Page 31 - BSAM 2017 Q3

Pre Convention at the Palace
Finally the day arrived and I moved into e Palace Hotel Omiya. Giving myself plenty of time to settle in and catch up with friends, compatriots from Aus- tralia and simply just to soak up the pre convention excitement we still had a few days to go before the unknown became known. Some of those gaps were very quickly lled as our hosts were quickly setting up displays everywhere including the concourse in the Omiya station with trees that could easily be in the exhibition, yet here they were for all to see and experi- ence. It seemed that nothing would be le to chance.
Thursday: A Royal Opening
Early on the ursday morning, excited delegates all gathered to collect our registration and like every- thing else in Japan the doors opened on time and with no fuss. On o er today was a free bus shuttle to the Omiya Bonsai Village where the Bonsai Museum and all the nurseries awaited. Given the weather was sunny the walk around the village took on the atmosphere of a happy day out for the hundreds who I passed and said ‘guday’ to.
It was at the Bonsai Museum that it started to hit home that this was to be something special with re- porters and television crews interviewing many in
attendance and the gi of a free book added to the whole event.
Yet on this day there was more to come and unique- ly special as well. Back in Omiya and connected to the Palace Hotel is Sonic City Hall. is was the location for the very grand opening ceremony featuring e Crown Prince and Princess of Japan, e Prime Min- ister of Japan (via video link) along with the represen- tatives of the WBFF, Host Committee, key sponsors, regional representatives, all featured demonstrators,
Top; Opening ceremony and the man all had come to see, Master Masahiko Kimura with his nished landscape depicting the peculiarly- shaped granite peaks and pines trees of Huangshan Mountains in China.
Bottom; Taiko Drummers a big hit at the opening ceremony. Power and concentration led to perfect timing which was warmly received.
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