「日本で受けた心暖まるおもてなしをずーと大切にし、日米がこれからも
深き絆を持ち今後さらに両国が発展することを、強く確信します。」

赴任2年目、ビル.ハガティ駐日米国大使が、日本を離れる前のメッセージ!!

20年前、何らかのご縁で、米国大使館の方々も多く来店されている"えのき"
昨年、ナンバー2 の、J.Ｙ氏が、いつもの笑顔で、来店された折
新しく赴任された大使を、日本の文化でもあり庶民が、行き交う小さなお店でのリラックス出来る、穴場の動画撮影を作る計画をしている。
その場所は、自分達の頭の中では決まっていて
その穴場のお店.... 是非とも「えのき」をお願いしたく! ! との話しが飛び込んで来た.
" とんでもない"と、何度かお断りの言葉をかけたが、
J氏の熱い言葉にわかりましたと受け、
昨年の10月、大使、スタッフ、含め5名の皆さんとで、いつもの言葉のやりとりや、オリジナルの食べ物を召し上がって頂くなど、リラックスされた様子の動画作りが完成、今年の2月、恥ずかしながら、鑑賞。
その後日の3月、大使と奥様、そして生まれ育った、テネシー州の、お偉い人達がゾロゾロと足を運ばれ大使自身が、 横丁とえのきを観て頂きたいとの思いで、連れて来こられた。
数人しか入れない店内と2階も営業している事を説明し、感心を持って帰られた。

その後4ケ月も経っていない 、7月の土曜日、のれんの脇から顔を出し覗いている人がいて急ぎ表に出て見ると、大使とご家族全員が突然の訪問へ
お話を聞いてみると、来週月曜日、日本を離れる為、家族で お別れを云いたくご来店された。
４人のお子様には、お店の中に入って頂き、「こんな場所ですよ、日本に来る機会がありましたら、是非とも訪ねて来て下さいね」と伝え、御家族全員と記念撮影をして深々とお別れの挨拶を
　来年上院選に南部テネシー州から出馬される

　素晴らしい心温まる人間愛のハガティ氏、勝利の祈念を! !





“We will continue to cherish the warm hospitality we have received in Japan, and we are convinced that Japan and the United States will continue to have deep bonds, and that both countries will develop further in the future.”
This is the message by former US Ambassador to Japan Hagerty before he left from Japan.

My “Enoki” has been visited by many staff of American embassies for 20 years.
At the beginning of last year, Mr. J. Y, number 2 of the US Embassy, came to Enoki with a smile as usual.
Apparently, the newly appointed ambassador was planning to make a video shoot in a small and relaxing place where Japanese people come and go.
Mr. J. Y said "The hidden bar ... I want to shoot at Enoki!!"
I was afraid and refused several times, but Mr. J.Y asked me passionately, I finally accepted his suggestion.

In October of last year, Ambassador Hagerty and five other staff, shoot a relaxed video with the usual conversations and the original Enoki's food.
I watched it with them in February this year.
I was a little embarrassed.

Later in March, Ambassador Hagerty, his wife, and the great people from Tennessee, where they were born and raised, came to Enoki!
It seems that Ambassador Hagerty himself was brought in because he wanted to see atomosphere of Nonbei Yokocho and Enoki.
I explained that the shop has the second floor, where only a few people can enter.
They were impressed about it.

In July, when less than 4 months have passed, there was a person peeking out from the side of the goodwill.
The ambassador and the whole family came to Enoki suddenly.
He came with his family to say goodbye to me because US Embassy decided back to US in July.
His four children enter the shop and l told them “If you have the opportunity to come to Japan, please come and visit here”
I took a commemorative photo with the whole family and greeted them farewell.

Returning to the United States, Mr. Hagaty will run for the Senate next year from Southern Tennessee.
Mr. Hagaty has a wonderful heartwarming personality and love.
I wish his victory!