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(英文)
Ladies and Gentlemen
Happy Onam !!!
I am Koichi Shimaoka, chairman of Global
Reginalist Initiative Projects Kerala, that is, GRIP Kerala. I am very happy to
have you so many people Keralite and Japanese here today.
And it is a great honor that Mr. Vice Ambassador of India is attending
here.
There is no Japanese who doesn’t know Bodhi
Dahrma. Dahrma san was a founder of Zenshu of Buddhism and Shorinji-kempo which
is one of the marshal arts. Dahrma san was from Kerala. That’s why the ancestor
of Shorinji-kempo’s was Karalipayatt in
Kerala. Dahrma san is very popular especially among Japanese kids. They
sometimes sing songs of Dahrma san, like DAHRMA SAN DAHRMA SAN NIRAMEKKO
SHIMASHO WARAUTO MAKEYO APPU PU! or DARUMA SAN GA KORONDA.
There is no Japanese who doesn’t know St.
Francisco Javier. In 1549, he came to Japan
from Portugal via Goa and Kerala. This is believed the first introduction
of Christianity to Japan.
Every young Japanese student memorizes the year when he came to Japan, like IGO
YOROSHIKU, because 1 5 4 9 are pronounced in Japanese I GO yoro SHI KU, which
means “we look forward to the next meeting”. I would expect the next Kerala
Festival 2009 next year.
Anyway, why don’t you enjoy the Kerala Festival 2008 from now on?
Happy Onam again.
I like and love you all.
Thank you.
Koichi Shimaoka 14th September
2008 at the hall of Yokohama Nishi Kokaido.
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