Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter
Japanese and loving it! (from left) Yukari Kinoshita, Tomi Hirazawa and Naomi Ishida were out to celebrate the Emperor's birth.
If the Japanese Emperor knew how many friends he had in Jamaica, he would surely take heart in difficult times.
Emperor Akihito's 74th birthday was the reason for the gathering at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Tuesday, December 11, with Japanese Ambassador to Jamaica, Masahiro Obata as host. Members of the Japanese community came out and mingled with the diplomatic corps, as they celebrated another milestone in the life of the current head of state.
Ambassador Obata pointed out that, like Jamaica, Japan had encountered its own natural disasters this year and both people, instead of despairing, showed their indomitable spirit through the crises. Ironically, Japan also had a change in leadership this year. The similarities should be no surprise as both countries always seem to be on the same page.
Those in attendance
Guests included Belgian Ambassador Herman Portocarero and wife, Miriam; Cuban Ambassador Gisela Garcia and daughter, Betty; British High Commissioner Jeremy Cresswell and Dr. Barbara Munske; head of the European Union delegation; Ambassador Marco Mazzocchi-Alemanni; Mexican Ambassador, Leonora Rueda; Senegalese Ambassador, Nafissatou Diagne; Ecuadorian Consul, Clelia Barreto de Hunter; German Ambassador, Jurgen Engel, and wife, Ana Martha; Canadian High Commissioner Denis Kingsley; South African High Commissioner Faith Radebe and husband, Jabu.
Also bringing birthday wishes were Blair Bobyk, Michael Stern, Dr. Ronald Robinson, Shirley Williams, Dennis Lalor, Willie Lampert and Anna Kaiser, Andrew Issa, Ainsley Henriques, Alvaro Casserly, Richard and Diana Stewart, Shorna-Kaye Richards, Ken Chaplin, Teddy McCook, Andrea Bickhoff-Benjamin, Dr. Simon Clarke, Robert MacMillan, Susan Alexander, Adrian and Darrilyn Foreman, Lisa Marzouca, Ruby Martin and Norman Grant.
Japanese Ambassador Masahiro Obata and wife, Hiroko (right), greet florist extraordinaire, Pearl Wright. - photos by Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer
Ian Channer is in the company of Emiko Sugiyama (left) and Yukiko Ishikiri.
President of Jamaica Public Service, Damian Obiglio (left), tries to show Anthony Chang the big picture.
