6-8.Oct.2023 Suidani/Talifilu Kyoto, Ayabe Lecture
世界的に注目され、影響力のある政治家。ソロモン諸島、マライタ州Suidani氏、Talifilu氏の日本訪問を「政治」の面から意義あるものにしたのは、京都府綾部市の四方源太郎府議の歓迎であった。
せっかくの日本滞在、政治家である彼らに、日本の政治家との接点をと思い悩んだ。四方議員とは綾部で開催された江崎さんの講演会でご挨拶して以来Facebook友達である。
京都は山あり海ありの広くて多様な歴史と文化、産業がある。四方府議は地元綾部を駆け巡り、府民の出会いの場を作り、府知事に厳しい要請をしと、FBから八面六臂の活躍が伺えた。
綾部訪問でご挨拶だけでも、とご連絡したところとんでもないことになってしまった。
綾部でもSuidani氏の講演を、そして市内を案内してくださるというのだ。加えて綾部市自民党支部から5万円の寄付をいただいた。ちょうど京都からの往復交通費と宿泊費がカバーできる額だった。二人の旅費他に身銭を切っていた私は涙が出るほど嬉しかった。
政治家であるSuidani氏、Talifilu氏は日本の政治について色々と質問していた。またサムライに関心のある二人は四方家がサムライの家系であることに関心を持ったようだ。戦国時代の刀を振り回していたサムライと江戸時代の農民を守っていたサムライとは違う。その子孫が目の前にいて地元の過疎問題、高齢者問題、そして教育に取り組んでいる姿に二人はどういう感想を持ったであろうか？
四方さんのアレンジで地元の市議会議員や経営者、遺族会の方達による歓迎の夕食会もあった。その時Suidaniさんが
「理恵子、米豪では、こういう歓迎会はなかったんだよ。会議が設定されそれが終わればさようなら、だ。それでおしまい。」
日本では客人が来たらご馳走を食べさせてお土産を持たせて、が当たり前。でも西洋社会は違う。ソロモンは日本式なのではないだろうか？
実はSuidani氏、Talifilu氏、刀を買って帰りたいと言っていた。しかし二人がサムライの子孫四方議員からもらったお土産は田んぼに入れる長靴だった。これで二人はソロモン諸島で4月に予定されている選挙運動に臨むという。
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Two politicians of international prominence and influence. What made the visit of Hon Suidani and Mr Talifilu from Malaita, Solomon Islands, to Japan significant from a 'political' point of view was the hospitality extended to them by Mr Gentaro Shikata, a prefectural councillor in Ayabe City, Kyoto Prefecture.
I was wondering if I could make contact with Japanese politicians during their stay in Japan, as they are politicians. Mr Shikata and I have been Facebook friends ever since we greeted each other at a lecture given by Mr Ezaki in Ayabe.
Kyoto has a wide and diverse history, culture and industry, with mountains and sea. I can see from FB that Mr Shikata has been active, travelling around his home town of Ayabe, creating meeting places for local residents and making tough requests to the prefectural governor.
When I contacted him to just say hello on our visit to Ayabe, it turned out to be a extraordinary thing.
Mr Shikata requested Hon. Suidani to give a lecture in Ayabe as well, and he would show us around the city. In addition, the Ayabe City LDP branch donated 50,000 yen. The donation was just enough to cover round-trip transport and accommodation costs from Kyoto. I was so happy that I cried because I had spent my own money to cover the travelling expenses of us.
As fellow politicians, Hon. Suidani and Mr Talifilu asked Shikata many questions about Japanese politics. They were also interested in the fact that the Shikata family is of samurai descent. The sword-wielding samurai of the Warring States period is different from the samurai who protected the peasants of the Edo period. What did they think of the descendants of the samurai in front of them, tackling issues of depopulation, the elderly and education in the local area?
Mr Shikata arranged a welcome dinner with local city councillors, business owners and members of the bereaved family association. At that time, Suidani-san told me.
'Rieko, in the US and Australia, we didn't have this kind of welcome party. A meeting is set up, and when it's over, goodbye, and that's it."
In Japan, when a guest arrives, it is normal to treat them to a feast and give them a souvenir. But Western society is different. Solomon is the Japanese way, isn't it?
In fact, Hon Suidani and Mr Talifilu said they wanted to buy swords to take home. However, the souvenirs the two received from the samurai descendant, Councillor Shikata, were boots to put in the rice paddies. With these, the two men will campaign in the Solomon Islands for the elections scheduled for April.
