Monthly Reflections
August Monthly Reflections
It is already September. August in Vancouver was by far more pleasant than in Japan, and I am feeling sad that summer is passing so quickly. This summer saw more wildfires than usual. Once again, I would like to offer my condolences and sympathy to the victims and those affected by these disasters, not only in Canada but also in other parts of the world. The Consulate General of Japan has been sending out related information, and I ask that everyone take care of themselves. I am praying for swift recovery and reconstruction.
• Local Exchanges, Meetings with Mayors and Members of Parliament
In addition to visiting the mayors of New Westminster and Surrey, I have been meeting with Members of Parliament who have returned to their constituencies in British Columbia, while the Parliament is in recess. In talking with the mayors and members of the House of Commons from Richmond, Surrey, New Westminster, Burnaby, and other areas, I found that they all take strong pride in Canada's diversity, have an interest in Japan-Canada relations, and respect for the Japanese and Japanese-Canadian communities in their respective areas. I would like to continue the dialogue with them so that we can further develop city-to-city exchanges in a concrete way in the future.
• Japanese-Canadian Communities
The Powell Street Festival and the Japanese Cultural Fair in Victoria (held in Esquimalt) were two major August festivals held by the Japanese-Canadian community that I had the pleasure of attending. The Powell Street Festival was held for the 47th time and the Japanese Cultural Fair for the 23rd time. I really appreciated the historical significance of these festivals that have been cherished and passed down through the years in each community. There was something comforting about seeing so many families enjoying the festivals under the summer sun. I also admired the efforts of those who worked so hard to make the events a success, as I made my way around the exhibits and stalls.
• Awarding the Consul General’s Commendation to Mr. Koichi Kaye Kaminishi, Former Vancouver Asahi Baseball Player
Everyone knows the former Japanese-Canadian baseball team, the Vancouver Asahi. While it may be modest, I presented Mr. Kaminishi, currently the only living former member with the Consul General’s Commendation in honour of his tremendous contributions. I wish him good health and hope that he will continue to inspire future generations as a hero to today’s young team players and as a legend in the Japanese-Canadian community.
• Wheelchair Basketball Friendly Match
I watched the wheelchair basketball game between the Japanese U25 Women's National Team and the Canadian team in Richmond. The earnestness with which all the players chased after the ball and the heated game that unfolded made me forget myself. The intensity of the game that went on in front of my eyes is something that cannot be conveyed on a screen or other media.
• Takarazuka Revue’s performance
As some of you may have attended, I enjoyed a performance of "World of Dreams" by alumni of The Takarazuka Theater Company. I personally enjoyed the performance, which included some of my favorite songs. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to making this wonderful performance possible, despite the many constraints including the limited number of performers and staff.