Working the Net Together

In August 2018, a group of WUB Hawaii delegates traveled to Brazil to attend WUB Network’s 22 anniversary conference and to take part in the 118th anniversary of the arrival of immigrants from Okinawa to Brazil. Through these visits the worldwide network among Uchinanchus is strengthen through friendship and collaboration.  Below are some pictures of this visit.

L to R: Jin-kichi Uezu, John Tasato, Issamu Teruya, Julie Higa, and John Toguchi

At the Brazil Okinawa Festival, held at Villa Carrao, August 4 and 5, 2018, the Hawaii delegation got to meet with Jin-Kichi Uezu, President of WUB Okinawa, and Issamu Teruya, President of Cofema, distributor of construction materials and supplies.

L to R: Kenji Oshiro, John Tasato, and Yuichiro Harry Masuda

Goodwill Ambassador meeting.  At left is Kenji Oshiro, President of WUB Brazil and WUB Network’s next president (term begins 2019), John Tasato, and EWC grantee Harry Masuda.  Harry is wearing the distinctive Okinawa-inspired Bokunen Naka block-print shirt.

WUB Network Cake.  The golden ’22’ on the cake celebrates twenty-two years of WUB’s existence

The WUB Network meeting was held at Churrascaria Nova Pampa, a Brazilian BBQ restaurant.  WUB Brasil’s website

Steve Kishaba Sombrero with Carla Taba, President and owner of Invel Goen3

Carla Taba is President and owner of Invel’s subsidiary in Orlando, Brazil — Invel Goen3. The company sells products made from materials that increases circulation, combines Japanese technology and research with Brazilian fashion.  She is married to Mario Hirata. This is one of the companies WUB visited. Carla’s Linked in

Steve Kishaba Sombrero with Issamu Teruya and his wife.

Steve presenting Issamu Teruya and his wife with a plaque from WUB Network after our visit at Cofema.

CNPJ M.N TERUYA COMERCIAL DE FERRAMENTAS LTDA COFEMA ATACADISTA