President’s Address
December 25, 2019
Mr. Koichi Takenaka
President, Rotary Club of Tokyo
I wish to say a few words at this last Regular Meeting for the year 2019. My appreciation goes to Vice-President Mr. Yoshizawa, Secretary Mr. Hayashi, all the Directors, Committee Chairmen and Officers, and each member Rotarian for your dedicated support during the past six months since I became President. Your true spirit of Vocational Service enabled us to deepen friendship and enjoy various events including the Commemorative Regular Meeting, Christmas and Birthday parties with our family and friends. In September, our Club donated 20 million yen to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Yoneyama Memorial Hall built in memory of the founder of Rotary in Japan, Mr. Umekichi Yoneyama.
As we look ahead, we will celebrate our Centennial Anniversary in October 2020. Preparations are gearing up with the cooperation of so many Directors, Chairmen and Officers who meet almost every week. The Centennial History Publication is being compiled and will be published in June 2021, incorporating photos taken during the Centennial Anniversary Party. Our Sister Club in Pennsylvania State, U.S.A., Ardmore RC, has kindly proposed a donation of 100 dogwood trees and we are now discussing with a number of local municipalities, universities and institutions to select the locations for planting. The Centennial Committee set up in 2014 has been making strenuous efforts over the past 5 years and is approaching its climax towards next October. We will start practicing our new Rotary song “Let’s Start Together” from January and hope everyone can join in singing for a joyful celebration on the Anniversary Day.
The coming year 2020 will surely be a busy one for us all as our country will host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games starting in July. I hope there will be no earthquakes nor typhoons during the Games period and we will be blessed with a cool summer. I also hope athletes and visitors from around the world will enjoy the Games and our hospitality and will come to like Japan as a destination to visit many more times. Let us also work together to make the Centennial Anniversary of Tokyo RC a memorable and impressive event. With your full support and understanding, I hope we can make 2020 a wonderful year. Let me conclude my speech by wishing you all a happy and prosperous year ahead.