New US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy arrives at Japan!

[Shinpachi]

You are welcome, David

Caroline enjoys Kabuki!

Abe and his wife Akie invited Caroline and her husband Edwin to Kabuki theater in Tokyo on Saturday before his one week trip for Australia and New Zealand from Sunday.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbiKjAoV6-Y

 

[Shinpachi]

On July 11, Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, visited the Kansei Gakuin University in Nishinomiya City of Hyogo Prefecture to exchange opinions about importance of international exchange students. She visited Kansai Economic Federation in Osaka on the previous day.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bnrNrztMxk

 

[Shinpachi]

The U.S. Embassy Tokyo introduces Poetry Boxing which was held on May 22.
I was not familiar with this kind of event till I checked the video but interesting.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovNvyGA0GV4

 

[vikingBerserker]

I will say one thing, she stays busy. Thanks for the update!

 

[Shinpachi]

Thanks for your kind and getting-to-the-point comments as always, David

Frankly, our people's impression about her was worst in January when she unexpectedly blamed our fishery but, as long as she stays in promotion of exchange students or women's issues or visiting local cities for friendship, things are going as if nothing happened though, If I should be allowed to comment at this timing of 8 months after her arrival, some people are still skeptical about her nature for political and diplomatic issues. I think she and we are learning each other month by month.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I agree, the whole issue with your fishery was just silly.

 

[Njaco]

Shinpachi, I wanted to let you know that I have recently become hooked on NHK News here in the USA. They have alot of Japanese shows and interesting stories about Japanese culture. I love it.

They recently did a story on how they make butsudan for households. Amazing all the work that goes into the manufacture of one.

 

[Shinpachi]

Thank you for your kind comments again, David and Chris!

I don't watch NHK as it looked like a puppet, which had no its own analysis, of our government a few years ago but agree the NHK World is enjoyable even for us to understand ourselves
Thanks.

 

[Njaco]

I am sure that NHK is very generic for USA consumption but there are parts that are very interesting. It is a welcome change from the usual garbage on TV.

 

[Shinpachi]

Thanks for your kind comment about NHK, Chris.
It's interesting as I had no chance to know how it was accepted in the U.S.

 

[Shinpachi]

Caroline joined the memorial ceremony in Hiroshima this morning.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMqCkLmtEWw

Video files: View attachment 77_69th Anniversary Hiroshima(14_08_06).mp4

 

[Shinpachi]

Following Hiroshima, Caroline joined the memorial ceremony in Nagasaki today.
Tomihisa Taue, Mayor of Nagasaki City, questioned Abe's recent decision about the right of collective self-defense in his speech.
Abe was questioned the same issue by victims in Hiroshima 3 days ago.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I728r6kmnA

Video file: View attachment 78_Nagasaki(14_08_09).mp4

 

[Shinpachi]

One more news from Nagasaki.

On August 8, daughter of late Lt. Colonel Victor E. Delnore, Commander of the Allied Occupation Forces in Nagasaki who greatly contributed to rebuilding the city, Patricia visited the city to join a commemoration for her father prior to the memorial ceremony on the next day. She was born in Nagasaki during her father's mission.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64aQk3PBftQ

Video file: View attachment 79_Victor Delnore.mp4

 

[Shinpachi]

Caroline promotes exchange students hoping to double them by 2020.
She is really a hard worker!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUQsBljJG_c

Video file: View attachment 80_Exchange_students(14_09_14).mp4

 

[Shinpachi]

Caroline joined a local event "Tour de Tohoku" to encourage tsunami survivors today.
She is busy.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBfpIdJ4PfA

Video file: View attachment 81_Tour_de_Tohoku.mp4

 

[Shinpachi]

On 27th, Caroline and Ed visited Yonezawa City of Yamagata Prefecture to join festival celebrating the medieval load Yozan Uesugi whom her father JFK is said respected. People welcomed them enthusiastically.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSLeq_tyIj0

 

[vikingBerserker]

Very interesting, thanks!

 

[GrauGeist]

It's good to see that she is doing a good job as Ambassador!

 

[Shinpachi]

Thanks for your kind comments, David and GG

I think she is learning Japanese day by day as her pronunciation for "Arigato" sounds better and natural.

 

[Shinpachi]

On October 15, Caroline joined the 26th Praemium Imperiale Prize Ceremony.

As some might know well, the Nobel Prize does not cover these five arts of Painting, Sculpture, Architecture, Music and Film/Theater. The Praemium Imperiale was founded to cover these fields according to the last wishes of Prince Takamatsu (1905-1987), younger brother of Emperor Hirohito, in 1989 and this is the internationally acknowledged official prize.

Laureates this year,
Martial Raysse (France) for Painting, Giuseppe Penone (Italy) for Sculpture, Steven Holl (USA) for Architecture, Arvo Pärt (Estonia) for Music and Athol Fugard (South Africa) for Film/Theater.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SK5Uf2V-sc

Video file: View attachment 83_26th_Praemium Imperiale(14_10_16)_1.mp4