L.B. Delegates Celebrate 50th in Yokkaichi, Japan

The 50th Anniversary celebration events kicked off in Yokkaichi, Japan on October 17.  Seven delegates from the Long Beach-Yokkaichi Sister City Association (LBYSCA), Jeanette Schelin (Board President), Yoko Pusavat (Board Vice President), Victor Fukuhara (Board Treasurer); and Board members, Elisa Turien, Nico Turien, Aki Vaughn and Mike Vaughn, left LAX on October 14. Although they were delayed in Tokyo due to a typhoon and arrived 30 hours late, the delegates immediately started their scheduled events seamlessly and on time thanks to the city’s well-organized and efficient team of young staff.

First on the itinerary was a meeting with Mayor Toshiyuki Tanaka at City Hall.  As they entered the City Hall building, the delegates were overwhelmed when they were greeted by many children waving Japanese and American flags. Jeanette Schelin and Mike Vaughn, the official representative of Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, were presented floral bouquets and posed for press photographers.

Mayor Tanaka and Yokkaichi City Council Vice Speaker Kaneyuki Takeno, warmly received the delegates in a beautiful room overlooking the city.  Unfortunately, Speaker Kazuma Doi, was not present due to the death of his father, and our condolences are extended to Mr. Doi and his family.

The 10-day trip included a Welcome banquet, tour of the Port building, and visits to the Long Beach Park and the Yokkaichi City Hospital. Also on the itinerary were cultural visits to observe a tea ceremony at the Tea House Shisui-An; making pottery (Bankoware, is Yokkaichi’s renown pottery) at Banko no Sato Kaikan; visiting a tea plantation in Suizawa and tasting tea at the Green Tea Cafe; observing a performance dance, “Suwa Odori”, at the Ashimida Shrine; visiting the open farmer’s market at Jizen Bashi Market; and a one-day trip to the Ise Museum and and inner and outer shrines of Ise Shrine, and Mikimoto Pearl Island in Toba City.

At the 50th Anniversary Ceremony, Jeanette Schelin presented a replica of the Queen Mary to Mayor Tanaka and Mike Vaughn received the Yokkaichi Honorary Citizen Award.  The all women’s choir, “Kyo” entertained with a Japanese song and “Amazing Grace” in English. Entertainment at the 50th Anniverary banquet included an exquisite classical dance by Yoshiko Asanuma and an exciting and rousing performance by Suwa Daiko.

The tour of the Toshiba Factory was very impressive as were visits to various schools. At Akatsuki Middle/High School, the delegates met Principal Kazanari Muto, a 1989 Yokkaichi Trio Teacher and YEF Matt Jones. Each delegate gave a Powerpoint presentation to the students about the diversity of the U.S., California and Long Beach.  At Minato High School they observed one of our seven YEFs currently assistant teaching in Yokkaichi, Bryan Duran. A delightful time was spent at Yokkaichi High School where each delegate was given a small group of students to interact in English only.

A symposium at the Yokkaichi Civic Center on “Community and Neighborhood” sponsored by the Neighborhood Community Association in Yokkaichi was very interesting  and informative.  On the panel was Long Beach Neighborhood Resource Center representative, Will Cullen.  It was good to see the dedication of the Yokkaichi citizens who volunteer services to assist the aged population.

One of the highlights was attending the 2nd Annual Family Music Contest at the Yokkaichi Culture Hall.  Fifteen talented musical families from all over Japan competed for cash prizes.  There were many deserving families and the panel of judges were faced with a difficult decision, but in the end awarded first place to the Watsushi family of four classical musicians.

The 10 days in Yokkaichi was a trip of a lifetime and the Long Beach delegates reluctantly returned home on October 23rd. The food, the beautiful city and most of all, the graciousness and hospitality of the wonderful people of Yokkaichi will never be forgotten.

Arigatou gozaimasu, Yokkaichi City!

.