Remarks by the Japanese Consul General, Eiichi Kawahara,
At his inaugural reception on February 16, 2011
at Conrad Hotel, Miami City
Honorable Guests,
My Fellow Consuls General,
Ladies and Gentleman,
It is an honor and great pleasure to meet with you all here in Miami as the new Consul General of Japan. My name is Eiichi Kawahara. I started my assignment here on January 21, 2011. Therefore, today is my 27th day here in Miami.
皆様、ようこそお越し頂きました。着任してまだ一月も立ちませんが、今後よろしくお願い致します。昨年末以降、公館長が空席のため、天皇誕生日及び新年会も差し控えさせて頂きました。お詫び申し上げます。
I thank you for gracing me with your presence at my reception.
Due to the absence of the head of Japanese mission in Miami from November last year, we were able to hold neither our customary Emperor’s Birthday reception in December nor the New Year celebration in early January. I want to extend my apologies to everyone who missed these occasions.
At the outset of this year, our foreign minister, Mr. Seiji Mae-hara visited Florida’s State capital. Minister Mae-hara met with the new governor, the Honorable Rick Scott.
They had a very good conversation on issues, including Governor Scott’s visit to Japan, the promotion of trade investment relations between Japanese and Floridian firms as well as the possibility of jointly promoting business in the Latin American market from Florida. I would be most happy if our office could contribute to the development of these very important topics that were discussed between Mr. Mae-hara and Governor Scott.
1月初めには、前原外務大臣がフロリダにお越しになり、スコット新知事と会談をされました。今後のフロリダ州と日本との経済関係強化にむけて、州知事の訪日、日本とフロリダ間での貿易・投資の促進、フロリダを拠点とした南米市場への共同事業の促進の可能性などについてお話が非常に弾みました。
Here in Florida, we have about 180 Japanese affiliated firms and we are the largest investor at the state level. We also have 10 sister city and state relationships. Most of these cities are actively engaging in regular international youth exchange programs. I was very fortunate the other day to observe one such friendly relationship between the cities of Miami and Kagoshima. We hope such sister city relations will expand here in Florida.
Next year, we will celebrate the centennial of the cherry blossom exchange between the USA and Japan. About one hundred years ago, the citizens of Tokyo gave cherry trees to the citizens of Washington, D.C. as a symbol of the growing friendship between both nations.
They were planted along the banks of the Potomac River and have become one of the city’s most famous attractions, especially in the spring Sakura-matsuri, or “Cherry Blossom Festival.”
来年は、ワシントンでの桜植樹から１００周年という記念すべき年にあたりますので、全米各地で行事を検討中です。フロリダ州に対し、皆様と一緒になって何か出来ることはないかと考えておりますので、皆様のお力を是非頂戴出きればと思います。よろしくご支援をお願い申し上げます。
To commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the Sakura Matsuri, we are going to organise events in Florida with, of course, the helping hands of local Japanese and American residents. Let us think together about what we can do for the people of Florida that can continue for the next one hundred years.
One phrase I continually repeat at my office with my staff members is “Let’s work together.” In the same spirit, I would like to say the same words with today’s distinguished participants for the benefit of all:
“Let’s work closely together.”
Thank you.
photo album of the event
|
