Business briefs 7-28

The Gresham Outlook, Jul 28, 2010

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Japanese government honors Yoshida

Troutdale businessman Junki Yoshida recently received the Foreign Minister’s Commendation from the Japanese government in recognition of his contributions to the relationship and mutual understanding between Japan and other countries.

Yoshida, 60, is the chairman and CEO of the Yoshida Group in Gresham, the owner of Riverview Restaurant in Troutdale and a philanthropist. He has helped nurture a good relationship between Oregon and Japan in various capacities, serving as adviser to Oregon’s top public officials and as a Port of Portland commissioner. Yoshida also serves on the Oregon Business Development Commission.

The award ceremony for Yoshida will be held later this year.

“We are very proud of Junki for receiving this award,” said Tim McCabe, director of the Oregon Business Development Department, in a news release. “Junki has served Oregon and his community in so many positive ways through his volunteer service and his successful business ventures.”

Through teaching karate and producing the famed line of sauces, Yoshida has also promoted Japanese culture and food in the United States. He gives motivational lectures both in Japan and in the United States about his life story.

Yoshida formed his first company in 1982, selling a “secret recipe” for a teriyaki-based cooking sauce. Since then, he has established a conglomerate of 17 diverse companies with more than 300 employees under the Yoshida Group umbrella. In 2000, Yoshida sold the name and distribution rights for the Yoshida line of sauces in North America to Heinz USA. Yoshida Food Products became Yoshida Foods International, which continues to produce and package all Yoshida products with a major focus on international growth.

Yoshida is a member of the International Trade Commission, Children’s Cancer Association, the public commission on the Oregon Legislature, a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities NW and board member of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation.

The other Oregon award recipient is Henry Sakamoto, 83, of Portland. Sakamoto was president of the Japanese Ancestral Society of Portland until earlier this year, and is still active in the Japanese-American community as vice president of the Oregon Nikkei Endowment.

The Foreign Minister’s Commendation for 2010 was awarded to 58 individuals and 39 groups all over the world.

New employment laws in effect

Oregon’s 2009 and 2010 legislative session included many employment-related bills that were signed into law and now impact the workplace.

Employers and business owners can learn about these new laws and about proposed legislation at a seminar presented by the Metro East Employer Council, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, at Gresham City Hall, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway.

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