Programs
2/2006 Okayama Musician/Teacher Visits San Jose
and San Jose Youth Symphony
The Okayama Committee supported the visit of Ms. Eriko Ono,
musician and teacher at the Okayama Youth Orchestra. Ms. Ono, a Bassoonist,
received graduate training in the US. She attended various activities
and worked directly with the San Jose Youth Symphony (www.sjys.org)
under the guidance of Ms. Charlotte Powers, SJYS Board
Chair. Ms. Powers arranged the schedule for Ms. Ono so that she gained
insight into SJYS organization, methods and challenges. She also saw
many community outreach programs in the schools. It is likely that each
organization had some information to share. You may remember that 86
musicians came from the Okayama Youth Orchestra in 2000, presenting
a joint concert at the (then new) Mexican Heritage Center.
Ms. Powers, formerly a San Jose City Councilperson has
long been involved with musical programs, especially as associated with
youth. As a teacher, she personally forwarded youth musical programs.
Ms. Ono commented favorably on the overall quality of
the Youth Symphony participants, their skill and their attitude. She
hopes to instill that level of performance in Okayama. She also commented
on the friendly and gracious people that she met.
Ms. Gloria Stern graciously offered Ms.
Ono home stay during her visit. While Ms. Ono was staying at Gloria's
home, members of the Okayama Committee sponsored a welcome event which
was well attended. During the event, Ralph Butterworth
showed some video tapes from the 30th Anniversary of the San Jose/Okayama
relationship as were taken in Japan (1986). Bob Green
is transferring those tapes to DVD format for preservation and other
usage in the future for the 50th Anniversary next year. While she was
here, Ms. Ono spent a day with Chair Kazuko Green, traveling in the
area as as far south as Monterey (Aquarium) and Carmel. A visiting student,
Ms. Yuki Masuda joined. She also attended the Pacific
Neighbors Board Meeting at San Jose City Hall.
Upon departing San Jose, Ms. Ono traveled to San Francisco,
transported by an Okayama Committee member and she was seen off at San
Francisco airport upon her departure 2/26. When available, we will post
some pictures.
Our Special Thanks to Charlotte Powers
for her excellent support of this exchange and to the members of the
San Jose Youth Symphony who are busy preparing for a joint concert for
the Dublin Sister City organization in March. (Can
we guess around St. Patrick's Day?) Actually:
March 11, 2006
7:30pm
Side-by-Side Concert with the Dublin Ireland Youth Symphony
San Jose Civic Auditorium
145 West San Carlos Street
www.sjys.org
Earlier in February, Mr. Hisashi Matsuda,
a business person and current Board Chair of the Okayama Youth Orchestra
will visit San Jose. He will discuss several projects that may add to
the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Okayama Committee and the San
Jose-Okayama relationship. Mr. Matsuda is a supporter of the Sister
Cities efforts and is also involved in the Sister Rotary program with
Okayama-San Jose.
[cool note: Ms. Ono's email address includes "bassooner-or-later"
]
2/2005 Okayama Committee: Okayama Citizen Exchange
Program
The committee selected Mr. Eugene Sakai, a local architect
and current member of the San Jose City Arts Council to spend a week
in Okayama. The basis for this selection is his interest in city planning,
public art, his contribution on the Japanese Friendship Garden Gate
Project. His ideas on the development of city center makes a good topic
for this person to person exchange. The City of Okayama will be hosting
his visit which begins today. The Okayama Committee has paid for his
transportation to Japan from fund raising projects
Okayama Committee Chair Kazuko
presents travel papers to Eugene Sakai, local architect.
|
Okayama Committee Person to Person
Exchange,
Mr. Eugene Sakai
Spring 2005
View
Presentation from Mr. Sakai
Go
to Photos
|
Exchange chair Bob congratulates
Eugene Sakai. |
If you are interested in participating in such a visit
in the next year, please contact Bob Green (bob.green@bgai.com) for
more information
35+ Adult Women's Choral Members visit
Members of a choral group from Okayama visited the Bay Area
to attend and perform at the San Francisco Cherry Blossom Festival,
April 23 and 24,2005. The all female group are in their 50s and 60s.
Welcome: Youkoso. They performed in San Jose Japantown, YuAiKai center
and later at a special greeting for them at the teahouse in the Japanese
Friendship Garden. Finally they toured the Garden and took a quick peek
at the San Jose Historical Museum, next to the Garden. We made them
eat pizza but they didn't seem the wear for it. Members of a local Mexican
Folk Dance group kindly performed for all at the teahouse. Our thanks
to all of those who supported this visit and especially to the Parks
Department for their kind support of our use of the teahouse. And to
God for giving us a wonderful spring day with temperature in the low
70s with great sunshine.
Success for the 2005 Nikkei Matsuri May 1, 2005
The Okayama Committee ishad it's major it's fund raising booth at the
Nikkei Matsuri, located in San Jose's Japantown on Sunday, May 1, 2005.
As is our habit, we served gyoza (pot stickers) and sold water. Big
thanks to Gloria Stern and Ralph Butterworth
for their tireless support of this event.
Other
Photos & Record of Events
We are seeking photos of the reception dinner for the
City of Okayama Council Members in May. Please contact us if you have
any to share. Especially we want a picture of the Okayama Committee
sign at Casa Vicky Restaurant.
Membership
Please be sure to become a member of the Okayama Committee.
Individual dues are $15 and family dues are $25. What
a Bargain !!!
Use the form under the "Join Us" tab.
Pacific Neighbors News
The City of San Jose and Pacific Neighbors are currently
working on the 2006-2007 City support contract.
Board Meetings have moved to the Rotunda of the New City
Hall. The meeting is every 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 pm. The meeting location
is in one of the meeting rooms at the southeast corner of the Rotunda
building.
