Impressive Memories of Taiwan Conference and Event

Masaki Oshiumi

I have visited the District 67 Taiwan Conference five times since 2005 with Imamura-san. And I haｄ the best impression in this trip from November 26th  to December 4th 2009. So I’d like to report some of them.
Chung Shan Building The meeting was held at the Chinese Culture Hall in the famous Chung Shan Building 中山楼 from November 28thto 29th  This building was located in the Yanminshan National Park, constructed by the late President Chiang Kai-shek and completed on November 6th 1966. Now it was public ownership. Imamura-san and I were able to visit there three years ago because of Michelle Chen-san’s kindness. It is difficult to visit the Chung Shan Building. So it was wonderful that D67 Taiwan used this place as the conference.
Banner March At the start of the conference, the banner march was held. I brought our Kitakyushu TMC’s banner for Imamura-san. I was next to D67 governor James Lin in the front row. Gladly he introduced me, Masaki-san from Japan, toward audience. We were invited into his residence two years ago. I was pleased he remembered my name.
Japanese speech Contest We four Japanese, Imamura-san, Uemura-san, Horie-san and I became Judges for Japanese speech contest to select three winners. Contestants’ speech skills were improving. I was asked by my friend to buy two good quality English to Chinese and Chinese to English dictionaries in Taiwan. One of my friends 肅鐘玉-sensei consulted me and bought them and sent them to my hotel. My friend appreciated her concern very much. I was also very impressed by her kindness.
Japanese speech Contest
Dinner Party Performance We D67 and D76 Chorus, 14 members were singing three songs at the dinner party in front of an audience of 500 people. At first Imamura-san and I performed the famous Japanese Yokyoku, Tsurukame, (Crane and Turtle.) It’s a very happy poem. I was pleased because we didn’t make any mistakes. Next, ten Taiwanese and four Japanese sang Akatonbo in Taiwanese and Japanese. At last we sang Amazing Grace in English. Afterward Sherry-san cried because it was perfect. Amazing Grace tells the story of blind people’s eyes being opened, by the grace of Christ. I was most honored to sing on the formal stage.
Singing Akatonbo
Yanminshan and Aso National Park陽明山国定公園and阿蘇国立公園 Yanminshan is a famous national park in Taiwan. It’s located north of Taipei. On the other hand, Aso mountain is one of the biggest volcanos in Japan. Last year, the Yanminshan team visited Aso, so this time, the Aso team visited Yanminshan in return. Thanks to Sherry-san’s kindness, Imamura-san and I were able to join the trip to Yanminshan,s crater on November 29th. Actually she was also a Yanminshan volunteer. I hope both organizations will be able to cooperate forever. We walked around the foot of Yanminshan, guided by the landlord. It was developed beautifully by Yamamoto-san who was the former president of Taiwan Power Company. Mt. Aso reminded me of the short story Nihyakutoka 二百十日written by Soseki Natsume. When I was a high school student, I went to Mt. Aso with my close friend Shokei Nomura-kun. Unfortunately we mistook the mountain trail looking up the summit. We tried to go over dale but it was dangerous. So we gave up the climb. After the trip we’ve read the book above by chance. He had same mistakes. We were laughing and laughing and said to each other, Hi! Soseki-san, You made the same mistake as us, you are our best friend! Actually he was a professor of number five high school in Kumamoto in those days.
Yanminshan	In front of the floral clock
YMCA Charity Concert, “Handel’s Messiah” On November 30^th, we participated in the concert Messiah at Taipei Zhongshan Hall. I like this Symphony because six years ago I made a study of the origin of the school’s chime in Japan. At the result, I found the origin was from Big Ben and it’s origin was from Messiah. Still now I have questions about where the tune is in the score. And I found out Lydia-san on the stage. She was singing the alto part. Actually we have sung songs in Taiwan twice. I heard her oldest son got married on January 2nd. I have been in Yokohama on the same day, so I went to Meiji-Jingu shrine to pray their happiness whispering famous song Takasago.
After the concert
Innovative TM Club Meeting On December 1st, we four Japanese joined the Innovative Club meeting. I have been there once with Sherry-san. But this time, the club moved to a modern office. All members were friendly, so we felt relaxed. I was wearing the Innovative T-shirt Michlle-san gave me last year. To my surprise, she was wearing the same T-shirt. I was very happy. I met Charlie Wu-san after one year. I talked with him a lot. The Innovative TMC’s agenda was different from our Kitakyushu Club. 1.Formal speech first, Table Topics afterward. 2.Evaluation is on the spot. 3.On every meeting, excellent speakers and progressive members are awarded.
At the Innovative TMC
The 228 Peace Park On December 2nd, we went sightseeing at the 228 Peace Park, 228 monument, 228 memorial museum and so on. At last, I wrote my impression on a card and put on the wall in the museum. Alle Menschen werden Bruder, It means all people will be brothers and sisters by writer F.V. Schiller.
At the 228 Peace Park
The Capitol On the same day, we also visited the Capitol (総統府). A volunteer kindly and eagerly guided us through the building in Japanese. At last, we went into the replica president room. I pretended to be the president, thanks to Uemura-san and Horie-san.
At the President Room
The Taiwan National Library On December 3rd, we visited the National Library to investigate the history of Uemura-san’s birthplace Taichun 台中. At that time, I let a word slip out about my work to the clerks. “I have been a volunteer librarian in Kitakyushu for ten years.” In an instant, they cried “Senpai!”,it means senior. And they gave me a book about the Taiwan library’s history. After the trip, I thought it was better to donate it to our City Library than keep it. It is located on the shelf in the International Friendship Commemorative Library at Moji-Ward in Kitakyushu City. I hope both libraries in Taiwan and Japan would communicate in the same friendly way, as Yanminshan and Mt. Aso National Parks some day.
Conclusion Before the trip, our friend Sherry-san suggested “Masaki, your trip this time will be a fantastic and unforgettable time in your life.” Now I must reply to her “Definitely.” The main event was our dinner party performance. And it was finished without incident. I remember Sherry, Lydia and I sang An die Freude on the Taoyuan 桃園stage last fall. After that, she practiced for a year to make the D67 Taiwan TM chorus. She succeeded. Congratulations! This trip opened the D67 Welcome Dinner Party hosted by D67 governor James Lin and closed the Dinner Party with Pacific and Peace Clubs members. Thanks a lot. I think many Taiwanese people, especially D67 TM members warmly welcomed Japanese including us. Thank you very much. We will continue to be friendly with the Taiwanese forever．
Welcome Dinner Party	Farewell Dinner Party

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