Japan "Master Center " in Iguazu 2 !

by Kazu

A variety of tools and furniture were displayed in the museum called Japan "Master Center" in Iguazu. The tools and furniture had supported the lives of the immigrants from Japan including Hokkaido.

Mr . Norinobu OHNUMA kindly explained about the display and the history of the immigrants from Hokkaido. All the delegation members listened to him and took photos for their report of this business jaunt. 

The tough time the immigrants had got through could be imagined easily because most of the delegation members had seen most of the tools and furniture before in some museum in Hokkaido.

Science Class of Kalani High School in Honolulu !

by Kazu

All the students in science class of Kalani High School in Honolulu were so energetic. Even when they saw Principal OTANI and we entered the classroom, they were so obsessed by their research. 

 We asked one of the students to introduce their study and research. She kindly explained their research unit made of the trailer that could move around Oahu Island. 

It turned out the Principal of Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani Complex Area Ms. Rochell Mahoe was the spouse of my friend Mr. Baba Mahoe, former firefighter of Honolulu who visited Hokkaido for female softball game exchange in 2018.

Kalani High School in Honolulu !

by Kazu

On the fence of Kalani High School in Honolulu, a variety of drawings were painted as shown above. We were not sure how many students took part in making these arts but so many talented students seemed to be in this high school. 

 The classroom apparel of the students seemed to be so different from that in Japan but the students seemed to be so gifted and creative.

 We visited the class of symphony and science. The students can decide what and how they should learn. The students seemed to be standing on their own. That is the point Japanese students should learn from them, I think.

Educational Mission to Hawaii !

by Kazu

It must be so nice an encounter for the Principal of Obihiro Hakuyo High School Mr. Tsukamoto and the Principal of Kalani High School in Honolulu Dr. Mitchell OTANI. The Hokkaido Educational Mission visited Honolulu last December.

We visited Kalani High School to establish a sister-school affiliation between Kalani High School and Obihiro Hakuyo High School. On top of that, we have to officially invite the Superintendent of Hawaii Dr. Christina KISHIMOTO to Hokkaido to sign up the agreement on the exchange and the cooperation between the regions.

As a candidate of the would-be destination of a study tour for high school students in Hokkaido, we visited to Polynesian Culture Center.

Japan "Master Center" in Iguazu !

by Kazu

This is a kind of museum that displays the tools for living of the immigrants from Japan including Hokkaido. "Iguazu Japan Takumi Center " is the name of the museum. "Takumi" means "Master" in Japanese.

This is the traditional dining table of Japan. All the family members got together and had chats during dinner.

This is the bath tub of old type in Japan. "Gouemon Buro" is the name of htis type. The upright piano was also donated to the museum.

Buddhism Temple "Takuonji" in Iguazu Community 3 !

by Kazu

The Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi MURATA, his wife Mrs. Noriko MURATA, the Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Yusuke NAKANO and the President of Hokkaido Association in Paraguay Mr. Naoki SHIROOSAWA took photos with Priest JUHO.

This temple "Takuonji" must be the mental key station of the residents in Alto Prana community. The goodwill and the longing for the home country of the immigrants and their offspring had crystallized in this place. 

Buddhism Temple "Takuonji" in Iguazu Community 2 !

by Kazu

This is the altar of the temple  "Takuonji ". It must have been so difficult to make such traditional Japanese building and delicate wood carving for carpenters in Paraguay. 

It must have been harder for Priest Juhou to find sincere carpenters with high degrees of skills to build Japanese traditional building outside of Japan.

Visitors to the temple had jotted down their names on this notebook.The supporters of the Buddhist temple "Takuonji" had contributed to building the temple.

Buddhism Temple "Takuonji" in Iguazu Community !

by Kazu

He is the chief priest of the Buddhist Temple "Takuonji" in Alto Parana, Iguazu, Paraguay. Priest Juhou Shimazaki was assigned to the temple a little bit later of our visit.

The temple "Takuonji" Soto school of Buddhism seemed to be new and the smell of the wooden materials was so energizing for visitors.

The chief priest had to provide the residents of the community with mental support even if the school of the Buddhism of some residents were different from "Soto" school.

Iguazu Japanese Language School 6 !

by Kzu

Some of the delegation members from Hokkaido introduce Hokkaido to the students whose ancestors had been from Hokkaido. Almost all of the students had never been to their ancestors home island Hokkaido.

The Mayor of Kita-Hiroshima City Mr. Masami UENO and the Mayor of Engaru Town Mr. Osamu SASAKI gave a briefing on their city and town to the students.

Using the map, two mayors explained about the location of Hokkaido and their municipalities. I felt the eagerness of the students to visit Japan including Hokkaido then.

Iguazu Japanese Language School 5 !

by Kazu

In the Japanese language class, the real talk with Japanese -speaking people was so pragmatic practice for the students. Our Spanish or English command was not so good but we had a good command in Japanese naturally.

I hope the students really enjoyed the talk with the members of Hokkaido Delegation. Some students seemed to be so shy but I can not forget their eyes shining with interest.

Mrs. Murata see the students asking questions to the delegation members and answering to the questions from the delegation with affection.

Iguazu Japanese Language School 4 !

by Kazu

Above is the lyrics of the school song in Japanese. The library of the school was filled up with the books I had read arpund forty years ago. There were so many biographies of the great persons in the world.

It was my favorite smell of the books.I prefer the real books to the digital ones.The availability of the books may be limited, compared to the digital ones but the weight, quality and the smell of the paper and the ink invite me to another world to lose myself.

The uniform style might be unusual in occidental countries but normal in Japan. It is easier to set the uniform of the school than allowing the students to wear casually.