New Governor Mr. Josh Green will wear Hokkaido Love! Ｔ-shirt !

by Kazu

The new Governor of the State of Hawaii the Honorable Mr. Josh Green kindly fit the HOKKAIDO LOVE! T-shirt for photo session in front of the state emblem.

He promised to wear the T-shirt before going to bed. While the former Governor Mr. David IGE mad business jaunt to overseas, the Vice Governor, at that time, Mr. Josh Green had to stay in his office to play the role of the governor.

So he had few chances to make a business jaunt to overseas during his former mandate. He would work hard inside and outside of the state for eight years, I think. Anyway, Congratulations on your installation, Governor Green !

 

Next Visit Will be in coming July !

by Kazu

The old driving force and the new one  to strengthen and  deepen the friendship between Hokkaido and  Hawaii paid a courtesy call on  the New Governor of the State of  Hawaii, The  Honorable Mr.  Josh Green and  the Vice Governor.   

Both of  them  looked so smart and  kind. Governor Green had visited Japan just after his  installation. He recognizes amply the importance of  the income from  the tourists from  Japan.

Three members of  the delegation from  the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly stepped  down and the rest four commited to continue to be the driving force to  enhance and accelerate the exchange between the regions.

 

Out-going Members did a good job !

by Kazu

The former Speaker of  Hokkaido Legislative Assembly had visited Honolulu with me for  the first time as  a business jaunt in order to rebuild the trust between Hokkaido and  Hawaii in 2016.

I took him  to Hawaii several times including the opportunity to establish a sister-state affiliation between the regions. 

Mr. Endo stepped  down and  did  not  run the regional election held in April, 2023.

Please look at his  face filled with satisfaction. He  seemed  to be remembering his  past visit to Hawaii and  happy days  with his  counterparts in Hawaii. I am  sure I had given him good  supports to reach thismoment. 

 

New Governor of the State of Hawaii Received US So Kindly !

by Kazu

The former Speaker of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Ren Endo and the outgoing Vice Governor of Hokkaido handed the present from Hokkaido to the Governor of the State of Hawaii Mr. Josh Green in front of  the State Emblem.  

They had been driving forces to strengthen and deepen the relationship between Hokkaido and  Hawaii since the Former Director General for Economic Affairs of  Hokkaido Prefectural Government and I made the first business jaunt to Hawaii to recover the trust between the regions.

I was  very happy to witness the moment the solid, beneficial and  everlasting affiliation was  handed down to next  generations and  commited by the new Governor.

 

The First Courtesy Call on the New Governor !

by Kazu

The Governor of the State of Hawaii Mr. Josh Green had been the Vice Governor of the State during this predecessor, former Governor Mr. David IGE had been incumbent. 

The new Director of DBEDT, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism and other top brasses of the State of Hawaii accompanied in the courtesy call paid by the Hokkaido Delegation on Governor Green.

My friend Mr. Dennis Ling played the role of MC with the interpretation by Ms. Mayumi Miyahara in the courtesy call. He was and is very good at to handle the ceremony and other big events. I really am proud of his skill to show the hospitality from Hawaii side.

 

Promised in House of Representatives !

by Kazu

The former Speaker of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Ren Endo seemed to be so satisfied with his courtesy call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Hawaii Mr. Scott Saiki who signed the Memorandum of the Agreement to establish the Sister Assembly Affiliation between Hokkaido and the Sate of Hawaii. 

The outgoing Delegation Members from the Hokkaido Assembly introduced the new driving force in the legislature to enhance the relationship between the regions. Yes, they handed down the precious relationship to next generation.

After we paid a courtesy call on the House of Representatives of the State of Hawaii, we visited the Office of the Governor of the State of Hawaii. I have visited the room for courtesy call and meeting for four times or more. 

 

The Hokkaido Delegation visited House of Representatives !

by Kazu

The Hokkaido Delegation to Hawaii also paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the State of Hawaii in January of 20023. The President of the Japan-US Friendship Group of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Ren Endo at that time and the Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Kodama greeted and the Speaker Mr. Scott Saiki responded so kindly.

The Reps. of both sides handed their souvenir and ensure their mutual visit and exchange in the future and promised their best efforts to strengthen, broaden and deepen the tie between the regions.  

When the regions established the Sister-State Affiliation in May of 2017, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives of Hawaii had just taken the office of the Speaker. He has shown us his good will and hospitality with his consideration and cooperation.

 

Future Exchange was Promised !

by Kazu

In order to hand down the strong tie between the Senate of the State of Hawaii and Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Deletion paid a courtesy call on the Senate President Mr. Ronald Kouchi and other Senate members of Hawaii.

My Friend Senator Glen Wakai kindly managed to join the meeting and gave us so nice commitment to become the driving force to enhance and deepen the relationship between the regions.

With the other friend of mine, Interpreter Ms. Mayumi Miyahara, we were so excited to see each other after the long missing each other.His wife Ms. Miki Wakai has always given us good supports for both regions. We really appreciate their consideration and cooperation. 

 

Alasmarduk !

by Kazu

Fortunately, I could talk with His Exellency Mr. Korkut Gungen, the Ambassador of  the Republic of  Turkey at the end  of  the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition "100 Discoveries - Fascinating Turkey that  you don't know", held to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of  the Establishment of  the Republic of  Turkey.

Ambassador Gungen kindly explained the sceneries shown on the photos  and  fielded some questions from  the press and  responded so nicely and in detail. 

When I talked with him in person, I  expressed our appreciation for providing a aircraft to carry the Japanese citizens from  Iran to Japan in  1985. 

kiWe  Japanese never forget their  goodwill and contributionto save the Japanese people when the Self-Defense Force of  Japan could not  dispatch the aircraft and  its crew to the area, Nor the Japanese private airlines. 

We  Japanese should mention on it and  appreciate gt again  and  again  when  we  meet the citizens of  Turkey forever.  His  Excellency kindly promised me to raise glass with me in  his  earliest visit to  Hokkaido.