Art & Culture

EMBCA’s  “Hellenic/Japanese Relations: Lafcadio Hearn to the Tokei Maru” was yet another SOLD OUT event that took place in Athen and was aimed to foster a continuing cultural exchange and the historical ties between the Hellenic and Japanese people and it succeeded beyond expectations. 

The event was sponsored by EMBCA, and hosted by The Demos Center of The American College of Greece and its Director Mary Cardaras, in Plaka. Our distinguished panelists included critically acclaimed New York based multimedia artist Agni Zotis who presented her “Fireflies Series” of paintings created and inspired by Lafcadio Hearn’s writings, Japanese Haiku masters on fireflies/ hotaru, and the Tokei Maru; and Producer/ Director/ Animator/ Editor Zaharias (Zachos) Samoladas presented on his book TOKEI MARU co-written with his wife Eleni Andriadou.

EMBCA’s President Lou Katsos with His Excellency Koichi Ito, Japanese Ambassador to Greece
After the presentations EMBCA’s President Lou Katsos presented the EMBCA HUMANITARIAN AWARD to the Japanese Ambassador to Greece His Excellency Koichi Ito to honor the humanity and bravery demonstrated by the Japanese merchant ship Tokei Maru  Captain T. Norito and his crew in saving thousands of Greeks and Armenians during the burning of Smyrna in September, 1922 and bringing them to safety in Greece. Following the award heartfelt remarks were made by Ambassador Koichi Ito. 

EMBCA'S HUMANITARIAN AWARD
The event aimed to foster a cultural exchange and the significant historical ties between the Hellenic and Japanese people. It was on the occasion of the commemoration/remembrance of the 120th Anniversary of the passing in Japan of the famous Hellenic born writer Lafcadio Hearn / Πατρίκιος Λευκάδιος Χέρν known as Yakumo Koizumi /小泉 八雲 in Japan on September 26, 1904, as well as the humanity and the courage of Captain T. Morito and his crew Tokei of the Japanese merchant ship the Tokei Maru during the burning of Smyrna in September 1922.

There was representation on this occasion from the Japanese Embassy, the Irish Embassy, the U.S. Embassy in Greece , three former Greek Ambassadors to Japan, as well as other international Ambassadors and dignitaries. 

Mr Lou/ Ilias I. Katsos, EMBCA’s President, awarded the EMBCA HUMANITARIAN AWARD, at the occasion, to the Japanese Ambassador to Greece His Excellency Koichi Ito to honor the humanity and bravery demonstrated by the Japanese merchant ship Tokei Maru  Captain T. Norito and his crew in saving thousands of Greeks and Armenians during the burning of Smyrna in September, 1922 and bringing them to safety in Greece.

Following the award heartfelt remarks were made by Ambassador Koichi Ito. The event was hosted by the Demos Center and its dynamic Director Mary Cardaras and included representatives from the Japanese Embassy, the Irish Embassy, the U.S. Embassy in Greece , three former Greek Ambassadors to Japan, as well as other international Ambassadors and dignitaries. 

Distinguished presenters that evening included critically acclaimed New York based multimedia artist Agni Zotis who presented her “Fireflies Series” of paintings created and inspired by Lafcadio Hearn’s writings, Japanese Haiku masters on fireflies/ hotaru, and the Tokei Maru; and Producer/ Director/ Animator/ Editor Zaharias (Zachos) Samoladas presented on his book TOKEI MARU co-written with his wife Eleni Andriadou. 

 

The event focused on two historical occurrences both happening in September namely a commemoration /remembrance on the 120th Anniversary of the passing in Japan of the famous Hellenic born half Irish famous writer Lafcadio Hearn / Πατρίκιος Λευκάδιος Χέρν also known as Yakumo Koizumi /小泉 八雲 in Japan on September 26, 1904; as well as the humanity and the courage of Captain T. Morito and his crew Tokei of the Japanese merchant ship the Tokei Maru during the burning of Smyrna in September 1922.

 

Fantastic music during the evening was provided by Miss Saxo Vaya (Vaya Kalantzi) during the Cocktail Hour , and later by well known Composer/ Accordion Soloist Zoe Tiganouria and Percussionist Stelios Generalis.

 

For those who were not in Athens last week enjoy this video of EMBCA’s  “Hellenic/Japanese Relations: Lafcadio Hearn to the Tokei Maru” Panel Discussion and Humanitarian Award event held  in Athens , Greece on September 26, 2024.