Looking up to the efforts exerted to settle in !

by Kazu

After the opening remarks delivered by the Vice President of Brazil-Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Association, the national song of Brazil and Japan was sung by the attendee.

 The former President of the association delivered his congratulatory speech as video message. Praying for the deceased Japanese immigrants, the guests were introduced by the MC.

The President of the association Mr. Norinobu OHNUMA delivered his message to the participants including the Hokkaido Delegation, followed by the speech by the Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Yusuke NAKANO and the Speaker of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly mr. Noritoshi MURATA.

The 80th Anniversary of the establishment of Brazil-Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Association !

 by Kazu

At the entrance of Brazil-Hokkaido Exchange Center in Sao Paulo, the Hokkaido Fair welcomed all the participants to the ceremony to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the immigration from Hokkaido to Brazil.

Precisely speaking, it was also to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of the establishment of the Brazil-Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Association. So many people were getting together in the main hall of the facility.

 The ceremony got started by the opening remarks delivered by the Vice President of the association Mr. Oston Ichiro HIRANO, the driving force of the association.

Just before the ceremony !(in August,2019)

by Kazu

Many Japanese Brazilians were getting together at  the venue of the ceremony to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the immigration from Hokkaido to Brazil.

 Just before the ceremony, the Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi MURATA, the Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Yusuke NAKANO and the President of Brazil-Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Center Mr. Norinobu OHNUMA had a chat in the board room of the association.

 The portraits of the former presidents of the association were displayed on the wall of the board room. They could share the challenges and hopes to run the association in Brazil. Mr. Murata and Mr. Nakano were convinced of the necessity to support the association and to keep the tight relationship with them.

Memorial Plaque !

by Kazu

Looking back the 100 years of the Japanese immigrants to Brazil, there must have been so many sad stories including the casualties of the crime in Brazil. Getting over many tragedies, the immigrants from Japan including Hokkaido established their fame and trust in Brazil.   

The President of Brazil- Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Association Mr. Norinibu OHNUMA must have remembered a variety of things happened in the past when he took off the bale that covered the plaque.

 The memorial plate was put on the wall beside the entrance of Brazil-Hokkaido Exchange Center. All the delegation members of the Hokkaido Delegation were so happy to be able to attend the ceremony and this special occasion.

The 100th Anniversary of the Immigration from Hokkaido to Brazil ! (August, 2019)

by Kazu

After praying for the comfort and peace of the spirits of the immigrants from Japan to Brazil and taking photos in Ibirapuera Park, we headed to the venue of the ceremony to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the immigration from Hokkaido to Brazil.

 The ceremony was held in Brazil-Hokkaido Exchange Center in Sao Pulo. The facility was built with the great contribution from ITO Construction Company headed by Mr. Yoshiro ITO. He has been a great supporter to mestablish and maintain the good relationship between Hokkaido and oveseas.

 The President of Brazil -Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Association Mr. Norinobu OHNUMA and the Speaker of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi MURATA took off the bale of the Memorial Plaque of the 100th Anniversary of the Immigration from Hokkaido before the ceremony.

In front of the Monumento Bandeiras in last August !

by Kazu

Putting in the information on the public security level in Sao Paulo worked wonders during our visit to Paraguay and Brazil. As a logistic and security officer for the delegation, I did not feel difficulty in taking them around in South America.

When I visited Buenos Aires of Argentina, one of the immigrants from Hokkaido Mr. Hirose had told me about his experience to be robbed by some youths in Escobar. He was inserted the rifling of a hand gun in his mouth and hit on his head with the grip of the gun.

 He was bleeding at that time. But he told me that even after experiencing such terrible situation, he  thought the public security level in Argentina was better than in Brazil. I told his episode to all the delegation members before our visit.

Statue in Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo in last August !

 by Kazu

All the members of the Hokkaido Delegation to Brazil seemed to be so satisfied with their presence in Sao Paulo but as I had scared them with the public security information in Brazil before their visit, they behaved so well during their stay in South America.

 We took photos in front of Monumento Bandeiras, the statue of the pioneers who explored into the rain forest of Brazil including Amazon. It was made by the Italian Brazilian sculptor Mr. Victor Brecheret in 1954. 

 The statue is made of granite. As a memento, I took the photo of the President of Japan-Brazil Friendship Group in the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritomo WADA, the Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Yusuke NAKANO, Speaker of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi and Mrs. Noriko MURATA there.

Remembering Japan !

by Kazu

"Japanese pavilion " in Ibirapuera Park was designed by the leading architect in Japan Professor Horiguci in Tokyo University. All the wooden and stone materials were brought from Japan.

The model of the building was the Imperial Palace called "Katsura Rikyu" in Kyoto. The original "Katsura Rikyu" was built in 1620-1624, Tokugawa Edo Era and had been used as the villa for the Imperial family in Japan.

 The style of the building "Japanese Pavilion" was "Shoin Zukuri" that means Japanese traditional residential architecture for aristocracy and Samurai.

Beautiful Carp Nishikigoi in Ibirapuera Park !

 by Kazu

Japanese flower arrangement and  Japanese traditional tea ceremony classes were held in Japanese Pavilion in the park. In May of 1980, beautiful carps called "Nishikigoi" in Japanese were released in the pond of the facility.

 The carps were raised by the members of Brazil Nishikigoi-lovers Association. The technology and tips to raise beautiful carps were brought from Japan with the immigrants.

 The Hokkaido Delegation members fed from the deck of Japanese Pavilion. We should be careful about how much bait should be thrown into the pond.

Japan-Brazil Friendship Memorial !

by Kazu

The Hokkaido Delegation members took memorial photos in front of the monument established in the 5th Anniversary year of Japan-Brazil Friendship Affiliation.

 The names of the contributors who took initiative to make this monument were engraved on the backside of the monument mad of stone.

I hope the good relationship between Japan and Brazil will be maintained forever even if the third liar countries try to spoil the tie. The liar countries will be ignored and looked down by other countries soon.