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First Abbeyfield House in Japan - Gifu Opening
On March 24th 2006, the Abbeyfield Society of Gifu, Japan, ceremoniously opened its first Abbeyfield house. Abbeyfield International was delighted to be invited to the ceremony and sent its representatives - President of Abbeyfield Canada, Captain J Allan Snowie and his wife Cynthia.
They were met on arrival in Japan by the President of the Abbeyfield Society of Japan (ASJ), Mrs. Miyoko Imai, together with Mrs. Toe Matsui and Mrs. Miyoko Carey who kindly introduced them to the customs and etiquette of Japanese culture. Allan later met for a briefing with Mr. Mike Ikea, Executive Director of ASJ. On the morning of the 24th, Ms. Naomi Yamada, a cousin of International Board Member, Masayo Kidani, met Allan and Cynthia and escorted them on the Bullet Train to Gifu.
Hosts Mr. & Mrs Tokemasa Obata greeted them on arrival; Mrs. Keiko Obata is the Gifu House Chair and Takemasa Obata is the Secretary of ASJ and they made them most welcome in their traditional Japanese home for the next two days.
The official Ceremony began at 13:30 with an Opening Message by Keiko Obata. This was followed by a response from Allan which included congratulatory words from AI member countries. Approximately 150 persons attended the Ceremony, including the Mayor, the Member of the Diet (Parliament), and the Council General of the Canadian Embassy in Nagoya. News media was well represented by three television stations (two local and one national) and two newspapers.
Between speeches from the guests mentioned above, professional musicians, including a brother-sister pair who each played the traditional three-string Japanese samisen, provided musical interludes. It was a very smoothly paced and refined ceremony.
Following the formal Toast to the House, all were invited to tour the facilities. Residents have yet to be selected, but prior to the opening ceremony there were 30 applications for the ten rooms. The news media made it known that the House was open for public viewing the following day (and some 200 took up that invitation). The rooms are larger than the current living situations of some elders. For this reason, couples will be considered also.
The tour of this remarkable house is quite enlightening. There are really two structures joined by a short hallway. A two-story octagonal-shaped house is the public space for the community. The adjoining rectangular-shaped house with five bedrooms upstairs, and five down, provides the Residents' private space. The overall attention to detail is excellent, from individual lights on each step of the stairways to traditional Tatami rooms for small group gatherings. Harmony, grace and simple elegance are words that describe this House.
When the ceremonies concluded, Allan and Cynthia walked a convenient few minutes to the local train station and traveled into downtown Gifu. The train is handy for the House and there is a very large shopping mall within walking distance as well as a new hospital in close proximity. Once downtown, Volunteers and Friends of the Abbeyfield Gifu Society gathered for dinner and celebration.
During the day and a half that followed, they enjoyed a ' Japanese adventure' in which their generous hosts gave them a whirlwind tour of Japanese culture including Kendo swordsmanship, a Tea Ceremony, a tour of Gifu castle, visits to temples, a Giant Buddha, Gifu museum and a temple market.
Takemasa Obata did a thirty-year research on the weather to find the right day for the Official opening. He was spot-on with a gorgeous day. Similarly, the Japanese Abbeyfielders have studied the Abbeyfield concept for several years. They absolutely 'got it right' with this House. The movement can learn from this latest addition to its growing international family -- The first Abbeyfield House in Asia.
A 'thank you' message from Abbeyfield Japan.....
Original article and more information at http://www.abbeyfieldinternational.com/news.asp?mode=show&ID=48
