Monthly Reflections

January Monthly Reflections
 

　　At the beginning of this year, I was invited to attend the Nikkei Community New Year’s Celebration, as well as the New Year’s parties organized by the Ohfukai Society, the Japanese Women's Business Association, and Kenyukai. At the New Year’s calligraphy event at Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, I was fortunate to have my work displayed, and I hope to be able to participate and write with them next time. I also visited Vancouver Island and participated in the Seven Potatoes Society New Year's Party and the New Year's Party co-hosted by the Victoria Nikkei Cultural Society, the Victoria Japanese Friendship Society, and the Victoria Japanese Heritage Language School. There was a “mochitsuki” event, which is a traditional Japanese rice cake pounding ceremony, as well as a “kakizome” event where we write the first piece of calligraphy of the year. Many children participated in the events, and it was very heartwarming to see them enjoying New Year's games and engaging in mochi pounding and writing calligraphy in earnest at the beginning of the year.
 

　　For the first time, I attended the annual general meeting of the Japanese Business Council of Vancouver (JBCV) and listened to a valuable discussion. I also had the opportunity to give an online presentation by invitation of the JBCV and talked about the current Canada-Japan relationship and the Consulate General’s initiative, but I am not sure how well my presentation turned out. If there is another opportunity, I hope to give a talk again.
　　I was also invited to the Asahi Baseball Association meeting, where we celebrated Kaye Kaminishi's 101st birthday and encouraged the young team scheduled to travel to Japan in March. I was moved by the passionate eyes of the young players surrounding Kaye, who is a Japanese Canadian baseball legend, his gentle kindness and dignity, and the pride of the players as they spoke of their aspirations for their visit to Japan. It also reminded me of the days when I played baseball on grass fields as a child.
 

　　One of the Government of Japan’s exchange programs is called Kakehashi Project, and as part of this project, students from Yokohama Jogakuin High School visited our area, and the city of Burnaby hosted a welcome dinner for them. I was impressed by the students' excellent manners and English ability, and was reminded of the significance of this project.
 

　　I continue to meet with former Canadian ambassadors to Japan, researchers, and other experts on Canada-Japan relations, and to pay courtesy calls on the presidents of universities in the Vancouver and Victoria areas. I also had the opportunity to meet with the professionals in the theatrical arts in Canada and Japan, and realized the potential for a wide variety of Canada-Japan exchanges. We will look back on the history of various exchanges between Canada and Japan, as well as the current state of exchanges, in order to further expand and enhance our activities. In January, I also paid courtesy calls on the Deputy Commissioner and Commanding Officer E-Division of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and the Chief of Vancouver Police Department to reiterate our request for the safety of the Japanese and Japanese-Canadian community in the region.
 

　　A ceremony was held to present the Foreign Minister's Commendation to Mr. David Iwaasa, Board Chair of Tonari Gumi, the Japanese Community Volunteers Association. I would like to express my gratitude and respect once again to Mr. Iwaasa for his many years of volunteer service to the Nikkei community, especially in the care of seniors, and to the many staff members and supporters of his volunteer activities