日本語(コメントをご覧ください)↓Français(voircommentaires)↓OnSaturdayNovember16,amemorialceremonywa..

日本語(コメントをご覧ください)↓Français(voir commentaires)↓ On Saturday November 16, a memorial ceremony was held at Verny Park in honor of both French engineer François Leonce Verny and Japanese Financial Magistrate for the Edo Shogunate Oguri Kozukenosuke for their contributions to Japan’s modernization.
My role was to be the English MC where I introduced each of the speakers as well as the distinguished guests in the audience. I worked alongside Nicolas, who was the French MC. At first I was nervous speaking in front of such a large group of people, but in the end, I am glad that I did it because it was a valuable experience seeing how I was able to play a part in making the ceremony run smoothly.
The Verny-Oguri Memorial Ceremony began with the placement of two floral tributes in front of the busts of Verny and Oguri. Speeches were then made by Mayor Kamiji, His Excellency Philippe Setton, the French Ambassador to Japan, the Western Europe Division Director on behalf of the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Fortuné Pellicano, the Deputy
Mayor of Brest. (Before he came to Japan, Verny had been stationed in Brest, France, now one of Yokosuka’s sister cities). Special guests at the Verny-Oguri Memorial Ceremony included United States Navy commanders. The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Band Yokosuka also gave a special musical performance of a piece called “Oguri’s Gaze – Dedicated to Oguri Kozukenosuke.” Afterwards, there was a reception where everyone had a great time socializing and eating delicious food!
-Will