Governor IGE visited the high school !

by Kazu

When the official Delegation from Hawaii headed by Governor David IGE visited Hokkaido Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School, they seemed to have enjoyed the performance of the Japanese traditional strings "Koto" and tea ceremony served by the students in Japanese traditional attire "Kimono".

The students of Hokkaido Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School had visited Kaiser High School in Honolulu as a part of school educational travel and showed their performance "Dance and Play".  

At the beginning of the signing up ceremony to establish a sister-state relationship between Hokkaido and Hawaii, eleven students played their best performance in the venue of the party.

 

Hawaiian Delegation was filmed !

by Kazu

Before wrapping up the reception for the Hawaiian delegation, very nice scenes of the Hawaiian Delegation's visit to Hokkaido was played on the stage. These are the scenes when the delegation visited Hokkaido Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School.

The Member of the House of the Representatives of the State of Hawaii Mr. Mark Hashem was born in Hokkaido and had come back as an international student in Hokkaido University. He also has been a strong driving force to connect the regions. 

I met Governor IGE and his wife Ms. Dawn Amano IGE in Hawaii several times. It was a pity that her visit to Hokkaido was canceled just before the official visit of the Hawaiian Delegation.

 

Looking back the beginning of Hokkaido -Hawaii Relationship !

by Kazu

One of the Smile Ambassador of Hokkaido to Hawaii Ms. Reiko Tokushige Rogers played the role of the Master of Ceremony in the reception to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of the Sister-state Affiliation Between Hokkaido and Hawaii.

The other Hokkaido Smile Ambassador is my friend Mr. Pali KAAIHUE.  We met before the official visit of the Hawaiian Delegation when he came to Hokkaido for his film shooting to promote Hokkaido tourism.

The hula dance teachers in Hokkaido showed their own dance on the stage. Their dance were different from each other because their understandings and the way of expressions of the same hula song were different. It was a little bit weird for me, to be honest. But it was a result of the compromise among the competing hula group.   

 

Ainu Performance in the Reception !

by Kazu

The Performers of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu played their traditional dance and song in front of the Hawaiian Delegation and the Hawaii-lovers. They performed in Honolulu including Ala Moana Center before . 

Some may say the traditional culture should be adjusted to become a profitable business but their pride should be the priority and they might as well contemplate and discuss in their community, I think. 

Without grant nor subsidies, it may be difficult to maintain their own traditional culture including their language without its own characters. We may have to learn from the immersion school of Hawaiian culture.

 

Top Brasses of Hokkaido and Hawaii !

by Kazu

Mr. Taiji Nakanishi,the CEO of DOKYU that runs Tonkatsu TAMAFUJI, a popular Pork Cutlet Restaurant Chain headquartered in Sapporo Hokkaido, contributed to the Sister-state Affiliation between Hokkaido and Hawaii so much. 

His business expanded to Honolulu and the branch restaurant is so popular in Hawaii that along line can be seen in front of the restaurant every day. The Hokkaido Smile Ambassador Mr. Pali Kaaihue is one of the great supporter of the delicious cuisine.

Mr. Kaaihue,myBro. kindly sent his video message for the memorial reception to celebrate the fifth Anniversary of the solid, beneficial and everlasting affiliation between the regions.

 

The President of Japan- US Association in Hokkaido Legislative Assembly delivered the speech !

by Kazu

The President of Japan-US Association in Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Ren Endo also delivered a welcome speech and talked about the beginning of the relationship. He has been a strong driving force to accelerate the exchange between the regions. 

Actually, he signed up the Memorandum of Understandings to establish a Sister-state Affiliation between the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly and the House of Representatives, the Senate of the State of Hawaii. 

The CEO of Dokyu Company Mr Taiji NAKANISHI headquartered in Sapporo had expanded his business to Honolulu just before the regions established a sister-state relationship. He invited Governor IGE and DBEDT of Hawaii to his fried pork restaurant Tonkatsu Tamafuji in Honolulu when he opened the branch. Now he met Governor IGE again in Sapporo.    

 

Governor IGE delivered the speech !

by Kazu

The Governor of the State of Hawaii has his root in Okinawa as you may know.He delivered the speech of appreciation for the first time in front of the strong supporters and fans of Hawaii in Hokkaido. 

The posters for the promotion of Hokkaido tourism and the National Museum of the Indigenous People of Hokkaido Ainu, Upopoi were displayed at the corner of the ball room.