Reception with the participants of Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival and Celebration for the Consul-General’s Commendation for Mr. Kanji Takayama and Ms. Cheryl Takayama
2025/12/16
On December 4, Consul-General Watanabe hosted a reception at the Consul-General's official residence in Nashville for individuals involved in the Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival held in early October. In his opening remarks, Consul-General Watanabe expressed gratitude to the organizers for the successful event and stated his hope that we would collaborate even more closely for next year's festival. Now in its 11th year, the Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival has grown into one of Nashville's premier events celebrating Japanese autumn.
This reception also held as a celebration for Mr. and Mrs. Kanji Takayama, who were awarded the Consul General's Commendation at the opening ceremony of the Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival. Mr. Kanji Takayama served as a director of the Japan America Society of Tennessee (JAST) and made significant contributions to promoting understanding of Japan in Tennessee through the dissemination of Japanese culture at events such as the Memphis Japan Festival. He also worked diligently to foster people-to-people exchanges between the City of Memphis and Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Cheryl Takayama, a member of Ikebana International's Memphis chapter, has made significant contributions to promoting understanding of Japan in Tennessee through the dissemination of the art of ikebana, primarily in the southeastern United States. The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville expresses its profound respect for the contributions of Mr. Kanji Takayama and Cheryl Takayama to Japan-Tennessee relations.
Approximately 40 attendees, including Jane McLeod, CEO of Cheekwood Botanical Garden; Terry Vo, Nashville City Councilmember; performers and volunteers from the Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival; and others, attended the reception and deepened their friendships.
This reception also held as a celebration for Mr. and Mrs. Kanji Takayama, who were awarded the Consul General's Commendation at the opening ceremony of the Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival. Mr. Kanji Takayama served as a director of the Japan America Society of Tennessee (JAST) and made significant contributions to promoting understanding of Japan in Tennessee through the dissemination of Japanese culture at events such as the Memphis Japan Festival. He also worked diligently to foster people-to-people exchanges between the City of Memphis and Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Cheryl Takayama, a member of Ikebana International's Memphis chapter, has made significant contributions to promoting understanding of Japan in Tennessee through the dissemination of the art of ikebana, primarily in the southeastern United States. The Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville expresses its profound respect for the contributions of Mr. Kanji Takayama and Cheryl Takayama to Japan-Tennessee relations.
Approximately 40 attendees, including Jane McLeod, CEO of Cheekwood Botanical Garden; Terry Vo, Nashville City Councilmember; performers and volunteers from the Cheekwood Moon Viewing Festival; and others, attended the reception and deepened their friendships.