Sending warm wishes from the KCC office in Sannomiya on this chilly and rainy Autumn evening.

This is a summary of a recent KCC event from the Office of the Secretariat.

By informal invitation of the 青年団 (community youth organization), members of the Kansai Consular Corps participated in Ikuno Ward’s (Osaka Prefecture) Autumn Festival Danjiri Matsuri on October 15, 2015.
KCC members were warmly welcomed by the organization’s leaders and community members, including Mr. Hidemi Asakura (朝倉 秀実, 大阪府議会議員), Representative of the Osaka Prefectural Assembly and Ikuno-ku community resident.

The Kansai Consular Corps was represented that evening by Mr. Muhammed Naseer, Consul of Pakistan-Osaka, along with several guests. Mrs. Kitakado and Mrs. Yasunari, residents of Ikuno Ward, kindly guided Consul Naseer and our group through the bustling, energetic crowds. They explained the history of the festival as well as the meaning of the various objects and Danjiri used in the matsuri.

The evening was action-packed. As drums furiously pounded in the background, children of competing neighborhood teams chanted. KCC participants were invited to wear Japanese Happi and climb onto the Danjiri for photos.
In addition to the parade and the performances, one local family (the Okada Family) invited KCC members to their home for sushi dinner and a rest. KCC members were therefore able to experience Japanese-style hospitality inside a 300 year old home. Mrs. Okada gave us a brief explanation of some architectural features which are no longer used in modern homes. Participants were able to share information about their respective countries, and new friendships were formed.

Before the festival ended, KCC members also payed their respects to the local shrine.

The KCC would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to our gracious hosts in Ikuno-ward for a memorable evening!

Link to the Ikuno-ku youth group: http://四條青年団.net/