「日米婦人会」という、私には到底ご縁のなさそうな組織からのお誘いがきた。
かつて在ニューヨーク日本国総領事館総領事（いわゆる大使）婦人が設立し、
日米の領事婦人や、大企業の社長や部長職のご婦人などが在籍されていたらしい。
所属会員の高齢化、駐在員の帰国続きなどを受けて、新メンバーを募集中。
我らが生徒会長、寺尾のぞみさんが理事になり、広く門戸開放されているようで、
例年の会合は30名程の集客だが、今回は80名以上がサインナップされた。
それもそのはず、私がNYで最も敬愛する川野作織さんがゲストスピーカー、
どこでも大人気の安陪博樹シェフがマグロの解体ショーをお披露目、
日本酒初のスパークリングワイン「一度」の試飲会までというフルコースの企画。
会場でお会いした面々もすべて「納得」といえるメンバーが勢揃いしていたし、
米国側は、かつて日本駐在を経験し日本が大好きという素敵なご婦人方ばかり。
これまでに体感する機会があまりなかったような、独特の空気感が新鮮で、
長い歴史の中、こういう社交界から新しい日米交流が発生してきたかと思うと、
非常に感慨深い夜だった。
I was invited to join the "Nichibei Fujinkai / Japan-America Women's Association," with which I would have no connection.
It was founded by the lady who was once the Consul General of the Japanese Consulate General in New York (the Ambassador), and it used to have members such as Japanese and U.S. consulate generals and women who were presidents and managers of major corporations.
Due to the aging of the members and the continued return of expatriates to Japan, new members are being recruited.
One of my respected friends, Ms. Nozomi Terao, has become a board member, and it seems that the door is now open to a wide range of people,
Usually, they have about 30 people at the meetings, but this time they had more than 80 sign up.
It was no wonder, then, that Saori Kawano, whom I admire most in New York, was the guest speaker,
Chef Hiroki Abe, who is very popular everywhere, unveiled a tuna demolition show,
The event was exceptional, including a tasting of "ICHIDO," the first sparkling wine made with Japanese sake.
The people I met at the event were all satisfied with the lineup,
On the American side, all the lovely ladies had previously been stationed in Japan and loved Japan.
It was refreshing to have a unique atmosphere that I had not had many opportunities to experience before,
It was a very moving evening to think that in the long history of Japan-U.S. relations, new exchanges between the two countries have emerged from such social gatherings.
