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Remarks by CG Kamo at the Annual Senior Citizen Festival

At Ala Moana Hotel

September 19, 2010

おはようございます。Good morning and Aloha!

It has been always a pleasure and privileged for us, my wife and me, to be invited to functions organized by the United Japanese Society of Hawaii. We are much excited about this morning’s event for celebrating those seniors who have become 80 years old this year among the members of UJSH. They are going to be recognized, given certificate and gift for their longevity by UJSH. I hasten to add that the Japanese Government will celebrate those seniors who will become 100 years old this year by offering certificate and gift in coming months’ time. So please stay healthy, those who are 80 years old this year, for the next 20 years!

 さて、少し日本語でお話してみたいと思います。去年の年長者の会にもご招待を受け参加することができました。お話をする機会も頂戴したので、ご年配の方々を見ると母親を思い出すが、これからは母親に毎週電話するぞと宣言しましたが、結局、果たせずに終わりました。親孝行をしたいと思っても実際になかなか難しいですね。Last year I was here and pledged to my audience that I would call my mother every week so I can make her happy. Well I tried, but I was miserably failed. Indeed, being a good son is easier said than done.

 Let’s change the subject. I saw the 442 movie on the elections day. Japanese virtues are shown amply there: loyalty, indebtedness (okagesamade or because of you, as Gary Kobashigawa just mentioned), shame, harmony, bravery, endurance and some more. There virtues are still ingrained with Japanese people. But these are not our own making. They came to Japan from ancient China. Confucius, 2500 years ago, taught these virtues in China and these teachings were subsequently introduced to Japan. The Meiji Government tried to recapture them to consolidate the Japanese society through Confucian moral teachings. One virtue Confucius stressed most, among other virtues is not included here. The virtue he attached highest importance is being a good son/daughter to his/her parents. Perhaps you heard about OYAKOKO. It means doing something good to your parents. OYA is parents. Koko is conduct of Ko. This Ko means being good, faithful, devotional, affectionate to your parents. You may have heard names like Takao, or Takako. Taka is another sound of Ko. So Takao is meant good son. Takako is meant good daughter. Well Takao could mean something different, of course, with other characters, but if technicalities put aside, we may say that there is a name Takao which means good son.

 I applaud the United Japanese Society of Hawaii organized the Senior Citizen Festival every year. This is an opportunity that we can do our dutiful OYAKOKO. Please enjoy the day.