Driving Force of the Entities !

by Kazu

The driving force to maintain and enhance the relationship between Hokkaido and Brazil Mr. Oston Ichiro Hirano is the Vice President of Brazil Hokkaido Society in Sao Paulo. He kindly received the Hokkaido Delegation sent to Paraguay and Brazil in summer of 2019. 

Some members of Hokkaido Brazil Association in Sapporo received a certificate of commendation for their contributions to facilitate the relationship between Hokkaido and Brazil.

The relationship has been maintained with the goodwill, enthusiasm and love of the members in each country. We Hokkaido citizens should keep the relationship and keep to be the home country of the descendants of the immigrants.

The 30th Anniversary of Hokkaido Brazil Association !

by Kazu

A party was thrown to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Hokkaido-Brazil Association. The driving force to enhance the relationship between Hokkaido and Brazil Mr. Ichiro Oston Hirano in Sao Paulo, Brazil took part in the party. 

He flew from Sao Paulo to Sapporo via Tokyo. It took about two days including the waiting time for transit. I visited Sao Paulo and Paraguay in 2019 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the immigrants from Hokkaido to Brazil. 

Mr. Michishita is the driving force of the relationship on Hokkaido side and the president of the association. On behalf of the Governor of Hokkaido, Mr. Kodama, the Vice Governor for Public Companies in Hokkaido delivered the congratulatory speech. Mr. Sumio Fujisawa, the member of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly also delivered the speech.

Hydrangea in the garden !

by Kazu

Every summer, the courtyard of Aoyama Bettei "Kihinkan" in the Port City Otaru is filled up with the flowers of hydrangea. Red, blue, sky blue and purple flowers decorate the garden so nicely. My wife was eager to visit there with Japanese traditional attire on that day.

It was not so hot for a sunny day in July. It was not so tough to wear Japanese kimono in the bright sunshine on that day. I wore shorts and tunk-top.

My wife makes a point of not urging me to wear Japanese traditional attire. Sometimes I wear Japanese kimono with my wife for Japanese traditional tea ceremony or dinner. We have to hand down our own culture to the next generation, showing the coolness of that.

Auberge Ginrinsou in the Port City Otaru !

by Kazu

Leaving the former guesthouse of the fleet-and-nets owner in the port city Otaru, we headed to Hotel "Ginrinsou" on the top of the hill in the outskirt of the city. The old main building of Japanese traditional design had brought from Yoichi Town adjacent to Otaru City.

The powerful owners of fleet and nets for pacific herring fishing had built such palace-like house on the hill from where the Sea of Japan could be seen, many years ago.  

All the parts of this "Pacific Herring Palace" called "Nishin Goten" in Japanese had been brought from the adjacent town Yoichi to here to rebuild the original building. The new buildings for guestrooms were built next  to the traditional palace building. Many expensive art works and furniture were displayed in the old building.

Full Flourished !

by Kazu

To be honest, I am not sure why females love beautiful flowers and plants. Longing for beauty ? Appeal to males ? Males have to treat females as if they were plants in a certain way, I think. Am I wrong ?

White and yellow flowers of hydrangea were also beautiful this year. The contrast of the flowers was not so vivid but it was so comfortable to see the pale colors of the floweres in the garden in the bright sunshine. 

The beautiful flowers can be seen a little bit more because some buds were waiting for their turn among the fully blooming flowers. Please visit there and contribute to maintaining this beautiful building and garden.

Under the strong sunshine !

by Kazu

The flowers of hydrangea and lacecap hydrangea were fully blooming in the garden of the former guesthouse owned by the fleet-and-net owner in the port city Otaru, Aoyama Bettei "Kihinkan". 

The current owner of the facility is one of the members of the City Council. It costs so much to maintain these old building, he said. It is also important to hand down the technique to build and maintain these Japanese traditional building.

Some carp were swimming in the green water of the pond in the courtyard. Carp is strong. Entrance fee was 200 Japanese Yen or so. We should contribute to maintaining this comfortable facility and garden, I think.

Otaru Aoyama Bettei Kihinkan !

by Kazu

From the front garden of the former guesthouse of the Aoyamas, the fishermen's boss, the visitors must go through this gate to go to the courtyard.

These blue flowers of hydrangea welcomed us first near the gate to the courtyard. I was wondering how the plants make this beautiful color from the natural elements. 

I could not find vivid purple flowers there but soon I found pale violet ones near there. The sunshine seemed to make the color of flowers pale. The flowers of lace hydrangea also were also blooming near the gate.

Season of hydrangea in the Port City Otaru !

by Kazu

The season of hydrangea has come again. It was said that northern spring came with Pacific herring. Summer has come with the flowers of hydrangea.

We visited the former guesthouse of the owner of fishermen's nets and vessels "Aoyama Bettei". Our last visit to the place was in June when peonies were fully flourished. They were blooming on this side of the garden.

All the flowers of the peony had been taken away from the garden. The garden was well-trimmed. That must have required so much money. How do you imagine the owner of the garden keeps the beauty of the place?     

The Guardian of the Auberge !

by Kazu

The entrance of the former residence of the fisdhermen's boss had such a decoration to fend off evils.On the second floor of the restaurant wing of Hotel  "Ginrinsou" was the bar area for the guests. Even for the day-trippers, it is available after lunch and having  a bath.

From the entrance of the Hotel "Ginrinsou", the port city Otaru and the piers coukld be seen clearly. Otaru is the city of slopes. Nice condominiums with hot spring spa is near the port and yacht harbar.

Exchange of Mementos!

by Kazu

The delegation from Hawaii visited Obihiro Hakuyo High School to prepare for establishing a sister-school affiliation between Obihiro Hakuyo and Kalani High School. The Educational Superintendent of the State of Hawaii Dr Kishimoto headed the delegation and Ms. Judy Nagasako led them through Hokkaido.

The delegation members met the students of Obihiro Hakuyo who would be sent to Hawaii about two month later but unfortunately the students could not visit Hawaii because of the pandemic of Wuhan virus from China. So sad.

Some of the delegation members were so moved by the sincere attitude of the students larning in the English class and Maths that tears flew out from their eyes. In the memorial exchange of the mementos, the Principal of Kalani High sent a traditional Poy to mash the potatoes and yum.