Lots of Kitakata Dignitaries

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

Each of the students were assigned to give a gift to a different person. Here Cameron gives a gift to Koichiro Karahashi, the President of the International Association. Sensei taught Cameron how to say this is a boring gift but please accept it. All of the Japanese roared with approval when he said it.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

Todd gives a gift to Kene Uriu, the Secretary General of both the Chamber of Commerce and the International Association.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

Later we met with the Mayor of Kitakata. Miki gives a gift to the Mayor, Shinya Yamaguchi. To the right is the Superintendent of Education, Kazuyoshi Sugai.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

We then went to Ganjoji, a Buddhist temple that is over 340 years old.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

The grounds were beautiful.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

Our guides today are Jiro Sato and Noriko as seen with Haley and Smith Sensei.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

Later Meghanne presented Noriko with a gift. Noriko is the coordinator and Kitakata event planner for this trip. (Earlier we presented Jiro Sato with a gift, but I forget who presented it and I did not get a photo.)

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

We had lunch at the Rotary Club meeting. There are 75 members in the Kitakata area and 50 were in attendance today. Here Haley presents a gift to Kenichi Sato the President of the Kitakata Rotary Club.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

That afternoon we toured a sake factory owned by Mr. Karahashi who is also the President of the Chamber of Commerce as noted above.

From Kitakata Day 1 and 2

Lastly we went to the Kinomoto where lacquer-ware is created and decorated. They let us all paint a wind chime (bell). Here Alyssa shows off her effort.

It is now almost 10 pm and time for bed and so o-yasumi nasai.