On November 21, 1992, Abiko International Relations Association (AIRA) was founded in the light of the importance of “grass-root international exchange in the community”, and it has been trying to promote internationalization of Abiko. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the foundation of AIRA, and the ceremony was held to celebrate the memorial event.

　　　　Date and Time: Sunday, November 27, 2016 1:00 p.m. ~ 1:30 p.m.

　　　　Venue: Abiko Civic Plaza Hall

　　　　Director of the Ceremony: Ms. Fumiko Kitajima,Vice President of AIRA

　　　　MC: Ms. Miwa Aburakawa, AIRA member

　　　　Guests: 53 in total/Chiba Prefecture (delegated by an assembly member), Abiko City (mayor, vice mayor

　　　　　　　　and assembly members), AIRA supporting members, former AIRA presidents, delegates of neighbor

　　　　　　　　cities’ international relations associations, AIRA cooperators, AIRA executive committee members and

　　　　　　　　supervisors

Prior to the ceremony a flute playing was performed by Ms. Masako Mochizuki, accompanied by Ms. Kanako Ito on the piano. She played music by Bach and Mozart and the beautiful sound filled the hall with solemn atmosphere.

At 1 p.m. the ceremony started emceed by Ms. Miwa Aburakawa. Mr. Hideaki Sato, AIRA President, said in his speech, “We have been helping foreigners living in Abiko and providing students and children with opportunities of international exchange with a view to promoting grass-root international friendship. Looking back on these twenty-five years, we find Mr. Hideki Matsui coincidentally started his professional baseball career after finishing high-school, played inside and outside of Japan and retired. We also find Ms. Rino Sashihara was born and grew up to be a successful TV idol during these twenty-five years. Now a new style of international exchange is needed according to the new era and there is more and more expectation for activities of AIRA. We keep on devoting to the international friendship in the community and would appreciate your continuous support and cooperation.”

Mr. Junichiro Hoshino, Abiko Mayor, said in his congratulatory speech, “AIRA has been making a great contribution in Japanese language classes for foreigners, translation and interpretation, school education and many other fields. I hope we’ll keep on working together to make Abiko a city which is kind to foreigners who are increasing in number. I also hope that we’ll nurture the spirit of hospitality in children. For that purpose we should give them opportunities to learn foreign cultures and values as well as our own traditional culture. I promise the city will cooperate with AIRA for these goals and I wish for AIRA’s further development.”

After the speeches guests were introduced one by one, then Mr. Akira Aoki, Vice Mayor, introduced the background of the founding of AIRA. Mr. Aoki was one of those who were engaged in the foundation of AIRA twenty-five years ago and has been supporting AIRA as an executive committee member. The following is the summary of Mr. Aoki’s speech.

“In the days when AIRA was founded, decreasing birthrate and aging population, increasing use of information technology, and internationalization were main subjects for the city and they were included in the city’s Second General Planning of 1990 as important policies. In order to realize those policies the city drew up a basic action plan for stimulating internationalization of Abiko City and decided to cooperate with three civic groups which were active in those days. In 1992 the city invited Santa Monica Orchestra from the US and held a concert in the city hall, which turned out to be a great success. With this as a turning point to develop atmosphere of international friendship, AIRA was founded in November. Four years later, in 1996, AIRA’s logo and mascot were chosen among the public. Seven years after the foundation, in 1999, the “Special Committee for Vitalizing AIRA” was formed and a report on its development was submitted one year later. AIRA has been playing the leading role in the internationalization of Abiko City, supported by its members’ volunteerism and continuous efforts through these twenty-five years. Abiko City will continue to support and cooperate with AIRA.”

The ceremony was concluded with the closing words by MC, Ms. Aburakawa.

(No. 16-22 Translated by Ch. Yamaguchi)