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 September 25, 2025, the Japanese Medical Society of America proudly joined clinicians, community leaders, advocates, and neighbors at Hamilton-Madison House’s 45th Annual June Lee Chinatown Banquet, held at the House of Joy in the heart of Chinatown.
This year’s banquet, themed “Neighbors in our Neighborhood: Immigrant Solidarity and Support,” honored individuals who have made outstanding contributions to immigrant communities in New York City. The evening celebrated the leadership and dedication of Battery Dance founder Jonathan Hollander, immigration lawyer Edward J. Cuccia, Esq., and DCTV co-founders Keiko Tsuno and Jon Alpert.
Attendees enjoyed a night of delicious cuisine, cultural performances, and meaningful conversations celebrating Hamilton-Madison House’s mission of care, connection, and advocacy. Proceeds from the banquet will directly support vital community programs, including social services for older adults and educational opportunities for youth.
As an organization committed to advancing health, well-being, and belonging, JMSA was honored to support this meaningful event. Representing JMSA were Dr. Maki Kano-Lueckerath, Mr. Yoshio Kano, and Ms. Fumiko Kano, Ms. Lydia Horiguchi and her guest, Ms. Haruka Kokaze, along with friends and colleagues in the Asian American mental health field, including James Ozaki, Cordelia Zhang, and Henry Yuen, as well as Erika Mitsui, Rina Hayashi, and Hideki Hayashi.