In a ceremonious event that included a taste of Japanese culture featuring a Japanese Taiko drumming performance and a sake tasting ritual, several members of the South Florida community recently gathered at the Tower Club in Fort Lauderdale to celebrate the start of the Tokyo Olympics.
Refugee Paralympic team swimmer Abbas Karimi, who was honored during the event and Broward County Commissioner Dale V.C. Holness were among the guests of honor. Staff and government officials from the Consulate-General of Japan and members of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Sister Cities International, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance, Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce and the International Swimming Hall of Fame also attended.