of Yokohama, and the “Patience” sculpture in Yokohama from the people of San Diego.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, Mrs. Bishop was moved to do something to help the victims. Through her position as President of the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society, she encouraged and rallied the community to send assistance. In May 2011, the Society sent $10,000 in aid money to the affected areas, providing great support to the victims.

Owing to the role of the San Diego-Yokohama Sister City Society in the strengthening and promotion of relations between the two cities for many years, the Society was awarded the City of Yokohama Cultural Award. Mrs. Bishop accepted this honor on behalf of the Society on November 21, 2012 in Yokohama.

Mrs. Kaneko Bishop received the Commendation of the Consul General at a ceremony at the Consul General’s residence on November 26, 2012.