The 67th Nami’s Tapestry
- Translated from the 67th edition of 'Nami's Mail Magazine', published on July 15 -

The Kobe Sweets Consortium in Tokyo
The Ceremony and First Session for the Challenged Program Vol.2
(The First Report)

7/28/2009

On Saturday June 20, the first session for the Challenged Program of the Kobe Sweets Consortium KSC was held at the Nisshin Seihun Group Inc Koami-cho Factory Processing Center in Tokyo (hosted by Prop Station, Nisshin Seihun Group Inc, and Nitto Shokai Co., Ltd.). Many supporters and media organizations took part in the ceremony which kicked off the beginning of the KSC in Tokyo.

In this edition, I will give a detailed report on the opening ceremony and program session that was recently held. Reports on future sessions will be posted as they become available and can be accessed on Nami's mail magazine. I would now like to introduce to you some video footage taken during the ceremony.

Seven challenged and one special student who met the stringent criteria by the KSC instructors for the selection participated in the event. All of them have had previous experience in pastry making through their sheltered workshops and attended the program to progress their pastry making skills.

Before the opening ceremony, the instructors for the Challenged Program and the host were interviewed. With madelines being the first assignment in the students quest to master pastries, the tasty treats (prepared by Master Yagi who is one of the instructors for the KSC) were presented to reporters during a friendly question-and-answer session.

Nami giving her remarks at the interview.
From the right: Mr. Takao Yamada (manager of Nisshin Seihun Group Inc), Mr. Juntaro kawaguchi (the president of Nitto Shokai), Nami Takenaka, Master Junji Yagi, Master Takaaki Nishikawa, Master Noriyuki Nagai, and Master Takahiko Nozawa

The opening ceremony for the Challenged Program Vol. 2 began at 1:00 in Nisshin Seihun Group Inc Koami-cho Factory Processing Center. Hiroaki Takenaka, the general director of Prop Station emceed for the ceremony and as the main host I delivered the opening remarks.

Nami delivering her opening remarks for the ceremony

Next, Mr. Akihisa Sasaki, the president of Nisshin Seihun Group Inc and leads the support and jointly hosts the program, gave an address for the ceremony.

An address to the ceremony from Mr. Akihisa Sasaki, the president of Nisshin Seihun Group Inc

Also, a video message was presented from Mr. Shigeru Ishiba (Official Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries), who is also a sponsor for the KSC program in Tokyo. In this video he expressed his own affinity of making pastries and sent a warm and enthusiastic message to the audience.

A video message from Mr. Shigeru Ishiba (Official Secretariat of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)
Please click here to see his video message.

Remarks from Mr. Juntaro Kawaguchi, the president of Nitto Shokai Co., Ltd. He jointly hosts the KSC as well.

Mr. Masaki Sakai (Counsellor, Minister's Secretariat) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries delivered his remarks.

Opening remarks from Mr. Masaki Itai (Counsellor, Ministery’s Secretariat) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Then, a speech from Mr. Yoshiyuki Kikura, manager of the Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare division.

A speech from Mr. Yoshiyuki Kikura, manager of the Department of Health and Welfare for Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare division

Mr. Toshizo Ido, the governor of Hyogo Prefecture who has backed up the project since the KSC started, made his speech for the ceremony.

Likewise, Mr. Tatsuo Yada, the mayor of Kobe city, who has sponsored the program presented his message.

A message from Mr. Tatsuo Yada, the mayor of Kobe city

Mr. Makoto Kiyoshima, the standing director of Japan Selp Center, who provided great support for the recruitment of the students for the KSC in Tokyo, made the opening speech for the ceremony.

The presenter introduced a message from Mr. Tamio Matsui, the administrative manager of the Bureau of Social Welfare and Public Health, Tokyo Metropolitan Government.

And lastly, the instructors for the Challenged Program in Tokyo were introduced. These instructors have worked in the front lines of the sweets industry and provided their cooperation voluntarily for the program. The professional pastry chefs are Master Yagi, technical director of Morozoff Ltd. and instructor for the program last year (also the first foreign national who was authorized Confectionery Master by the Austrian Government), Master Takaaki Nishikawa of Kobe’s "Boulamgerie Comme Chinois" who served as the programs assistant instructor last year, Master Noriyuki Nagai of the French pastry shop "Noliette", and Master Takahiko Nozawa of the Viennese sweets shop "Konditorei Neues".

Introducing the Instructors (from the right: Master Yagi, Master Nozawa, Master Nagai, and Master Nishikawa )

Mr. Tomohito Utsumi, who completed the program as a high-performing student last year, gave his message to the new students. He was specially invited as a student for the program this year.

Mr. Tomohito Utsumi, a student from the Challenged Program Vol. 1, gives his massage.

Master Yagi talked about the delineation and policy for the Challenged Program before the first session.

The students listening to the delineation and policy for the program from Master Yagi before the beginning of the sessions.

The opening ceremony ended smoothly and the first session for the program began. The assignment for the first session was how to make madelines. Madelines may be simple sweets but the quality of the ingredients and the basic procedures in its creation are really important. I will introduce the recipe and photos of students learning pastry making techniques in an upcoming report. You must see the instructors leading with enthusiasm while teaching professional techniques that Master Yagi demonstrates in the next report.

Now, the Kobe Sweets Consortium in Tokyo "The Challenged Program Vol. 2" is underway. Along with those I introduced earlier, this program got off the ground through a lot of support. Sponsored companies including Nisshin Seihun Group Inc. have given completely voluntary cooperation for the program.

I am deeply grateful to all of people who have given their help for the program. At the same time, I will be putting forth my utmost efforts for the success of this project in Tokyo. Thank you very much for offering your strong support for the KSC Challenged Program.

<by Nami>

Please take a look at our home page for the newest information in regards to the Kobe Sweets Consortium.