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Program Announcement:
“The U.S. Election and U.S. Foreign and Security Policy”
| Speaker: |
Dr. Alexander T.J. Lennon
Editor-in-Chief, The Washington Quarterly,
Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
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| Date/Time: | Wednesday, May 21 15:00 – 16:30 |
| Place: | Fukuoka American Center |
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Simultaneous interpretation will be provided.
Free Admission/Inquiries
Email: FACProgram@state.gov |
Trek bicycles ride into Kyushu
May 7, 2008 Fukuoka - Trek, the largest U.S. manufacturer of bicycles, held the grand opening of a new store in Fukuoka, marking its first foray into the Kyushu market. Located in trendy Akasaka, it is Trek’s second full service store to be opened in Japan, offering bicycles and bike accessories as well as a full service department. Principal Officer Margot Carrington, Trek Asia director Phillip McGlade, and Fukuoka store owner Masafumi Iwasaki made remarks to mark the occasion. In his remarks, McGlade explained how Trek bikes are more than just for transportation; they are part of a new lifestyle for the environmentally aware and health conscious consumer. The event attracted over 70 guests who were able to preview features Trek’s latest models of road, mountain and urban bikes, as well as the actual bicycle that won the 2007 Tour de France. With an abundance of nature and focus on environmental issues, Kyushu is seen as an ideal market for Trek bicycles.
Deputy Chief of Mission Visits Kyushu
April 23-24, 2008 Fukuoka - Joseph R. Donovan, the second highest ranking official in the U.S. Embassy, visited Kyushu to underscore the importance of the Kyushu-Yamaguchi area to the U.S.-Japan relationship. During his visit he met with Fukuoka Governor Aso, Sasebo Mayor Tomonaga, Nagasaki Vice-Governor Fujii, Nagasaki Mayor Taue, and local business leaders. In a roundtable at the Fukuoka American Center, he discussed the U.S.-Japan security alliance and the U.S. economy with a group of local and regional media representatives. [More]
| American Food and Wine Adventure
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April 17, 2008 Fukuoka -
Working with the Fukuoka American Business Club, the U.S. Consulate in Fukuoka hosted the first “American Food and Wine Adventure” at the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka. The event showcased American foods including beef, Alaskan seafood, turkey, “Calrose” rice, and potatoes among others.Eleven wine importers along with Napa Valley's Cosentino Winery provided participants the opportunity to sample over 100 varieties of wine from California and New York.The event, supported by the All Japan Chef’s Association and the Japan Sommelier Association attracted more than 340 industry experts and local business leaders, including executives and buyers from Kyushu hotels, restaurants, supermarket chains and food distributors. |
| Bob Milne brings Ragtime to Kumamoto
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April 13, 2008 Kumamoto - Bob Milne, one of America's premier ragtime pianists, brought this unique American music form to an enthusiastic crowd at Kumamoto's Contemporary Art Museum. Mr. Milne played a variety of selections from this genre of music that swept America from the 1880's to the 1920's, charming the audience with his down-to-earth smile and commentary between songs. After each piece, Mr. Milne explained the cultural history behind ragtime, the stories behind the songs, and relayed anedoctes about artists who lived during ragtime's heyday and from his own life as a musician. To learn more about ragtime, please check online here.
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| Consulate Community Outreach
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April 11, 2008 Fukuoka - Japanese and American staff members of U.S. Consulate Fukuoka, including family members, visited Fukuoka Kodomonoie Children’s Home in Fukuoka, as the first in a series of planned community volunteer activities. These activities are designed to give back to the Fukuoka community and underscore our appreciation for the support Fukuoka citizens provide to the U.S. mission here.
The visit to Kodomonoie included an afternoon snack with home-made cookies, arts and crafts and outdoor play. Ms. Michele Baron, a professional singer and wife of Management Officer Mark Baron, led the children in songs designed to teach them a bit of English and impart some American culture. For many children, this was their first opportunity to meet Americans and they clearly enjoyed the interaction. Consulate staff are already looking forward to another volunteer program planned for this June.
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| Second Chance for Women in the Workforce |
March 17, 2008 - Fukuoka US Consulate Fukuoka and Avanti magazine co-hosted an event on women in the workforce at the Fukuoka American Center. Principal Officer Margot Carrington talked about her experience as a working mother in the State Department, the importance of family support, and the continuing social bias against working mothers in Japan. She pointed out, however, that both countries could do more to facilitate participation of women in the workforce.
Carol Fishman Cohen, a career re-entry consultant gave the audience points to consider when trying to enter the workforce after an extended leave and also talked about some programs American companies and universities have introduced to assist women’s transitions back to work. After their remarks, Ms. Miki Yugoshi, a successful working mother at Kyushu Electric Power Company joined Ms. Fishman Cohen and Ms. Carrington in a panel discussion moderated by Ms. Yukari Murayama of Avanti. Encouraging women to return to work after extended leave to care for their children could help Japan ease the problem of an aging society and boost its economy.
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| Hip Hop Comes to Canal City |
March 14, 2008 Fukuoka - Three Hip Hop dancers from American Voices kicked off their tour of Japan with two performances on the Sun Plaza Stage at Canal City, Fukuoka’s popular shopping and entertainment complex. Although the performances were envisioned to expose youth to Fukuoka American Center’s programs, they attracted spectators of all ages. When it came to the audience participation portion of the program, we were happy to see toddlers, teens, and even people in their golden years join the fun. After Japan, the dancers – Michael Park Masterson, Quae Simpson and Brian Jones – set off for Korea and Vietnam.
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| Principal Officer takes part in "Kyokusui-no-en" Ceremony at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine |
March. 2, 2008 Dazaifu - Principal Officer Margot Carrington took part in a traditional "Kyosui-no-en" ceremony, which was started by the nobility of the Heian Period in Japan. All of the participants wore traditional Heian style kimono and composed Japanese tanka poems under plum trees in bloom, heralding the coming of spring. Taking part in an event like this gives the participants a unique glimpse at the culture of the Heian period. Ms. Carrington’s poem in Japanese describes how the experience of wearing period clothes and taking part in this traditional event allowed her to experience old Japan.
The Kyokusui no-en ceremony originated in ancient China and was said to have started at Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine in 958 AD. After a long hiatus, the tradition resumed in 1963. During the ceremony, a cup filled with sake comes floating down a small stream. Each participant is asked to compose a short poem or "tanka" in the time it takes the sake cup to reach them. |
| History of African-American Gospel Music |
February 24, 2008 Fukuoka - In celebration of Black History Month, Dr. Connie Hilliard, currently a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the Ryukyus in Okinawa, spoke on the History of African-American Gospel Music at the Fukuoka American Center.Dr. Hilliard explained how the roots of gospel music can be traced back to the 18th century in the spirituals that slaves sang.As Dr. Hilliard noted, gospel is a genre of music that should not only be heard but seen and experienced.To demonstrate her point, she used a number of video clips ranging from the classic Mahalia Jackson to the modern Kirk Franklin.After the program, the audience joined in singing and clapping to gospel sung by the Japanese gospel choir, Supreme, Supreme.Its popularity in Japan demonstrates how gospel music has crossed borders to be enjoyed by people all over the world.
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| Preventing School Bullying - Lessons Learned |
Feb. 20, Fukuoka - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Professor Dorothy Espelage spoke to an audience of educational administrators, teachers, health professionals and government officials about methods to prevent bullying in schools. Dr. Espelage emphasized the need to develop professional school counselors and classroom management training for teachers. She stressed that the environment at home is also important. After discussing some key lessons learned by the United States after years of research and experience, she also pointed out that prevention and intervention programs should be developed within the cultural context of not only the country but the region, city, and even school district.
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| USS Princeton visits Fukuoka |
Feb. 11, 2008 Fukuoka - The USS Princeton, a U.S. Navy Aegis Cruiser, arrived for a scheduled four-day visit to Fukuoka. The Princeton is an escort ship of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, which is currently visiting the U.S. Navy base at Sasebo. As Captain David Melin of the USS Princeton explained during a briefing for the local media, the ship's visit to Fukuoka is an expression of goodwill and friendship with the people of Japan.
While in Fukuoka, the ship's crew members had a chance to learn about the city and meet its citizens. They also took part in a number of sport exchanges with local and Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) teams and paid a visit to a local children's home.
The USS Princeton is homeported in San Diego. During the same week, the USS McCampbell and the USS Lassen also made goodwill visits to ports in Kagoshima and Nagasaki respectively. |
| Nagasaki Opinion Leaders Share Views on China with US China Expert |
Feb. 1, 2008 Sasebo - Mr. Roy Kamphausen of the National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR) exchanged views on the military rise of China with local opinion leaders from Sasebo and Nagasaki at a dinner hosted by U.S. Consulate Fukuoka. With Sasebo playing host to an important U.S. Navy base and Nagasaki the site of frequent visits by U.S. ships, the discussion provided a useful way to reiterate the rationale for the U.S.-Japan security alliance and the important role U.S. Forces Japan play in the defense of Japan.
The dinner served to draw out some local misperceptions about the U.S presence here, and helped post underscore how the U.S. and Japan can work together to ensure that China's rise takes place in such a way as to enhance U.S. and Japanese interests rather than threaten them. |
| American Center Director Speaks on Voting Rights |
Jan. 26, 2008 Kurume - Fukuoka American Center Director, Tracy Taylor spoke on "Voting: A Privilege, A Right, A Responsibility" at an event hosted by Kurume Japan America Society.Ms. Taylor spoke to an audience of about 80 JAS members, students, academics and business people about the importance of voting. After talking about this year's US Presidential Election primary season, she spoke about the history of suffrage for women and African Americans in the United States and how her grandmother instilled in her a responsibility to vote |
| Massie Ritsch Discusses 2008 US Presidential Election |
Dec. 5, 2007 Fukuoka - Massie Ritsch, Communications Director for the Center for Responsive Politics, discussed the 2008 U.S. presidential elections with business and media specialists, academics and students. Mr. Ritsch covered the primary election process and the flow of money from supporters to candidates. He also provided a survey of the top Democratic and Republican running for president. During the presentation he also demonstrated his organization's award winning website, www.opensecrets.org, an invaluable tool for those who want to know more about campaign financing as well as what kind of financial support the candidates are receiving.
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| Principal Officer Discusses U.S. Role in Asia with APU Students |
Nov. 20, 2007 Oita - Fukuoka American Consulate Principal Officer Margot Carrington visited Ritsumeikan's Asia Pacific University and met with a group of graduate students from countries throughout the Asia Pacific region. They discussed US-Japan relations and other issues affecting the economic and security situation in the region. Ms. Carrington explained the role the US Consulate plays in Kyushuu. She also talked to the students about opportunities for study in the US and other ways in which the US Government is trying to promote exchanges among American youth and youth in the region. |
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