The Art Miki National Leadership Award is given every two years to an individual who has shown leadership and who has done most for the strength and growth of the National Association of Japanese Canadians at both the local and the national level. It is a lasting acknowledgement to the pivotal role played by Art Miki in the Redress Settlement of 1988 with the Government of Canada as well as his continued advocacy for human rights for all Canadians. The Award – formally known as the NAJC National Award – is the highest award given by this organization.
For details on the nomination process and criteria for the above awards, contact the National Association of Japanese Canadians at national@najc.ca.
(formerly the National Award of Merit) For leadership at local and national level
Art Miki National Leadership Award
(formerly the National Award of Merit) For leadership at local and national level
Maryka Omatsu 2015
NAJC National Award of Merit Recipients
For leadership at local and national level
Art Miki 1989
Roger Obata 1991
Harold Hirose 1993
Audrey Kobayashi 1995
Roy Inouye 1997
Henry Shimizu 1999
Joy Kogawa 2001
Gordon Hirabayashi 2003
Jesse Nishihata 2005
Tony Tamayose 2007
Keiko Miki 2009
Ann Sunahara 2010 (exception made)
Mary & Tosh Kitagawa 2013
NAJC National Merit Award Recipients
Awarded by local associations for work at local level incomplete list
Jim Hiroshi Tomimoto
Kay Keiko Kuwahara
Kimoto Mary
Anne Nakamura
Marianne Natsuhara
Roy Natsuhara
Jim Nishiyama
Kay Robson
John Shimizu
Ed Yamamoto
Chikara Koyanagi
Fumi Fujiwara
Kathryn Honda
Nobu Ellis, Winnipeg
Dan Namba, Winnipeg
Sakaye “Sockeye” Hashimoto
Gayle Swanson
Kiyoko ‘Kay’ Takahara
Tadashi ‘Tad’ Mori
Richard Oikawa
Joe Minten