~From JETAA Auckland~
On Monday 7 July, JETAA Auckland, in collaboration with the Japanese Embassy in New Zealand, had the privilege of hosting Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s wife Akie, for a Tanabata event. Mrs Abe had joined her husband on this first trip to New Zealand since he became Prime Minister in 2012, and this was her second trip to New Zealand (her first being ten years ago). While we saw Prime Minister Abe only briefly, we were able to share Tanabata celebrations with Mrs Abe during an hour long event at the Villa Maria Estate in Auckland.
Others in attendance at the event included representatives from the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Student and Youths (JENESYS), and Support Our Kids (SOK). JENESYS promote exchange of mutual understanding and development opportunities through school visits and homestays. SOK is a charity set up to help children whose lives have been devastated by the Canterbury and Tohoku earthquakes. After a welcome from our committee president, Amelia Sirimanne, both groups gave presentations to Mrs Abe about their work, and our committee vice president and New Zealand representative for JETAA Shelley Butt shared some of her experiences from the JET Programme.
We then explained to the group the story behind Tanabata; a Japanese star festival based on a legend of two stars, Vega (the Weaving Girl) and Altair (the Cow Herder). They represent two lovers who are separated by the Milky Way, and are only able to meet once a year on Tanabata, which means the seventh night of the seventh – 7 July. Tanabata is usually celebrated in Japan by hanging decorations from bamboo trees, and writing wishes for one’s own hopes and dreams.
To celebrate the festival we wrote down our wishes on coloured card with Mrs Abe and the group, and then hung them on our bamboo tree together. We then had an opportunity to chat with Mrs Abe personally. It turns out that Villa Maria, being a vineyard, was a perfect venue choice, because Mrs Abe enjoys wine. We asked her about her favourite – Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. Unfortunately there was not enough time in this visit for Mrs Abe to enjoy a wine tour of New Zealand – after only arriving in Auckland the night before, they had plans to go to Christchurch later in the day, and then depart New Zealand for Australia. Especially with this being such a short visit, we were really thrilled to have such an opportunity to meet with Mrs Abe. To commemorate the day, she gave each of us a beautiful cloth printed with Tanabata imagery.
After the Tanabata event, we accompanied Mrs Abe to the entrance of the estate to welcome the arrival of Prime Minister Key and Prime Minister Abe, who greeted us and shook each of our hands in turn. Mrs Abe then accompanied the Prime Ministers to their next event. Although we were not able to talk with Prime Minister Abe, he seemed as warm and engaging as his wife. It was an honour and great privilege to meet them both. Hopefully one day we will be able to take Mrs Abe up on her offer to host us at their private residence in Japan.
Written by Mrs Abe:
“Wishing a continued friendship between Japan and New Zealand.”
