Black Ships Festival, Newport RI (July 17 – 19）
The Newport Black Ships Festival was held from July 17-19, 2015. On the 17th, an ceremony was held at Touro Park in Newport. In attendance were Mayor of Shimoda Syunsuke Kusuyama, Mayor of Yokosuka Yuto Yoshida, Chairman of Yokosuka Council Mamoru Itabashi, Mayor of Hikone Takashi Okubo, Consul General Himeno, President of the Rhode Island Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed, State of Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea, President of the Naval War College P. Gardner Howe, III, and Mayor of Newport Jeanne-Marie Napolitano.
In “The Art and Crafts Fair” on the 18th, there were workshops and booths demonstrating the traditional Japanese martial art aikido, and Japanese culture, calligraphy, tea ceremony. There were also performance of the koto and shamisen.
Opening Ceremony
Consul General Himeno gives greetings
Mayor of Shimoda Syunsuke Kusuyama gives greetings
Junior high school students from Shimoda-city
Demonstration of iai at “the Arts and Craft Fair”
Japanese festival game yo-yo fishing
Calligraphy demonstration at the Kaji Aso Studio tent
Koto performance by the Kaji Aso Studio