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Consul General's News Letter From Houston |
Remarks by Consul-General Jota Yamamoto
for the reception co-sponsored by the Consulate
at the Asia Society Texas Center
to feature Dominic Walsh Dance Theater’s “UZUME”
on October 20, 2012
October 20, 2012
Dear Colleagues,
I am thrilled to co-sponsor this occasion and would like to thank Mr. Charles Foster, Ms. Martha Blackwelder, and all Texas Center staff, and many generous sponsors who made tonight possible. We all have witnessed the performance, and there is no need to make lengthy remarks on how wonderful it was. It was wonderful.
I would still like to mention three points. Throughout the performance, we have noticed the power of two Japanese jewels, Hana Sakai-san & Kensaku Satou-san; and a different kind of power possessed by Mr. Domenico Luciano; with the stage of Washi world, creation of Mari Omori-san, which was a bit brokered by my staff Koide-san. Mr. Dominic Walsh and his company have given the overall comprehensive image to such varying multi-cultural features. We have witnessed the very Houstonian collaboration, which is very fitting to Houston, the city of cultural diversities and inter-ethnic coexistence.
My second point is the Tundra, a pick-up. Did you know that the Toyota Tundra recently towed Space Shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles? There was some criticism raising the question why a symbol of American greatness would be towed by a “foreign competitor”? The response from the people of Texas was just & fair, and reassuring. They say that the Toyota Tundra, the product of a Japanese brand with many Japanese attributes, is the pick-up of Texans, made in San Antonio, made by the people getting together in San Antonio. They are proud of their Tundra, your Tundra which towed the American icon. Today’s performance and the applause that followed have just reminded me of this story.
Third, the performance has strengthened my conviction in a constant comment by the former US Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Thomas Schieffer, who is from Texas and is now in Fort Worth. He likes to see many more people understand that the Americans appreciate the Japanese people and the Japanese love the Americans.
I would like to thank Mr. Dominic Walsh and his dance theater. He made this very Houstonian collaboration possible, that is made in Texas, made by the people getting together in Houston. I believe that his idea of collaboration will tow thousands of people to the precious understanding: the Americans appreciate the Japanese, and the Japanese love the Americans.