Jasper’s delegation to Hakone, Japan returned to the Canadian Rockies footsore, but impressed with their hosts and the relationship between the two communities.

Mayor Richard Ireland and Councillors Mike Day and Brian Nesbitt joined representatives from Jasper Tourism and Commerce on the trip to Jasper’s sister city. The Jasper group found themselves participating in the biggest parade of the year during their stay, something that Ireland described as a “once in a lifetime experience.”

The annual Daiymo parade recalls the entry of the Daiymo (or local lord) into Tokyo during the Edo period of Japanese history. Being included in the parade is a great honour. The mayor of Hakone plays the part of the Daiymo and there are many more interested townspeople than places available in the procession. When Ireland visited Hakone in 1999, the Jasper delegation were given prime seats along the parade route but this time around were given the opportunity to participate. Jasper’s delegates were dressed as Tapo Tai, gunmen who guarded the lord as he marched. The entire group dressed in traditional costume, bearing muskets and wearing straw sandals for the duration of the parade route.

“It took us three hours to walk three or four kilometres,” Ireland said. The marchers took wide strides meaning that the horizontal distance travelled was very nearly equal to the straight line length of the route, he added.

The parade was a major event in that part of Japan, said Day.

“There were more than 75,000 watching on the route and it was broadcast on Tokyo TV,” he told council.

Beyond a hard day in sandals, the Jasper team held discussions with local government officials and tourism functionaries. 

”They take great stock in our relationship,” Ireland said. In the 33 year partnership, a delegation from Hakone has visited Jasper 13 times while this was Jasper’s twelfth tour of Japan. “They are aware of all the stats,” Ireland added.

While there are similarities in the administrative situations of the two communities, Ireland was also struck by some substantial differences.

“Many of their workers live out of town, so you get what in the US they call ‘the down valley syndrome’,” he said. 

“Down valley” describes a situation where the cost of living has risen to such a level that original inhabitants of the small tourist communities can no longer afford to live there. They must commute long distances to hold jobs in service industry.

Hospitality in Japan is of a remarkably high standard, Ireland said.

“They treat their visitors on a completely different level than we’re used to.” This advanced level of service is not only afforded to official delegations, but also to regular tourists, he added.

One related aspect of the Jasper-Hakone relationship that this visit may succeed in resuscitating is an exchange program for hospitality workers.

Such a program had been in place in years past but had fallen by the wayside more recently, Ireland said.

“We had some specific discussions with hotel operators about it...we’ve come back with some advice for local businesses.”

The student exchange program is in good health, meanwhile.

“They are very excited about continuing with it,” Ireland said. “We met an awful lot of parents who had hosted Jasper students.”

The municpal delegates returned bearing gifts for their council colleauges as well as the town itself, including traditional artistic woodwork from Hakone as well as a large painting to hang in the municipal office.

For Ireland, however, pride of place will be given to his straw sandals from the parade.

“We’ll probably get some kind of display case set up,” he said.