Consul General Uyama Attends WakamatsuFest150
2019/6/17
Mr. Matsudaira delivers memorial at grave of Okei-san, the first Japanese woman to be buried on American soil
Consul General Uyama offers incense at Okei-san’s grave
On Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9, Consul General Tomochika Uyama attended WakamatsuFest150, held in El Dorado County, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Wakamatsu Colony. The Wakamatsu Colony was established in 1869 by Japanese emigrants from Aizu-Wakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture as the first Japanese colony in the United States of America. Although the colony fell apart in less than two years, the site was purchased by the American River Conservancy (ARC) in 2010 and they continue to manage it.
Many people from the United States as well as Japan, including a delegation from Aizu-Wakamatsu, headed by Mr. Chikamori Matsudaira, the future 15th head of the Aizu-Matsudaira family that sent the colonists to America, took part in the festival and enjoyed events and performances that featured Japan and the history of Wakamatsu Colony. In particular, it was an historic moment when the descendants of two different Wakamatsu colonists, Ms. Naori Shiraishi (descendant of Mr. Matsugoro Ohtoh) and Mr. Gene Penny and Mr. Aaron Gibson (descendants of Mr. Kuninosuke Masumizu) met with Mr. Chikamori Matsudaira, descendant of the Aizu-Matsudaira Family.
Consul General Uyama delivers his remarks
Delegation from Aizu-Wakamatsu donated the Japanese Immigration 150th Anniversary Memorial Monument
Meeting between the Aizu-Matsudaira family and descendants of Wakamatsu colonists
Traditional sake cask breaking ceremony
