He was one of the first initiators of establishing connections with the Native American tribes, through the exhibition of some of his sculptures in British Columbia where he settled for a time.

As his work became more widely known, he continued to use his art to disseminate Ainu culture via explanations of his creations, interviews, and relations within the artistic community.

[4][5] As a sign of respect, two Japanese amateur astronomers, Kin Endate and Kazuro Watanabe, gave his name to the minor planet 5372 that they discovered on November 29, 1987.

[6] Bikki Sunazawa died on January 25, 1989, from bone marrow cancer in the Sapporo Aiiku Hospital.

The Sunazawa's sculptures are still on display, and his studio "Sun More" is open to the public at Otoineppu, near the Teshio River on Hokkaido Island.