We greatly appreciate members who volunteer their time to attend the events and to write articles for JMSA. This article was written by Ms. Haruka Kokaze, a JMSA member and recipient of the 2024 Mitsui USA Foundation and JMSA Scholarship.
Haruka Kokaze is a Workplace Mental Health Research Associate and Lead Japan Strategy Analyst at One Mind and the Columbia University Mental Health + Work Design Lab. She focuses on developing evidence- based workforce mental health frameworks tailored to Japanese subsidiaries based in the United States, as well as Japanese and global corporations operating in Japan, including expatriates and their families. This work is deeply personal as she is the child of a Japanese expatriate and grew up across Kobe, Tokyo, New York, Houston, and London, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges expatriate families face during international assignments. In 2026, she was appointed the youngest board member of the Japanese American Association of New York, and in 2024 she received the Mitsui USA Foundation and JMSA Scholarship. Haruka earned her BS in Applied Psychology and her MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness from New York University.
On October 9, 2025, members of the Japanese Medical Society of America attended Japanese American Social Services, Inc. (JASSI)’s 44th Anniversary Benefit Dinner at the Yale Club of New York City. The evening brought together community leaders, supporters, and advocates to celebrate JASSI’s long standing commitment to serving the Japanese and Japanese American community in New York.
Since its founding in 1981, JASSI has been a New York State certified nonprofit organization providing free, confidential, bilingual social services to individuals and families facing a wide range of challenges, from everyday life concerns to more complex issues influenced by cultural, language, and systemic barriers. With Japanese and English speaking staff, JASSI remains a trusted resource for the community, supporting more than 1,000 individuals each year, with over 80 percent of clients classified as low income. In order to ensure accessibility and equity, all services have remained completely free of charge since the organization’s establishment.
The anniversary dinner served as both a celebration of impact and an opportunity to strengthen support for the organization’s future. Proceeds from the event, along with government grants, foundation funding, and corporate and individual contributions, help sustain JASSI’s ability to provide inclusive, compassionate, and high quality services to those who need them most.
JMSA is grateful for the opportunity to support and stand alongside JASSI in its mission to advance community well-being. Representing JMSA were Dr. Maki Kano-Lueckerath, Mr. Yoshio Kano, Dr. Sei Higuchi, Dr. Kichiemon Asoma, Dr. Ayako Kawatake-Kuno, Ms. Rina Hayashi, Ms. Nina Harano, and Ms. Haruka Kokaze.