2017.07.06 Wrapping Up Another Successful Grassroots Summit in Nara!
The Japan -America Grassroots Summit 2017 in Nara Prefecture successfully ended on July 3 after seven days with 109 participants from various parts of America. Additional post-summit programs continued through 7/16, including the Post Summit Optional Programs, Georgia high school students’ visit to Kurobe City, and a special program for students of University of Texas. The participants made many Japanese friends and returned to America with unforgettable memories.
6/28 Opening Ceremony
After the Local Tours, the Opening Ceremony was held at the Kinsho Hall of Todai-ji Temple where 220 people attended.
Koukei Kitakawara
Chairperson, Nara Grassroots Summit Executive Committee
Yoshihiro Umemori
Director General, Tourism and Economic Bureau of Nara City Government
Allen S. Greenberg
The U.S. Consul General, Osaka-Kobe
Yasufumi Morita
Director General, Tourism Bureau of Nara Prefectural Government
Masaharu Kohno
Chairman, CIE
Matthew Calbraith Perry
Descendant of Commodore Perry
Globe Exchange by descendants of John Manjiro and Captain Whitfield
Kinsho-Hall of Todai-ji Temple
6/28 Opening Reception
The Opening Ceremony was followed by the Opening Reception at Nara Royal Hotel. Jason P. Hyland, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of U.S. Embassy Tokyo also joined the reception. The high school students from Macon-Bibb County, GA, made a brilliant presentation about the civil and human rights, and received a thunderous ovation.
Jason P. Hyland
Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of U.S. Embassy Tokyo
Presentation by the students of Macon-Bibb County
With “Sento-kun”, Nara official character
Delicious Nara cuisines
6/29 – 7/2 Local Sessions
10 Local Sessions were organized in 9 cities, towns and villages in Nara prefecture. The American participants enjoyed the 4 day program from 6/29 with various cultural exchanges and activities, home-staying at local family’s house.
Wearing ancient Kimono
Mochi pounding
We planted rice!
Made Japanese scarecrow!
Visit to local high school
At the oldest Sake brewery, Imanishi Shuzou
7/2 Closing Ceremony
After the Local Session, in the afternoon of 7/2, American participants, host families, and volunteers gathered at Nara Kasugano International Forum “I-RA-KA” where the Closing Ceremony was held.
350 people attended to the Closing Ceremony held in the Noh Theatre of “I-RA-KA”
Shogo Arai
Governor, Nara Prefecture
Advisor, Nara Grassroots Summit Executive Committee
Matthew Krebs
Director of CIE-US
Yasuyuki Tsuyama
Deputy Mayor of Nara City
Short reports by the Key Persons of the Local Sessions
7/2 Closing Reception
After the Closing Ceremony, the last event, the Closing Reception was held in the Japanese garden of “I-RA-KA”. The American participants, volunteers and host families enjoyed some attractions, and were hugging and hand-shaking each other as this became the place to say good-bye.
Arata Nishida
Vice-chairperson, Nara Grassroots Summit Executive Committee
Chair of Junior Chamber International Nara
Yasuhiro Nakanishi
Executive Director of Nara Prefectural Government Tourism Bureau
Closing Reception venue was the Japanese gardenTaiko performance by “Asuka-gumi”
Time to say good-bye to friends in Nara
Exchange the SNS addresses
Taking a selfie
Taiko experience
Kanji Kitamura
Member of Nara Grassroots Summit Executive Committee
Chief Director, Japan America Society of Nara