Message from Chairman of Committee | “ジャパン祭りに寄せて” ーJapan Matsuri実行委員会長よりー

I am delighted to celebrate the opening of the Third JapanMatsuri by the company named Japan Matsuri, which has been formed by JA, The Japan Society, Nippon Club, JCCI and supported by The Japanese Embassy in London.

What is Matsuri? Well, in simple terms it means Festival or Holiday and the Matsuri was historically sponsored by a shrine or temple as part of the practice of “Honouring Your Ancestors”.

This year’s Matsuri is also particularly for the appreciation of the people in the UK who have kindlyprovided their support following the disaster in March 2011 caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

We look forward to the continuing development of our two countries in the future but we must not forget thepast efforts of our two peoples in achieving the close relationship we now enjoy over the past centuries.

Finally, I wish to once again celebrate through this Japan Matsuri “Everlasting Prosperity” for the future together with the people who are with us in the present day.

Keisaku “Sandy” Sano
Chairman of The Executive Committee Japan Matsuri

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“ジャパン祭りに寄せて”

この度第三回ジャパン祭りを開催することとなりました。本年より、英国日本人会、Japan Society、日本クラブ、在英日本商工会議所により設立されましたJapan Matsuri会社が主催者となり、日本大使館のご後援の下に開催出来ますことを心からお祝いいたします。

そして本年の祭りは特に3月11日に不幸にして起こった、東日本大震災に際し、多くの心のこもったご支援を下さった英国の国民の皆様への感謝の気持を込めた祭りでもあります。

祭りの原点であります“祖先を祭る”事にも由来し、の“ジャパン祭り”は往事の人々を想いつつ、現在、将来の日英両国の発展を願うもので有ります。

我々の未来の－彌栄（いやさかえ）－を大いに皆様と共に祈念したく存じます。

佐野　圭作
ジャパン祭り実行委員長