NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

By J.K. Yamamoto--Japan’s consul general in San Francisco, Yasumasa Nagamine, and his wife, Ayako, returned to Japan on Aug. 9, ending their three-year tenure in Northern California.

They were posted in San Francisco for an unusually long time; most of their predecessors served only two years. During that time, they developed a network of friends and colleagues throughout the region.

More than 300 people attended a farewell dinner for the couple on July 21 at the Hotel Kabuki in Japantown, sponsored by 27 community organizations. June-ko Nakagawa, executive director of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, coordinated the event.

Noting that many people were unable to attend the sold-out event, emcee Benh Nakajo said, “We have come together, joined together, hearts in hand ... to give honor, respect and affection and to say in our own ways … a fond farewell … Consul General and Mrs. Nagamine, may you leave this place knowing how we have all so enjoyed your term here and take with you our best wishes for the best of health and much success in all your future endeavors, whatever and wherever they may be.”

John Noguchi, the city’s director of convention facilities, presented the consul general with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of Mayor Gavin Newsom.

San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi, whose district includes Japantown, praised the Nagamines. “They actually became one of us for the few years that they’ve been here. They’ve been integrated in a way that they can only teach other consul generals from across other lands that spend time in San Francisco. That means a great deal to us here in the community and of course at City Hall.”

Thanking the consul general for his interest and involvement in “the most amazing Japantown in the United States” and San Francisco’s sister-city relationship with Osaka, Mirkarimi said, “We will miss you and I hope that we shall continue to stay friends.”

Dianne Fukami, president of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, presented the Nagamines with a gift on behalf of the Nikkei community. “You both have worked so tirelessly during your stint here to really show what a part of the community you are, to strengthen the bonds between the U.S. and Japan,” she said.

The gift was a framed photo of the couple riding in the Cherry Blossom Festival’s Grand Parade. “On the frame are signatures from most of the 300 of us in this room,” Fukami said. “So we hope in the future when you go back to Japan and Tokyo, you will look at those, see our names, and remember the personal stories and the friendships that you made while you were in San Francisco.”

Referring to the ongoing celebration of the sesquicentennial of the Kanrin Maru’s arrival in San Francisco, she added, “There are many consul generals who have come and gone, but only one of them can say he was responsible for the 150th anniversary of the Kanrin Maru.” The ship accompanied Japan’s first diplomatic delegation to the U.S. in 1860.

Fukami also presented Ayako Nagamine with a bouquet and a copy of “Nikkei Potluck,” a cookbook published by the JCCCNC. “They say behind every great guy, there’s a wonderful woman, and we know that’s certainly true here,” Fukami said, noting, “Mrs. Nagamine has come to JCCCNC pretty regularly, and she participates in line dancing there. Not many consul generals’ wives do that. We have grown to love and be so fond of her … We hope that you’ve left a little bit of your heart in San Francisco.”

Other speakers included Hiroshi Haruki, president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California; Steve Matsuura, chairman of the Japan Society of Northern California; and Kaz Maniwa, vice chair of the U.S.-Japan Council, who presented a certificate from Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii).

Nagamine and representatives of the sponsoring organizations took part in a kagami-wari (sake barrel breaking) ceremony with Mikio Okada, chairman of the Hokka Nichibei Kai (Japanese American Association of Northern California), leading the toast.

Entertainment was provided by Chorale May, a male chorus that performs Japanese songs. The selections were “Nozomi no Shima,” a song about an eternal island; “Ware wa Umi no Ko,” a traditional school song; “Haruka na Tomo ni” (To My Friends Far Away); and “Furusato,” a school song about one’s hometown. Nagamine was invited to join the chorus on stage for the latter song.

Parting Words

In his farewell speech, Nagamine said, “For many years I attended banquets … Of course, the purpose of attendance is to get to know you people. So when I stand at the podium looking around, maybe the majority of the attendants are new people, so I exchange name cards and so forth. But after three years, this is really the first time I know each one of you.

“Normally, I think that it would be the consulate office that would invite all of you to a farewell dinner at the end of the consul general’s assignment. But somehow things are very special in San Francisco, and here it seems to be the tradition that the consul general is instead invited by all of his friends. My wife and I certainly have no complaints.”

In addition to expressing “very profound gratitude” to the dinner’s sponsors and organizers, the consul general thanked his staff, stressing that all of his accomplishments were the result of “teamwork”; and his wife, who was wearing a boot on one foot because of a sprained ankle. “Unfortunately, that slight injury will not allow us to postpone our departure,” he joked.

Nagamine arrived in San Francisco in September 2007, “in the midst of the excitement of the 50th anniversary of Osaka-San Francisco sister-city relation.” Since then, “with your help and support, this has been a very fulfilling tour of duty,” he said, outlining the four main objectives during his tenure.

The first was “to protect and support the interests of Japan and Japanese citizens abroad.” “I have been pleased from day one to enjoy support and close relationships with the many Japanese companies in this area … After the global recession hit in 2008, many businesses suffered, Japanese included, and faced restructuring and bankruptcy. Yet even with this enormous challenge, all in all Japanese business relations with California have been gradually expanding.”

One exception was New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. in Fremont, a joint venture between GM and Toyota that closed in April. “I was able to work with then-CEO (Kunihiko) Ogura towards a smooth transition,” Nagamine said. “NUMMI’s closure was a very difficult event, but I do feel that we were able to witness as smooth a process as possible given the situation.”

The second goal was “support for Japan-U.S. relations in this region.” Among the highlights he cited were the California-Japan Conference on Climate Change, held in conjunction with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s office in 2008; and presentations on science, technology, and innovation by Kazuo Inamori of Kyocera, Yotaro Kobayashi of Fuji Xerox, and stem-cell researcher Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University.

Nagamine added, “Under President Obama’s administration, there has been a new emphasis on railways and high-speed rail. Japan has striven to become increasingly proactive in its cooperation with California in this sector.”

The third pillar was “public diplomacy and raising awareness about Japan in this region.” Nagamine said that he always told his staff that 50 percent of their work should be outside of the consulate and involved with the public.

“Japanese culture has thrived here in Northern California even in the face of many  challenges,” he continued. “We were all saddened to see the end of two important Japanese newspapers (Nichi Bei Times and Hokubei Mainichi) and a Japanese radio station (San Francisco Radio Mainichi) in recent years. Yet despite such unfortunate circumstances, we have striven to increase knowledge about Japan and our consulate’s activities.”

Highlights have included the consulate’s involvement in bunraku and kabuki performances in the Bay Area and the “Lords of the Samurai” exhibition at the Asian Art Museum.

“I am also quite proud of the emphasis we have put on sister-city relationships … I am delighted that we now have 97 sister-city relationships in California,” Nagamine said. While he had hoped that the number would hit 100 before he went back to Japan, “I am sure that we will reach 100 very soon.”

Although he participated in the launch of the San Francisco Bay Area Grassroots Summit last January, he will miss the actual event, which will take place in late August. “More than 200 Japanese participants will be arriving for this friendship event to participate in homestays and form bonds with California citizens. I anticipate that it will be a very memorable event. I would like to encourage each one of you to in some way participate.”

The fourth objective was “to further the relationship between Japan and the Japanese American community.” Nagamine listed his accomplishments in this area, of which he was “especially proud”:

“We saw the great success of last summer’s U.S.-Japan Summit held with the alumni of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation. Together, we were able to open the way for many new Japanese American contributions to the Japan-U.S. relationship in the future.

“Most of all, I have been happy to get to know so many of you and your stories. In order for the government and the Japanese American community to work together, it is important for us to know each other better. I believe this means grasping the prewar and postwar history of Japanese Americans and how they rose to meet unimaginable challenges.

“I have never had an experience like joining the pilgrimages to Manzanar and Tule Lake. I remember the scene very clearly when I had the honor of addressing the thousands of pilgrimage participants there. I can still see the blue sky, the snow-capped mountains, and the harsh desert scenery in my mind. For me, this was the moment when I truly felt that I had understood something very central to the Japanese American experience.

“I believe that we are now entering into a new phase of cooperation between Japan and Japanese Americans on bilateral relations. I am proud to have played my part in this development with all of your help.”

On the Kanrin Maru celebration, he said, “I am so glad to have hosted so many successful events together. We received many positive responses about the Kaiwo Maru’s grand arrival and departure from San Francisco. I can still hear the sounds of the salute from the ship’s mast and the calls of ‘gokigen you — fare ye well.’ ”

Confessing that “it is very difficult to leave San Francisco,” Nagamine told the audience, “Though my next assignment has not yet been officially announced, I look forward to letting you know as soon as it is made public. But wherever we are, we will always feel like San Franciscans and Californians. Whatever we can do to promote Japan-California and Japan-U.S. relations, we will. And if you come to Japan, please let us know—we will be waiting for your visit.”

Foreign Minister’s Commendations

Nagamine closed by announcing that a number of local organizations and individuals will be receiving the Foreign Minister’s Commendation for their contributions to U.S.-Japan relations:

• National Japanese American Historical Society, San Francisco

• San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association

• Institute of International Education, West Coast Center, San Francisco

• Hakone Foundation, Saratoga

• San Jose Taiko

• Dr. Barbara Bundy, executive director emeritus of University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim

• Christy Bartlett, founding director of Urasenke Foundation of San Francisco