Organizer:	Nonprofit organization, Challenge Network http://www.challenge-netweb.com http://yosakoi45.co.jp/NYyosakoi.htm
Time and Date:	9/8/2002(Sun) 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Location:	Madison Ave. bet.39th street and 27th street
Number of Participants:	43 New York residents 60 came from Japan
Organizer:	Eriko Morishima
Site Supervisors:	Akiko Fuse, Aya Muramatsu, Hidetoshi Shiokawa, Keigo Shinki, Noriko Hino, Takeharu Kato

A nonprofit organization, Challenge Network in Kochi, Ehime prefecture of Japan joined the International Culture Parade for Yosakoi dance performance as the expression of the prayer for peace. This volunteer work was started when Ms. Kadota contacted NY de Volunteer for help through our Web site, and we worked to find dancers and offered back support on-site.

From Japan, the professional dance group, Suga Jazz Dance Studio and other dancers, total 60 dancers flew to NY At New York, Japanese residents found this event through the free papers, "TocoToco," "FrontLine" and "Dance Fax" and Web bulletin board, MJ Board, and then joined with their friends. The Japanese folk dance group, "Hanagasa-kai" and other dance students in modern dance and jazz dance also joined. Some volunteer did back support such as supplying water and lost-and-found help.
The dance was harder than expected, so the day before, participants rehearsed. Some did by themselves.

This is the first Japanese group of the International Parade's history. Yosakoi received the high attention by well uniformed group performance.

12:45 pm	Registration started(Attendance check, delivery of sound sticks, happi coat and name tag)
01:30pm	Kick-off meeting Dancers started practice Volunteers received assignments
04:00 pm	Parade started
05:00 pm	Parade ended and wrap up party

"Because I had time and also joined the Japanese summer folk dance a while ago, I thought this might be the same. We, Japanse strangers were united and accomplished one thing is touching to me, since I did not have the chance like this. Comparing to other ethnicities, the Japanese here has less community events. Collaborating with other Japanese and taking some actions is nice event for exchanging with other ethnic groups. I enjoyed the beer at wrap up party either." (by Yozo Suzuki)


"I came to New York as my father relocated for work.
I just danced Yosakoi just before moving to New York, at school. Then I practiced seriously, so after I found this event at a free paper, I joined. That day was great for the parade of liberty and peace. And luckily we didn't get rain.
When I finished the parade, the sound stick turned to be a gift, and I was so much delighted. I nearly shouted. Now I put it beside my pillow. At my old schoo festival in Japan, I rented it for 70 cents. But, this time, I could retain it. So this made me happy and became the memento. " (by Yamato Kimpara)


"Although I was not sure if I would visit this city, I somehow reside now here. So I have been thinking to do something for this city before my residency last longer than a year. And I happened to get the information of this event.
Legitimately, this parade is for immigrants, and I thought this could include short stay or time-limited immigrants. Since my residence here is relatively short, I wondered if a parade was inconsiderate at New York, although Yosakoi dance is meant for peace and prosperity which are universal value, I believe. However, I was concerned of locality and personal judgment. Although this volunteer might be self-indulgence, but I couldn't stop doing something for New York. So I was really pleased with this.
Despite a lot of information by email, my priority goes to the volunteer of my child's school, but I would like to participate other volunteers with my child more than before.
I wish volunteer activities will be popular in the next generation." (by Junko Kimpara)

"From left, Ms. Suga Kunitomo, Ms. Tsuneko Yanase and Ms. Yuko Yanase"

Thank you everybody for your help for this event.At early days, my mother, Tsuneko Yanase insisted that she would dance alone and committed to this event with guts.

The idea to performe Yosakoi dance in New York encountered many barriers and difficulties happened.
"Yosakoi in New York? Who the hell wants that in New York?", many people criticized like that.

Throughout such hardship, I, as the daughter and the event commitee member, I really appreciate supporters in Japan and New York.

And also, I had wanted that people committed to this project would found their chances and challenges, and finally, I and my mother found the best of them because of your support, I think.

Thank you everybody. And I hope you will support us in future.

From Japan, I wish your volunteer works succeed.
Let's join together in future.
Please take it easy.
With appreciation from Japan, Yuko Yanase

Group Letter Group letter of some participants 1 of 2 letters is in New York and another is in Japan. Click here to enlarge the images

Photos of the day       Click here to enlarge the images

Past entered countries(most were made by immigrants at New York. Some team came from abroad)
16 African, 10 Asian (including Japan), 6 Caribbean, 18 Latin American
19 European and 22 Middle Eastern countries and 9 Native American tribes

Past newspaper coverages:
Amsterdam News, Carib News, China Press, Croatia, El de Alio,
El Espaciol, Philipino Reporter, Latin Americano, Nowy-Dziennik,
Portuguese Post, Invitations

Past radio reports: KISSFM, Y107, WLIB, MEGA,
Past TV reports: NBC, Univision-Ch41, Sinovision, RTP
Official Web site: http://www.10.org/IIF-parade.asp


This is the first time for the entry of the Japanese from Japan.

"Challenge Network" provided

What is Challenge Network?
Current issues of our society are resulted from our ignoring and apathy, we think.
Challenge Network is founded by Ms. Tsuneko Yanase, an oridinary middle-aged female writer
as she wanted to bring joy and great feelings to the society.
This organization is the network for young people regardlesss of age and nationality
who want to challenge something to explore the freatness of life.

Mission of Challenge Network
"Think about the society and eivironment nearby yourself and act for it"

Goal of Challenge Network
The problems from ignoring and apathy is eroding not only adults but also children
who will succeed Japan and the world in future. Under the currrent social context,
parents-children, adult-juvenile and inter-presonal bond is becoming weaker.
These situation is created by adults.
Without giving hopes and dreams,
we, adults deteriorate the characters of young people deeply
In addition, we, human species, must think about the environment also.
Our living is neglecting the debt to ecology.
Diseased society and natural environment is no longer someone's problem.
Now, each individual must think what she/he can do, and as well find and act upon it.
When you do, not only speak, the chances come.
Once you catch the chance, you would impress people, and our environment and society will change.
Challenge Network always creates chances and plans the action
and try to share the great experiences made by those actons.
We strive to deliver the opportunity for the juvenile to act, communicate and experience, and subsequently support their sound growth.
Challenge Network provided


"The Rainbow Bridge Across the World From New York"
- A Japanese mom sends the message for peace - 9/7/2002 - 9/11

Purpose
Meet some and chance comes. Chance comes when you notice.
Chances and people connect.


9/11/2001 In the U.S., many innocent
people lost their lives by multiple terrorist attacks at New York and other cities.
Since this terror, the world moves again toward the brutal act, the war.
The war brings tragedy and tragedy brings hatred.
Destruction gives nothing.
Now, we have to appreciate the value of peace and all the man have the same idea
to realize the world regardless of race, nationality and religion.
In order to make this happen, we must communicate with others.
And also we need to visit other's land, breathes their air,
and share the feeling to reaiize how others think.
Especially, this is no more than the chance of facing the 1st anniversary of the 9/11,
and we are able to send the message for peace from New York.

"Challenge Network" provided



Foreword
I attended Women Entrepreneur World Conference fron Dec. 3 to 7 in 2001.
On the way to the conference, I was asked to fill out the questionnairs on board of the bullet train for Kyoto, Japan.
One question was how I felt about
the terrorist attack of New York.
All the time of the conference and after returning to Matsuyama, my home town, I continued to think about this question.
Since I am living on the Earth, I thought I can't be isolated from this event.
"Is there anyway to do some for this, despite I am an ordinary woman?"?v
And then, after thinking about this terrorist attack as just one individual,
I answered to myself, "At the 1st anniversary, I want to send a message for peace to the world,
as a Japanese who pledged to abandon the war in the constitution " and decided to carry out this idea.
The attack brought huge number of victims.
Why them, and for what are those victims?
The tragedy has taught us the value of peace.
And we, the survivors realized the greatness of peace by meeting other people.
The love for people will solve the war and terror and bring the peace on Earth.
In order to live after the victims, I would like to turn this event into the opportunity for realizing and connecting with other people to renew the world in the 21st century.
I sincerely wish the support from whom this may concern.
March 2002

Challenge Network
Commitee of Pledge for Peace in New York, Representative, Tsuneko Yanase

"Challenge Network" provided


Policy
On September 11, 2001, some human beings the same as us carried out the inhuman terrorist attacks,
and many invaluable lives had lost in a moment from the Earth.
Why, for what?
As a living species, we believe we have to treat the world as the borderless society
and strive to solve terror, war and environmental issue.
We, human being is the only life
which can understand each other by the affection, love,
and so that we can share the same feeling despite the differences of country, race and religion.
Sadness makes anger and it reproduces sadness.
But, love makes symapathy from sadness.
We believe that, upon the love comes up, all problems move for solution.
And we need to complete the eternal peace of the world.
We want to deliver the place where an individual can explore his/her full potential,
and also the communication opportunity to help those idea.
People with hurt and sadness, and people with anger and hatred
can gather and hold hands with smile. We want the place like that.
Nows the time for al of us on the Earth to move toward the non-war world
as long as we live.
And we will have the 1st anniversary soon.
As a mother of children for the 21st century,
I concluded to one word after long thinking.
The word, "chance" came up from my soul.
"Challenge Network" provided


Statement for Parade
I had thought when I decided to hold this event,
"This is the chance to meet and recognize other people"

People gathering to the location in New York.
What is the Happy Welcom Cat?
What is Yosakoi dance?
At the site, many people from Japan shares the same purpose and thought
and look for the chance to connect with other people.
Because they recognized meeting is very important.
Upon meeting, they tells their feelings and new story comes up.
Happy Welcome Cat is the symbol of the peace. And soul beat Yosakoi dance carries peace message.
Sound stick beats the rhythm of life and moves audiences body.
Some smiles and some is impressed and some holds sound stick.
Yosakoi expands its circle of dance.
And children will start dance with the Happy Welcome Cat.
Upon meeting new people, they have joy of life and
realize the life again. The soul touching meeting creates the connection beyound borders and races. It makes people recognize something.
It may be dream, hope, future or possibility.
When you notice some and step forward,
you remember the love, the most important thing for human.
After the WW II, Japan resurged from ruin with pledge of abandonment of war.
Our true nature, love has fostered
all growth and built it.
With this event, many people meet many things
and realize and think, and connection is built. With this event,
there is some chance form people to return their true home.
Chances become alive when people catch them.
We hope to use this chance with other people to think about us,
so that we send peace messages from New York, as I participate this event too.
And handing the Earth to our children in
the 21st century is the mission to us, I believe.


Mission
To do something for mourning over the victims and cheering up the survivors.
Japan has rich natural scenery and learned the wisdom from it.
For the long history, our culture and tradition rooted in the living with nature, and also respected the peace. This is the Japanese spirit.
The energy emitted from the soul during the Yosakoi dance makes
you to reconfirm the kindness and the invaluable peace.
The Happy Welcome Cat has cheered up Japanese for about 200 years.
And it became the symbol of this event.

"Challenge Network" provided


Wishes from the Chief Executive Officer
Almost a year has passed since that terrorist attack.
That shocking scene was burned into my eyes and I will not forget it forever.
And also, let me remind you of one thing which we shouldn't forget. That is
when I saw, under that unbelievable tragedic event, the New Yorkers suports each others
and headed up toward the things they could do, helped others and cheered up them, I was so much impressed and tears came up.
And less than 1 year, New York is almost recovered.
This resembles the energy which we had after WW II to rebuild Japan. That is very important and lost from us, the Japanese, I think.
The New Yorker gave me the lesson though they are still in suffering.
And I had thought to do something for New York for a year and could not get hint.
Then, Ms. Yanase, the representative told me about this event. I feel this chance is not coincidence
It is true that we, each individual should think and take some action. That is important.
What I can do is going to New York and deliver the message for peace together with New Yorkers.
That is what I can offer to New Yorker in return to what they gave me, as well as its invaluable importance to the world and Japanese nowadays, I believe. I recommend everybody to join this event in some way as you can now. I want to bring wishes of lots of people to New York.
I wish your support.


July 2, 2002 Commitee for the Pledge of Peace in New York
Chief Executive Officer, Masao Doi