A Richmond delegation could head to Japan in April to personally ask that country’s government to send over the Kaiwo Maru Tall Ship for Richmond’s 2023 tall ships event.
The trip will include a delegation of three to four people – possibly two councillors – and could cost taxpayers between $30,000 and $40,000, which includes the costs of flights, accommodations, per diems, ceremonial gifting and translator fees.
A staff report notes that the delegation to Japan is being proposed because of the “relationship-based nature of conducting business in Japan.”
The trip would include a visit to the Nagasaki Tall Ships Festival April 16 to 20 – according to the staff report, this event would allow the Richmond delegation to meet with the captain and crew to “ensure clear communication and to coordinate logistics and planning.”
The Kaiwo Maru is a training vessel and coming to the Richmond 2023 event would be a month-long venture with 200 personnel including 106 cadets. The vessel is operated by the Japanese Agency of Maritime Education and Training for Seafarers.
The Kaiwo Maru is 182 feet high, 361 feet long and has 36 sails – it’s one of the largest tall ships in the world.
This vessel was first hosted in Richmond in 2005 and then again in 2017 as part of the Canada 150 celebrations.
The trip to Nagasaki would also include a visit to the birth place of Manzo Nagao who was the first known Japanese immigrant to Canada.
The year 2023 will mark the 50th anniversary of Richmond and Wakayama, Japan, being sister cities.
The proposed trip is on the agenda for next Monday’s general purposes committee meeting.
