Updated, as of Jan. 12, 2025
I was licensed my amateur radio station JE1BQE in the 1971, but in almost every country in the world, foreigners could not even take the examination for amateur radio operators in that country in 1970s. An American amateur radio operator Barry M. Goldwater Senator (K7UGA) eliminated the foreignness exclusion, which had been a requirement for taking the FCC examination, because it was inconvenient for foreign aircraft radio operators to be unable to obtain a license.
Mr. Tsukamoto (JA1ANE) came to the U.S.A. in 1969, and immediately took the FCC examination for amateur radio in the U.S.A. He was licensed WB2ZRQ (current call sign: N2JA) in New York in 1975. After that, the number of Japanese hams increased, especially in New York. The JANET club was established in 1980.
The JANET Club is a group of Japanese amateur radio operators who live and work in U.S.A. It is a great honor to receive the prestigious plaque from the club, which states that I am a Charter Member.
In 1976, I applied to the DARC (German Amateur Radio Club) for an amateur radio license based on my Japanese amateur radio license. The DARC was generous enough to grant me an amateur radio station with the call sign JE1BQE/DL. I communicated with many German amateur radio atations there and made many Ham friends. In 2000, I received a plaque of friendship between Japan and Germany from the JAIG (Japanese Amateur Radio Operators in Germany) club organized by Mr. Iki (DF2CW). I was also a former member of JAIG (#34).
At this year's (2024) Ham Fair, Mr. Martin (PT2ZDX / LU9EFO), a Brazilian, gave us a plaque as a token of international goodwill between Japan and Brazil.