Ascend CT & Westchester and the Japan Society of Fairfield held a Spring picnic at Mill River Park in Stamford, CT to enjoy the blooming cherry blossoms, on Saturday, April 20th. We met in the park area under 2 of the original cherry trees planted by Junko Nojima. As part of the Mill River restoration most of the original trees were removed, although Stamford Tree Foundation cultivated cuttings from the original cherry trees to create some of the new trees in the renovated park. There is now an exhibit sign (photo here) about Mr. Nojima in the Whittingham Discovery Center in Mill River Park
Although there was rain the night before, it stopped and we had partly sunny skies for the picnic. Some of us brought lunches purchased at JSFC Corporate supporter Maruichi Select Japanese market a few minutes walk from the park.
Mr. Nori Ishikawa played shakuhachi at the picnic. He teaches Blues Harmonica, Drums, Saxophone and Shakuhachi in English or Japanese. You can read about about his Aun Music School HERE.
Nori Ishikawa with JSFC members
Hiro and Teruko Sakata.
About Ascend: Ascend is the largest global network advancing Pan-Asian professionals in the workplace. It’s our mission to build community and ignite change by developing, elevating, and empowering the API leaders of tomorrow. Check out: https://www.ascendleadership.org/ for more information.