Meet our trailblazing Asian American agents from bygone eras.

Above photo: New York Life employees outside the office building in Osaka, Japan, 1903

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and New York Life would like to take the time to celebrate the many achievements of those agents who have contributed to our rich history over the years and strengthened and diversified our communities.

Benzo Hayashi

One of the great early success stories is Benzo Hayashi of the Hawaii branch, who in 1918 became vice president of the $100,000 Club (an early sales club.) He had written over 158 applications reaching $161,500 in coverage, a substantial amount by the standards of the day. As our Weekly Bulletin stated at the time:

“It certainly is a tribute to the possibilities of our profession, the opportunities in America for a man who speaks another language to enter the work and in so short a time win the highest place next to the Club President. We congratulate Vice-President Hayashi and compliment him on a record that those long in the business would be proud to own.”

This recognition reflected both the barriers faced by and the perseverance of non-English-speaking immigrants in professional fields in the early 20th century. The same year, members of New York Life’s $200,000 Club (an early sales club) included 12 agents of Japanese descent. One of those agents, Iichiji Akahoshi of Los Angeles, was invited to speak at the $200,000 Club convention that year.

These early successes would foretell generations of successful Asian-American members of New York Life's sales field force, many of whom became leaders of the company's sales organizations.

Henry Y. Kasai

Henry Y. Kasai became an NYLIC agent in 1915. When he first started working at the company, he only spoke Japanese, but became bilingual as his clientele transitioned from Japanese immigrants to their American-born children.

Throughout his 50-plus-year career with New York Life, Kasai was regarded highly as an emissary between Japanese and American cultures. He was the recipient of numerous awards, including the Americanism Award in 1947, the Nisei of the Biennium Award from the Japanese-American Citizens League in 1964, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese government in 1966. The Order of the Sacred Treasure was particularly significant, acknowledging Kasai’s efforts to promote “understanding and international goodwill.” At the time of the award, Kasai was advocating Salt Lake City to adopt Matsumoto City in Japan as its sister city (which it did in 1968).

Go back to our newsroom to read more stories.