Consul General Takahashi attends the opening ceremony of “Hashi” Project exhibition of the Friends of Aomori in Portland, ME (May 1, 2026)
May 6, 2026
On May 1, Consul General Takahashi attended and delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the “Hashi” Project exhibition, currently being held at the Camden National Bank Community Gallery of the Portland Public Library in Maine. The exhibition is organized by the Maine-Aomori Sister State Exchange Association, “Friends of Aomori.”
In his remarks, Consul General Takahashi highlighted the history of the three sister city relationships in Maine: Maine-Aomori, Bath-Tsugaru, and Portland-Shinagawa. He also mentioned the introduction of baseball to Japan by Horace Wilson, a foreign expert from Maine during the Meiji era. Furthermore, he noted that activities honoring Horace Wilson were recently featured in the 2026 Diplomatic Bluebook as a notable grassroots exchange between Japan and Maine.
In addition to the Consul General, the ceremony included remarks by Portland Mayor Mark Dion and Friends of Aomori Council Member Jeff Badger. The Honorable State Representative Ellie Sato, who is Japanese American, was also in attendance. The event also featured a Japanese drum performance by “Taiko Maine Dojo,” a gyotaku (fish printing) demonstration by Mr. Nate Garrett, and a presentation by local scallop fishermen about their visit to Aomori Prefecture’s scallop aquaculture facilities.
The “Hashi” Project is an exchange initiative led by President Lynda McCann-Olsen of Friends of Aomori, featuring woodblock print artworks created by elementary school students from both Maine and Aomori Prefecture. The exhibition aims to promote awareness and understanding of the Maine-Aomori sister relationship through the display of these collaborative artworks.
Also on display is a manga depicting the 1989 Chesebrough shipwreck, an event that became the catalyst for the sister state relationship between Maine and Aomori Prefecture. In this incident, the Chesebrough, a vessel built in Bath, Maine, ran aground off the coast of the former Shariki Village (now Tsugaru City), where villagers rescued the crew.
The exhibition will run until June 20 at the Portland Public Library.
In his remarks, Consul General Takahashi highlighted the history of the three sister city relationships in Maine: Maine-Aomori, Bath-Tsugaru, and Portland-Shinagawa. He also mentioned the introduction of baseball to Japan by Horace Wilson, a foreign expert from Maine during the Meiji era. Furthermore, he noted that activities honoring Horace Wilson were recently featured in the 2026 Diplomatic Bluebook as a notable grassroots exchange between Japan and Maine.
In addition to the Consul General, the ceremony included remarks by Portland Mayor Mark Dion and Friends of Aomori Council Member Jeff Badger. The Honorable State Representative Ellie Sato, who is Japanese American, was also in attendance. The event also featured a Japanese drum performance by “Taiko Maine Dojo,” a gyotaku (fish printing) demonstration by Mr. Nate Garrett, and a presentation by local scallop fishermen about their visit to Aomori Prefecture’s scallop aquaculture facilities.
The “Hashi” Project is an exchange initiative led by President Lynda McCann-Olsen of Friends of Aomori, featuring woodblock print artworks created by elementary school students from both Maine and Aomori Prefecture. The exhibition aims to promote awareness and understanding of the Maine-Aomori sister relationship through the display of these collaborative artworks.
Also on display is a manga depicting the 1989 Chesebrough shipwreck, an event that became the catalyst for the sister state relationship between Maine and Aomori Prefecture. In this incident, the Chesebrough, a vessel built in Bath, Maine, ran aground off the coast of the former Shariki Village (now Tsugaru City), where villagers rescued the crew.
The exhibition will run until June 20 at the Portland Public Library.
