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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09062023 PACAB Laydown - Clerk fart'/r..,,i, Mg/a3 Seward City Council Meeting, Group Leader (Council Chairman) Speech and Gift Presentation Date: August 28, 2023 (Mon) 19:00 Place: Seward City Hall Good evening everyone. My name is Akemi Yokoyama, I am the leader of the Sister City 55th Anniversary Delegation group leader and chairman of the Obihiro City Council. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak here at this honorary setting during Seward' s city council meeting. [Interpretation: Chris CIR (same hereafter)] This year, we are welcome the 55th anniversary of the beginning of our sister city relationship. Since that time, our cities have deepened our bonds of sisterhood through numerous cultural exchange programs, such as the high school student exchange program and the presentation of mayor' s awards for our respective events. [Interp.] All of this is nothing less than the result of the enthusiasm and great efforts of the citizens of our cities and those present here. To everyone, I would like to express my deepest gratitude. IInterp.) I would like to present a gift to you, the people of Seward, to 12 express our hopes of a deeper relationship between our cities through this 55th anniversary delegation exchange. [Interp.] (Miura opens the scroll) This character is read as "michi" or "do", and it means "road", "path", or "way". It' s used in a number of words with different meanings. [Interp.] 1)A literal or figurative road or path that people travel across [Interp.] ()Discerning between right and wrong and taking the right path. A way of life. [Interp.] ©In Japanese culture, it' s used to represent mastering a specific art, such as "shodo" which means calligraphy, or "the way of writing", "kado" which means flower arrangement, or "the way of the flower", "sado" which is tea ceremony, or "the way of tea", and "budo" which is martial arts, or " the way of the warrior". [Interp.] Thanks to the "michi" founded by the people of Seward and Obihiro 55 years ago, we are here today and can look back on all the exchange we' ve had over the years. [Interp.] Through this gift, we express our devotion to continue developing the "michi" connecting us through our deep sisterly bonds, and guiding them to future generations. [Interp.] (scroll is passed from chairman Yokoyama --+ Mayor McClure) 1 2