November 3rd coincides with The Federated States of Micronesia’s Independence Day, and was not incidentally the start of the Micronesia Photo Exhibit. The Dozen Islands, or the three towns selected to host the photo exhibition, are the host towns for the 2020 Olympic Micronesian team, and on the same day a memorial ceremony was held in Amacho to celebrate. Sponsors of the photo exhibition hope that the photos will help excite residents of the town about the upcoming Olympics. A total of 15 people, including the mayor of Nishinoshima, Mr. Masutani, mayor of Amacho Mr. Oe, mayor of Chibu Mr. Hiraki, Mr. Minoda, President of the “Classical Music for 1 Million People” foundation, who also supports the Dozen Islands, along with the performers and other guests attended the ceremony. The ceremony took place at the exhibition hall, the Kinnyamonya Center, right at the mouth of the Amacho Hishiura Port Ferry Terminal.

At the ceremony, the organizer, APIC Director and Secretary General Mr. Megumi Araki gave his remarks which included an outline of APIC’s activities, cooperative initiatives with Amacho, and descriptions of the photos with information on the photographer, Mr. Floyd Takeuchi. He gave messages from the Micronesian Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Fritz, and from Mr. Takeuchi.

Following the introductions, Mayor Masutani gave opening remarks as the representative of the Dozen Island region, followed by a violin and piano performance from the “Classical Music for 1 Million People” performers of the Micronesian National Anthem, a toast from Mayor Hiraki, a photo op, and a special classical music performance. Mayor Oe of Amacho gave the closing remarks, with the icing on the cake being the multiple musical pieces including the Federated States of Micronesia’s national anthem.

APIC hopes that in the forthcoming days, as the exhibition rotates between the three islands, that people who view these photos will gain more of an interest in being the host town for FSM during the 2020 Olympics.