Tokyo: Tibet House Japan organised the 91st birthday of H.H. the Dalai Lama with the Japanese friends and supporters at Hotel Okura in Tokyo on 5 July. The event began with prayer recitations by Tibetans, led by Geshe Sonam Gyaltsen Gonta and Kunchok Sithar of Potala College. Representative Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya of the Liaison Office of H.H. the Dalai Lama for Japan and East Asia offered prostration, Mandala, and a scarf to the portrait of H.H. the Dalai Lama.

Representative Dr. Tsewang Gyalpo Arya welcomed the guests and thanked them for joining the celebration and for all their help and guidance during the year in executing many meaningful events to celebrate the Year of Compassion. He informed the audience about the 215 Sakura trees planted throughout Japan and the photo exhibitions and talk tours on the life and mission of H.H. the Dalai Lama, held from Hokkaido to Nagano, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Okayama, and Shikoku. He thanked the Temples and monks, City Mayors and the staff, and all those who helped in making the tree plantations, photo exhibitions, and talks successful in all these regions.

Chief guest Lawmaker Yamatani Eriko, Chairperson of the Japan Parliamentarian Support Group for Tibet, greeted the audience and wished H.H. the Dalai Lama a long and healthy life. She talked about the recent statement by the Japanese parliamentarians on the Chinese “Ethnic Unity and Progress Law” and urged everyone to protest this brutal law designed to eliminate the Tibetan and other nationalities’ identity, language, and culture. She lamented the desperate situation that led Lobga Rangzen to commit self-immolation and expressed solidarity with the Tibetans and vowed to stand with H.H. the Dalai Lama in his quest for world peace and harmony.

Chairman of the Japan Prefectural Parliamentary League for Tibet, lawmaker Taguchi Yoshinori, wished H.H. the Dalai Lama and all the Tibetans on the birthday and expressed full support and solidarity of the League with the Tibetans in their struggle for peace and justice.

Rev. Saito Uygen of the Hagyudera in Ehime prefecture in Shikoku wished H.H. the Dalai Lama on his birthday and talked about his association with the Dalai Lama and the Tibetans and how His Holiness has accepted him as a younger Japanese brother. He greatly appreciated the teachings of His Holiness and his four missions.

Shinto Priest Honmyo Takashi of Izanagi Jingu in Hyogo prefecture, who met and interacted with H.H. the Dalai Lama earlier, spoke of his meeting with His Holiness and how he was greatly inspired by the compassionate wisdom of the Dalai Lama and his effort in promoting religious harmony.

Mayor Tsuji Yasuhiro of Shimizu Town in Hokkaido expressed his delight and pleasure in attending H.H. the Dalai Lama’ birthday party and said that he has a great respect for the Teacher’s profound wisdom of love and compassion. He said he was deeply inspired by the four missions of H.H. the Dalai Lama. He talked about how the agricultural products of the Town were sent to His Holiness last year as offerings and the plantation of Sakura trees in the regions this year.

Japanese Actress Shihomi Etsuko greeted and briefed the gathering on her visit to a Tibetan settlement in Mungod and how she got involved in supporting Tibetan children through Dr. Tsewang Nishikura. She said the teachings of H.H. the Dalai Lama and Tibetans’ compassionate culture greatly inspired her.

Madam Sakurai Yoshiko of the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals released the Japanese translation of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s book “Voice for the Voiceless”, Koe naki monotachi no koe. Miura Junko translated the book, and Sankei Shimbun Publishing House published it. Madam Sakuria supervised the publication. She briefed the content of the book and admired H.H. the Dalai Lama’s wisdom, patience, and compassion to deal with the brutal force of the CCP regime. She said His Holiness’ wisdom of love and compassion is very much needed at this turbulent moment of war and intimidation around the world.

Lawmaker Ueno Hiroshi, speaking on the difficult situation of the occupied peoples and urging everyone to support their peaceful struggle for freedom, raised the toast and wished H.H. the Dalai Lama a long and healthy life.

At the end of the celebration, Representative Arya thanked Hotel Okura staff and the volunteers for their service. He thanked all the donors and volunteer translators for their help and continued support. He announced the end of his tenure by September and thanked everyone for their support and advice during his six-year stint in Japan and requested continued support for the new Representative Lobsang Choedak.

Makino Seishu, former lawmaker and Chairman of the Save Tibet Network, in his closing remark, thanked the big gathering for their support to the Tibet issue and H.H. the Dalai Lama’s vision for world peace and stability. He thanked Representative Arya for his dedicated and meaningful stint of six years and requested everyone to give him a big hand for the good work.

Kitazawa Anri of the Save Tibet Network moderated the event. Some well-wishers have sent flower bouquets and good wishes. More than 200 hundred people, including lawmakers, officials, intellectuals, abbot and priest, artistes, and Tibetans joined the celebration. Among the lawmakers were Mitsubayashi Hiromi, Otsuka Taku, Ishibashi Rintaro, Yamada Kazushige, former lawmaker Nagao Takashi, and Watanabe Shu. The participants expressed great appreciation for the tireless work of H.H. the Dalai Lama and prayed that good sense prevail over the CCP leadership to work with him for world peace and stability.

-Report filed by office of Tibet, Japan