I am wearing an Eastern Kentucky University hat as the head of the Kentucky delegation to this fair was a professor there.
Nov. 9 - The annual Yatsugatake County Fair in Kiyosato, Yamanashi Prefecture provides a wonderful opportunity for people-to-people exchanges. This year over 70,000 persons visited the two-day fair to enjoy food, listen to music, participate in activities such as tractor rides and an American football clinic, purchase handicrafts, and interact with new friends.
Ann and I were warmly welcomed by many Japanese people at the fair, but I thought I would tell you about three Americans who were part of the delegation from Yatsugatake's sister county of Madison, Kentucky.
One was a young computer programmer who had studied in Yamanashi thanks to a student exchange program between Eastern Kentucky University and Yamanashi University. He later returned to Yamanashi City where he worked as a software engineer for several years. This young man introduced me to his Japanese host family and some of his former work colleagues, with whom he conversed in fluent Japanese. Although he now lives in Kentucky, he remains active in supporting Japanese people who come to Kentucky to study.
Children enjoy a tractor ride at the fair.
We also met a blacksmith and jewelry designer who has been attending the Yatsugatake county fair for 17 years. He told me he loves coming because he meets many persons interested in his craft. Despite not speaking any Japanese, he enjoyed teaching onlookers how to pound hot metal into useful shapes. He also told me he has begun incorporating Japanese themes into his jewelry. After he said this, I noticed one of his silver pendants that was shaped like Mount Fuji. He said some people he meets at the annual fair even travel to his workshop in Kentucky.
I also met James Rusch, the nephew of Paul Rusch, who began this annual festival in 1955. James explained that when he was a young boy, his Uncle Paul would return to his parents' house each year from Japan. Growing up, he would listen to his uncle's stories of life in Japan, and he always wanted to come. James told me that he had met so many kind Japanese people on this, his first trip to Japan, that he now understands why his uncle so loved Yamanashi.
Ann and I were very glad to meet so many visitors from Kentucky. Our weekend at the Yatsugatake County Fair renewed our appreciation for the value of people-to-people exchanges.
Until next time,
Jim
Jim, you might be interested in knowing that my son also was a People-to-People ambassador, visiting Australia and New Zealand when he was a young teen. Best regards!
