Kimi Kika Shibata Receives Foreign Minister’s Commendation at 8th Kizuna Japanese Spring Festival in Las Vegas

On Saturday, April 5, Deputy Consul General Takeshi Ishihara spoke at the 8th Kizuna Japanese Spring Festival, organized by the Kizuna Japanese Society of Las Vegas at Lorenzi Park in Las Vegas, Nevada. In his remarks, Deputy Consul General Ishihara spoke on the great service that Kizuna Japanese Society provides to the Japanese, Japanese American, and senior community of Las Vegas.
 
He also presented Ikebana Instructor Ms. Kimi Kika Shibata of the Sogetsu School with the 2024 Foreign Minister’s Commendation. Ms. Shibata is an active ikebana instructor who has taught regularly in the Las Vegas, San Jose, and Sacramento regions since the 1960s and was conferred the Commendation for her activities promoting Japanese culture in the United States and friendly relations between Japan and other countries.
 
Also joining the opening ceremony were Congresswomen Dina Titus and Susie Lee, and other representatives of Nevada state and Las Vegas. Festivalgoers enjoyed a variety of Japanese cultural activities, such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, and ikebana, as well as performances such as dance, music, and martial arts.