I do understand that it is a bit difficult trying to arrange a comfortable place for a big group of people with no budget, and I think that's the reason why the organizers are looking for some early confirmations. They are also not collecting any money for the workshop and, I hear that the money collected now are deposits which will be returned upon entrance to the Workshop.

We are treating this Workshop as a very important event in our calendar. It is not every day that we will have a chance to meet our fellow ranchu colleagues from our ASEAN counterparts. We can finally get to meet each other face to face and not through our respective computer screens. We see this workshop as an excellent venue to introduce ourselves to each other. Get to know those who has the same passion as you do. Fish keepers can talk and talk and talk to each other about fish, I find, particularly the die hard ones. And for the future, I believe that the sky is the limit. The friendship that we will foster through our interaction at the workshop will be an excellent launching point towards a more united ranchu front in our neighbourhood. Imagine a combined international ranchu competition circuit at each of our home by Japanese judges. Personally, I am ecstatic about the idea and I hope to have a chance to meet each and every one of you.

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Loyalty above all else, except honor.