With the arrival of the Hyack Festival's international parade, the streets of New Westminster were filled with the lively shouts of the crowd for the first time in a long while! On Saturday, May 28th, at 11:00 AM, under clear skies and perfect weather for a parade, the energetic Japanese team marched along in a friendly and harmonious manner, embodying the spirit of hospitality and delighting the spectators along the route.
The Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce (JCCOC), which plays an active role in "connecting Canada and Japan" through business, education, culture, and tourism, led Team JAPAN in the parade. The reason for our participation this time was that Karen Baker-Magroty, a director of our Chamber, was the former chairperson of the Hyack Festival Committee, and at the same time, it was also in preparation for the 60th anniversary of the sister city relationship between New Westminster and Moriguchi City in Osaka, which will be celebrated next year.
On the day of the event, a total of 100 people participated in the parade, led by the Bankaho Sakura-kai (representative: Kenji Seino), the Tetsu Taiko (founded by Doug Masuhara) junior team, and members of GO Taiko (a valuable youth group). Board member Junichi Tajiri, who has experience appearing in popular TV dramas, demonstrated bushido to the audience in traditional hakama attire. In addition to members from the Japanese community, students from the Middle East and South America from SELC language schools also participated. The team, composed of multiple cultures and generations, celebrated a diverse and inclusive team spirit.
During the parade, led by staff members carrying the Chamber of Commerce's banner, Sammy Takahashi, Chairman of the Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce, drove a Nissan Figaro convertible, conveying the spirit of Japan's proud automotive industry to the spectators along the route. Board member Mari Kato held a megaphone to encourage the marching team, and the Canadian national anthem, "O Canada," resonated throughout the sky.
This was the first time in about three years that the Bankaho Sakurakai had carried a portable shrine. The shrine, which was unveiled for the first time in this parade, was a gift from Wakayama City more than 30 years ago and had been stored at the Vancouver Japanese Language School without being carried by anyone. However, with the aim of using it for local events and promoting Japanese culture, repair work had been underway since the fall of 2019 with the help of local volunteers.
For this parade, Mr. Kiyono, the representative of Bankaha Sakura-kai, along with Mr. Hayato Ogawa (representative of Ogawa Landscape Design) and Mr. Taro Kogure (representative of Ko-Bo Enterprise Inc.), worked tirelessly every day to meticulously prepare the portable shrine. On the day of the parade, the portable shrine, adorned with cherry blossoms, was a "flower shrine" that evoked images of "cherry blossoms blooming at a shrine" and "Japanese cherry blossom viewing," and it beautifully adorned the parade along with the participants who were wearing yukata and cherry blossom-colored happi coats.
With energetic shouts of "Yoi, yoito!" and smiles, the portable shrine energized the spectators along the route and became a symbol of the only Japanese team in the internationally diverse parade.
"The portable shrine, which will once again see the light of day by being unveiled on this grand stage, will surely bring smiles and joy to many people," said Representative Kiyono with a radiant smile.
Testu Taiko Society was founded as Steveston Temple Taiko and was the first taiko group organized in Richmond, British Columbia. Its subsidiary, Go Taiko, is the second youth taiko group established in the Vancouver area. Our organization began with the desire to pass on the fundamental "spirit" that is central to traditional Japanese culture to future generations. We are grateful to our predecessors and seniors, and we carry on their spirit with the hope of passing it on to the next generation.
Doug, one of the founders of the organization, commented, "It was truly wonderful to see the spectators along the roadside waving their arms and applauding, and swaying and dancing to the beat of the drums." He continued, "They must have been surprised to see a portable shrine being carried up and down and drums beating in New Westminster, the former state capital. But it was truly impressive to see everyone smiling, cheering, and clapping in welcome."
Adult drummer Man Way said, "The parade reflected Canada's inclusiveness and multiculturalism, with parade participants and spectators all celebrating together as one. It was challenging to keep my feet firmly planted and maintain my balance on the unfamiliar truck, but it was fun. I was drawn into the world of drum rhythms and hit with all my might."
"When the parade team entered Queen's Park, the final destination, leader Doug gave a thumbs-up with both hands, a sign for 'well done,' and the team responded with loud cheers and huddled together. It was a moment filled with an indescribable sense of accomplishment and joy," he said.
Amid concerns about community estrangement due to an aging population, declining birthrate, and changing forms of Japanese immigration, this parade participation reaffirmed the connections within the Japanese community and between Canadian society and Japan. Our Vice President, Casey Wakabayashi, expressed his enthusiasm for future Japan-Canada exchange activities, saying, "We hope to continue developing cultural and exchange activities that everyone can enjoy and engage in, by strengthening our connections with even more local organizations."
Reference supplement
◇Vancouver Mikoshi Sakurakai Society
www.vancouversakurakai.com
◇Tetsu Taiko Society
https://www.vancouvertaiko.ca/vancouver-taiko-groups/tetsu-taiko/
◇Japan-Canada Chamber of Commerce
https://jc-coc.org
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