ジャパン・フェスティバル昼食会でのスピーチ 2005年3月30日在ヒューストン日本国総領事 加茂佳彦
Thank you very much for your kind introduction, Shara. It delights me a lot that both Shara and I share the Osaka Expo experience of 1970. It was her first time to visit Japan. I as a young man went to the U.S. Pavilion to see a Moon Rock, a NASA treasure. 35 years later, Shara will come to see the Koi fish, some of Japan’s Jewels, rescued from a recent earthquake in Niigata, at the Japan Festival in Houston, NASA’s space city.
I would like to recognize the following members of our distinguished audience: Brad Richards, President of JASH, Glen Gondo, President-elect of JASH, Ryuichi Nakata, President of the Japan Business Association of Houston, J.J. Naoki, President of the Japan Association of Greater Houston, Toby Hines, President of Gulf States Toyota, Rick Dewees, City of Houston Parks Representative, Keiji Asakura, Festival Chairman, Beth Grunden, Koi Club Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is my great pleasure and honor to be here to say a few words at this luncheon celebrating the 12th Annual Japan Festival to be held on April 2nd and 3rd at the Japanese Garden in Hermann Park.
I feel very lucky that the first Japan Festival that I will enjoy in Texas will be the very best of all. This is good news for everybody because we don’t have to look any further. Thanks to the dedication and coordination of efforts of all of the parties involved, it has won acclaim and has firmly established itself as a Houston tradition by capturing the spirit of this international city. Houstonians love the Japan Festival where they can enjoy an amazingly wide variety of cultural activities and hands-on exhibitions, to say nothing of the tasty festival foods.
Nowadays, culture is dubbed as one of Japan’s strongest export commodities. Japanese Anime and Manga are Japan’s secret weapons to get young people interested in Japan and the Japanese language. The Japanese TV program, Iron Chef, has demonstrated the incredible world of Japanese culinary art. Sumo wrestling is now winning avid fans worldwide, while Judo has become an international marshal art. J-Pop Fever in Asia can be described as phenomenal. Japanese fashion designers have become the delight of connoisseurs everywhere.
The popularity of the Japanese culture is not surprising. It is beautiful, unique and fun. It has an aesthetic temperament and refinement, nurtured by time-honored tradition and is worthy of appreciation. Whether Japanese culture is cool or not, it has flourished well over the past 1000 years and I believe it will endure for the next 1000. Having said this, however, one of the most important agendas for Japanese culture in the 21st century is to branch out in many directions so that it maintains its vibrancy.
Sumo and Judo, for instance, are good examples. Sumo is Japan’s national sport. The original game rules are strictly observed, while its players have become more international. Judo is more flexible and can change its rules to make them more international. It has attracted many players throughout the world. Both the traditional way and adaptation make the sports flourish.
What I am trying to get at is that there are no rules for cultural interaction. In some cases Japanese culture can be adapted, if necessary, to local conditions and temperaments. The fusion of multi-cultures sometimes produces better results like, for instance, a Japanese Sushi lover might enjoy a California roll or an Ikenobo or Ohara Ikebana student might enjoy a little free expression in his or her flower arrangement. In other cases observing closely the authentic, traditional rules and practices is much preferred, as in the case of the Japanese tea ceremony.
The Houston Japan Festival is a little bit of both and is successful in providing a stage where tradition not only asserts itself, but meets and welcomes diversity. For the local Japanese community, the Japan Festival gives us an opportunity to feel proud of our roots and identity. It also reminds us of the importance of mutual understanding that goes beyond cultural differences in a city made up of rich cultural diversity.
The Japan Festival provides a great opportunity for cooperation among the three key organizations who organize this event every year. Obviously, the Japan America Society of Houston and the Japan Business Association of Houston, and more recently the newly-formed Japanese Association of Greater Houston have applied the world-famous very Japanese group-oriented work ethic to put on this festival every year. We at the Japanese Consulate appreciate these efforts and are happy and proud to be a part of these efforts this weekend and on other occasions.
The same appreciation goes to the generous sponsors and volunteers whose invaluable contributions make this event possible. They best demonstrate the spirit of the Japan Festival. Although their backgrounds differ, they all together represent goodwill and honor and promote Japanese culture in Houston. The cultural diversity of which Houston is so proud is enhanced by the Japan Festival. It connects Japan with Houstonians.
Before I say goodbye, I want to tell you that the other day I wrote to newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer to congratulate him on his appointment by President Bush. I told him that his number one job in Japan is to get a star Japanese baseball player, one each, for the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers.
Officially, perhaps, his immediate number one job in Japan is to help lift the restriction on U.S. beef import to the Japanese market. I suspect he will end up enjoying a Japanese baseball game and then eating nice rare steak from the United States in a Tokyo restaurant.
Enjoy the Festival this weekend! Thank you.