2024-03-19

Hokkaido Festival in "Japan Village Walk" !


by Kazu

In retrospect, we got the best members to dispatch the first official delegation from Hokkaido to Hawaii in order to establish a stable trust between the regions. 

The delegation head of the prefectural government was the Vice Governor, at that time, Mr. Yoshihiro Yamaya the one of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly was Speaker, at that time,Mr. Ren Endo whose riding was Tomakomai City. 
The former Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Noritoshi Murata who became the Speaker after that visit also joined the delegation. What powerful legislatures we had in that occasion !  

 

2024-03-18

I Love Hokkaido !


by Kazu

"I Love Hokkaido" event was conducted in the hall of "Japan Village Walk" by Shirokiya of Bloomingdale side of Ala Moana Center, Honolulu in 2016.

The event got started with the exciting Japanese drumming near the stage. The concept image was "Bumper crop" and "Big Catch".  Hokkaido Festival in "Japan Village Walk" held for the first time looked so attractive for the visitors from all over the world.  
Just after the opening of the food court, most of the visitors were the citizens of Honolulu, I think. I heard that the space was used by a secret members club where the lucrative people exchange the information on lucrative business and leisure.  

 

2024-03-17

When "Japan Village Walk " was there !


by Kazu

When "Japan Village Walk" by Shirokiya opened in Ala Moana Center, no restaurant nor shop from Hokkaido but considering the damage brought by covid-19 that devastated the food court and shopping center, that was a good decision, in retrospect.  

The huge Japanese food court seemed to be swamped by many local citizens and tourists. "One Dollar Beer Stand " seemed to allure so many people because it was cheaper than drinking at home.   
Savoring delicious Japanese food and cheap crisp drought beer made the citizens and visitors so happy and filled with vim and vigor. But it has gone unfortunately. 

 

2024-03-16

The First Recording !


by Kazu

It was for the first time for the first official delegation members of Hokkaido to Hawaii but the recording of the radio program "Island Breeze from Hawaii" proceeded so smoothly.
The souvenir from Hokkaido was the butter-cream and raisin, cookie sandwich produced by Rokkatei confectionery headquartered in Obihiro because it can be preserved in freezer for a long time.
But it should be kept under twenty four degrees in Celsius even in Hawaii that I had to set the temperature of my room in the hotel under twenty degrees. 

 

2024-03-15

Island Breeze from Hawaii !


by Kazu

Hokkaido Smile Ambassador Ms. Reiko T. Rogers had not been designated yet before we visited in 2016. Only one Hokkaido Smile Ambassador was Mr. Pali Kaaihue, the TV producer of Dokoga TV and an musician in Honolulu. 

The Speaker of Hokkaido Legislative Assembly Mr. Ren Endo, at that time and the Vice Governor, at that time, Mr. Yoshihiro Yamaya were ready to talk with Reiko-san and Hiroko-san.
The recording started after greeting and exchanging souvenirs. The introduction by the personalities was so natural and nice that we could talk in the studio in a relaxing atmosphere.

 

2024-03-14

Tonkatsu Tamafuji before its open !


by Kazu

This space was refurbished and well-equipped to become one of the most popular and famous restaurants that requires the customers to wait for their turn at longest for two hours. But if I asked the owner of the restaurant, my friends can be escorted to the table without waiting.
I was convinced that the Japanese style thick pork cutlet would be a good draw in Honolulu but I did not expect the Tonkatsu restaurant would allure so many people from all over Oahu.   
Please try the restaurant "Tonkatsu Tamafuji" in Honolulu but you have to wait for long time, different from the flagship restaurant and others in Sapporo. 
After checking up the venue of success, I visited "Studio Rim" where the radio program "Island Breeze from Hawaii" is recorded.

 

2024-03-13

The Top-quality Hokkaido Tonkatsu Coming Soon ! !


by Kazu

Before the open of the current most famous and popular restaurant in Honolulu "Tonkatsu Tamafuji" headquartered in Sapporo and run by "Dokyu", we visited the flat where the new restaurant would be open.

This space is filled up with the customers every day and they have to wait for their turn for two hours in average. I was invited to the pre-open of the restaurant later. The Governor of the State of Hawaii Mr. David Yutaka IGE and his wife Mrs. Dawn Amano IGE were also invited at that time.
The CEO of  "Dokyu" assigned an able agent to open this restaurant and the agent worked wonders without any consultant and local agents that required thick margin. That was the tip to make the restaurant one of the most popular eateries in Hawaii.