Ichiro “George” Azumano passed away on Dec. 9, 2013, at the age of 95. Azumano was an influential member of the travel community during his long career as a travel agent in Oregon. Despite his confinement to an internment camp during World War II, Azumano dedicated his life to improving U.S.-Japan relations. He founded Azumano Travel Service, Inc., which helped bring Japanese tourism to Oregon. In 1982, he received the Emperor’s Medal of the 4th Order of the Rising Sun from Japan. Azumano was appointed to the Oregon Tourism Commission Board and was instrumental in launching nonstop flights between Portland and Tokyo.
“George Azumano spent much of his life working to build bridges and respect between peoples and cultures,” U.S. Senator Ron Wyden said. “His good works live on in the Oregon Nikkei Endowment and in the rich diversity that he helped to foster in Portland.”
