ARIGATO Event

The Consulate General of Japan, along with six Japanese organizations in Los Angeles, hosted a public appreciation event, called ARIGATO.  Held at the Noguchi Plaza at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo, the event aimed to thank the people of Southern California for their outpouring of love and support to Japan after the Great East Japan Earthquake struck on March 11 this year.  Over 400 people attended.

Consul General Ihara addressed an audience that included state and local officials and their representatives, members of the Consular Corps, including Dean and Consul General of Argentina in Los Angeles, Hon. Jorge T. Lapsenson, civic leaders, L.A. County Fire Department Urban Search & Rescue Team members, and many Japan supporters (click here for CG Ihara’s speech text).  The Mayor of Riverside, Hon. Ronald Loveridge, spoke of how his city mourned the destruction wreaked upon Sendai, their sister city for over 50 years.  They sprung to action, raising awareness and sending a delegation to donate funds to their longtime partners and friends.  Other state and local officials, including Los Angeles City Council members Jan Perry and Tom LaBonge and Deputy Mayor of Los Angeles Aileen Adams gave remarks. 

In an effort to highlight the heavily-hit Tohoku area and offer moral support, sake from Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi prefectures – the three prefectures that comprise Tohoku – was poured by members of those prefectural organizations in Southern California.  Snacks were also provided by the prefectural organizations as well as the Japan Business Association of Southern California.

Emcees Lane Nishikawa and Helen Ota narrated selected episodes that highlighted relief efforts, both in Japan and here in Southern California.  They recounted stories from the U.S. military, Riverside’s activities on behalf of Sendai, and even of a couple who did not cancel their plans but visited Japan for the first time after the earthquake.  Musical performances were given by Nanka Yutaro and the Gary Fukushimai Trio, and guitarist Soichi Muraji.  Large flat screen monitors were set up to play images of hope and thanks recorded by Japanese in the affected areas.

On behalf of the Japan Business Association of Southern California, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, the Japan Prefectural Association of Southern California, and the Los Angeles offices of the Japan Foundation, Japan External Trade Organization, and Japan National Tourism Organization, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles extends a sincere ARIGATO to each and every person involved in the planning, preparation and execution of this event, as well as the people of Southern California for their friendship to and solidarity with Japan, especially in these past six months.

This event was the last official function for Consul General Junichi Ihara.  He and his wife departed Los Angeles for Tokyo on September 8.