Remarks of Consul-General Hidenobu Sobashima on the occasion of presenting the Commendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan to Mr Toshinori Sakamoto on Tuesday 20 August 2013
Mr Toshinori Sakamoto and Members of the Sakamoto Family,
Councillor Kevin Louey of the Melbourne City Council,
Mr Nao Endo, Director of Japan Foundation Sydney,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honor and pleasure to present the Commendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan to Mr Sakamoto for the activities of Wadaiko Rindo.
Later I will read the text of the Commendation in Japanese which means in English the following:
Mr Toshinori Sakamoto.
You have contributed to the friendly relations between Japan and foreign countries by your efforts to promote cultural exchanges between Japan and Australia through music, and your accomplishments are significant.
Therefore, I pay my sincere respect to you and commend your accomplishments.
The 31st day of the seventh month of the 25th year of Heisei, that is 2013.
Fumio Kishida, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan.
In connection with the ranking of Melbourne as the world’s most liveable city, I have repeatedly said on various occasions that perhaps the collaboration and cooperation between the Japanese residents and Australian hosts here is also contributing to this liveability, that is the world’s best, economically and culturally in this multicultural society.
Mr Sakamoto and Wadaiko Rindo are among the most important persons and groups in this regard.
Mr Sakamoto established a Japanese drumming class in 1996.
Since 1997, he has performed and taught the Japanese drumming in Victoria and other various places all over Australia, as well as in Fiji, New Caledonia and China.
Mr Sakamoto and members of Wadaiko Rindo are performing around 100 times a year, having visited more than 1600 primary and secondary schools.
After the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Wadaiko Rindo, among other individuals and groups, was engaged in fund-raising activities to support the affected people.
I should like to avail myself of this opportunity to acknowledge also Ms Noriko Tadano and other musicians which are present here, as well as Ms Anne Norman, Ms Chiemi Shepherd and Goshu Miyake Daiko, among other individuals and groups, whose music performance I have actually enjoyed, for their contributions, too.
Today we are celebrating the accomplishments of Wadaiko Rindo who will play for us later.
Now I will read the text of the Commendation in Japanese and hand that letter to Mr Sakamoto.
(The Consul-General presents the letter of the Commendation of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan to Mr Sakamoto.)
Congratulations, Mr Sakamoto!
Congartulations, the Sakamoto family!
Congratulations, Wadaoko Rindo!
Thank you.