Date：August 18th, 2012

Venue：Hiratsuka City Central Community Center（Kanagawa）

Program：
Part1　Gagaku
　　　　Kangen "Etenraku"

Part2　Lecture
　　　　"The Duties and realities of Diplomats - Africa"
　　　　by Mr. Yukio Hakkaku（former counselor at the Japanese Embassy to Luxembourg）

　　　　Mrs. Hakkaku demonstrated the Moroccan couscous recipe

Co-sponsor: Association for Japanese Classical Performing Arts of Gagaku

　　　Mr. Yoichiro Iguchi, President of the Kitanodai Gagaku Ensemble, began with an opening speech, followed by Mr. Yasuo Kikawa, Deputy Mayor of the City of Hiratsuka and Mr. Kenichi Kuramoto from the Board of Education of the City of Hiratsuka. Their greetings touched on the importance of activities to introduce gagaku to school children not only to preserve the Japanese traditions but also to raise children’s aesthetic sensibilities.
　　　Before the lecture, a member of the Ensemble played “Etenraku” by the sho.

　　　Mr. Hakkaku, former counselor at the Japanese Embassy to Luxembourg, was a guest speaker at the first lecture meeting. Mr. Hakkaku has worked at the Embassy of Japan in many countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Congo, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Canada. He was the key contributor in realizing the Ensemble’s European concerts held in the past.

　　　After spending over 30 years abroad as a diplomat, he retired this March from the diplomatic service. His lecture was a full of interesting stories based on his experiences.
　　　About 50 people attended the meeting and their comments after were: "It was a good opportunity to learn about the duties of diplomats which you would not know from the mass media." or "The lecture changed my view on Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

　　　Following the lecture, Mrs. Hakkaku demonstrated the Moroccan couscous recipe and later participants tasted the delicious dish.