September 3rd is the anniversary of the arrival of the Asian elephant, Zuze at Kobe Ojizoo. She came from Rega city, the capital of Latvia with her curator Gunars Schauers in 1996. It was 26 years ago and Zuze was only 6 years old.
03.09.1996
Zuze and Mr.Schauers left Rega Zoo on August 24th, and their journey took 10 days by ferry, airplane and a large truck. Zuze was donated by Riga city (sister city of Kobe) to encourage children wounded in the 1995 great Hanshin Awaji earthquake.
Zuze anc Mac:02.09.2022
Zuze has a chubby body looks cute and has a little playful and gentle character. She is very much loved by her partner, Mac who is the biggest male Asian elephant in Japan. Of course, she is loved by many people in Kobe, and there are fans who come from far away to meet her.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the people of Riga, Latvia, for giving us the pleasure of meeting Zuze in Kobe, and adding joy to our lives.
I sometimes wrote about Zuze on my blog since I had met Zuze on July 7th 2017. It was very special for me to meet Zuze. I was not interested in animals and zoos until I heard about an elephant living in Kobe from a local guide while sightseeing in Riga city in June 2017.
After returning to Japan, I visited Oji Zoo because I wanted to meet the elephant who came to Japan from such a small and peaceful European country next to Russia.
Riga city, June .2017
I clearly remember the day I first met Zuze and my impression of her was of a big, gentle elephant. But strangely, after going to meet her, I wanted to meet her again. Gradually my visits to the zoo increase and now I go to meet Zuze every day. I don’t know why, but I’ve been drawn to Zuze.
My husband and I were planning our first trip to Europe in June 1995. But after the Hanshin Awaji earthquake in January, my husband who was working in construction, became so busy that he was unable to travel. I also gave up on going to Europe.
The next year I went to a university to take a course on “European affairs” in Himeji. Professor Nakamura had worked in Belgium and knew a lot about Europe, especially paintings, so he was planning to take his students to Europe. I had no intention of participating but an old lady, Mrs.Murakami who was taking the class with me asked me to go to Europe with her. She needed someone to share a hotel room with, and she said it would be her first and last chance to go to Europe.
I was worried about my husband who was busy with work, but I decided to go to Europe with Professor Nakamura, Mrs Murakami and 10 other people in August 1996.
We boarded Lufthansa plane and the flight ended in Brussels via Munich. On the way back we arrived in Osaka form Paris via Frankfurt.
Paris North Station: 23.08.1996
I enjoyed visiting Belgium and Paris very much for first time Europe, and this trip changed my life. Beautiful landscapes, historical buildings, museums, language, food, I fell in love with everything. It's a faraway place that I can only go to once or twice a year, but Europe has always been somewhere in my heart.
My busy husband was finally able to go to Europe in 2000 and since then his goal has been to visit all European countries.
So we went to Latvia in June 2017. In Riga, Kobe's sister city, we heard about Zuze, the elephant who had come to Kobe. Riga is a beautiful city has a lot of historic places and is famous for Art Nouveau buildings. The people are very kind as well.
After 1996, when Professor Nakamura went to Europe, I was allowed to accompany him. He taught me many things, such as how to travel in Europe, about paintings, and the French language. I am very grateful to him.
My trip in August 1996 is still very moving to me.
Zuze and the curator Mr.Schauers left Riga on August 24th, they took a ferry down the river from the port of Riga to Frankfurt, Germany.
23.08.1996 :(by Mr.Chichagov)
I found out about it because Mr. Chichagov, who had worked for Riga Zoo, posted photos on Facebook.
Mr.Chichagov and Zuze, August, 1990 (by Mr.Chichagov)
Zuze was born on April 5th,1990. She is four months old in this photo.
24.08.1996
I was in Paris on August 24th. I remember that day very much. After visiting the Eiffel Tower, we went to Orsay Museum. I was really excited by Impressionist paintings, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh..etc. There were many masterpieces that I had admired. Mrs.Murakami was also very glad to seeing “Tahitian Women on the Beach” by Paul Gauguin.
It was the most enjoyable day of this trip and one of the best days in my life when Zuze was leaving Riga.
And I returned to Osaka from Paris via Frankfurt on 27th August. I still have my boarding pass.
Zuze took a plane from Frankfurt to Tokyo on September 1st. What a coincidence that Zuze was going to Japan from the same airport just five days after.
01.09.1996 :(by Mr.Chichagov)
The thought that I was there when Zuze and Mr.Schauers, were on their way to Japan is indescribable for me.
Zuze lost her mother three months after she was born. Mr. Schauers, who took care of Zuze, came to Kobe with her.
(The story of Zuze and Mr.Schauers came from Riga to Kobe, "I love Zuze-chan," has become a book by former Oji Zoo director Mr.Gondou. The story is fictionalized.)
I love Zuze-chan
Professor Nakamura passed away in January 2022 this year. Mr.Schauers also passed away on February 1st of this year at the age of 86. He was about the same age as Mr. Nakamura.
Mr.Schauers and director Mr.Gondou. :(by Mr.Chichagov)
This year 2022 is Zuze's 26th anniversary of coming to Kobe.
I would like to thank the people in Riga again for donating Zuze to Kobe. Your precious Zuze is beloved very much in Japan.
Thank you Professor Nakamura, Mrs.Murakami for giving me the opportunity to go to Europe.
Thank you Mr.Schauers for looking after Zuze and accompanying her to Kobe.
I am really happy to meet Zuze. I love her very very much.
Zuze, 25.07.2022
