Traditional Bottle Dance in Paraguay !

by Kazu

The females in Paraguay seemed to be good at striking the balance  even if bottles are on their head. It is the traditional dance in Paraguay. The dancer showed their fascinating dance with a bottle on their heads. I'm not sure if they would like to visit Hokkaido in winter.

 She lied on the floor with a bottle on her head and raise again. It seemed to be so tough. As a performance to welcome us all, it was so wonderful.

Then she added two more bottles on her head. It seemed that the bottom and the neck of the bottles had some joints to avoid the bottles falling down from their haed. Every participant to the reception enjoyed their performance on the floor. 

Paraguay Hokkaido Association !

by Kazu

The members of Paraguay Hokkaido Society hosted a lunch for the participants to the ceremony. The immigrants and their offspring got together and had chats with the members of Hokkaido Delegation in the lunch. The ladies said that dried sea kelp is so expensive in Paraguay that I gave them a pack of dried sea kelp that I always have with me.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

I felt that the immigrants from Hokkaido and their offspring would like to ensure their root in Hokkaido. They welcomed us so much. I could imagine easily that they had tough times to settle in and fight against the crime in the country.

Precisely speaking, The Republic of Paraguay is still accepting the immigrants from overseas. We could have completed our schedule in Asuncion almost on time during our stay, thanks to the special relationship of Mr. Toshikazu SHIROSAWA with the President of Paraguay and other top brasses in Paraguay. I am worried about the future visits of Hokkaido Delegation to Paraguay because without the trust of Mr. SHIROSAWA, we would not have done all the events in Asuncion.

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Words of appreciation from Hokkaido !

By Kazu

The President of Japan-Paraguay Friendship Group in Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritomo WADA introduced the delegation members from Hokkaido Legislative Assembly in the reception celebrating the 80th Anniversary of the immigrants from Hokkaido to Paraguay.   

 The President of Ito-gumi Company Mr. Osamu TAKAI, former Vice Governor of Hokkaido also delivered a congraturatory speech in the reception. It was his second visit to Paraguay since 2014.

When he visited Paraguay in 2014, he was taken to Iguazu Community from Asuncion by car driven by the President of Paraguay Hokkaido Society who had A-grade licence as a racer of automobile. It was five hour-drive and so thrilling, Mr. Takai said to me.

Lunch with the immigrants from Hokkaido and their offspring 2 !

 by Kazu

Mr. Oston Ichiro HIRANO was from Sao Paulo. He is Vice President of Brazil Hokkaido Culture and Welfare Association. Based on the excellent cooporative relationship among the associations of immigrants from Hokkaido and their offspring.

 The President of Paraguay Hokkaido Society Mr. Naoki SHIROSAWA was commended again by the member of the Society. He has devoted himself to unite the immigrants from Hokkaido.

 His father Toshikazu SHIROSAWA had established excellent relationship with the top brasses of the Republic of Paraguay for years. Making the most of the connection, the motorcade of Hokkaido delegation could be led by the national police of Paraguay during our stay in Asuncion. Without the escort by the police, we would not have done all the appointments on time.

Lunch with the immigrants and their offspring !

by Kazu

All the participants to the ceremony were exchanging the information on the current situation, challenges and hopes in the region they were living. Mr. Juhou SHIMAZAKI was from Iguazu of Alto Parana, Brazil. He is a monk of Buddhism Temple "Takuon-ji".

Mr. Kosuke AKANE is also a member of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly, whose riding is Noboribetsu City in Iburi Sub-prefectural Area of Hokkaido, where Chinese National Vice President Mr. Wang Qishan visited and enjoyed hot spring spa in last October.

Director General for Office of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Koji KONDO is in charge of taking care of all the members of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly including the Speaker Mr. Noritoshi MURATA. He had a tough time after getting the vaccination against yellow fever. Head ache, backpain, fever, and eczema annoyed him for a few days.

Hokkaido Fair in Paraguay 3 !

by Kazu

The video promotion of Hokkaido Tourism was played at the entrance of the venue. Pink and white cherry blossomsand yellow field mustard in spring, swinging green trees with leaves like flames in summer, beautiful autumnal foliage in autumn, completely white snow world in winter when snow boarding, skiing and ice skating . 

 The Chair of Hokkaido Mayors' Associationn Mr. Shozou UENO(Mayor of Kita-Hiroshima City) and the Chair of Hokkaido Association of Towns and Villages Mr. Takao TANANO(Mayor of Shiranuka Town) were seatred next to Mr. Sumio FUJISAWA, Member of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly whose riding is Hidaka Sub-prefectural Area of Hokkaido, where many raceing horses are produced.

My yseat was next to the President of Ito-gumi Company Mr. Osamu TAKAI. Some offspring of the immigrants from Hokkaido were seated at  the same table. I presented dried sea kelp to one of the ladies because she said it was so expensive in Paraguay. I make a point of carrying around the dried sea kelp all the time just in case of emmergency.

Hokkaido Fair in Paraguay 2 !

by Kazu

A variety of products made in Hokkaido were displayed in Hokkaido Fair held in Hamanasu Center, Asuncion, Paraguay. The Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly seemed so please to see the wine brewed in his riding, SHiribeshi Sub-prefectural Area of Hokkaido.

 "Kunimare" is one of the most popular Japanese sake in Japan and brewed in Mashike Town, Hokkaido. Mashike in Chinese Character "増毛"　means "increase hair" in direct translation. Everybody was enjoying tasting those products from Hokkaido.

Each members of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Delegation checked the products made in their riding and recommended them all to the participants from Paraguay. It was getting hotter in the place.