Through the Eyes of the Consul General of Japan in Detroit

 
When I mention that this was my 19th business trip to Ohio in just eight months of service, people in Michigan can’t help but frown. The rivalry between the two states under my jurisdiction is about as intense as that between fans of Japan’s professional baseball teams, the Hanshin Tigers and the Yomiuri Giants. That aside, I visited Cleveland on August 21–22, and thanks to Honorary Consul Fujita and his wife, it was a stay filled with cultural activities.
 
First, we visited the Cleveland Japanese Garden. A bright red torii gate stands at the entrance. It’s the kind of garden that makes you want to say, “It’s not Itsukushima Shrine, you know!” The legendary Portland gardener, Mr. Sadafumi Uchiyama, will be contributing to the garden’s design in the near future. This was made possible thanks to Mrs. Mikiko Fujita, who drove three hours to Detroit on her own—but that’s a story for another time.
 
The highlight of the visit was the performance of blind pianist Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. Even someone like me, who doesn’t usually listen to classical music, knows of Mr. Tsujii. He plays music entirely by ear, without reading sheet music, yet produces sounds of such divine beauty. After the concert, I had the honor of hosting a sake reception for invited guests. Mr. Tsujii appeared casually dressed, and we chatted for a while. When my friend Ms. Masumi Nakano recommended Dewazakura sake, he drank it with apparent enjoyment. After exchanging even a few words with Mr. Tsujii, listening to my favorite La Campanella performed by him felt more moving than ever.
 
The following day, a ceremony was held to present a Certificate of Appreciation from the Foreign Minister of Japan to Honorary Consul Fujita, attended by Cleveland dignitaries. Honorary Consul Cook and his spouse came from Columbus as well. After the traditional kagami-biraki ceremony, we enjoyed the beautiful sushi prepared by Mr. Taishi Noma. It was so delightful that I asked him to make sushi for the next year’s Emperor’s Birthday reception—and he happily agreed (so everyone, please look forward to it!).
During some free time in the afternoon, I visited the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which I had long wanted to see. Detroit, Michigan, has the Motown Museum, while Cleveland, Ohio, boasts the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “The Midwest really preserves the classic, old America,” Mochizuki remarked.
 
In the evening, we visited the Cleveland Museum of Art, where curator Dr. Sinéad Vilbar guided us through the Takashi Murakami exhibition. While Murakami’s work does not reflect traditional Japan, his reinterpretation of the Dream Hall was fascinating. It made me wonder: what does it really mean to be “Japanese”? Have I unconsciously imposed the idea of how Japan “should” be? Pondering these questions, I drove three hours back to Detroit.
I had a strong feeling that I would soon return to Cleveland again.