Sell like a pancake !

by Kazu

The third performance in the first Hokkaido Festival event was "mouth harp performance" by one of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu. The instrument of mouth harp can be seen in every continent on this globe.

But I think most of them are made of metal plate with some cuts to create a variety of tones. The one played by the indigenous people in Hokkaido Ainu is made of wood and string and they adjust the tone with their mouth.

After accomplishing the goal of the performance assigned to the delegation members, we headed to the bakery "BRUG" in Ala Moana Center which  headquarter was in Sapporo. The sales benefit was not as much as the expense for the event but it grabbed the hearts of the citizens. 

 

Shodou Performance !

by Kazu

Japanese calligraphy performance followed the drumming performance at the beginning of the event "The Hokkaido Festival" in "Japan Village Walk" of Ala Moana Center in 2016.  

I was not sure how much money was spent in this event but for the first Hokkaido promotion event, it allured ample citizens and visitors, I thought.

It was a pity that I could not understand what the characters meant but the audience and the performer seemed satisfied with the work. I've not heard where the art work went to yet.

 

Hokkaido Festival in "Japan Village Walk" !

by Kazu

In retrospect, we got the best members to dispatch the first official delegation from Hokkaido to Hawaii in order to establish a stable trust between the regions. 

The delegation head of the prefectural government was the Vice Governor, at that time, Mr. Yoshihiro Yamaya the one of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly was Speaker, at that time,Mr. Ren Endo whose riding was Tomakomai City. 

The former Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi Murata who became the Speaker after that visit also joined the delegation. What powerful legislatures we had in that occasion !  

 

I Love Hokkaido !

by Kazu

"I Love Hokkaido" event was conducted in the hall of "Japan Village Walk" by Shirokiya of Bloomingdale side of Ala Moana Center, Honolulu in 2016.

The event got started with the exciting Japanese drumming near the stage. The concept image was "Bumper crop" and "Big Catch".  Hokkaido Festival in "Japan Village Walk" held for the first time looked so attractive for the visitors from all over the world.  

Just after the opening of the food court, most of the visitors were the citizens of Honolulu, I think. I heard that the space was used by a secret members club where the lucrative people exchange the information on lucrative business and leisure.  

 

When "Japan Village Walk " was there !

by Kazu

When "Japan Village Walk" by Shirokiya opened in Ala Moana Center, no restaurant nor shop from Hokkaido but considering the damage brought by covid-19 that devastated the food court and shopping center, that was a good decision, in retrospect.  

The huge Japanese food court seemed to be swamped by many local citizens and tourists. "One Dollar Beer Stand " seemed to allure so many people because it was cheaper than drinking at home.   

Savoring delicious Japanese food and cheap crisp drought beer made the citizens and visitors so happy and filled with vim and vigor. But it has gone unfortunately. 

 

The First Recording !

by Kazu

It was for the first time for the first official delegation members of Hokkaido to Hawaii but the recording of the radio program "Island Breeze from Hawaii" proceeded so smoothly.

The souvenir from Hokkaido was the butter-cream and raisin, cookie sandwich produced by Rokkatei confectionery headquartered in Obihiro because it can be preserved in freezer for a long time.

But it should be kept under twenty four degrees in Celsius even in Hawaii that I had to set the temperature of my room in the hotel under twenty degrees. 

 

Island Breeze from Hawaii !

by Kazu

Hokkaido Smile Ambassador Ms. Reiko T. Rogers had not been designated yet before we visited in 2016. Only one Hokkaido Smile Ambassador was Mr. Pali Kaaihue, the TV producer of Dokoga TV and an musician in Honolulu. 

The Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Ren Endo, at that time and the Vice Governor, at that time, Mr. Yoshihiro Yamaya were ready to talk with Reiko-san and Hiroko-san.

The recording started after greeting and exchanging souvenirs. The introduction by the personalities was so natural and nice that we could talk in the studio in a relaxing atmosphere.