KAKEHASHI – LA Armenian American Young Leaders Delegation Event
2024/12/20
On Dec. 11, 2024, the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America and the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles co-hosted an event featuring a presentation by the LA Armenian American Young Leaders Delegation, which traveled to Japan from October 22-29 on the KAKEHASHI Project, sponsored by the Government of Japan.
Led by Diocesan Program Director Diran Avagyan, the delegation members included Mike Dermendjian, Nareg Ghookasian, Candace Karasarkisian, Ani Nalbandian, and Delilah Shahbazian.
The evening began with special remarks by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Consul General of Armenia Karen Israyelyan, and Consul General of Japan Kenko Sone, followed by the delegation presentation. Special guests at the event included Glendale City Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian and U.S. Congressmember-elect Laura Friedman. The evening also featured performances by the Sound of Children Choir and koto player Saeko Kujiraoka.
The reception that followed the program included Armenian and Japanese food and beverages. For dessert, melon pan provided by Okayama Kobo was especially chosen to signify the Japan-Armenia friendship. Melon pan, said to have been created by Armenian baker Ivan Sagoyan in 1910 while employed at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, is a much-loved item throughout Japan. Additional Japanese food served at the event included sushi, karaage (fried chicken), and wagyu beef - a favorite of the KAKEHASHI members in Japan. Saxophonist David Petrosyan provided festive music during the reception.
Led by Diocesan Program Director Diran Avagyan, the delegation members included Mike Dermendjian, Nareg Ghookasian, Candace Karasarkisian, Ani Nalbandian, and Delilah Shahbazian.
The evening began with special remarks by His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Consul General of Armenia Karen Israyelyan, and Consul General of Japan Kenko Sone, followed by the delegation presentation. Special guests at the event included Glendale City Councilmember Ardy Kassakhian and U.S. Congressmember-elect Laura Friedman. The evening also featured performances by the Sound of Children Choir and koto player Saeko Kujiraoka.
The reception that followed the program included Armenian and Japanese food and beverages. For dessert, melon pan provided by Okayama Kobo was especially chosen to signify the Japan-Armenia friendship. Melon pan, said to have been created by Armenian baker Ivan Sagoyan in 1910 while employed at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, is a much-loved item throughout Japan. Additional Japanese food served at the event included sushi, karaage (fried chicken), and wagyu beef - a favorite of the KAKEHASHI members in Japan. Saxophonist David Petrosyan provided festive music during the reception.