Susono March Report - Yoshio Noda (FSFA Committee Member)

Our Susono-based FSFA committee member Yoshio Noda presented the following report and slideshow at our March meeting held this evening on Hina Matsuri - Girls' Day Festival (3rd March):

A SPECIAL INVITATION - Bev Hannan, FSFA Treasurer and Life Member

Japanese Emperor Naruhito's 66^th birthday celebration was hosted by Japanese Consul-General Mr Furuya Tokuro at his residence in Toorak, Melbourne on Tuesday 17^th February 2026.

Each year in February the Japanese Consul-General invites some 300 special guests to a reception to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty Emperor Naruhito. The guests included people from a wide range of fields, including state and local government officials, state and federal politicians, mayors and councilors of Sister Cities and Japanese and Australian company executives.

Consul-General Tokuro with politicians, mayors and sake barrel!

The evening began with the Australian and Japanese national anthems sung by Japanese Australian mezzo-soprano Syrah Torii.

Consul-General Tokuro welcomed all guests and invited us to enjoy the evening and meet and mingle with other guests. He invited us to savour the plentiful and delicious Japanese cuisine and specialities on offer with assorted drinks and sake.

The evening showcased Japanese culture and technology including electric cars and robotics.

Next followed the Kagami-Biraki (sake barrel breaking) – with sake served to all.

Taiko drumming performed by Wadaiko Rindo entertained the group and received a great reception.

Wadaiko Rindo's taiko performance - always spectacular!

A number of beautiful Ikebana arrangements were displayed in the home, thanks to the Melbourne Ikebana chapter.

We also had the opportunity for photos with the Consul-General.

Only a select group of people receive invitations to this event. This year, as in the past, the Chairperson of FSFA – Julie D'Arcy – received a plus one invite. I am very honored that Julie invited me to accompany her to this special event. The sister city relationship between Frankston and Susono, Japan spanning 44 years is well known to the Consul-General who has visited Frankston many times including our Japanese Festival in August last year and our Hanami Party in October. He has also visited Susono and met with Mayor Harukaze Murata and SOFA members. Consul-General Tokuro is a special friend and supporter of FSFA.

Other invited guests from Frankston included Therese Sakamoto, FSFA committee and Derinya Primary School Japanese teacher. Therese invited Elle Taylor, Japanese teacher from Derinya Primary School to join her for this special event.

The City of Frankston Mayor Cr. Sue Baker and Frankston City CEO Tennille Bradley were also attendees. The Consul-General Tokuro recently visited the Frankston City Council and met with Mayor Baker.

Therese Sakamoto, CEO Tennille Bradley, Julie D'Arcy, Consul-General Tokuro, Mayor Sue Baker, Bev Hannan and Elle Taylor

A great evening was had by all renewing our Japanese connections, eating our favourite Japanese foods and enjoying all the drinks and sake on offer. The taiko performance by Wadaiko Rindo, including Umi, impressed us.

Many thanks to the Consul-General Tokuro for his generosity and his special support for the Sister City connection between Frankston and Susono.

Susono New Year Report - Yoshio Noda (FSFA Committee Member)

 

We are so pleased to welcome Yoshio Noda to our 2025-26 FSFA Committee as  our "man on the ground" in Susono, our sister city. Yoshio worked for Yazaki and was based in the City of Frankston for a number of years whilst working at Australian Arrow Pty Ltd - Yazaki's Oceania subsidiary. He continues to lecture and educate in his "retirement" and remains very active in the scouting movement.

Yoshio joins our monthly meetings via TEAMS and submitted the following presentation on the New Year activities in Susono at our February meeting:

The Kanji of the Year "Kuma (Bear)" is a result of the increasing encounters with bears throughout Japan during 2025. Unfortunately, there were a record breaking 235 incidents and 13 fatalities reported between April and November across Japan due to climate change and rural depopulation!

Observing and photographing the first sunrise of the year is very important to the Japanese, and what better place to do that in Susono by capturing an image of Mount Fuji. People will often travel great distances in the early morning to catch a special sighting at a mountain, shrine or temple, and even the ocean or sea!

Food is especially important during the New Year when many Japanese will travel back to their home town to reunite with family members as the generations gather to celebrate together with specially prepared foods and drink.

The Tokyo-Hakone Relay Race brings teams from all the major universities and colleges to compete along the route which passes through our sister city of Susono. Hatsumode is the first Buddhist temple or Shinto shrine visit of the New Year and usually occurs between January 1st to 3rd. Omamori are small charms and prayers sold at temples and shrines which are thought to bring good luck and protection for health, safety, romance and academic success.

Mochi is made by pounding steamed rice into a sticky and chewy dough, and sometimes filled or served with a sweet red bean paste, ice cream or grilled with soy sauce. Care must be taken with eating mochi as the very young or elderly can find the gelatinous texture may be a choking hazard!

This view of Mount Fuji shows the City of Gotemba which is located north of Susono, which is to the left in this picture.

Susono Mayor Mr. Harukaze Murata will serve another 4 years after his successful campaign which saw him riding his bicycle to all parts of the city often wearing his signature red or pink outfits. Susono's Mayor is elected by the citizens, unlike Frankston where the elected councilors choose the Mayor each year.

Setsuban is held in early February and involves praying for a healthy and happy life. Beans are thrown to ward off evil spirits or oni (which is a kind of yokai, ogre, troll or demon in Japanese Folklore).

And like many other Japanese occasions, food and drink are important elements - but I'm not so sure about the sardine heads!

We look forward to future informative and interesting presentations and updates from Susono thanks to Yoshio!

Slides presented by Yoshio with addition notes by FSFA Vice Chairperson Simon Hast.