‘Humbled’ doctor gets rare Japanese honour
The emperor of Japan has honoured a long-time Calgary chiropractor, diamond hunter, blackbelt holder and friend to busted-up cowboys everywhere.
Eighty-two-year-old Dr. Tetsuo Yoshida was this week awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays citation and medal, one of only 149 individuals chosen worldwide for such an honour in the annual fall list presented by the Japanese government on behalf of the emperor.
Yoshida was chosen because of his many years of work with Calgary’s Japanese Language School, which he first joined as a student in 1975. After graduating, he became deeply involved in building the curriculum and helping to manage and grow the organization, for which he now serves as president.
“He has played a major role in the spread of the Japanese language and the introduction of Japanese customs and culture to people of all backgrounds in Calgary.”
“At the Calgary Japanese Language School, the emphasis is not simply on language education, but also is focused on the teaching of respective seasonal events which are rooted in Japanese culture, including New Year’s Celebration, the Doll Festival, and the Star Festival, among others, while allowing the students to experience the customs of each event, thereby introducing and spreading the culture of Japan,” read the citation announcing the honour.
Kunihiko Tanabe, Japan’s consul general for Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, presented the award at a ceremony in Calgary on Thursday evening.
“I am very honoured and very humbled by this,” said Yoshida, who still works full-time as a chiropractor.
In addition to promoting the Japanese language at the school, which holds classes at Calgary’s Queen Elizabeth High School, Yoshida is a black belt in judo and a determined prospector for diamonds.
“It started when I was a small kid, looking for gold in the Kamloops area, and then I decided to look for diamonds instead,” he said.
He is convinced the motherlode of those rare gems is waiting to be found in the Calling Lake area near Athabasca in northern Alberta.
During his long career, the doctor has also worked closely with the Calgary Stampede and various U.S. rodeos by offering his chiropractic help to cowboys who are injured.
“I learned a lot through that. Actually, I’m still learning, every day,” he said.
The Order of The Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays is awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture and international relations.