Seated, from left: Scholarship recipients Ellen Huang, Amitha K. Ganti, Mika Ciotola and Angela Nguyen. Standing, from left: Scholarship Committee members Kimihiro Outa, Keizo Norimoto, Kiyoshi Naito, Kozo Kimura, Mikio Okada and June-ko Nakagawa.

The 39th Japan Studies Scholarship award ceremony was held on Aug. 22 at the Japan Information Center of the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco.

The scholarship was given to two high school students ($500 each) and two college students ($1,500 each) who are studying Japanese language and culture:

Ellen Huang, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Angela Nguyen, Saint Mary’s College of California, Moraga

Amitha K. Ganti, College Preparatory School, Oakland

Mika Ciotola, San Mateo Nippon Gakuen

The Japan Studies Scholarship Committee is an outgrowth of Japan Week in San Francisco, which was held in 1969. The purpose of the event was to promote U.S.-Japan relations. The Japan Studies Scholarship Foundation, set up with the surplus of the revenue from Japan Week, encourages students to learn about Japan. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be currently studying Japanese language and culture.

Serving on the committee are Kozo Kimura, Kiyoshi Naito, June-ko Nakagawa, Keizo Norimoto, Kimihiro Outa and Mikio Okada.