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April 2004 General Committee Meetings:
None Sub Committee Activities: *
Nikkei Matsuri Ralph Butterworth and Gloria Stern
have coordinated the preparation for this program. The date of the event is
Sunday May 2. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth Bob Green prepared information
requested by the Nikkei Matsuri group for their web site Planning underway for booth details
and signage. *
Planning Group met at the home of Gloria Stern to settle on final activities plan for FY 03-04. Original was submitted to PN leaders in the fall. Gloria Stern has begun planning the activities required to sponsor a 50th Anniversary celebration with Okayama. It is hoped to interleave with the other notable dates in the Pacific Neighbors calendar. Other
Activities: In January, Kazuko Miura was personally invited to the home of the San Francisco Japanese Consul to join in the celebration of the New Year (Shin Nen Kai). This year, beginning in April (the Japanese fiscal year) there will be a new Consul. The recent Consul is moving on to a new assignment. He came to San Francisco from London England. His wife and daughter were with him here, an older child had remained in England to finish school. Kazuko is well known by the Consulate office for her work with Pacific Neighbors and Okayama. *
Member Outreach This newsletter will be issued
every 3 months. For a copy, please send email address or, if none, a fax number
or mailing address. A web site for the Okayama
Committee is in development. The URL will be: An Okayama committee membership reminder
and recruiting letter has been created by K. Miura with the expectation
of adding members. Mailing and E-mailing will be in early April. *
Public Activities John Lozano reports that there was
a successful exchange by 18 Okayama students to Silvercreek and Homestead High.
He also reported that a group from Silvercreek has gone to Okayama during
spring break. Another Homestead High group will be visiting Japan in the
summer, but will not be going to Okayama. Bob Green gained agreement with the
City of Okayama to sponsor the visit of a local resident to Okayama.
The target date is the fall of 2004. A subcommittee is being formed
to set the program and solicit applications. *
Future events: May 2 (Sunday), Japantown Nikkei Matsuri, Okayama Committee will sponsor and staff a food booth. 9:30 - 4:00. Come out and have fun and lend a hand while you’re there. Call Ralph Butterworth (224-8365) for details. May 10 (+ Week of) Dedication of new
gate at Kelly Park Japanese Friendship Garden. Early evening. Contact
Joe Hedges at the City of San Jose (277-3439) for details. A delegation
from Okayama will attend. The Okayama committee is planning a reception.
Call Kazuko Miura (249 3939) for details. *
Other Japan related items In March we noted the 150th
anniversary of the first agreement between the US and Japan. This was not a
trade agreement and the US pressured Japan to sign. But the result is what
President Bush said: "Today, America has no closer ally than Japan and our
alliance brings peace, stability and hope for a better future to people of the
two countries and around the world." In April, the Cherry Blossom Festival
in Washington DC will be the largest ever held. Beginning with the gift of
several thousand trees, there are currently 3750 cherry trees blooming near the
Washington Monument and reflecting pool. In March there was a display of
very old Japanese scroll paintings at the Silicon Valley Asian Art Center
located near Saratoga Ave and Stevens Creek at 3777 Stevens Creek (Central
Bldg). Several travel agents are offering
Spring and Fall trips to Japan. Bob Green comments he wants to go on
a "hanabi" (fireworks) tour or an "Iron Chef" tour.
He thinks the Hanabi displays (up to 240,000 devices!!!) rival any in
the world. The reason for Hanabi?: It’s summer and it’s
hot! The Iron Chef series is still playing on the Food Channel (although
the series is no longer produced in Japan). It is noted that in 1997,
we noticed that one of the competitors was the head chef at the Okayama
International Hotel where the Pacific Neighbors 40th Anniversary
visit stayed. Anyone else? Pacific
Neighbors news President Dennis King assisted by Adel Olivera worked hard to complete the remaining documentation for the San Jose contract. The City is in agreement with the plans for all of the groups. Pacific Neighbors is fortunate to be able to continue with City funding. Plans for the fiscal year 2005 (beginning in July) will have to be created soon.
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