Updates 新着情報

Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Please watch the trailer to the Sundance Film Festival Award-winning and the 2012 Academy Award Nominated Documentary called “The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom.”

“Survivors in the areas hardest hit by Japan’s recent tsunami find the courage to revive and rebuild as cherry blossom season begins. A stunning visual poem about the ephemeral nature of life and the healing power of Japan’s most beloved flower.”

A word from the creator of the film, Lucy Walker.
“There is no celebration to be had when over 15,000 people died and so many more thousands are missing or displaced. The film is steeped in so much sorrow as it progresses through the stages of shock, loss, grieving through to perseverance and courage and hope, as human beings and nature alike – as expressed by the cherry trees – dig deep and find the way to continue. The film is a testament to the people who had the fortitude and courage to share their stories and their grace, and to our collaborators who worked so hard and so brilliantly to let the voices of these reserved, dignified, resilient people be heard around the world as the first anniversary of March 11th, 2011 approaches. I could not have been more impressed and inspired by the way the survivors in the Tōhoku region are moving forward. This film is dedicated to them.”

The next time the film is available for viewing, we will post a notification!

Please visit her website for more information!
http://www.lucywalkerfilm.com/TSUNAMI-THE-CHERRY-BLOSSOM

Skype Session with Aomori, Japan 1/28/13

Skype Session 1.28.13

On January 28, 2013, MASSAC had another Skype Meeting with our dear friends over in Aomori, Japan!  In this meeting, we discussed the two upcoming delegations this year — the Education/Arts & Culture delegation scheduled for mid-July and the Energy/Fisheries delegation scheduled for the Fall.  Our next Skype Meeting will be in late-March, where we will solidify the details for the upcoming July delegation.

More updates and details about this year’s trips are coming soon!

Friends of Aomori & Maine-Aomori Sister-State Advisory Council’s New Website!

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to the new website for MASSAC and Friends of Aomori!

Friends of Aomori and MASSAC are groups that specialize in facilitating and encouraging the educational, cultural, and business/trade relationships between the State of Maine and Aomori Prefecture, Japan!  Every other year, the State of Maine sends many delegates from various areas of arts, education, and business to Japan.  The years in-between the delegations, we host a delegation from Aomori in Maine.

We are currently planning two Maine delegations to go to Japan this year 2013! This summer, we will be sending an education and arts/culture delegation consisting of some very dedicated people from Maine.  In the fall, we will be sending representatives from Maine’s energy and fisheries industries, as well as researchers from Maine’s universities.

Next year, it will be the 20th year anniversary of the Maine-Aomori sister-state relationship!  We are very excited and honored to be hosting the Aomori delegation to Maine.  We cannot wait to celebrate the success of the Aomori-Maine relationship, which is very important to us.

More information on the 2013 and 2014 delegations will be coming soon!  Please check out our delegations page to view annual trip reports of delegations in the past!

The site is currently under development, but we will be fully up and running soon!  Please revisit us!