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Japan Earthquake Relief
- Return to Tohoku: JASH President visits Onagawa, the town where four Rainbow for Japan Kids came from
- Rainbow for Japan Kids Charity Talk Live event a success
- "Go For Da Record Hana Hou" falls short of Guinness record, but donates to Rainbow for Japan Kids
- JASH prepares for the fourth Rainbow for Japan Kids visit
- Japanese Red Cross Society's 12 Month Report
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DONATIONS TO JASH UPDATE
As of May 4, 2012: $4,336,227 (total of Aloha for Japan and other donations)
Click to see Aloha for Japan Donor List.
Click to see Aloha for Japan Partnering Organizations.
DONATIONS TO RAINBOW FOR JAPAN KIDS
As of May 4, 2012: $377,426
Click to see Rainbow for Japan Kids Donor List.
Click to see Rainbow for Japan Kids Partnering Organizations.
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An empty field spread out in front of me to the piers, broken only by foundations of homes and a checkerboard of cleared lines where roads once ran. A multi-story concrete building lay on its side like a beached whale. Here and there, piles of incongruous rubble dot the landscape, remnants of the town that no longer exists. A year later, scenes of the destruction are still poignantly visible. So this is what the kids have to look at every day, I thought to myself as I made my way to the surrounding hillside to Onagawa First Junior High School, saved from the destruction because it perched on a hill. Read more.
Presented by Hawaii Senior Life Enrichment Association and staffed primarily by its Nadeshiko Club, a benefit concert for the Rainbow for Japan Kids called "Charity Talk Live" was held on March 25th at the Hawaii Convention Center. The event featured Japan-based renowned musicians Muneyuki Sato and Daizo Koshiba and from Hawaii, Manoa DNA, a local father and sons' trio. The event coincided with the visit of children from Tohoku who performed a song together with the stars using ukulele they made during their visit, courtesy of Alan Okami and KoAloha Ukulele. The event attracted several hundreds of attendees and proceeds from the event went to JASH and the Rainbow for Japan Kids project.
Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro again led the effort to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the simultaneous playing of the ukulele, this time at the Blaisdell Arena on Saturday, April 28. Ukulele players from around the world came to participate but the number fell just short. Organizer Leo Daquioag of the Music For Life Foundation said there will be another attempt. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to JASH and the Rainbow for Japan Kids project. Read more.
The next Rainbow for Japan Kids visit is scheduled from July 16 to the 24th. Approximately 20 middle school age children from the three disaster-affected prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima are expected to arrive in Hawaii on July 16 for eight days. Our partner in Japan, the Bikki Organization, is currently recruiting the children. The kids will spend several days at North Shore's Camp Erdman for outdoor activities with local kids. A stay at Big Island's Kilauea Military Camp is again planned, this time to include a nature tour conducted by a local guide. Hilton Grand Vacations has agreed to provide a water activity for the children, possibly at its new lagoon.
The JRCS has provided a one-year anniversary narrative report of its activities which is available at its
website.
The financial report is also available. Ms. Naoko Tochibayashi, Program Officer for its International Relief Division conveys: "I hope that the information in the report will help you better understand the activities of the JRCS, without your support, none of which would have been possible. We are grateful for your warm support for the people of Japan and sincerely appreciate your continuous support."
The contribution from the people of Hawaii is listed as "Hawaii Japan U.S. Friendship Association." The total does not include the initial $1,000,000 donation that went to a cash fund to pay out directly to victims of the tragedy. The total distribution to the JRCS so far equals $3,800,000.
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RECENT EVENTS
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| (L) Kuali'i was built high on the property to spare the heiau (ancient Hawaiian religious site). (R) Guests enjoyed bento from Hakkei after the tour.
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JASH members and guests were able to take a specially arranged tour of Manoa Heritage Center on Wednesday, May 9. The beautiful weather with light breezes and no surprises from Tuahine (Manoa rain) allowed attendees to fully enjoy the outdoor tour that navigates the grounds of the Cooke family home. The stately historic home, Kuali'i, named for a great Oahu chief, is 101 years old. Built in the Tudor style in 1911 by Charles Montague Cooke, Jr. and his wife Anna, the home is now lived in and preserved by his grandson Sam Cooke and wife Mary. When Charles had the house built, he had a strong feeling about the heiau (ancient religious site) on the property and decided to preserve it instead of building over it. Kuali'i is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
Guests were able to tour the Kuka'o'o Heiau and the Native Hawaiian Garden that surround the house. The name of the heiau means "a farmer's digging stick." There are many legends that surround it, including one where a man climbed to the top of the Ko'olau Mountain, threw his 'o'o (digging stick) and it landed at the site of the heiau, so it was decided to build a heiau there. There used to be fourteen heiau in the area all the way down to Waikiki for farmers, dancers, and fishermen. This is the only site that remains. Guests also enjoyed learning about the native plants that surround the home such as 'ohia lehua, 'ohai, and 'akia. Manoa used to be a thriving agricultural community that like many parts of Hawaii has turned residential.
At the end of the tour guests were treated to a delicious bento from Hakkei along with fresh fruits, juice, and tea that were graciously provided by Manoa Heritage Center.
A special mahalo to Tomodachi co-chair Hiroko Dewitz for arranging the tour and picking up the bento from Hakkei. Also mahalo to Manoa Heritage Center Program Manager Aloha McGuffie, Educational Director Margo Vitarelli, and Volunteer Docent Al Furuto.
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Thanks to the generous support provided by the McInerny Foundation, the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) held its Spring 2012 Japan Day on Wednesday, May 2 at Hawaii Tokai International College. A total of 133 students representing Hanalani Schools, Kaiser High School, Kamehameha Schools - Hawaii, and Punahou School gathered for an exceptional opportunity to experience the Japanese culture. The day began with a taiko performance and demonstration by the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble. Energized and inspired, the students spent the next few hours absorbing the Japanese culture. Over 40 volunteer experts presented cultural classes on bon dance, bonsai tree planting, calligraphy, traditional crafts, ikebana (flower arranging), kimono/yukata wear, soroban (Japanese abacus), and tea ceremony. Excitement filled the air as students beamed with pride while making their own cultural creations, coincidentally in time for Kodomo no hi (Children's Day) on May 5!
Since its inception in 1993, over 5,000 students from 56 schools statewide have experienced Japan Day. This unique program is one of two programs offered by JASH to Hawaii's high school students, with the other being the Japan Wizards Statewide Academic Team Competition. Japan Day provides students with hands-on experience with traditional Japanese arts and culture while reinforcing and complementing what is taught in the classroom setting. Japan Day also illustrates how art and culture in different societies can influence and enhance people's lives, and how these cultural values are perpetuated by devotees of the arts. Through understanding different cultures and customs, we continue to bridge the gap that leads to friendship and cultural appreciation.
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| (L-R Clockwise): Students learn how to make Children's Day-themed origami; Students enjoy the opportunity to wear yukata; Everyone is in deep concentration learning soroban (Japanese abacus) skills; Hawaii Bonsai Association volunteers teach students how to plant their own bonsai trees. |
JASH would like to thank all the volunteer experts for their dedication to the program, for without them, this program would not be possible: Ms. Betty Dela Cuesta and members of Hawaii Shin Kobukai; Mr. Jim Meyer and the Hawaii Bonsai Association; calligraphy master Mrs. Shokyoku Hashiro and Mrs. Setsusen Tokumine; Mrs. Kikuji Yonesato and members of the Kikufu Nippon Bunka Kenkyu Kai; Mrs. Jessie Nakata of MOA Hawaii; Mrs. Jean Sakihara and members of Kimono Project USA; Mr. and Mrs. Hideaki Oshima from Araki Hiroya Soroban School; and Mr. Yoshibumi Ogawa, Mr. Hiroaki Yoshida, and members of Urasenke Foundation. We would also like to thank Hawaii Tokai International College for the generous use of their facilities, and the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble for their moving taiko performance and demonstration. Please visit the JASH Facebook page for more photos of the event. For more information on this educational program, please contact Kelsey Soma Turek at 469-4646 or via email at ksoma@jashawaii.org.
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| (L-R): The Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble explains the different instruments used in taiko; Members of the Urasenke Foundation perform a traditional tea ceremony for the students. |
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One hundred twenty-two golfers gathered at Pearl Country Club on April 26 for the Society's 22nd Annual Friendship Golf Tournament. Together with the JASH Annual Dinner in the fall, the golf tournament is the major fund-raiser for the Society. Prizes donated by our supporters were presented to top 30 teams, with the grand prize, a fly/stay/golf package to Maui's Makena Resort (airfare by Go!Mokulele), presented to the team that placed 22nd. All players received some sort of an award.
JASH would like to thank all the major sponsors, Titanium and Graphite sponsors, and the individual players who supported this tournament (For complete list please click here [Sponsorship list for website.pdf]). A special thanks to the 34 volunteers without whose support this tournament would not have been possible. Proceeds from this tournament will go right back into programs for the community, including educational programs such as cultural exchanges for Hawaii's schools and students to continue building grass-root relations between the people of Hawaii and Japan.
As in previous years, JASH invited members of the military to participate. Four individuals from the Hawaii Air National Guard who were instrumental in providing disaster relief to Japan following the tragic earthquake and tsunami last year participated, courtesy of retired Admiral and JASH Director Thomas Fargo.
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| Top finishing team of Ted McAneeley and Garrett Yamamoto are presented with the winner's trophy by the trophy sponsor, Japan's Consul General Kamo |
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| Clockwise, Top L-R: Hole-in-One Sponsor First Hawaiian Bank team gets ready to tee it up; Bobby Ichikawa and Yoshinori Maeda get a quick snack; Korean Consul General Young Kil Suh, JASH Chair Sharon Weiner, Japan's Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo, and Australian Consul General Scott Dewar are set for the challenge. |
Additional photos can be seen here.
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An empty field spread out in front of me to the piers, broken only by foundations of homes and a checkerboard of cleared lines where roads once ran. A multi-story concrete building lay on its side like a beached whale. Here and there, piles of incongruous rubble dot the landscape, remnants of the town that no longer exists. A year later, scenes of the destruction are still poignantly visible. So this is what the kids have to look at every day, I thought to myself as I made my way to the surrounding hillside to Onagawa First Junior High School, saved from the destruction because it perched on a hill. I had come to Onagawa to see for myself what the four students we hosted in Hawaii were going through. Misato-chan, Saki-chan, Takanori-kun, and Shoya-kun were in school that day, no doubt talking about their experiences in Hawaii the previous month. I stopped by the temporary shelters that house these students, built on the only flat land that was available, a neighboring school's athletic field. A tent in the middle of the complex served as its community activity center. Throughout the short visit, I felt the trials of the children's daily life. And they must look at that scenery, down to the town that has disappeared, where 800 died or are missing, as they walk to and from their cramped apartments. Reaching out and touching even a few children at a time is well worth the effort, I thought. This is why we do this project: to give them new dreams.
JASH and its Rainbow for Japan Kids project will host the fourth group of Japanese students from July 16-23. The project's partner in Japan, the Bikki Organization, is currently recruiting the next 20 students, including from the town of Onagawa.
JASH and its partners would like to thank all the donors, volunteers, and supporters who make this program possible. We also would like to acknowledge the support of TOMODACHI initiative that provided funding for this program, and the donation from Mrs. Susie Roos, wife of Ambassador John Roos, who continues to provide assistance to the children of Onagawa. We look forward to continuing this project for the next several years.
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| Temporary apartments built on a school athletic field near the middle school. |
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| Onagawa First Junior High School, the school four students who came to Hawaii for Rainbow for Japan Kids attend. |
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| The view from the Junior High School, to what remains of the town of Onagawa. |
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On April 30, Japan's Parliamentary Senior Vice Minister of Defense and House of Representatives member Shu Watanabe visited Kakaako Waterfront Park and paid respects to the lost crew of the Ehime Maru. Vice Minister Watanabe stopped in Hawaii during his official travel to the United States. He presented a wreath and said a prayer for the victims of the tragic accident 11 years ago. Vice Minister Watanabe was accompanied by the Vice Chief of Staff of the Japan Self Defense Force Joint Staff, Lieutenant General Kiyofumi Iwata and Japan's Consul General in Hawaii, Yoshihiko Kamo. Japan-America Society of Hawaii and Ehime Maru Memorial Association President Ed Hawkins greeted the delegation, explaining the history of the memorial and pointing out the many good-will initiatives to include educational exchanges between students that have resulted between Ehime and Hawaii since the accident. Mr. Hawkins also noted the many volunteer groups, both from Hawaii and from Japan, who clean the memorial in respect to the lost and the bereaved.
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| Vice Minister Watanabe leads the delegation in a prayer at the Ehime Maru Memorial at Kakaako Waterfront Park after presenting a flower wreath. |
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Ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro again led the effort to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the simultaneous playing of the ukulele, this time at the Blaisdell Arena on Saturday, April 28. Although the attempt fell short, nearly 1,300 ukulele players from Hawaii and around the world, including many from Japan, gathered. The event began at 4 p.m. with numerous ukulele artists taking the stage to showcase their talents. Promptly at 7 p.m. (the announced time of the world record attempt), emcee Billy V called on the gathered crowd to take their appointed seats to be counted. A representative from the Guinness Book was on hand. Jake took the stage and led the crowd in a three-cord song. Volunteers handed out luminous wrist bands to the players and the lights were dimmed during the attempt, adding to the joyful atmosphere. When the count was announced, a sigh of disappointment rose from the crowd, but organizer Leo Daquioag of the Music For Life Foundation took the stage, thanked everyone, and proclaimed success as it brought people together with music. Leo announced that there will be another attempt. Prior to the attempt, JASH President Ed Hawkins met with Jake in the dressing room to accept a donation for JASH and the Rainbow for Japan Kids.
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| Jake Shimabukuro presents a donation to JASH President Ed Hawkins before performing at the "Go for Da Record Hana Hou" event at Blaisdell Arena. |
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Together with the Consular Corps of Hawaii, JASH held a "Hawaii 5:01" networking and social event at the historic Aliiolani Hale Hawaii State Supreme Court on April 2nd. Hawaii 5:01s are exclusively for corporate and lifetime members and their guests. The purpose of these events is to get to know each other and introduce potential new JASH members. That it was held at the Hawaii State Supreme Court was a big plus. Those who attended received a history lesson on Hawaii's legal history, including the period after the Japanese attack in 1941 when Martial Law was declared in Hawaii. Guests viewed a film about that period in the adjoining theater and were escorted by the staff through the museum displays and the original courtroom. Shuji Abe of Takumi Catering provided the delicious food and drinks, which were generously sponsored by three corporate members.
This time, the 5:01 was a joint event with the Consular Corps of Hawaii, with 18 members attending to include Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo of Japan, Dean of the Consular Corps and Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka Ms. Kusuma Cooray, and visiting Ambassador of Hungary Balazs Bokor heading the list.
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| The Hawaii State Judiciary Building with the statue of King Kamehameha at its front has recently become more well-known thanks to being featured as the headquarters of the popular TV series "Hawaii Five-O". |
The evening began with Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald welcoming the crowd and relating the history of Aliiolani Hale. Completed in 1874, Aliiolani Hale (House of the Heavenly King in Hawaiian, one of the names given to Kamehameha) was the seat of government of the Kingdom of Hawaii and the Republic of Hawaii until the Legislature was moved to Iolani Palace across the street after the overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1893. Chief Justice Recktenwald added that the hit TV series Hawaii Five-0, which depicts the building as its headquarters, has brought greater focus and attention to the building. The Chief Justice also acknowledged the work JASH has done to bring greater understanding between Hawaii and Japan and in providing disaster relief to Japan after the tragic events of March 11, 2011. Afterwards, the guests were conducted on a tour of the historic building. It was a wonderful evening of camaraderie and learning about the history of Hawaii and its legal heritage.
JASH would like to thank sponsors Sachi Braden of Sachi Hawaii-Pacific Century Properties, James Stanton of the Stanton Law Group, and Alan Fujimoto of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel law firm for sponsoring this event and donating funds for the food and drink service provided by Takumi Catering.
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| Chief Justice Recktenwald welcomes the guests inside the Aliiolani Hale rotunda.. |
Additional photos available at the JASH Facebook page.
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Attend a snow festival in Japan? That's what the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) proposed to Waipahu High School Japanese language students. Needless to say, they jumped at the opportunity. As a Title 1 school, it seldom gets such opportunities. As a continuation of steps leading to the establishment of sister city relations between Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture and City and County of Honolulu, JASH has actively supported educational and cultural exchanges between students in Nagaoka and Hawaii for the last several years. JASH hosted high school students from Nagaoka in 2010, and college students from Nagaoka when they attended the memorial ceremony of the Pearl Harbor attack last December 7th. This time, Nagaoka invited students from Hawaii to visit its "Yukishika Matsuri" snow festival in February.
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| Waipahu HS students Joel Maupin (far left), Tony Giang (fourth from left), and Tiffany Ganti (fifth from left) with Nagaoka host students.
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Funding for this visit came from two major sources. JASH Board member and Education Programs Committee Chair Jean Rolles provided the majority, while the City and County of Honolulu provided additional support as part of its promotion of the sister city initiative. Thanks to these two supporters, three students from Waipahu High School, two boys and a girl, accompanied by academic advisor Will Smith, were hosted over several days in February by Nagaoka's Executive Committee for Developing a Bridge of Friendship between Japan and U.S.A.
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| WaipahuTiffany Ganti making a snow ball.
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Yukishika is a mound of snow the locals in Japan's "Snow Country" built in the winter to preserve foods for the coming spring. These mounds have turned into a playground for children and the community, and a festival resulted. The program included enjoying the festival, a courtesy visit with Mayor Tamio Mori, home stay with local families, a presentation about Hawaii's culture to local university students, host families, and invited guests, and a visit to Japan's famous hot spring onsen spa. Hawaii's students were hosted by many of the same students who visited Hawaii in December, leading to the development of additional friendships and relationships.
Nagaoka and Honolulu will sign a formal sister city document during the Honolulu Festival in March 2012 when a fireworks display will be presented to the people of Honolulu as a gesture of peace and friendship. Nagaoka is the home town of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto who planned the attack on Pearl Harbor and was firebombed by American forces at the waning stages of WWII. JASH is proud to have assisted in promoting reconciliation and mutual understanding through this new relationship. We look forward to supporting additional cultural and educational programs for students from Nagaoka and Hawaii in the future.
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The year 2013 will mark the tenth anniversary of the start of educational exchange programs between Ehime Prefecture and Hawaii, goodwill measures put in place following the tragic accident between a high school training ship and a U.S. Navy submarine in waters off Honolulu that resulted in the loss of nine Japanese crewmembers, including four students. Two officials from Ehime Prefectural International Center (EPIC; administrator of the program) and one from the Ehime Government office visited Honolulu recently to discuss how to structure future educational exchange programs.
For 2012, EPIC will continue the program of hosting two University of Hawaii students for a three-month summer internship in Matsuyama, Ehime's capital. However, the Ehime government that funds this project wants to look at restructuring the present program to include programs for high school students. JASH has been the Hawaii action office for these programs, working closely with UH's Center for Japanese Studies (CJS) to recruit and select students. JASH accompanied the Ehime visitors to several local schools to gauge their interest: Saint Louis School (Japanese club cleans the Ehime Maru Memorial), Iolani School (winner of last year's Japan Wizards competition), Kawananakoa Middle School (sister school with Ehime's Uwajima Minami Junior High School). JASH will work with EPIC in the coming year to help develop this new direction in Ehime-Hawaii educational exchanges
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| JASH President Hawkins with Ehime visitors and UHCJS staff: (L-R) Ed Hawkins, Ryotaro Yano (Ehime International Affairs Division), Jun Morimoto (Director, EPIC), Gay Satsuma (Associate Director, UHCJS), Bob Huey (Director, UHCJS), Noriko Omori (Manager, EPIC)
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February 25th proved to be a very eventful Saturday at Kapiolani Community College (KCC), where the 9th annual Japan Wizards Statewide Academic Team Competition (JWC) was held. By 9:00 a.m., 45 teams representing 28 schools from Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui were anxious to begin competing in the JWC, presented by overall sponsor Hawaiian Airlines.
Each year the Japan-America Society of Hawaii (JASH) brings together high school teams from across the state for a challenging, fun-filled competition designed to motivate students to learn more about Japan and help them develop lifelong skills in research, teamwork, personal responsibility and operating under pressure. Registered teams are provided study guides in the fall which provides a list of topics to aid them in their preparation and studies, including art, contemporary Japan, culture and traditions, food, geography, history, Japan-Hawaii ties, literature, politics and government, sports, and Japanese language. The competition in February is a way for the students to show what they have learned, and compete for four trips to Japan for the top scoring public and private teams in Level A (1st and 2nd year Japanese language students) and Level B (3rd and 4th year Japanese language students).
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| JASH President Ed Hawkins with Hawaiian Airlines' Mr. Hoyt Zia, JASH Chair Ms. Sharon Weiner, JTB Hawaii's Mr. Keiichi Tsujino and Mr. David Asanuma, JASH Director Ms. Jean Rolles, Deputy Consul General Kazunari Tanaka and the four Japan Trip Award winning teams. |
The Japan-America Society of Hawaii awarded plaques to the three top scoring teams in each level. In Level A, these were Maryknoll School (1st place), Punahou School (2nd place) and Waiakea High School (3rd place). The Level B winners were Kauai High School (1st place), Saint Andrew's Priory School (2nd place), and Saint Francis School (3rd place).
The top scoring public schools to receive the Japan trip award were Waiakea High School (Hawaii) from Level A and Kauai High School (Kauai) for the Level B division. Maryknoll School (Level A) and Saint Andrew's Priory School (Level B) were the recipients from the private school division. These teams (three students and an advisor each) will travel to Japan this summer to experience firsthand what they studied in the classroom and through independent research. This year's Atsuhiko Tateuchi Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship went to overall top scoring team Maryknoll School, Level A.
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| (L) Students practice kendo moves in the Activity Center; (R) Volunteers assist students playing fukuwarai, a Japanese game similar to "pin the tail on the donkey". |
Between competition rounds, students were kept busy with the numerous activity stations in the Activity Center. These included origami, gyotaku fish printing, karuta, calligraphy, and Jeopardy to name a few. The Ken Yu Kai Kendo Club demonstrated Japanese kendo techniques and the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH Manoa) Department of Theatre and Dance provided a rakugo demonstration.
JASH would like to thank Hawaiian Airlines for sponsoring the Competition, and all the major supporters including ABC Stores, Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, International Cultural and Friendship Association, JTB Goodwill Foundation, The America-Japan Society of Tama Tokyo, and The Freeman Foundation. JASH would also like to thank all the contributors who provided prizes, snacks, drinks, and other donations that assisted with the competition. Many thanks and recognition goes to the 70 volunteers representing the JET Alumni Association of Hawaii, UH Manoa, KCC, and Hawaii Tokai International College to name a few. Without this tremendous support, the competition would not have been possible. Finally, our gratitude to the President, Chancellor and staff of Kapiolani Community College for the generous use of their facilities and for their support of the Japan Wizards Competition.
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On Wednesday, February 29, Consul General Yoshihiko Kamo and Mrs. Etsuko Kamo graciously opened their residence to the Japan-America Society of Hawaii's annual Tomodachi Hinamatsuri program in celebration of Girl's Day. Also known as the Doll Festival, Hinamatsuri is traditionally celebrated on March 3rd by Japanese families to wish for the happiness and good health of their daughters.
Guests were able to enjoy the Consulate's beautiful 7-tiered hinaningyo display. A special musical performance by Opera Singer Takamasa Yamamura with piano accompaniment by Misa Ninomiya put everyone in a festive spring mood. Guests were also treated to the unique collaboration of Yamamura singing the opera song "Koujou no Tsuki" while Segawa Senka performed a traditional Japanese dance to the music.
Following the performances Consul General and Mrs. Kamo invited guests to partake in special Hinamatsuri refreshments prepared by their personal chef. Tomodachi Planning Committee members also generously donated items such as mochi and bara-sushi. The Japan-America Society of Hawaii and Tomodachi would like to send a big mahalo to Consul General and Mrs. Kamo for hosting this special event, and a special thanks to Mrs. Kamo for giving the opening remarks. We would also like to thank Takamasa Yamamura, Misa Ninomiya, and Segawa Senka for their beautiful musical collaboration. Thank you again to Tomodachi and JASH member Ray Tabata for taking photos for this event.
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| (L) Tomodachi Co-chairs Shirley Miyamoto and Hiroko Dewitz present Mrs. Kamo with a koa tray and the book "Living Legacy: Outstanding Japanese Women of the 20th Century in Hawaii" as a thank you gift. (R) Consul General and Mrs. Kamo pose with guests next to the hinaningyo display. |
To view all of the photos from Hinamatsuri at the Consulate, please click here.
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Thirty two members of the Sasebo Japan-America Society visited Hawaii recently as a part of their Society's 50th Anniversary commemoration events. The Sasebo JAS met with Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet as well as with members of the Nagasaki Kenjinkai. The Sasebo JAS enjoys a very close relationship with the U.S. Navy which has a base in that city.
As part of its desire to further relationships with Hawaii organizations, the Sasebo JAS requested a meeting with JASH. Sasebo JAS's President Kazuo Oniki and several members visited the JASH office for discussions. At that meeting, Mr. Oniki stated his desire to become closer to JASH because of our noted educational and cultural exchange programs and our position in Hawaii close to the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. JASH hosted an evening dinner reception at the Natsunoya Teahouse that evening. Fourteen JASH members, including JASH Chair Sharon Weiner and several Directors attended. JASH Director and Sister Society Committee Chair Mike Leineweber welcomed the Sasebo visitors, followed by JASH President Ed Hawkins.
Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Oniki agreed to discuss potential future cultural and educational exchanges. The Sasebo JAS will return to Japan and offer proposals.
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| L-R) JASH members talk with Sasebo JAS members over dinner at Natsunoya Teahouse; Group photo of dinner party members in front of Natsunoya. |
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Past Events 2011
Past Events 2010
Japanese Translations of Recent Events
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