Promise the future relationship !

by Kazu

This small alter was under the Memorial Monument for the deceased Japanese immigrants to Brazil. The entrance was on the backside of the monument. It was like in the cave. We stepped down the stairs and reached there.

The statues of the Buddhism icons were in the alter. It might have been hidden during World War Ⅱ. As the immigrants from Japan, praying for the deceased must have been crucial for the descendants of them to step forward.

Japanese-style flower arrangements were displayed around the monument. Of course, some of them were from Hokkaido Delegation members. We were convinced of the importance to keep the spiritual relationship with the immigrants from Hokkaido and their offspring.

For the deceased in Sao Paulo !

by Kazu

I am so worried about the future of the relationship between the citizens of Hokkaido and Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina as well as the states and provinces that have a sister-state or friendship affiliation with Hokkaido.

Every five years, Hokkaido Prefectural Government and affiliated entities had dispatched a delegation to such countries, states and provinces so far.

But after Wuhan virus from China conquered this globe, it may be impossible to dispatch a big delegation to overseas. But we should maintain the roots of the immigrants from Hokkaido to abroad and keep the good and strong relationship with them and the friends in the sister-states and -provinces. 

Memorial Monument of the Japanese Immigrants to Brazil !

by Kazu

The Hokkaido Delegation members visited the memorial monument and the alter for the deceased Japanese immigrants in the park of Sao Paulo. It was near thecenter of the big city, I think.

The Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Yusuke NAKANO entered the premises ofthe monument after me. Flowers like Azalea were blooming around the monument.

The Speaker of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi MURATA and other members of the Legislature also stepped in the premises ofthe monument and make lines in front of the monument.

The Cenotaph to pray for !

 by Kazu

The Vice Governor of Hokkaido Mr. Yusuke NAKANO and the Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi MURATA handed some souvenirs to the Consul General of Japan Mr. Yasushi NOGUCHI .

 Hokkaido sweets and a lithograph were the gifts to the Consul General. Other members of the Hokkaido Delegation went out to eat Brazilian Churrasco in downtown.

Which do you prefer, the official welcome dinner hosted by the Consul General or Ambassador or the culinary delights of local cuisine.
We visited the cenotaph of the deceased of the immigrants from Japan on the next day.

Dinner hosted by the Consul General of Japan !

 by Kazu

The Brazil Hokkaido Society in Sao Paulo is well-organized entity. After getting over the tough time just after the immigration of the first generation, the tie of the members got strong, I thought.

 The members of Brazil Hokkaido Association seemed to have provided their good cooperation to the Consulate General in Sao Paulo as well as the Embassy of Japan in Brasilia.

He is my friend Mr. Oston Ichiro HIRANO, the driving force of Brazil Hokkaido Society. He visited Hokkaido soon after our visit to Sao Paulo. We really had so happy time together in Sao Paulo and Sapporo.

Dinner in the residence of the Consul General of Japan !

 by Kazu

The Consul General of Japan Mr. Yasushi NOGUCHI kindly invited the Hokkaido Delegation to the dinner in his residence in Sao Paulo. It got started with glasses of beer. 

 The current President of Brazil Hokkaido Society Mr. Norinobu OHNUMA and the Vice Mr. Oston HIRANO were also invited to the dinner. Consul General Mr. Noguchi treated us to the delicious Japanese cuisine.

 It was very kind consideration of Mr. Noguchi. He thought the members of the Hokkaido Delegation might have been fed up with Asado in Paraguay and Brazil. He thought our stomachs were missing Japanese cuisine. He got used to receiving Japanese delegation so much.

The Great Waterfalls !

 by Kazu

Iguazu waterfalls is proud of the amount of the water falling per an hour, minute and second on this globe.The height is not so huge but the water of Parana River is giving a tremendous amount of gift to the people along itself.

 On top of that, the magnificent landscape of the great waterfalls attracts so many tourists to the place and make them spend so much money.

This is the Godsend to the people in Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina as well as the people on the other part of this globe. We really appreciated the scenery made by the omnipotent.