2012年の日本ミネソタ会総会・懇親会が6月23日に東京赤坂のレストラン「ストックホルム」で開催されました。

　総会では、会長より昨年度の日本ミネソタ会の活動報告があり、また新しく幹事に加わった福田弥夫さんが紹介され、会計の金子さんからこの一年の会計報告がございました。

続く懇親会では、ミネソタ大学同窓会、ミネソタ日米協会、ミネソタ州貿易局等からのメッセージが披露され、大変和気藹々として雰囲気の中で、美味しい北欧料理に舌鼓をいたしました。

　今年は、1950年代のミネソタ大学をご存知の横山さんをはじめ、初めて参加された方も多く、遠くは福岡からご参加の光山さん、京都から参加のAlyssaさん、名古屋からの浜田さんをはじめ、ビッグテン・コンファレンスのミシガン州立大学とパデュー大学からそれぞれ今井同窓会会長と池内事務局長にもご列席いただきました。

　英語が母国語の日本在住ミネソタ出身の参加者も回を重ねるごとにふえており、より国際色の増した日本ミネソタ会！6月の梅雨空をふきとばすような、楽しい出会いと、語らいのひと時を満喫いたしました。

  'The Japan-Minnesota Association's General Meeting and summer party was held on June 23^rd at Restaurant Stockholm in Tokyo's Akasaka District. At the party, the President of the Japan-Minnesota Association reported on the organization's activities over the previous year, and the Treasurer, Ms. Mayumi Kaneko, shared the past year's financial report. JMA members were also introduced to the new Organizational Coordinator Mr. Yasuo Fukuda.

  Messages form several organizations were also read during the reunion. These included messages from Dr. Esten, the CEO of the University of Minnesota's Alumni Association; from Mr. van Lierop, Executive Director of the Japan America Society of Minnesota; and from Ms. Jennifer Kocs, an International Trade Representative from the Minnesota Trade Office. Guests enjoyed a convivial atmosphere, and savored the delicious Scandinavian cuisine.

  This year's party also welcomed many new guests who were participating for the first time, including Mr. Shoichiro Yokoyama, who was familiar with the University of Minnesota as it was during the 1950s. Several more people travelled quite long distances in order to participate. Mr. Tadahiko Mitsuyama came from Fukuoka, Ms. Alyssa Andrea from Kyoto, and Ms. Akiko Hamada from Nagoya. Big 10 Conference participant Michigan State University's Mr. Tetsuya Imai, who is President of the MSU Alumni Association of Japan, and Purdue University Alumni Association's Director, Mr. Kenji Ikeuchi, also attended.

  Finally, the attendance of several Minnesotans, native English speakers now living in Japan, further expanded and enriched this truly international Japan-Minnesota meeting! With enjoyable conversation and new acquaintances, guests managed to dispel, at least for a little while, the rainy June skies above Japan.'