On Nov. 9, several Japanese delegates from Hokuto City, “sister city” to Madison County, Kentucky, made a stop for a tour and lunch at Morning Pointe of Richmond.
Residents and associates at the senior living community enjoyed meeting the travelers. Cristy Winkler, executive director at Morning Pointe, led a tour of the building.
The visitors also included an interpreter and members of the hosting Madison County International Committee.
The Morning Pointe food services team prepared a traditional Southern lunch of breaded pork chops, fried potatoes, cabbage, pinto beans, cornbread, chow chow and peach cobbler with ice cream.
After lunch, the group gave a slide show presentation about Hokuto City. Hokuto is approximately 93 miles west of Kyoto. The head of Hokuto tourism, Rikizo Asakawa, gave a translated speech regarding the beautiful sites in the city and surrounding areas.
Before saying farewell, Morning Pointe representatives presented their guests with a print of the painting “Renewal” that the company commissioned in honor of its 25th anniversary. The artwork, which symbolizes rebirth and strength, is provided in partnership with the artist, Alan Shuptrine, a nationally acclaimed watercolor painter in the American Southeast. A hand-painted reproduction of the painting hangs prominently in each of Morning Pointe’s campuses, including Morning Pointe of Richmond. Delegates also received a copy of Shuptrine’s coffee table book featuring several dogwood paintings.
“It was an amazing day,” said Winkler. “As they exited, I was invited to join the exchange program and visit Japan in the spring. This would be an honor. I hope to be able to make this happen.”
Morning Pointe of Richmond is located at 1400 Gibson Bay Drive. It was recently voted Best Senior Living and Best Retirement Community by readers of the Richmond Register and was honored as a top business by the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
Founded in 1997 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living owns and operates 37 assisted living, personal care and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states and is celebrating its silver anniversary throughout 2022.
