AMF Celebrations

15 Year Anniversary and Satoyama, Jomon Village Opened!

On July 25th, 2015 Aquamarine Fukushima had a lot to celebrate.  It was the 15th anniversary since opening in 2000, and an opportunity to reflect and congratulate Director Abe and his amazing Staff on a full recovery since the tsunami disaster 4.5 years ago.  Additionally, not only have they recovered, but they continue to expand their educational and environmental exhibits.  The celebrations also marked the opening of the new Satoyama, Jomon Village exhibit.  A garden display, with a large river otter exhibit which theme is the coexistence of humans and nature during the Jomon Period in Japan thousands of years ago.

Satoyama

There were about 80 guests in attendance and a dozen delegates, of which I was one, from around the World.  Speakers included the Vice Governor of Fukushima, the Mayor, a member to the State Department, and a few of the delegates present from Kuwait.  The State of Kuwait donated US$5M (and some oil) to AMF after the disaster.  Mr. Abe worked in Kuwait in the 60's as a fisheries biologist and those ties are strong.  The guys from Kuwait are wonderful and fun folks.

During the 3 day celebration there were tea ceremony, drumming, dancing, samurai, falconry, and karate demonstrations.

Congratulations to Mr. Abe and entire AMF team.  It is an honor to participate and contribute to such an amazing, innovative and resilient institution.

My family got to join the trip so here are some pictures just for fun:

Front seats at the dolphin show at Shinagawa Aquarium, Tokyo.

Taiki in the children's Egg Exhibit wing, AMF

Taiki catching (then eating) fish at the AMF Kingfisher Aquarium annex in the Abukuma Mountains.

I had a day before Mikuyo and Taiki joined me in Tokyo prior to the celebrations in Fukushima so I went up in the 2 year old new Tokyo Skytree tower.  The highest observation deck is 450 meters (1,480 feet) high.  Quite a view!