Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Japanese Culture Night!
On November 12th, the Edmonds Sister City hosted an exciting night of cultural learning at the Francis Anderson Center. The event feature Taiko Drum performers, Edmonds Community College students and a performer of Japanese traditional musical instruments. More than 150 people were in attendance. Thanks to all who made this evening a fun time of learning about the traditions of Japan! 
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Upcoming Kabuki Lecture & Performance
The Consulate-General of Japan in Seattle, in cooperation with the Seattle Cherry Blossom and Japanese Cultural Festival Committee, is pleased to announce a Seattle presentation of the traveling Kabuki lecture and performance with lead actors Nakamura Kyozo and Nakamura Matanosuke of the world-renowned Shochiku Company.
19th October Monday 19:00-
Tickets only $10/20
Please come together with your family and friends.
And Please tell your neigbors that the Kabuki is coming.
It's rare opportunity.
Please check these web-sites.
http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/japanese/culture/kabuki.htm
http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/culture/kabuki_e.htm
These pages have all information, where, when, what and how to buy ticket.
*There is also a related event.
'Kabuki Forum'
9th October Friday 18:00-
Free of charge 50 seats only (Pre-registration Required)
Contents; Lecture about Kabuki
Contact; culture@cgjapansea.org
http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/Japanese/culture/image/Kabuki_Forum_Flyer(web_only)_[1].pdf
19th October Monday 19:00-
Tickets only $10/20
Please come together with your family and friends.
And Please tell your neigbors that the Kabuki is coming.
It's rare opportunity.
Please check these web-sites.
http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/japanese/culture/kabuki.htm
http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/culture/kabuki_e.htm
These pages have all information, where, when, what and how to buy ticket.
*There is also a related event.
'Kabuki Forum'
9th October Friday 18:00-
Free of charge 50 seats only (Pre-registration Required)
Contents; Lecture about Kabuki
Contact; culture@cgjapansea.org
http://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/Japanese/culture/image/Kabuki_Forum_Flyer(web_only)_[1].pdf
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Today the Edmonds Sister City Commissioners hosted an informational booth at the Edmonds Saturday Market. There were may guests that stopped by to join a raffle for three gift baskets of Japanese 'goodies'. During the morning there were calligraphy demonstrations and in the afternoon children (& adults) learned how to make origami. Thanks to all that came by!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Genkissu Hekinan on July 25, 2009
Genkissu Hekinan is a summer festival. It was held on July 25, 2009. And various summer events are as well as held in others’ cities all over Japan for this summer period and their main activities are dance and firework etc. Japanese spend a hot and humid climate enjoying summer festivals.
In Genkissu Hekinan this summer, there were 86 groups composed of 4 sections who participated in the dance and who danced, wearing each interesting and colorful costumes on the main street. The dance groups are divided into 4 sections, children, folk songs tones, pop tones and original by the difference of the choreography. Each dance group had dance in turn for 30 minutes during evening time (4:35pm to 8:00) on the main street as a parade. They danced to madness and showed the visitors their dance with all smiles and vigor while it had been raining off and on during this festival. At the end of the dance, the judges announced prizes for 51 dance groups.
Others’ entertainments except it were held at thee stages. One is the main stage in front of the city hall, where two MC explained the dance groups dancing on the main street and their costumes to the visitors through microphones and on the back side, some of the dance performers in turn showed their original dance to the music performance Hekinan city brass band played. The rest were the two small stages in Hekinan Cultural Center. One was amateur bands performance and the other was dance ones. And a number of busy street stalls were lined up at the parking areas. Many people enjoyed watching the dance parade and the stages show and eating foods of street stalls.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Update for Students that were part of the 2009 Delegation
Dear Students and Family of the 2009 Hekinan Delegation,
As mentioned in our last communication we were holding out hope that the trip cancellation decision would prove reversible; however, unfortunately, it has not. This is most disappointing to us, and the Commission has been working hard to manage the ramifications of this decision, especially those financial. Despite numerous executive level conversations, we have been unable to move the airline or the travel agent to issue refunds, as they cite the tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Fortunately however, and most graciously, our Sister City Association in Hekinan has offered to assist with us refunding all fees paid in advance by our delegation.
As you can well imagine, the logistics of coordinating the refund between the two government entities is complex and will take time to process, but here is what we know now:
• You will receive a full refund of the fees you paid to the City of Edmonds to date. We will communicate the refund time line as soon as it is known.
• Since the refund is being provided by our Hekinan Sister City Association, Northwest Airlines will be holding a credit in your travelers' name which will be available for a destination and/or date change of your choice, pending airline and travel agent policies and restrictions.
As we look forward to next year’s activities, we are unable to foresee the landscape of international travel. If next year unfolds as we would like and we are able to send a delegation to Hekinan, we will be sure to contact you for your interest prior to announcing the trip to the public.
We apologize for any difficulties that this cancellation may have caused and hope to see your continued involvement with the Sister City Association. We recognize that you were looking forward to the trip, your furthering of cultural knowledge, and enhanced relationships with your fellow student travelers. Therefore, we will be working to provide you with local opportunities this summer for further interaction with your travel group. We will be in communication again soon.
Thank you,
Edmonds Sister City Commisioners
As mentioned in our last communication we were holding out hope that the trip cancellation decision would prove reversible; however, unfortunately, it has not. This is most disappointing to us, and the Commission has been working hard to manage the ramifications of this decision, especially those financial. Despite numerous executive level conversations, we have been unable to move the airline or the travel agent to issue refunds, as they cite the tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Fortunately however, and most graciously, our Sister City Association in Hekinan has offered to assist with us refunding all fees paid in advance by our delegation.
As you can well imagine, the logistics of coordinating the refund between the two government entities is complex and will take time to process, but here is what we know now:
• You will receive a full refund of the fees you paid to the City of Edmonds to date. We will communicate the refund time line as soon as it is known.
• Since the refund is being provided by our Hekinan Sister City Association, Northwest Airlines will be holding a credit in your travelers' name which will be available for a destination and/or date change of your choice, pending airline and travel agent policies and restrictions.
As we look forward to next year’s activities, we are unable to foresee the landscape of international travel. If next year unfolds as we would like and we are able to send a delegation to Hekinan, we will be sure to contact you for your interest prior to announcing the trip to the public.
We apologize for any difficulties that this cancellation may have caused and hope to see your continued involvement with the Sister City Association. We recognize that you were looking forward to the trip, your furthering of cultural knowledge, and enhanced relationships with your fellow student travelers. Therefore, we will be working to provide you with local opportunities this summer for further interaction with your travel group. We will be in communication again soon.
Thank you,
Edmonds Sister City Commisioners
Hekinan/Edmonds - 2009 Student Exchange Cancelled
It is with sad news, that Edmonds Commission received the following letter from our counterparts in Hekinan, Japan.
June 15th, 2009
The Honorable Gary Haakenson
Mayor
City of Edmonds
Dear Mayor Haakenson,
On behalf of the citizens of Hekinan, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your cooperation in the mutual exchange programs to you and the citizens of our sister city, Edmonds.
With the outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) virus, there were the confirmed cases in Japan, as you know.
Moreover, Influenza pandemic alert has been raised to Phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic." the Director-General of WHO said at the press conference on June 11th.
The City of Hekinan and the Hekinan Sister City Association have been preparing to execute the junior high & high school student exchange program. However, in view of the following points, we decided to discontinue 2009 students exchange programs, receiving Edmonds students and dispatching Hekinan students.
1. Statement by WHO Director-General on June 11th, 2009
2. In Aichi prefecture, the person who returned from the United States got new influenza A (H1N1) virus.
3. In Japan a person getting new flu must be isolated to a special medical institution for one week at least.
4. New influenza caused the people who will accept a visitor from foreign countries uneasiness.
5. The vicinity cities decided to cancel student's exchange program recently.
As a result of the repeated meeting between the City of Hekinan and Hekinan Sister City Association, we were forced to make a decision to discontinue 2009 exchange programs.
We are very sorry for the students and the people who have worked hard for the program.
We would most humbly like you to understand our situation and idea for Crisis-management and accept our decision.
Very truly yours,
Masanobu Negita
Mayor
The City of Hekinan
Masashi Kuroda
President
The Hekinan Sister City Association
June 15th, 2009
The Honorable Gary Haakenson
Mayor
City of Edmonds
Dear Mayor Haakenson,
On behalf of the citizens of Hekinan, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for your cooperation in the mutual exchange programs to you and the citizens of our sister city, Edmonds.
With the outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) virus, there were the confirmed cases in Japan, as you know.
Moreover, Influenza pandemic alert has been raised to Phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic." the Director-General of WHO said at the press conference on June 11th.
The City of Hekinan and the Hekinan Sister City Association have been preparing to execute the junior high & high school student exchange program. However, in view of the following points, we decided to discontinue 2009 students exchange programs, receiving Edmonds students and dispatching Hekinan students.
1. Statement by WHO Director-General on June 11th, 2009
2. In Aichi prefecture, the person who returned from the United States got new influenza A (H1N1) virus.
3. In Japan a person getting new flu must be isolated to a special medical institution for one week at least.
4. New influenza caused the people who will accept a visitor from foreign countries uneasiness.
5. The vicinity cities decided to cancel student's exchange program recently.
As a result of the repeated meeting between the City of Hekinan and Hekinan Sister City Association, we were forced to make a decision to discontinue 2009 exchange programs.
We are very sorry for the students and the people who have worked hard for the program.
We would most humbly like you to understand our situation and idea for Crisis-management and accept our decision.
Very truly yours,
Masanobu Negita
Mayor
The City of Hekinan
Masashi Kuroda
President
The Hekinan Sister City Association
Monday, May 11, 2009
Edmonds Delegate Alumni Event on Sunday May 17th, 2009
Please join us for this special Student Delegation Reunion night for all former delegates and their families to share stories, compare notes and to provide informal thoughts and feedback to the 2009 Student Hekinan/Edmonds delegates prior to their departure in July!
Meet with old friends, bring your photos and learn about volunteer opportunities for the 2009 Hekinan student delegation!
We look forward to meeting each of you and your families! We will be having a drawing for an iTunes gift card...you won't want to miss that!
Light snacks, coffee, tea provided!
Location: Coldwell Banker Bain at 108 5th AVE S Edmonds WA
Date: Sunday May 17th, 2009
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
RSVP: edmondssistercity@gmail.com
Meet with old friends, bring your photos and learn about volunteer opportunities for the 2009 Hekinan student delegation!
We look forward to meeting each of you and your families! We will be having a drawing for an iTunes gift card...you won't want to miss that!
Light snacks, coffee, tea provided!
Location: Coldwell Banker Bain at 108 5th AVE S Edmonds WA
Date: Sunday May 17th, 2009
Time: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
RSVP: edmondssistercity@gmail.com
Report from Hekinan
From Carl & Heather Jensen living & teaching in Hekinan - March 2009
The weather is growing milder and the cherry trees are beginning to blossom after a long and surprisingly windy winter in Hekinan. The winters here are much sunnier than in Edmonds, and there was no snow this year, but the winter wind sweeping down from the mountains and out to sea is a constant feature of life in Hekinan during these months. Everyone seems to welcome the change in seasons.
The end of March also brings the end of the Japanese school year. At the five Hekinan junior high schools, the 9th graders have graduated and scattered to their new high schools. In Japan, junior high school students don’t move en masse to their local high school; rather, they apply to various high schools and go to the best one that they can perhaps in Hekinan, at Hekinan High School or Hekinan Technical High School, or perhaps in one of the neighboring towns of Nishio, Kariya, or even the big city of Nagoya. Every morning, high school students from Hekinan head for the train station to take the train to school in another town, and students from other towns arrive on the train for their school day in Hekinan.
The Hekinan Sister City Association is preparing to send fifteen students to Edmonds for the student homestay exchange this summer. The students were selected just a couple of days ago, and will be preparing for their visit for the next few months. The student exchange is a very important part of the sister city program; at every school there are teachers and vice-principals who have travelled to Edmonds on one of the exchange programs, and they are consistently the teachers who have the best understanding of foreign cultures and who are the most welcoming of a foreign teacher in their midst! Likewise, the students who visited Edmonds last year have benefitted from the homestay. They are outgoing, open, and have a perspective that most junior high school students don't have. All of the families who hosted students last year have really made a big difference for their Hekinan students. Thank you again for your kindness in opening your homes to the students!
The weather is growing milder and the cherry trees are beginning to blossom after a long and surprisingly windy winter in Hekinan. The winters here are much sunnier than in Edmonds, and there was no snow this year, but the winter wind sweeping down from the mountains and out to sea is a constant feature of life in Hekinan during these months. Everyone seems to welcome the change in seasons.
The end of March also brings the end of the Japanese school year. At the five Hekinan junior high schools, the 9th graders have graduated and scattered to their new high schools. In Japan, junior high school students don’t move en masse to their local high school; rather, they apply to various high schools and go to the best one that they can perhaps in Hekinan, at Hekinan High School or Hekinan Technical High School, or perhaps in one of the neighboring towns of Nishio, Kariya, or even the big city of Nagoya. Every morning, high school students from Hekinan head for the train station to take the train to school in another town, and students from other towns arrive on the train for their school day in Hekinan.
The Hekinan Sister City Association is preparing to send fifteen students to Edmonds for the student homestay exchange this summer. The students were selected just a couple of days ago, and will be preparing for their visit for the next few months. The student exchange is a very important part of the sister city program; at every school there are teachers and vice-principals who have travelled to Edmonds on one of the exchange programs, and they are consistently the teachers who have the best understanding of foreign cultures and who are the most welcoming of a foreign teacher in their midst! Likewise, the students who visited Edmonds last year have benefitted from the homestay. They are outgoing, open, and have a perspective that most junior high school students don't have. All of the families who hosted students last year have really made a big difference for their Hekinan students. Thank you again for your kindness in opening your homes to the students!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
2009 Commission Objectives Set
The economy may be reeling, but the Edmonds Sister City Commission is not letting it get us down. We are as active as ever and excited to be implementing aggressive 2009 plans. Last year, we celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Edmonds/Hekinan relationship and we are appreciative of reconnecting with many of our former delegates, students and long term friends from Hekinan—and we hope to further develop those ties in 2009.
In February the Sister City Commission met and began planning for 2009. Unanimously the commission agreed that it was long over due to spend some time and effort in reaching out to the Edmonds community to remind them why our Sister City Commission is important and how it enriches our community—at many levels. As such, you will see many exciting events in addition to the annual exchange programs coming your way—giving you an opportunity to engage and share your international experiences!
Second to outreach, the Sister City Commission is a volunteer organization. Funding for all exchange programs is critical to our success and we will be actively looking towards our friends and partners in the community to help keep these programs going.
Please join us in spreading the word about what the commission is doing and get personally involved. Invite your friends and families to up coming cultural events, visit with us and rally your support when you visit us at local events like the Edmonds Saturday Market or the Taste of Edmonds. We look forward to working with all of you in 2009!
- Eric Radcliffe, Chair
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